This is the expert who carries out tasks such as the analysis, negotiation, purchase and sale of futures and options, these being contracts which either entail a commitment (futures) or provide the option (options) to buy or sell, in the future, a financial asset at a set price (which is negotiated and expires on the date the contract is executed) in exchange for an initial commission. To fulfil his/her duties, the forward and options market expert carries out tasks which are similar to those of a stock market trader: purchases and sells futures and options which tend to be linked to the same shares and index purchased and sold by stock market traders. However, the investment strategies of these two professional profiles are associated with operations with differentiated characteristics. Future and options market experts thus acquire a future commitment or an asset purchase and trading option, whereas stock market traders purchase or sell assets in the present.

• Analyse the evolution of the financial markets (space/area in which financial assets are exchanged between economic agents) in order to detect investment options.
• Carry out purchases and sales of goods with the sole objective of obtaining a profit from the price fluctuations (daily speculation with futures and options) in American, European and Asian markets (IBEX 35, S&P Europe 350).
• Assess the current international economic situation in order to predict the interrelations and future effects in the financial markets.
• Detect the trends of the financial markets in order to predict the future evolution of the prices of financial assets (goods and rights tradable on the financial markets) and raw materials.
• Carry out transactions related to the purchase and sale of futures and options on a daily basis.
• Manage investment portfolios, which are the set of financial assets owned by a person or company.
• Develop and apply investment strategies in the futures and options markets using different analysis techniques, for example, charting, fundamentals and rational expectations.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Administració d'empreses i gestió de la innovació
• Grau: Administració i direcció d'empreses
• Grau: Economia
• Grau: Economia i gestió
• Grau: Ciències empresarials-management
• Grau: Comptabilitat i finances

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 1

Orientation within reach: Level 2

Planning and organisation: Level 2

Self-confidence: Level 3

Analytical thought: Level 3

Management

The organisation, administration and control of a company or entity are the main interests of people related to the management field. Activities included in this field of interest vary from effective resource management, feasibility analyses and solving business problems to the development of skills and fostering of motivation in relation to human resources. Knowledge regarding specific techniques of strategic administration and business management are required to carry out these activities.

Stock market trader

Actuary

Auditor specialised in finance

Risk Analyst

Cost estimation expert

• Work hours

  Full-time working hours with some intensive schedules adapted to all major international financial markets: European markets in the morning, American and Canadian markets in the afternoon and Asian markets during night-time.

• Salary

  Salary range: between 19.788 and 29.622 euros annum gross. Median: 24.211 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Professional category

  Technician