--%>

Analysis On Financial Indices

On a weekly basis, starting from week ending on 18/1, you need to produce a weekly performance report of the major indices around the world following this structure: 

Currencies
a. USD vs Yen, vs GBP(GBP/USD), vs. Swiss Franc (USD/CHF)
b. Euro vs USD, Yen, GBP, Swiss Franc
c. US Dollar Index

DELIVERABLES

Analyze US Dollar Index, the concept of cost of carry, future contract specifications for WTI, Gold via CME Group site.

1. For each index, calculate weekly, Year-to-Date, 12-month(rolling) returns, 3Y CAGR & 5Y CAGR (in case you cannot find the data from the web or Datastream just skip the respective index)

2. Calculate the average annual returns, standard deviation and the cross-correlations for as much from the above indices/asset classes for the following periods:
a. JAN 2007- DEC 2009
b. JAN 2010- DEC 2012
c. JAN 2002- DEC 2012
using i) daily or weekly and ii)monthly data

3. Plot the average returns (y-axis) and standard deviations (x-axis) for the period JAN 2002 - DEC 2012

4. Given the above results, which of these indices/asset classes would you be most / least interested investing in?

5. How do you explain the differences in the correlation figures?

6. Describe briefly each index / asset class from the ones in the list above.

  • Add the definitions of all indices, # of companies/countries included 
  • Weighting method: price weighted, value-weighted, equal-weighted 
  • top 5 of companies/countries in the basket/index - whenever you have access to constituents/members. 
  • Briefly analyze the structure and potential advantages for each index/asset class 
  • List at least one (1) Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) that you could invest in so that to track each one of these indices. 

7. Monitor major headlines and be ready to discuss the direction of the markets from week to week. The 2013 Outlook reports provided you with the key factors / themes that will be influencing the markets this year.

 

 

 

 

   Related Questions in Finance Basics

  • Q : Explain three career opportunities in

    List and explain the three career opportunities in the field of finance.Finance has three main career paths: financial management, financial markets and institutions, and investments. Financial managem

  • Q : Debit or credit Hi this is Shailender

    Hi this is Shailender Ojha i want to know when we receive the sales where we put the sales. in debit or credit column . could you please let me know.

  • Q : Define Federal Fiscal Year Federal

    Federal Fiscal Year (FFY): The twelve month accounting period of the federal government, starting on October 1 and ending the following September 30. For illustration, a reference to FFY 2013 means the period starting October 1, 2012 and ending at Sep

  • Q : What are Salaries and Wages Supplement

    Salaries and Wages Supplement: The annual publication issued in a while after the Governor's Budget, including a summary of all positions by department, unit, and categorization for the past, present, and budget years, as of July 1 of the present year

  • Q : Describe the status of cyclically

    Assume the full-employment, non-inflationary level of real output is GDP3 (not GDP2). If the economy is operating at GDP2 instead of GDP3, describe the status of its cyclically adjusted budget? The status of its present fiscal polic

  • Q : Explain Feasibility Analysis

    Feasibility Analysis: It is an analysis of the ability to finish a project successfully, taking into account legal, technological, economic, scheduling and various other factors. Instead of just diving into a project and hoping for th

  • Q : Standard deviation of the portfolio If

    If a stock with a standard deviation of 7% is combined with a stock that has a standard deviation of 5%, what will the standard deviation of the portfolio be? A) 6%B) Greater than 6%C) Less than 6%D) There is not

  • Q : Explain Generally Accepted Accounting

    Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP): The accounting rules, principles, conventions, and procedures which are employed for accounting and financial reporting. The GAAP for governments are put by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (

  • Q : Lower for a specified company-the cost

    Normal 0 false false

  • Q : What is Policy Adjustments Policy

    Policy Adjustments: The changes to existing law or Administration policies. Such adjustments need action by the Governor and/or Legislature and change the workload budget.