About the Lab
World financial markets have grown exponentially in size and exposure. With increasing globalization, market and company developments require rapid, accurate, and sophisticated in-depth analysis. To enhance the Rotman School’s competitiveness in this environment, the Financial Research and Trading Lab (FRTL) was founded by Professor Tom McCurdy, funded by a grant from the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF), and opened in 1999. In 2013, thanks to the financial support of the BMO Financial Group, the FRTL was renamed the BMO Financial Group Finance Research and Trading Lab (BMO FRT-Lab) and moved to a new location in a newly renovated and larger space. This high-tech facility enables students, faculty and staff to interact with the global financial community and its resources in a real-time setting.
For training sessions, the Lab has 71 dual flat panel stations equipped with Factset, S&P Capital IQ, and real-time data feeds, six Bloomberg
terminals, two media/data walls and an integrated sound system. In addition, the Lab has a growing stock of custom-designed applications software. For example, trading and risk management simulations are conducted using Rotman Interactive Trader; and portfolio management training using Rotman Portfolio Manager. To access information on some of our current lab resources, please visit this link.
Students' training will be enhanced by providing access to worldwide information on fundamentals, research, news and prices, as well as by using industry applications. This allows students to implement the material they are learning in the classroom. In addition, according to Founding Director Tom McCurdy, "a primary objective of the Lab is for participants to learn how to make good financial decisions in complex environments taking account of, and managing, uncertainty about the future. Our simulation-based learning applications are designed to achieve this objective. For example, our RIT cases provide an opportunity for students to learn how to develop robust strategies that work well across the whole range of potential outcomes. Our learning-by-doing approach is a foundation for learning how to learn which supports life-long learning and innovation."
This state-of-the-art multi-function laboratory creates new opportunities for training, teaching, research, product and curriculum development. The BMO FRT-Lab provides a focal point for research and training in a range of financial disciplines including: investment strategy and portfolio management; financial engineering and risk management; trading; and analysis of the microstructure of markets.
Tom McCurdy
Bonham Chair in International Finance
Professor of Finance
Craig Geoffrey
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in Finance
Bachir Chehab
About
Bachir holds a Master's degree in Information Technology Management, and an Undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems. He has over 15 years' experience in IT and operations management contributing to large scale projects, including a management role at the American University of Sharjah Interactive Trading Floor. Additionally, Bachir was a faculty member in the American University of Sharjah lecturing in Business Information Systems.
Eric Kang
Eric is an alumnus of the University of Toronto Rotman Commerce program. He was initially a lab assistant at the Finance Lab for previous years. His experience includes an analyst role at Business Development Asia LLC, a mid-market investment banking firm specialized in cross border M&A transactions. He served his military duty as a riot police sergeant in Korea.
Marco Amadasi
About
Marco is a graduate of the University of Toronto Economics and Asia-Pacific Studies programs. After his internship experiences in asset management and marketing firms in the US and Europe, he worked in the real estate finance industry in Toronto for two and a half years. He joined the Finance Lab in 2017.
The lab assistant team is dedicated to helping students access data and use the various software applications available in the lab. Each of the lab assistants has a specialized role that keeps the lab functioning in an efficient manner, as identified below. The Lab Assistants are available virtually to assist you from Monday through Friday, if you have any question or concern related to the lab resources please send your email to financelab@rotman.utoronto.ca and one of our Lab Assistant will get in touch with you.
Cindy Li
Lab AssistantCindy is a third-year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance and Economics and majoring in Ethics, Society and Law. In her spare time, she enjoys debating competitively, watching old movies, and taking in the sunset.
Emily Wen
Lab AssistantEmily is a third year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. She loves playing tennis, spending time outdoors, and taking photos.
Jason Mao
Lab AssistantJason is a third year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. Jason enjoys working out, trying out new food and playing board games with friends.
Joey Poh
Lab AssistantJoey is a second year Rotman Commerce student studying Finance & Economics. Joey's hobbies inclue: eating, cooking and spending time with friends. She hopes to be able to go on an overnight camping and ski trip with newfound friends before she leaves Toronto.
Joshua Hur
Lab AssistantJoshua is a third year Rotman Commerce student studying Finance & Economics. He enjoys playing badminton, board games and sending postcards to people around the world.
Justin Xu
Lab AssistantJustin is a second year student in Engineering Science hoping to pursue a biomedical engineering or a math, stats, & finance (MSF) major. He loves watching football and is a big Manchester United fan.
Lisa Wu
Lab AssistantLisa is a fourth year student specializing in Finance & Economics at Rotman Commerce. She enjoys jamming out to pop music and loves to cook new foods.
Petra Torovic
Lab AssistantPetra is a second year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. She enjoys going on bike rides and hiking trails with her friends. She hopes to visit the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.
If you are a BMO FRT-Lab alumnus but do not see yourself on this page, please e-mail us at financelab@rotman.utoronto.ca and you will promptly be added to this page.
2021
Ye, Tony
Contact:
tonyzj.ye@mail.utoronto.ca
Employment:
Princeton PhD Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Li, Esther
Dai, David
Contact:
dave.dai@clsa.com
Employment:
Regional Head of Utilities research at Credit Suisse based in Hong Kong- RSM 2302 - Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
- RSM 2303 - Risk Modelling and Financial Trading Strategies
- RSM 2306 - Options and Futures Markets
- RSM 2310 - Analysis of Fixed Income Securities
- RSM 2315 - Value Investing
- RSM 2317 - Applied Portfolio Management
- RSM 4318 - Applied Portfolio Management
- RSM 4319 - Forecasting Risks and Opportunities for Financial Securities
- RSM 6302 - Financial Markets, Risk, and Institutions
- RSM 6304 - Operational Risk
- RSM 6306 - Probabilistic Modelling for Risk-Informed Decisions
- MMF 1920 - Investment and Finance
- RSM 230 - Financial Markets
- RSM 311 - Analytical Insights using Financial Data
- RSM 312 - Data and Information Management for Business Analytics
- RSM 333 - Corporate Finance
- RSM 336 - Investments
- RSM 361 - Human Resource Management
- RSM 430 - Analysis of Fixed Income Securities
- RSM 432 - Risk Management for Financial Managers
- RSM 434 - Financial Trading Strategies
- RSM 435 - Futures and Options Markets
- JRE300 - Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance
- Masters of Financial Risk Management MATLAB Sessions
- Microsoft Excel Training
- Masters of Finance VBA Training
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
The following courses integrate the Rotman Finance Lab in their lectures and assignments: