Reference no: EM13968924 , Length: 1500 Words

Detail": I didn't choose a topic you can choose whatever you want. Some of the topics are on page 5. I have made with red color some points to take into consideration. What exactly the assignments asks for, assessment criteria and grade descriptions. Also you will have to make the comparison with some layouts in Excel and then copy paste them in Word.

No# of Pages:
6 pages (1,500 words)

Subject Area:
Finance

Assignment for International finance

In sum, you have to:

• choose a subject from your studies in international finance

• construct a question relevant to the subject

• devise a plan of research

• complete a pro forma and get it signed.

 

• carry out the plan as in the pro forma.Assessment
The project will count for 25% of your overall marks.

Marks for the project are made up as follows:
Overall presentation of project 20%
Communication 10%
Use and presentation of resources 20%
Quality of analysis 50%
100%

good presentation: clear title, index, appropriate use of diagrams, clear layout, minimal cross referencing (i.e. diagrams, analysis, findings in the text and not listed at the back), keys to all equations, good referencing (no bibliographies - see below for references)..

Good communication: deadlines met, consultation hours used, a pro forma with notes etc written on, project completed before the Christmas vacation...

references should be as follows: (note that books must have page references)

Example in text: "Arya et al (1988) found that 20% of all seats in lectures had an ejector button, a finding moderated by the late Dr Gerbil (1988, p.201) who discovered that few worked."

Arya A., J.C. Fellingham and J.C. Glover (1998), ‘Capital budgeting: Some Exceptions to the Net Present Value Rule', Issues in Accounting Education, Vol. 13, No. 3 (August) pp.499 - 508.

Gerbil, A. (1988), Decision Theory: an introduction to the mathematics of rationality, Ellis Horwood.

 

good management of resources: good use of University/other information sources, relevant up to date material, clearly presented, good basic description of the data (mean, outliers etc), reasons why the time period and data was chosen.

Poor management of resources: inappropriate data, better sources easily available, old data, poorly described data...

Good quality of analysis: clear explanations, clear development of line of investigation, honest appraisal of your methods...

Poor quality of analysis: vague explanations, poor development of your theme, issues left outstanding, getting lost in the detail, claiming too much, careless, erroneous statements and/or inferences, failure to reflect on the shortcomings of your analysis, no analysis, vague descriptive approach showing no ability to analyse the sources but merely replicate them badly ...

 

• The project is intended to fit within a degree module. Excellent projects can be less than the word limit. Much more important is that you fulfil a carefully and narrowly designed scheme of investigation.

• You must consult with the lecturer.

• Do not leave the project until the Christmas vacation you will have 10%, marks are deducted in accordance with University regulations for late submission! Complete the project before the vacation.

• As ever, projects are marked on a 100% scale very high marks are obtainable, but.... It is perfectly possible to fail the project. The project will be given a fail mark if for example:
i) there is no pro forma
ii) there is no element of investigation as defined here, for example if you hand in a referenced essay it will fail.

• You may be asked for a viva. Students who hand in projects but who are unable to explain the content of their project cannot expect to receive ANY marks. Poor explanations will also reduce overall marks. You are not expected to make any special preparations for your viva if asked.

• Being asked to attend a viva does not mean that you are "under suspicion".

• Plagiarism is a very serious offence - University rules will be applied where plagiarism is suspected - see course manual.

 

timetable:

Semester 1 (not necessarily in this order):
1. Complete pro forma and submit it via blackboard.
2. Discuss pro forma with lecturer; ensure that you have a version emailed back to you with comments.
3. Familiarize yourself with the information sources (e.g. EIU and MINITAB). Note that manuals etc for these sources are the responsibility of the library, notes from me are by way of extra help.

Semester 2:
1. Carry out project.
2. Consult with lecturer if any difficulties are experienced / or for guidance.

Last week before Easter

1. Submit the project via TURNITIN on Blackboard remember to include your pro forma with my comments as part of your single project file.

 

 

.

OK so how do I undertake the project?

The first point is that the project has run for many years. Language students have in the past produced very successful (first class) projects - you are not being asked to attempt the impossible.

