KOI Trimester 1, 2017 FIN201 - Investment Management ASSIGNMENT–INDIVIDUAL “INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EMERGING MARKETS” Topic: Your topic is: “Investment Opportunities in Emerging Markets” You are required to select four emerging markets (four countries outside United States, Western Europe, Japan and Australia), identify the portfolio investment opportunities which they offer to funds managers and investors, outline the performance of the opportunities identified, along with the risks of such investments, and make appropriate recommend-ations & conclusions – with supporting reasons – for Australian investors. In line with the marking rubric, your essay should contain (see Subject Out-line for the rubric and additional inclusions and setting out of your essay): Research – A search of the literature to identify and describe four emerging markets and the opportunities they provide Australian investors; Analysis – Analyse the performance of each identified investment, comparing their performances historically and with similar investments in developed markets; cite actual returns achieved, relate to the economic performance (growth, inflation, interest rate and exchange rate movements) of the selected countries, and the risks associated with the investments. Recommendations and Conclusions – Draw out with supporting evidence or reasons investors to whom the selected investments are suitable and the proportions of each which should be included in a balanced portfolio. Illustrate your analysis, particularly performance history, with appropriate tables, charts and graphs, and where appropriate with illustrative examples.” Other Requirements Task Details: Based on the circumstances provided, students will be required to analyse a range of potential solutions, and make recommendations for the most appropriate investment portfolio elements. Students need to apply their own interpretation and judgement to the analysis, based on approved and valid research (see research Requirements below). Students who simply regurgitate their answers from the textbook or lecture notes risk failing the assignment. Research Students need to support their analysis with reference from the text and Requirements: minimum of six (6) suitable, reliable, current and academically acceptable sources – check with your tutor if unsure of the validity of sources. Groups seeking Credit or above grades should support their analysis with increased number of reference sources comparable to the grade they are seeking. Presentation: 2500+ 10% words in short Report format. The word count excludes the cover sheet, contents page, references, appendices, and illustrations (e.g. diagrams, graphs and tables). Research and Referencing You should begin by studying various chapters of the text-book (including Chapter 18 on alternative investments) dealing with the above asset classes. You will need to discover at least 6 references apart from the text-book. This should include at least one other book and one journal article. Use Harvard referencing! See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_referencing Marking Guide The Assignment will be scored out of 100%, in terms of the rubric (see Subject Outline, pages 7 to 9), with the result being converted to a mark out of 30%. The desired length of your Assignment is 2,500 words + / - 10%. The purpose of this Assignment is to test your initiative as advanced degree students, along with testing your ability to discover information and apply this to portfolio management . Remember that plagiarism brings severe penalties. Submission of Assignments. A soft copy must be submitted to Turnitin. Please submit to Lecturer a hard copy, including a KOI Cover Sheet (see Moodle) and a Turnitin validation page at the front of your Assignment by 11.00 am on Wednesday, 24 May, 2017. Failure to include these pages will result in a penalty of 1 mark for each itemized page omitted. ***Keep a soft copy of the Assignment in case of misadventure.*** Dr Mervyn Fiedler Subject Co-ordinator, KOI, FIN201 11 March, 2016.