--%>
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 : Technological improvement of production

    Normal 0 false false

    		•
  • Q : Why do financial managers compute the

    Why do financial managers compute the marginal tax rate?Financial managers utilize marginal tax rates to estimate the future after tax cash flows from investments.  Because they are interested in how much of the next dollar earned through n

    		•
  • Q : Meaning of invisible hand Normal 0

    Normal 0 false false

  • Q : Explain Supplement-Schedule 7A

    Supplement (Schedule 7A): In such documents, for precedent year, authorized positions symbolize the number of real positions filled for that year. For present year, authorized positions comprise all regular ongoing positions accepted in the Budget Act

    		•
  • Q : Advantages and disadvantages of working

    Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the aggressive working capital financing approach? An aggressive working capital financing approach generally results in a lower cost of funds for a firm however a higher level of risk.

    		•
  • Q : What is Legislative Analysts Office

    Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO): A non-partisan organization which gives advice to the Legislature on the fiscal and policy matters. For illustration, the LAO annually publishes a full analysis of the Governor's Budget and this document becom

    		•
  • Q : Describe the risk-return relationship

    Describe the risk-return relationship.The relationship among risk and required rate of return is term as the risk–return relationship.  This is a positive relationship since the more risk assumed, the higher the required rate of retur

    		•
  • Q : Advantages-disadvantages of internal

    Describe advantages and disadvantages of the internal rate of return method? The internal rate of return method is discounted cash flow method and number expressed like a percentage. Typically these are seen as advantages. The main disadvantag

    		•
  • Q : What is Unanticipated Cost or Funding

    Unanticipated Cost or Funding Shortage: A lack or scarcity of (a) cash in a fund, (b) expenses authority due to an inadequate appropriation, or (c) expenses authority due to a cash problem (example, reimbursements not received on a timely base).

    		•
  • Q : Explain Budget—Program or Traditional

    Budget—Program or Traditional: A program budget states the operating plan in terms of the costs of activities (that is, programs) to be undertaken to attain particular goals and objectives. A traditional (or object of expenses) budget expresses

    		•