ECN6004 Financial Markets and Decision Making 2023-2024
Assignment 1 (50% of the total mark)
Submission: online via the module site on the DLE.
Deadline for submission: 15/11/23 at 15:00
Students are required to hand in one word processed document with maximum 2,000 words (excluding appendices and references). A word count must be shown on the front cover.
This is an individual piece of assessment. Submission of coursework maybe handed in on any day prior to the deadline.
Note: please consult the main university webpages for information on revisions to policies in the area for the current academic year.
A student unable to meet the coursework deadline because of exceptional circumstances, outside of the student’s control, that can be corroborated by independent evidence and which occurred during or shortly before the assessment can apply for extenuating circumstances. Please consult the
Faculty Support Office for advice in such circumstances. Please note that computer, printer and IT problems are generally not considered as valid extenuating circumstances. Further guidance can be found at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/essential-information/exams/exam- rules-and-regulations/extenuating-circumstances
The University operates a ‘fit-to-sit’ policy. If you think that your ability to attend or complete an
assessment is being affected by extenuating circumstances, you must not sit or complete a time specific assessment and must submit a valid Extenuating Circumstances form. If you attempt a
time-specific assessment, then this is normally taken as your declaration that you consider yourself fit to do so.
Extenuating circumstances are circumstances which:
• have a significant impact on your ability to attend or complete assessment(s), and
• are exceptional, and
• are outside your control, and
• occurred during or shortly before the assessment in question.
If you have a long-term health condition, then you are advised to complete a ‘long-term health
condition notification’ form (and submit it with evidence to [email protected]) and to consider contacting Disability Services, who maybe able to provide further support for your learning.
In the case of assessed coursework, or equivalent, your extenuating circumstances claim should be submitted as soon as possible, and normally no later than ten working days after the deadline for the submission of your work. If students wish to submit extenuating circumstances for a group work submission then all students within the group must submit a claim.
Where extenuating circumstances are not considered valid any coursework which is percentage
marked and submitted after the deadline date and time will be capped at the minimum passmark within the first 24 hours of the deadline, or will be awarded a mark of zero if submitted more than 24 hours late.
Where extenuating circumstances for coursework are considered valid you will normally be permitted a maximum of 10 working days (excluding any holiday period) from the original
deadline for the submission of the work. During the summer referral period extensions are given for five working days or non-submission.
Assessment Criteria
The mark awarded to the submission is decided by the following factors:
• Accurate explanation and appropriate use of relevant economic theories, concepts, analysis and methods including a critical assessment.
• Logical structure of the arguments
• Clarity of explanation – fluency and conciseness of written exposition, grammar and correct spelling
• Demonstration of knowledge of the relevant literature and proper citation of sources.
• Keeping to the word limit, inclusion of word count.
Marks are awarded for afull answer to the question so your final mark will reflect the style, depth of knowledge, rigour, and clarity demonstrated in the submission.
General Guidelines
• Use 12pt standard font (Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial).
• Use 1.15-line spacing. Spacing between each paragraph should be consistent.
• You are required to note at the end of your work an accurate word count. Diagrams/tables/figures, direct quotations and the reference list are excluded from the word count.
• Relevant tables/diagrams/figures should be properly numbered, titled and referenced. If such tables/diagrams/figures are constructed by you based on some sources, you still need to specify the sources at the bottom of the tables/diagrams/figures.
• Add your student ID number to your document name, for example, “ECN6004 Assignment 1 xxxxxxxx [your student ID number]”. Your submitted work will be marked anonymously.
Return of Coursework
Coursework will normally be marked in 4 working weeks (20 working days) of submission date. You will be notified via the student portal when the submitted work is marked and result is released. Feedback on your submitted work can be found online via DLE.
Once provisional assessment marks are released they will have gone through the University’s moderation process. This process ensures that the marks are fair, reliable and consistent with assessment criteria. At this point marks can only be changed for two reasons (1) there has been a procedural error (e.g. there has been an error in data entry) (2) an external examiner chooses to systematically adjust marks at the subject examination board.
