Southern Connecticut State University
Department of Economics and Finance
Fall 2010

COURSE NUMBER:
MBA 573
COURSE TITLE:
INVESTMENT ANALYSIS
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A study of investment portfolio theory and assset pricing models which will help the student acquire the analytical skills to conduct valuations of equities and fixed income securities. Topics will include: overview of the investment decision-making process, valuation of equities and fixed income securities, efficient market theory, diversification, optimal portfolio analysis, risk and return, CAPM, APT.
PREREQUISITES:
MBA 503
PROFESSOR:

Dr. Robert M. Eldridge. Seabury Hall 304
Tel: (203) 876-5046 (H);
(203) 392-5628 (O)
Fax: (203) 392-5254/5863
Email: eldridger1@southernct.edu

OFFICE HOURS:
Mon:1400 - 1630
Tues: 1500-1600
Wed: 1500 - 1630
or by appointment.
CLASS HOURS:
Mon 1700 - 1930 EN A113
MATERIALS:

1. "Investments", Levy and Post; New York: Prentice Hall. 2005 .

2. Subscription to the Wall St Journal

3. Your MBA 503 text

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course establishes a foundation in the analysis of securities and the creation of portfolios of equity and fixed income securities. To complement the theory, the student will ah ve the opportunity to participate in a competition using play money but real prices.
INSTRUCTION:
The course will consist of lectures, the use of OTIS software and readings from the Wall
St Journal
and other sources.
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT:

1. 3 exams @ 20% =
2. 9 papers
3. "Two minute drills" =
4. Participation and attendance =
5. Ethics questions =

60%
25%
10%
03%
02%
SPECIAL NOTES:
1. "Two minute drills". At the end of each class there will be a one question quiz lasting two minutes. I will count only the top 10 grades. This will constitute 10% of the course grade.

2. At the end of the course the student will be requested to complete a "Course Survey" form, separate and distinct from any University Evaluation form. This survey helps me in preparing the course for the next time it is offered. For each form returned, 1/n points will be added to the final grade, where "n" represents the number of students enrolled in the course based on the registrar's final class list.

3. The student is permitted and encouraged to tape record lectures for personal study use only.

4. If any student has a particular disability-related need in order to participate in this course, such as special seating, note-taking assistance, use of tape recorders or modified exam conditions you will need to visit the Disability Resource Office, EN C105A, to arrange for approved accommodations. If you have other information you wish to share with me such as emergency medical information, or arrangements in case the building has to be evacuated, please tell me as soon as possible.

5. It is recommended that you form yourselves into study groups for the purpose of doing the homework problems.

6. Cell phones and audible pagers MUST BE TURNED OFF during class unless the permission of the instructor has been obtained in advance. Failure to comply will result in a failing grade for the class.
PAPERS:

1) 1-2 pages. In this paper you will lay out your investment objectives (income, capital gains); the investment style you will follow (growth securities, value securities), and your investment horizon (which should be tied to your objectives). Each element above (objective, style and horizon) should include a ratioanle. Finally, discuss hyour levelo of risk tolerance at this current time.

2) 1-2 pages. In this paper you will establish the allocation of assets by percentages accompanied by a rationale. Show how this allocation will support your objective, style and horizon of paper 1.

3) 1-2 pages. In this paper you will establish the benchmarks by which your portfolio will be measured. Include a benchmark for measuring both equity and fixed income holdings. Provide a rationale for your selections.

4) - 8) 2-4 pages each. These papers will report the results of investing in your portfolio, the results of the benchmarks and an explanation of the results. Pay particular attention to news reports that affect either the markets as a whole, specific stocks/fixed income securities or economic sectors.

9) 3-4 pages. A final report on your portfolio results.

SPECIAL NOTE: There will be a prize for the top three portfolios created starting 22 Sept. Portfolios will be judged on (1) adherence to stated asset allocation objectives; (2) conformance to stated objectives and style. The prizes are separate from the grades on the 9 papers.

Some assistance:
www.finance.yahoo.com

Go to "stock research" screener
Launch Yahoo Finance Stock Screener
or
Large Cap Value
or
Bargain Growth

EXPECTATIONS:

A. What you may expect from me:

1. A strong grounding in International Finance.

2. A willingness to work with you on specific problems you have with the course or scheduling.

3. A sense of excitement about the field of finance.

B. What I expect of you:

1. Come to class prepared by having read the assigned materials and done any outside work assigned.

2. If you know that you will miss a class, a call to me would be appreciated.

3. If something does not make sense in the course, you will ask me either in class, in office hours or call me at home.

4. A sense of what is going on in the world of business and finance through a daily reading of The Financial Times.

C. Profile for success or failure. If you go into an exam behind in the reading and not up with the class discussions or any assigned homework, you probably will not be successful. If, on the other hand, you have done the reading and homework and been faithful in attendance, you should have no problem with any exam you get from me.

 
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
Subject to modification based on class progress, at the discretion of the instructor


DATE
TOPIC
CHAPTERS
ACTIITIES
REMARKS
Aug 30 Introduction. the investment environment 1,2 Review OTIS OTIS TEST starts
Sept 13 Security Markets. Regulatory issues. Ethics 3,5   Paper 1 due
Sept 20 Economic analysis. Corp financial analysis 17,16   Review MBA503 financial analysis. Paper 2 due.
Sept 27 Rate of return. Indices 6 Exam I. Paper 3 due. 24 Sept OTIS TEST ends. OTIS LIVE starts.
Oct 4 Mean/variance analysis 8    
Oct 11 Efficient Market Hypothesis 12   Paper 4 due
Oct 18 CAPM 10    
Oct 25 APT 11   Paper 5 due
Nov 1 Stock valuation and selection 15    
Nov 15 Intgerest rates and Bond valuation 13 Exam II Paper 6 due
Nov 22 Bond analysis and management 14    
Nov 29 Portfolio analysis 7   Paper 7 due
Dec 6 Portfolio diversification 9   OTIS ends at 1600 7 Dec.
Papers 8,9 due
Dec 13 Final Exam   1945-2145  

No class 8 Nov. I am at a conference.  The class will be made up 10 Dec 2010.