--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

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 : Which ratios would banker is interested

    Which ratios would banker is most interested while assuming whether to approve an application for short-term business loan? Illustrate.Bankers and other lenders employ liquidity ratios to distinguish whether to extend short-term credit to a firm

    		•
  • Q : Define Trigger Trigger : An event which

    Trigger: An event which causes an action or actions. The triggers can be active (like pressing the update key to validate input to a database) or passive (like a tickler file to repeat of an activity). For illustration, budget "trigger" mechanisms hav

    		•
  • Q : How long do business cycles remain

    Normal 0 false false

  • Q : The official unemployment rate Normal 0

    Normal 0 false false

    		•
  • Q : Describe factors which common

    Describe some factors which common stockholders consider while deciding how much, if any, cash dividends they want from the corporation wherein they have invested? Common stockholders would assume the company's investment opportunity, their requ

    		•
  • Q : For banking services how competitive is

    For banking services how competitive is the market?Along with more than 7,000 banks and thrifts in the U.S., banking is one of the most competitive industries in the world. Assume the following characteristics of the American financial services

    		•
  • Q : Explain Fiscal Committees Fiscal

    Fiscal Committees: The committees of members in every house of the Legislature which review the fiscal impact of proposed legislation, comprising the Budget Bill. Presently, the fiscal committees comprise the Senate Budget and Fiscal

    		•
  • Q : Define Expenditure Expenditure : The

    Expenditure: The expenditures reported on a department’s annual financial reports and “past year” budget documents comprises of amounts paid and accruals (comprising encumbrances and payables) for obligations made for the fiscal year

    		•
  • Q : Compare diversifiable and non

    Compare diversifiable and non diversifiable risk. Which do you think is more significant to financial managers within a business firms?Diversifiable risk can be dealt along with by, of course, diversifying. Generally non diversifiable risk is co

    		•
  • Q : What is Local Assistance Local

    Local Assistance (LA): The character of expenditures prepared for the support of local government or other locally administered actions.

    		•