--%>

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 : What is Detail of Appropriations and

    Detail of Appropriations and Adjustments: A budget display, for each association, that replicates appropriations and adjustments by fund source for each of the character of expenditure, (that is, State Operations, Local Assistance, and Capital Outlay)

  • Q : What is Operating Expenses and Equipment

    Operating Expenses and Equipment (OE&E): This is a class of a support appropriation which comprises objects of expenditure like general expenses, communication, printing, travel, data processing, tools, and accessories for the equipment.

  • Q : Define Planning Estimate Line Planning

    Planning Estimate Line: The separate planning estimate adjustment or entry for a specific expenditure or type.

  • Q : Why do companies extend trade credit

    Accounts receivable are sometimes not gathered. Why do companies extend trade credit while they could insist on cash for all sales? Extending trade credit approximately leads to more sales for all time. If the incremental cash flows, comprisin

  • Q : Four major phases of the business cycle

    Normal 0 false false

  • Q : What is Proposition 98 Proposition 98 :

    Proposition 98: An initiative passed in the year November 1988, and amended in the year June 1990 election, which provides a minimum funding guarantee for school districts, community college districts, and other state agencies which give direct elemen

  • Q : Define CALSTARS CALSTARS : The acronym

    CALSTARS: The acronym for the California State Accounting and Reporting System that is the state's primary accounting system. Most of the departments presently use CALSTARS.

  • Q : Estimation of expected incremental cash

    How do we estimate expected incremental cash flows for proposed capital budgeting project? We estimate expected incremental cash flows for proposed project through estimating the changes in sales and expenses which are incremental to the project

  • Q : Describe the equilibrium price and

    Assume the total demand for wheat and the net supply of wheat per month in the Kansas City grain market are as: 16_Table for wheat.png

  • Q : Frequency Distribution What is

    What is Frequency Distribution? Compare Categorical Frequency Distribution, Ungrouped Frequency Distribution, Grouped Frequency Distribution?