PSU Trading Society
The Society’s library
Our curriculum, and the books and films we pointed members toward.
01 · Curriculum
Education Materials
22 subject areas taught from first principles to market application, from financial accounting and valuation through economics, fixed income, derivatives, and career preparation. Archived presentations and research are added to each topic.
Explore the curriculum →Topics
- Financial AccountingReading the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement as one connected system.Open topic →
- ValuationRelative and intrinsic approaches to estimating what a business is worth.Open topic →
- Discounted Cash Flow AnalysisBuilding a DCF from projected free cash flow, a discount rate, and a terminal value.Open topic →
- Technical AnalysisPrice, volume, trend, and momentum as tools for timing and risk management.Open topic →
- Behavioral FinanceHow cognitive biases shape investor decisions and market prices.Open topic →
- Market CommentaryRegular discussion of current markets, macro conditions, and notable company news.Open topic →
- EconomicsThe micro and macro foundations behind prices, growth, inflation, and employment.Open topic →
- International TradeComparative advantage, trade balances, tariffs, and currencies.Open topic →
- Fundamental AnalysisTurning filings, management commentary, and industry data into an investment thesis.Open topic →
- Monetary PolicyHow central banks set rates and manage balance sheets, and how markets react.Open topic →
- Fiscal PolicyGovernment spending, taxation, deficits, and their market consequences.Open topic →
- StatisticsThe quantitative toolkit: distributions, regression, correlation, and the limits of each.Open topic →
- Fixed IncomeBond pricing, yield curves, duration, credit spreads, and the structure of debt markets.Open topic →
- CryptocurrencyBlockchain fundamentals, major digital assets, and how to think about an emerging asset class.Open topic →
- Alternative InvestmentsPrivate equity, venture capital, hedge funds, real estate, and commodities.Open topic →
- DerivativesOptions, futures, forwards, and swaps: pricing intuition and practical uses.Open topic →
- Risk ManagementIdentifying, measuring, and controlling risk at the position and portfolio level.Open topic →
- Portfolio ManagementAsset allocation, diversification, rebalancing, and measuring performance.Open topic →
- Sales & TradingHow institutional desks work, from market making to client coverage.Open topic →
- Equity ResearchThe analyst’s craft: coverage, models, ratings, and the written research note.Open topic →
- Resume ReviewOne-page résumés that read the way finance recruiters expect.Open topic →
- Interview PreparationBehavioral and technical preparation for finance interviews, from first round to superday.Open topic →
02 · Competitions
Stock Pitch Competitions
Members and alumni competed at 18 schools: across the Big Ten, plus Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Boston University, and Boston College. Results and recaps are in the members’ area.
See the schools →03 · Reading list
Book Recommendations
From Graham and Dodd to Kahneman: investing, valuation, trading, behavioral finance, and Wall Street history.
Browse the shelf →04 · Screenings
Movie Recommendations
Films and documentaries about markets, financial crises, and the people who work in finance.
See the films →