Professor Abu Khan

FIN4333 Group Project: Market Study

The goal of your project is to learn about one of the major global financial markets
and the importance to that market for the country where the market is based. In order to
make the writing of the project easier for you, I have split the project to several parts. This
allows me to give you feedback already before you turn in the final report. The Final version
of your report is due Monday, August 22.you will email soft copy of you word file along
with your data in a spreadsheet.

Select one of the markets and countries in the world, where these markets play a
major role also in a global context. Examples include:
a. Bolsa Mexicana & Mexico
b. Japan Exchange Group & Japan
c. Dubai Financial Market & Dubai
d. Swiss Exchange & Switzerland
e. Shanghai Exchange & China
These are just examples. Be creative and find an interesting market to study!
I want to see that you are working on the project. In order to show me that you are
working on it you should turn in by this deadline the proposed outline of your report and the
list of resources what you have found so far.
1. Decide on the outline for your report.
2. Find resources for information for your report. Some of the resources you can look at
are at the end of this document.
3. Write down the questions you want to answer with your report.
4. Give an overview of the chosen market.
5. What types of assets are traded on the chosen market?

This draft should prove to me that you have made significant progress on the project.
It should include the following:

1) How many assets are traded on the market? How is has it changed over time?
 FIN433 Group Project Summer 2019

2) What are the historic and current trading volumes? (5 years of data in Excel file)
3) What is the current and past market capitalization? (5 years)
4) What are the growth rates of trading volumes and market capitalization?
5) Who are the major players on the market? Is the market friendly to the small and
individual investors?
This draft of the report should have incorporated the feedback I gave to your prior draft. In
addition your report should include the following questions:

1) What is the role of that market to the whole economy of the country where the
market’s headquarters are located (e.g. role of NYSE in the U.S. economy)? Compare the
market capitalization to the size of the specific economy (e.g. measured by GDP).
2) Compare the market with a competing market in relation to number of assets traded,
market capitalization and trading volume. (e.g. You can compare NYSE and London SE.)
3) What is the importance of the chosen market in global context?
4) In your opinion is the level of information provided on the market good? Excellent?
5) What type of problems related to the information did you detect, if any?
6) Do you believe this market to be efficient? Liquid?
In your final report you should have incorporated the feedback I gave to your prior draft.
In addition you should pay attention to the following:
1) Strong and concise introduction that states the objective of the report.
2) Logical and clear structure of the report. Use headings and subheadings.
3) Strong conclusion that summarizes your main findings.
4) Spelling and grammar.
5) Proper citations and references. (Use MLA or APA style.)
6) Professional formatting.

Formatting and Style

Formatting and style of your report are very important and determine the first impression of
your work. When you go for a job interview, you check if your tie is straight and shirt is
ironed – all to give a good first impression to the potential employer. The same principle
applies here. A professional, easy to follow, and consistent style and formatting will give
your boss or client the first impression of the quality of your work. It will also help the reader
to more easily follow what you have written. Use formatting and style to direct the reader
and help him/her focus on the important parts of your report.

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 Write the report in prose form. However, the use of tables and charts is encouraged to
make the data easier for us to read and understand what you are saying.
 Page numbering must be used.
 When you copy-paste data in the table from sources the sources you use, adjust the
style so that all tables in your report are in the same style.
 When you look at the data, decide what is better – table or chart. For example, if you are
trying to illustrate a trend over several years, it might not be good to use a table as it will
not depict the trends in the best way. Simple line graph of the data will illustrate the
trend and will take up less space in your report. Even if the data in the original data
source is presented in table format (e.g. GDP data for past periods), it does not mean
that you also have to report it in the form of the table. Copy it to excel and convert it
into line chart, and then copy the chart to your report. Cite the source for the data (e.g.
World Bank) under that figure that you created! See the following examples.
Table1: GDP for Estonia 1999 – 2008.
GDP GDP
Year Year
current US$ current US$
1999 5,680,340,252 2004 11,989,274,032
2000 5,623,402,626 2005 137,89,968,054
2001 6,191,332,456 2006 16,449,097,473
2002 7,306,384,618 2007 20,958,675,439
2003 9,815,688,058 2008 23,089,480,822

Source: World Bank.

