What are financial markets?

Financial markets are the online trading mechanisms where traders and investors work to buy and sell stocks and bonds, commodities and derivatives, foreign exchange, and more. There are stock markets, bond markets, cryptocurrency markets, foreign exchange markets, and others. Businesses go to financial markets as well to raise money for expansion, and companies join financial markets to raise visibility and reduce risks. Financial markets exist to create financial liquidity for companies to grow and for entrepreneurs to seek funding for their business ventures. Financial markets can increase investor confidence in an economy by making information available, thus reducing risk.

Why is it important to learn about financial markets?

It's important to learn about financial markets to gain insights on risk management, financial principles, and stock trading and see how the banking and securities industries operate. The financial markets represent the lifeblood of the world's economic drivers, including the major markets around the world, as well as the lesser ones in different countries. You'll need to know how financial markets operate, if you want to work in the area of finance, as a trader, investor, entrepreneur, or within a company as a financial analyst, market maker, or similar role.

What career opportunities can arise from learning about financial markets?

A few career opportunities available to someone with a good education and interest in financial markets include portfolio manager, bond trader, risk manager, investment banker, and similar roles. After proving yourself in these jobs, there may be opportunities later in venture capital, underwriting, and private equity fields. In the stock trading area, there may be jobs open to become a buy-side trader, a sell-side trader, or a hedge fund trader. Working in the financial markets ensures there are many other interesting areas to move into and explore later on.

How can taking online courses help me learn about financial markets?

Taking online courses about the financial markets can give you knowledge about interest rates, stocks, bonds, commodities, and more. You can learn how and why stocks and bonds move up and down relative to risk factors. You may also learn to analyze a stock's performance over time and learn more about risk and return opportunities. Over time, you may get insights into the operations of hedge funds, stock portfolios, and emerging markets.

What are the benefits of taking an online Financial Markets course?

Online Financial Markets courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Financial Markets skills. Choose from a wide range of Financial Markets courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Financial Markets courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Financial Markets, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Financial Markets Courses - Learn Financial Markets Online

Explore the Financial Markets Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Accounting Analysis I: The Role of Accounting as an Information System
Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Revenue Recognition, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounting, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Cash Flows, Accrual Accounting, International Financial Reporting Standards, Financial Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
693 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Duke University
Startup Valuation Methods
Skills you'll gain: Financial Modeling, Entrepreneurial Finance, Business Valuation, Excel Formulas, Financial Analysis, Investments, Private Equity, Securities (Finance), Entrepreneurship, Cash Flows, Risk Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
719 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Planificación y gestión estratégica para Pymes
Skills you'll gain: Sales Management, Customer Relationship Management, Financial Analysis, Business Modeling, Business Planning, Business Strategy, Financial Statements, Strategic Decision-Making, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Competitive Analysis, Value Propositions
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
964 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Interactive Brokers
ESG Investing: Financial Decisions in Flux
Skills you'll gain: Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Corporate Sustainability, Investment Management, Financial Market, Investments, Financial Data, Market Trend, Market Analysis, Business Ethics, Regulatory Compliance, Environmental Issue, Capital Markets, Risk Analysis, Governance, Financial Services, Fixed Asset, Financial Analysis, Data Collection, Equities, Due Diligence
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
121 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
The University of Melbourne
The Language and Tools of Financial Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Accounting, Financial Modeling, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Corporate Finance, Cash Flows, Business Valuation, Risk Analysis, Business Ethics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Cape Town
Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries
Skills you'll gain: Economic Development, Environmental Policy, Environmental Issue, Mitigation, Policy Development, Policy Analysis, Socioeconomics, Mathematical Modeling, Systems Thinking, Economics, Research, Innovation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
584 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universitat de Barcelona
The entrepreneur's guide for beginners
Skills you'll gain: Entrepreneurship, Market Opportunities, Business Planning, Lean Methodologies, Business Modeling, New Business Development, Business Development, Fundraising, Value Propositions, Target Audience
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
521 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IE Business School
Understanding economic policymaking
Skills you'll gain: Financial Policy, Public Policies, Economics, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Tax, International Finance, Policy Analysis, Crisis Management, Fiscal Management, Financial Systems, Supply And Demand, Financial Market
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universidade de São Paulo
Criação de Startups: Como desenvolver negócios inovadores
Skills you'll gain: Market Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Market Opportunities, User Feedback, Business Modeling, User Research, New Product Development, Product Development, Digital Marketing, Innovation, Business Development, Business Strategies, User Experience, Process Validation, Growth Strategies, Business Operations, Investments, Presentations
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
614 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Geneva
Securing Investment Returns in the Long Run
Skills you'll gain: Investment Management, Performance Measurement, Portfolio Management, Asset Management, Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG), Performance Analysis, FinTech, Return On Investment, Financial Market, Risk Management, Benchmarking, Behavioral Economics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of New Mexico
Negocios Internacionales I
Skills you'll gain: International Finance, Social Sciences, International Relations, Social Studies, Economics, Policy, and Social Studies, Global Marketing, Socioeconomics, Culture, Political Sciences, Cultural Diversity, Business Economics, Economics, Economic Development, World History
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universiteit Leiden
The Cosmopolitan Medieval Arabic World
Skills you'll gain: World History, Cultural Diversity, Political Sciences, Ancient History, European History, Social Sciences, Economics, Liberal Arts, Research, Science and Research
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
428 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months