Statistics are an important part of quantitative studies. Students need to learn how to use statistical data to form a hypothesis of what stocks, bonds or similar items the company or business should buy. Statistics in quantitative finance include time series analysis, in which predictions are made based on statistical information available.
Portfolio analysis looks over an investment portfolio of a business or client and determines if the portfolio is strong and diverse or if it has high risk due to minimal diversification or poor investment choices. Portfolio analysis teaches how to break down data within an investment portfolio and is one of the financial course options for a quantitative finance student.
Futures and options are an important financial course for quantitative finance. Futures and options are a type of investment strategy that prevents major losses by giving options to buy or sell at a later date. In the case of buying, the option is to buy at a lower price if the price of the stock went up. In the case of selling, options allow selling at the higher price to minimize loss. Quantitative financial studies need to prepare for mistakes by understanding futures and options.
C++ is a computer programming course. Quantitative finance students need to know the basics of programming to have optimal success in the business world. Quantitative finance will often use mathematical equations in computer programs to make investment decisions. Having knowledge about computer programming can minimize mistakes when putting the equation into the program.