Coursework: Bear Stearns Case Study 1. Summary The task Bear Stearns Case Study Module number NBS-3A8Y International Financial Services Assignment issued 14th October 2014 % of mark 20% Word limit 2500 "The collapse of Bear Sterns and its subsequent bailout by the Federal Reserve and JP Morgan sent shockwaves throughout the investment banking community. Bear Stearns' incredibly rapid demise raises serious questions regarding the investment banking industry's use of leverage, its regulation, and the role of the Federal Reserve in preventing major financial institutions from failing" David Stowell, Kellogg School of Management. 2. Your Task Write a report analysing the collapse of Bear Stearns after reading the "Rise and Fall of the Bear" case study. Your report must consist of six separate sections, one for each of the following specific questions: 1. What role did Bear Stearns' culture play in its positioning vis-à-vis its competitors, and what role might that culture have played in its demise消亡? (10 Marks) 2. What could Bear Stearns have done differently to avoid its fate: 1) In the early 2000s? 2) During the summer of 2007? 3) During the week of 10 March, 2008? (15 Marks) 3. Is market perception of liquidity more important for an investment bank than it is for a traditional manufacturing or distribution business? If so, why? (15 Marks) 4. How could Bear Stearns have addressed perceptions of its illiquidity? Could it have stopped the run on the bank, and if so, how? (15 Marks) 5. Did Bear Stearns' failure undermine the viability of so-called "pure-play" investment banks? (15 Marks) 6. What role should the Federal Reserve play in maintaining order in world securities' markets? (15 Marks) Marks will be awarded for Written Communication (10 marks) and Presentation (5 marks). Students should submit an electronic copy of their assignment to the HUB. Any questions related to the coursework assignment should be submitted to a specialised forum within the Q&A forum on the Blackboard Site for NBS-3A8Y. 3. Background NBS-3A8Y is assessed through one piece of coursework which counts 20% towards the final assessment and a 3 hour examination during the May/June, 2015 examination period which counts 80% towards the final assessment. The coursework is strongly related to the material covered in the International Financial Services module. 4. Coursework Assessment Criteria In preparing the coursework, students should be aware that marks will be awarded as follows: Marking criteria are based on the senate scale classifications. Marking criteria for each question: Argument, understanding and critical analysis, as well as the use of sources and evidence to back this up. % marks Question 1 10 Question 2 15 Question 3 15 Question 4 15 Question 5 15 Question 6 15 Written Communication 10 Presentation 5 Total 100% • Marking: The marking will be performed by Associate Tutors. • Please preserve anonymity by using your university number, not your name. 5. General Guidance 1. This is an individual piece of work. You must not work in groups. 2. Please also refer to the Course Handbook and associated information for more general guidance and information about: a. Plagiarism and collusion, and b. The framework used for marking the coursework c. Writing references Before you submit any coursework you should make sure that you are clear and up to date in your knowledge of university policy and practice. The University's policy on Submission of Work for Assessment (Taught Programmes): Submission of Anonymised Work for Assessment, Word Limits and Penalties, Extensions and Penalties for Unauthorised Late Submission, Provisional Marks and Feedback, and Retention of Coursework is published in the Calendar, and is available at: https://intranet.uea.ac.uk/calendar/Submission+of+Work+for+Assessment+(Taught+Programmes) A penalty will be imposed for exceeding the word limit, which will be clearly stated in the assignment. Students must include their word count on the coursework coversheet when they submit their work. The word count for coursework, written assignments, projects, reports and dissertations shall include: Footnotes and endnotes (irrespective of whether they have been used for the purpose of referencing or not, references (in the main text), tables and illustrations and if applicable the abstract, title page and contents page. Any appendicised material and the bibliography or reference list shall be excluded from the word count. Word Count Penalties Up to 10% over word limit No Penalty 10% or more over the word limit Deduction of 10 marks off original mark Failure to provide an electronic copy when requested Mark capped to the pass mark Intentional misrepresentation of the word count on the coversheet Mark capped to the pass mark The deadline for submission of coursework is 15:00 (3pm) on the submission/due day. This is for both electronic submission and paper copy submissions. Penalties for Late Submission Work submitted Marks deducted After 15:00 on the due date and before 15:00 on the day following the due date 10 marks After 15:00 on the second day after the due date and before 15:00 on the third day after the due date 20 marks After 15:00 on the third day after the due date and before 15:00 on the 20th day after the due date. All the marks the work merits if submitted on time (i.e. no marks awarded) After 20 working days work will not be marked and a mark of zero will be entered. The majority of assignments will be submitted electronically via eVision. For identified modules, students will be able to submit coursework electronically from one week before the deadline, using a link from the eVision page. If your assignment is set up for electronic submission, you must submit electronically; there will not be an option to submit a hard copy instead of electronic submission. Even late assignments, or those that have extensions, should be submitted electronically rather than in paper format. Finally students are advised to be aware of the revised "Senate Scale Classifications 2012/13 – Coursework." These scales which provide general guidance on the standards required for the award of marks for coursework. These are available at • http://www.uea.ac.uk/learningandteaching/documents/assessment/UndergraduateMarkingDescriptors 6. Useful information Please refer to: 1. Case Study 2. Module lecture slides 3. Module Course Book 4. Module Blackboard site