ICM launches new certification programmes for capital markets

 Islamabad, January 20: The Institute of Capital Markets (ICM) is launching four new certification programmes for capital market professionals.

 

The new certification programmes are ‘Pakistan Markets and Regulations Certification’, ‘Fundamental of Capital Markets Certification’, ‘Financial Derivatives Traders Certification’ and ‘Financial Advisor Certification’. The first examination of new certification programmes will be held in February and March 2014.

 

The ICM certification programmes aim at promoting high ethical standards, enhanced competency of the industry professionals and protection of consumers.

This certification on ‘Pakistan Markets and Regulations’ is specifically designed to ensure that capital market participants at brokerage houses and asset management companies/pension fund management companies have sufficient understanding of the rules and regulations governing capital markets. The participants of this certification programme will cover the areas related to laws, rules and regulations governing, capital markets, i.e. SECP, stock exchanges and tax regimes.

The second certification programme, ‘Fundamental of Capital Markets Certification’ will cover the areas related to ethics, organization and structure of capital and financial markets, assets classification, time value of money, risk types, diversification and markets indexes.

The ‘Financial Derivatives Traders Certification’ will provide sufficient understanding of the derivatives’ markets and its products. This certification will cover the areas related to derivatives, futures, forward contracts, options, swaps, accounting tractions for derivatives and regulatory aspect of the derivatives’ contracts.

The ICM is also launching a certification programme ‘Financial Advisor Certification’ to educate capital market professionals on the concept of financial planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, income tax issues and other vehicles available for investment in Pakistan. This certification will also include general guidelines on for filling of income tax returns and other related issues.

The ICM had already been conducting certification examination of ‘Stock Broker Certification’ and ‘Mutual Fund Distributors Certification’ since December 2009.

Established in 2009, the ICM aims at meeting the skill needs of capital markets through creation of a permanent platform to develop certified human capital for capital market. It is Pakistan’s first securities market institution. The ICM-certified professionals are familiar with best international practices, sensitized to the need for ethical behaviour and capable of dealing and advising on instruments that are currently traded and also on new products. They are skilled not only to deal in conventional instruments but also to develop and trade new and complex capital market products such as options, index futures, and exchange traded funds and commodity futures.