Other Useful Resources for Essay Writing and Referencing
Generic essay writing guidance:
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/learning-gateway/learning-development
Cheating, Plagiarism and Other Academic Offences
• All your work must contain references to your sources, however acquired.
• To copy another person’s work is viewed as plagiarism and is not allowed in UK academic institutions.
• All your work must be your own and other sources must be identified as being theirs, not yours.
• The copying of another person’s work will result in you receiving a zero for your assignment and could result in expulsion from the university altogether.
Academic offences, including plagiarism, are treated very seriously.A student who is proven to have committed an academic offence maybe placing his or her degree in jeopardy. It is your responsibility as a student to make sure that you understand what constitutes an academic offence, and what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. Read through the information in the Faculty Undergraduate Programmes Handbook under ‘Assessment and Examinations Offences’, including the penalties for offences. If you still do not understand what constitutes an academic offence, please consult the Student Support Office, your personal tutor or your programme manager. Please note that essays must be largely written in your own words to demonstrate your understanding of the material. It is not acceptable to copy large sections of text from other sources, however well referenced. It is useful to include some short direct quotes (say up to 4 or 5 lines). In this case, you must put the quotes in inverted commas and state the page number in the text of your essay as well as the author’s name and date.
If unsure about what equals an academic offence, ask at the Student Support Office.
Some useful guidance on how to reference correctly, and avoid plagiarism can be found here:
http://www.citethemrightonline.com/
Plymouth University’s Learning Development website gives guidance as to how to approach
report writing as well as giving more advice on research and referencing your report correctly:
http://www.learningdevelopment.plymouth.ac.uk/
Referencing for coursework: Please use the Harvard system. A guide to the Harvard system can be found via the library web-site. Click on the business and management subject guide and then the link to referencing on the top left menu. You can then access - cite them right on-line, which provides a guide to Harvard.
Assignment Question
Assume that you have managed to secure a job in a financial institution where you have been recruited as a financial analyst and you have been asked by your manager to prepare a trading recommendation for your client(s) after performing an appropriate investment analysis. Your investment analysis should be viewed as being valuable to your client(s) who may have limited knowledge on investment analysis and need your advice as a financial analyst.
Requirements:
For a company of your choice (operating within a sector of your choice) provide an investment trading recommendation for the company’s stock i.e. buy/sell/hold recommendation after performing relevant investment analysis. To prepare your trading recommendation you should apply a number of different techniques associated with both fundamental and technical analysis of stock valuation and provide a proper explanation of the results.
Your analysis should be supported by the knowledge, theories and procedures gained in the lectures and tutorials, avoiding excessive introduction of theories and jargons.
References to start with :
Pilbeam K., 2018. Finance & Financial Markets, 4th Edition, Palgrave.
Data sources: FAME (Financial Analysis Made Easy) which is accessible via Primo > Databases From the University’s Library, Bloomberg.
GRADES AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATIONS
The following briefly describe what is required for a work to be awarded a grade within each degree classification. More precise grade descriptors are available in the economics programmes’ handbook.
First class (70%+). Work considered excellent. The submission will be critical and analytical throughout. Any question will be answered directly, using a coherent set of arguments that are informed by an appropriate range of literature. The presentation will be highly fluent and articulate throughout.
Upper second-class (60%-69%). Work considered very good. The submission will contain a full understanding of the issues and be well reasoned. Any answer will have a good appreciation of the required tasks, and demonstrate a highly competent set of arguments that are built on a good selection of appropriate literature. The presentation will be fluent and articulate.
Lower second-class (50%-59%). Work considered good. The submission will understand the required task and address it with competence. However, some aspects of the way material is used will be lacking. For example, explanations of relevance or application may be partly unclear or ineffective. The presentation of material may lack fluency and clarity in places.
Third class (40%-49%). Work considered satisfactory. The submission will address the required
task in a basic manner. The submission will understand the required task and show some appreciation of what is required. The submission maybe flawed and not address all aspects fully or clearly. The presentation of material may have problems with fluency and clarity.
Fail (<40%). Work that does not pass the assessment. The submission may not have addressed the required task or addressed it in an inadequate manner. It will fail to demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theory and / or principles underpinning a satisfactory submission. The presentation may contain serious problems.