This project differs from many others in that you are not given a subject area or details on how to carry out the project. Instead you are given guidance as to how you might go about these tasks and offered consultation services. How you construct the project is an important part of the project itself.

Avoid the following strategies: "I don't know what to do for my project would you tell me?" - i.e. learned helplessness. This is not consultation. Also, "Can I do what he's doing only in Spain?" This approach is heading for a low mark, no two countries are the same - you must develop your own project for its own reasons.

In sum, you have to:
• choose the subject
• construct a question relevant to the subject
• devise a plan of research
• complete a pro forma and get it signed.
• carry out the plan as in the pro forma.

The end result need not be especially long - by consulting effectively with me you will avoid the main pitfalls

Subject of project:

A technical project will involve some interpretation and manipulation of numbers. Your source is EIU, you will then need to export data to MINITAB (Excel is a poor alternative) and then save the results of the analysis in Word - notes are available.

This is NOT a test of your numerical ability. Projects with regressions can get low marks for badly explained models, poorly analysed results etc; projects with no more than histograms and averages can get high marks for well explained and relevant analysis. The tools you use do not determine your marks.

The project is executed at the terminal, that is why you can complete it in the given timetable. DO NOT "write off" for information.

If you get in a mess with the numbers, consult with me so do not worry. Consultation is part of the exercise. NO MARKS ARE DEDUCTED BECAUSE OF ASSISTANCE. Consultation is a strength not a weakness.

Choice of subject

subject areas: (this will make more sense when you have studied the subject areas!)

Generally, find an area and think small.

Areas chosen by previous projects in rough order of popularity, but not merit, are:

1) PPP(Purchasing Power Parity) theory, variations are choosing different: countries, time periods, indices, lags, periodicity (i.e. monthly quarterly etc), expectations.
2) IFE(International Fisher Effect) theory, variations are choosing different: countries, time periods, indices, lags, periodicity (i.e. monthly quarterly etc), expectations.
3) Market efficiency, runs tests.
4) Forward rates (you will have to ask me for the data).
5) Exchange rate variation and correlation tests with each other and with Stock Market returns.
6) Balance of payments and the exchange rate.
7) Imports and Exports

The pro forma...

Pro Forma This form with my comments must be included as part of your project

(submit via blackboard this competed page to me with the file name proformajoebloggssep10 obviously your name instead of joebloggs and include my emailed reply in your project)

It is not possible to "plan as you go along" - you need a clear idea as to what you want to achieve before you begin your project. This "idea" must be as clearly specified as possible. The Pro Forma is intended to help in this process and to enable me to offer guidance. Complete the form as fully as possible - even for those sections you feel are less relevant to your particular choice of topic.
Name :
Roll number:
Date:

1. Central Question

 

2. Significance for International Finance

 

3. How will you test your question? (for non numerical investigations tell me how you are going to search for articles etc and how you are going to use them)

 

4. What will your test establish?

 

5. Data required for the Test

 

6. Source of Data

 

 

the write up

The following format is offered as a guide, why not use it? It shows that you have read this far!

Section 1. Introduction - What is being tested/reviewed? Why is the test/review important?

Section 2. Test design: How are you going to carry out your tests - be absolutely crystal clear in this section.
Review design: How are you going to conduct your review?

Section 3. Test: Results and further tests.
Review: Carry out review.

Section 4 Reflections on results and suggestions for further tests.

style

I have said enough about clarity. In addition, try to integrate your computer output (e.g. MINITAB) with your write up as closely as possible (minimize the need to refer to appendices, diagrams, equations etc., output should be part of the text) but place your source data (e.g. daily exchange rate changes for 3 years etc.) in an appendix.

You are not required to write up your notes nor to produce a lengthy tome. You should execute the project within the time allocated for International Finance - see me if this is not proving to be the case.

In conclusion to the project notes
As you may now have gathered an international finance project has been running for many years. Everything recommended here has been thoroughly tried and tested, so follow these instructions, in particular, do not pursue your own idea of a project and hand in "something that you call a project" at submission time, it will not pass. If you follow the instructions, you will gain much higher marks and enjoy the exercise.