Instructor: Michael Stecher

Office: Milner 126 or Blocker 601K, 845-3269, stecher@math.tamu.edu

Office hours: MWF 10:00 - 11:00, and by appointment.

Text: Notes by Prof. Dan Lewis. They may be purchased at Notes-N-Quotes, which is located on University Dr. across the street from Blocker. The notes should be available by Friday, Aug. 28, in the afternoon.

Prerequisite: Math 220 and second semester calculus or their equivalents.

We will have a three exams worth 100 points each, quizzes also worth 100 points for a total of 400 points. Course grades will be determined in the usual manner. That is, an A is 90%, a B is 80%, etc. There will not be a final exam.

One of the skills many employers want their employees to have is facility with spreadsheet. I also believe that this is a useful skill that all of us should have. To that end, I'm going to insist that all turned in homework be done in a spreadsheet. So you might as well get used to this requirement and start using a spreadsheet whenever you work problems for this course. During exams a spreadsheet will not be available for you to use, and I will construct exams so that this will not be a problem (I hope). However, you will still have to make some computations so I'd bring a calculator to class with you when you take an exam.
One other comment, the notes have many exercises, I suggest that you work as many of them as possible. Questions like them are more than likely to be used on exams and quizzes.

Text References:

• Bond Markets, Analysis and Strategies, forth edition, Frank J. Fabozzi, Prentice Hall
  
  
• The Theory of Interest, second edition, Stephen G. Kellison, Irwin Inc.
  
  
• Investments, fourth edition, Bodie, Kane, Marcus, McGraw-Hill

Web Sites:

• http://www.publicdebt.treas.gov
  
  
• http://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/marketsdata.html?mod=topnav_0_0012
  
  
• http://bonds.yahoo.com/

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The following is a tentative weekly schedule