Financial Markets Labs

1318 Van Munching Hall: 301-405-0914
3505 Van Munching Hall: 301-405-9724

The first Financial Markets Lab was launched in the fall of 2001 with the mission to provide world-class teaching and research opportunities in financial markets for the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Because of its great success, an additional lab was opened a year and a half later.

Developed as part of the University of Maryland's Flagship Initiative in Finance and Technology, the current two labs emphasize hands-on learning and utilize the latest in technology. Students are able to become proficient in the same software and data products which they will encounter in their careers in the financial services sector. Real-time and historical data and econometric analytical tools are provided by Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg, Morningstar, Mergent, Standard & Poor's, IHS Global Insight,and other vendors. Data on equity, fixed income, and commodity markets are displayed on four electronic display boards and two electronic stock tickers.

There are two Financial Markets Labs in the Smith School of Business. They are formally named the Financial Markets Teaching Theater (3505 VMH), and the Financial Markets Data Center (1318 VMH). There are 32 PC terminals and 64 seats in the Teaching Theater, and 16 PC terminals and 32 seats in the Data Center. The Financial Markets Teaching Theater is used primarily for teaching classes. The Financial Markets Data Center is an open lab allowing students to use real-time and historical financial, accounting, and macro and micro economic data to do research, complete projects and assignments, and even build and test investment portfolios using professional software packages. Most importantly they learn where to find information and how to navigate and use the various available products to retrieve that information. All this increases their understanding of financial instruments and markets. Faculty research across all academic departments in the Smith School of Business also relies heavily on the data accessible via the Financial Markets Lab's product portfolio.

"The chief goal of the lab is educating our students in real-time financial concepts to increase their marketability. says Russ Wermers, Associate Professor of Finance and first lab director. "The second goal is to support cutting-edge faculty research".