Financial Analysis with Bloomberg Terminal module (BU51048)

Professional finance relies on more than theory. It depends on the ability to read real markets and use the platforms that practitioners actually use. The Bloomberg Terminal is the global standard for accessing financial data and the analytical functions used to interpret it, and this module gives you direct, structured experience with both.

You will explore how technical analysis, market psychology, and quantitative tools combine to explain how prices move and why. Starting with the core Bloomberg functions, you will learn to read charts, identify trends, and apply momentum and volatility indicators such as RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, and ATR to real securities.

The module then connects these techniques to a broader investment context, covering ESG analysis, equity valuation, portfolio construction across multiple assets, and how AI-driven sentiment tools are reshaping financial interpretation. Each topic is taught through the Terminal itself, so you build practical competence as you go.

Assessment reflects this applied focus. A coursework component asks you to investigate a real market story using Bloomberg data and your own analysis, while the final examination tests the concepts and methods underpinning your work on the Terminal.

This module is taught in the dedicated Bloomberg Lab at the University of Dundee’s City Campus, giving you direct access to the same platform used by professional analysts, traders, and portfolio managers worldwide. Through it, you will also be able to work towards the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) certificate, a recognised industry credential that complements the skills developed in this module.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• Navigate the Bloomberg Terminal and use its core functions to extract and analyse market data
• Apply chart analysis and key technical indicators, including RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, and ATR
• Interpret momentum, volatility, and trend signals across equities, indices, currencies, and commodities
• Use Bloomberg’s ESG tools and AI-driven sentiment functions to support investment analysis
• Build and evaluate multi-asset portfolios using real-time data and quantitative methods

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Confidently navigate the Bloomberg Terminal and locate the data needed for a financial analysis task
• Apply technical indicators and chart-based methods to assess market conditions and risk
• Combine ESG, fundamental, and sentiment data with technical analysis to form investment views
• Construct and evaluate portfolios, interpret performance attribution, and judge risk-adjusted returns
• Communicate financial analysis clearly in the format expected in professional finance roles

Assignments / assessments

Coursework: From Data to Decision – Reading the Market Narrative (30%)

• 1,500-word analytical report (±10%)
• Released in week 4
• Due in week 8 (submitted online via MyDundee)
• Around 30 hours of effort expected

You select a real market story (for example, the 2023 AI/tech rally, the post-COVID recovery, the crypto volatility cycle, or an energy-price shock) and use Bloomberg data and indicators to explain how the narrative evolved in price, momentum and volatility terms.

Final examination (70%)

• Two-hour written exam during the December exam period
• Three sections: short-answer questions, data interpretation using Bloomberg charts and tables, and a mini essay
• Approved calculators (Casio FX83, FX85 or FX115) are permitted

Dates and detailed timings reflect the current academic year and may change in future years.

Teaching methods / timetable

Teaching is intensive, applied, and built around the Bloomberg Lab on the University's City Campus. You will:

• Attend weekly lectures introducing the concepts, theories, and Bloomberg functions used in each topic
• Take part in supplementary lab sessions where you apply each lecture’s content directly on a live Terminal
• Work through guided case studies, group discussions, and simulated trading scenarios using real-time market data
• Use Bloomberg’s ESG, news, charting, and AI-sentiment tools as part of every topic

The module is taught face-to-face, in Semester 1, and you also have access to recorded lecture notes, worked examples, and Bloomberg learning materials for guided independent study.

Across the module you have around 20 hours of timetabled lectures and lab sessions, with the remaining 180 hours allocated to guided independent study and assessment preparation, reflecting the 20-credit, level-11 design of the module.