Financial markets : what they are and what they are for -- A historical view of financial markets -- Money markets -- Debt markets -- Equity markets -- Other financial markets -- Financial markets : the investor's point of view -- Market efficiency : rational expectations vs. animal spirits -- Investing in financial markets -- Basics of portfolio management and asset pricing models -- Stock analysis -- Behavioural finance -- The financial meltdown and the great recession (after the great moderation) -- Speculative volatility in a free society -- The antecedents -- The 2007-2008 financial meltdown -- The great recession (after the great moderation)