Doha: The Qatar Financial Markets Authority, in cooperation with the Union of Arab Securities Authorities, organized a specialized training program on bond investing aimed at supporting talent and building professional capacities in the financial sector. The program is delivered by a financial expert accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. The three-day training program aims to help participants gain an in-depth and systematic understanding of fixed-income markets, particularly bonds, by introducing them to pricing mechanisms, methods for analyzing returns, and managing the associated risks.
According to Qatar News Agency, the program targets mid-to senior-level professionals working in financial institutions, banks, investment companies, stock exchanges, and other entities related to finance and capital markets. It includes a number of specialized topics with which participants are expected to be familiar. The program also focuses on practical aspects of structuring cash flows and measuring the impact of interest rate changes, enabling participants to evaluate debt instruments more efficiently and to develop their skills in designing and managing bond portfolios, as well as using fixed-income derivatives for risk management.
The training covers several core modules. The first day focuses on building a knowledge base on how bonds function, their various forms, key characteristics, types of returns, and cash flow structures, in addition to bond trading markets, their risks, and related credit ratings.
The second day is dedicated to understanding yield analysis and the risks associated with bonds. This includes studying yield curves, calculating the time value of money and bond pricing, and distinguishing between clean and dirty prices. It also addresses securitization and structured finance, the role of special purpose vehicles, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and the risks associated with them, along with practical applications for calculating bond values to maturity.
The third day focuses on fixed-income derivatives and bond portfolio management strategies, introducing derivatives markets, forwards and futures contracts, interest rate swaps, and credit default swaps, and how these instruments are used to hedge interest rate risk and manage cash flows. It also covers portfolio management strategies and building investment positions using derivatives that replicate the characteristics of traditional bonds. At the conclusion of the training program, participants will receive a certificate of participation issued by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority and the Union of Arab Securities Authorities.