Figure 1: GDP for Estonia 1999 – 2008.

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25000000000.0

20000000000.0

15000000000.0

10000000000.0

5000000000.0

0.0
1999

2002

2004

2007
2000

2001

2003

2005

2006

2008
Source: World Bank.

 Use headings and sub-headings. This makes the report easier to follow for the reader.
(Hint: Use the topics of the information requested as the headings.)
 Keep in mind that it is the quality that matters NOT quantity.

Analysis

 Just copying data into the report does NOT count as analysis! You need to interpret and
explain the data.
 When you say that results are high or low, you need to state to what are you comparing
the data. You can compare to the data to previous periods for the same country OR you
can compare to some benchmark. “High” or “low” can be very relative and subjective.
For example if your report is about Tokyo SE you can use NYSE as one benchmark and
Japanese economy as another benchmark. This puts the numbers into context.
 You need to consider what is good – high or low? For example, high life expectancy is
good, whereas high infant mortality rate is bad.
 Always state the period and the currency of the data!
 Compare data from the same time periods and in the same currency!
 If the data is an estimate for the specific period, state that!

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Citations and References

You have to cite your sources and have to include the list of references in the end of the
report!
 Cite your sources in the text.
 All tables and figures have to have the source stated under it. Even if you compile
the data in the table or chart yourself, you have retrieved the data from some
source like World Bank. You need to state that source under the figure or table.
 All sources have to be listed in the references in the end of the report.
 When you quote a source without rephrasing, you need to use quotation marks and
cite the source. When you rephrase the source you just need to cite the source and
do not need to use quotation marks.
 If you need help with citations and references, The Purdue Online Writing Lab is a
very good source for tips and instructions: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Some valuable resources for your research:

 World Bank – Key Statistics by country: http://data.worldbank.org/country

 International Monetary Fund (IMF) – Country Information:
http://www.imf.org/external/country/index.htm
 Economist Intelligence Unit – Country Profiles: http://www.eiu.com/public/#
You have to register with their homepage but the access to the information is free.
 CIA – The World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/index.html
 Transparency International: http://transparency.org/
 Freedom House: http://freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=1
 World Federation of Exchanges: http://www.world-exchanges.org/statistics

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Grading Rubric

Criteria Possible Points

Discussion  
Introduction (objective and target audience of the report) 10
Synopsis of the market 5
Discussion on the assets traded on the market. 5
Discussion on the market participants. 5
Analysis of the quality of information provided on the market. 5
Scope and depth of the report 10
Analysis  
Trend analysis of relevant market indicators (e.g. trading volume, market
capitalization) over at least 5 years.
10
Analysis of the size/importance of the market for the local economy. 10
Benchmark analysis of the market relative to some other market (or
economy).
10
Formatting of written report  
Spelling and grammar 5
Report Structure 5
Conclusions are strongly supported 10
Citations & References 5
Hard copy of the report is professional 5
Presentation  
Organized & professional presentation 5
Slides were effective, and helpful. 5
Demonstrated understanding of the material 5
Demonstrated critical thinking skills. 5
Demonstrated time management skills 5
TOTAL 125

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Group _____________________________
Possible
Criteria Points Comments
Points
Discussion  
Introduction (objective and target audience of
the report)
10
Synopsis of the market 5
Discussion on the assets traded on the
market.
5
Discussion on the market participants. 5
Analysis of the quality of information provided
on the market.
5
Scope and depth of the report 10
Analysis  
Trend analysis of relevant market indicators
(e.g. trading volume, market capitalization) 10
over at least 5 years.
Analysis of the size/importance of the market
for the local economy.
10
Benchmark analysis of the market relative to
some other market (or economy).
10
Formatting of written report  
Spelling and grammar 5
Report Structure 5
Conclusions are strongly supported 10
Citations & References 5
Hard copy of the report is professional 5
Presentation  
Organized & professional presentation 5
Slides were effective, and helpful. 5
Demonstrated understanding of the material 5
Demonstrated critical thinking skills. 5
Demonstrated time management skills 5
TOTAL 125

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