to securities markets and investment management -- to Market Microstructure -- An Overview of Securities Markets Regulation around the World -- Financial Theories -- The Capital Asset Pricing Model and Arbitrage Pricing Theory: Theory -- The Capital Asset Pricing Model and Arbitrage Pricing Theory: Tests and Application -- Financial Statements and Equity Prices -- Accounting and Financial Analysis -- The use (and misuse) of Cash flow statements -- Prospective Analysis: Guidelines for Forecasting Financial Statements -- Valuation models -- The EVA Approach to Investing -- DCF Valuation Models: Free Cash flow, APV, ECF and CCF valuation models -- Valuation Using Multiples -- Real Options Perspective of Security Analysis -- Investing in Initial Public Offerings and Depository Receipts -- Equity Options -- Pricing Equity Options -- Investing in Exotic Options -- Fixed Income and Credit sensitive instruments -- An Overview of Fixed Income Securities and Markets -- Investing in Convertibles, Preferred Stocks and Warrants -- Managing Fixed Income Portfolios -- Interest Rate Derivatives -- The Credit Market -- Investing in Credit Derivatives -- Active Investments and Market efficiency -- Market Efficiency: Theory, Tests and Applications -- An Overview of Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds -- Understanding Active Portfolio Management -- Measuring Mutual Fund Performance -- Hedge Funds -- Investing in Emerging Markets -- Behavioral Finance and Summary -- Behavioral Finance and Investment Strategy.

Sound investment decisions require an in-depth knowledge of the financial markets and available financial instruments. This book provides students and professionals with an understanding of the role and activities of an equity security analyst within the investment process. Emphasis is on understanding the process of analyzing companies, the valuation process, and the challenges of achieving success in a highly competitive capital market. The authors present a comprehensive compendium on the financial theory, the empirical evidence and the mathematical tools that form the underlying principles of investment decisions.