ECON3241
Security Investment Analysis
Undergraduate Programmes 2021/22



1

SUMMATIVE ASSIGNMENT

During Epiphany Term you are required to construct a portfolio of assets and manage
and monitor its performance throughout the term using the StockTrak Portfolio
Simulation software. The investment/portfolio construction period runs from Monday
17th January until Friday 18th March 2022.
An initial fund of $1,000,000 is available to purchase assets (equities, bonds, mutual
funds, ETFs and cryptocurrencies). A $10 commission is charged for each trade so
more trading will entail greater transaction costs. The total number of transactions is
limited to 200 for the simulation period.
You are required to register an individual account on StockTrak for the SIA Summative
Assessment 2021-22 (you cannot use the group account allocated as part of the
Formative Assessment).
All students need to register an account on StockTrak by Friday, January 28th.
Failure to do so will result in a delay in being able to construct your portfolio and may
have a negative impact on your final grade. Any students who do not register by
January 28th will need to contact the module leader (michael.lucey@durham.ac.uk)
directly.
Details of how to register are outlined at the end of this document. Please read them
carefully.
The assignment will be assessed by means of an individual written report that critically
discusses the following:
• the nature of the prevailing economic and financial environment that shapes
your investment decision-making and the potential impact of these on the
performance of the portfolio.
• the investment philosophy that underpins the construction of the portfolio
• the investment strategy adopted in constructing your portfolio (your investment
philosophy and strategy should be carefully distinguished from one another).
• the rationale for the allocation of assets between broad sectors and the
principles that have guided the choice of individual securities (the application of
technical and/or fundamental analysis).
• the performance of the portfolio in relation to a chosen benchmark (and a
justification for the choice of benchmark).
• the risk/return characteristics of the portfolio using appropriate portfolio
performance measures (consideration should be given to the performance of
your portfolio in terms of security selection, market timing, and diversification).
ECON3241
Security Investment Analysis
Undergraduate Programmes 2021/22



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• the strengths and weaknesses of your investment strategy and how any
lessons learned might alter your investment decision-making if you were asked
to construct a new portfolio at the end of the simulation period.

The discussion should be underpinned by appropriate academic and practitioner
literature throughout.
Please note, the assignment will be assessed based on your written report and not on
the performance of your portfolio over the investment period.

Overall word limit: 3500 words

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Your completed assignment must be uploaded to Blackboard Learn Ultra
no later than 12:00 midday on 25 April 2022.

A penalty will be applied for work uploaded after 12:00 midday as detailed in
the Business School Students SharePoint Site . You must leave sufficient time
to fully complete the upload process before the deadline and check that you
have received a receipt. At peak periods, it can take up to 30 minutes for a
receipt to be generated.


Assignments should be typed, using 1.5 spacing and an easy-to-read 12-point font.
Assignments must not exceed the word count indicated in the module
handbook/assessment brief.
The word count should:
▪ Include all the text, including title, preface, introduction, in-text citations, quotations,
footnotes and any other items not specifically excluded below.
▪ Exclude diagrams, tables (including tables/lists of contents and figures), equations,
executive summary/abstract, acknowledgements, declaration, bibliography/list of
references and appendices. However, it is not appropriate to use diagrams or
tables merely as a way of circumventing the word limit. If a student uses a table or
figure as a means of presenting his/her own words, then this is included in the word
count.

ECON3241
Security Investment Analysis
Undergraduate Programmes 2021/22



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Examiners will stop reading once the word limit has been reached, and work beyond
this point will not be assessed. Checks of word counts will be carried out on submitted
work, including any assignments or dissertations/business projects that appear to be
clearly over-length. Checks may take place manually and/or with the aid of the word
count provided via an electronic submission. Where a student has intentionally
misrepresented their word count, the School may treat this as an offence under
Section IV of the General Regulations of the University. Extreme cases may be viewed
as dishonest practice under Section IV, 5 (a) (x) of the General Regulations.
Very occasionally it may be appropriate to present, in an appendix, material which
does not properly belong in the main body of the assessment but which some students
wish to provide for the sake of completeness. Any appendices will not have a role in
the assessment - examiners are under no obligation to read appendices and they do
not form part of the word count. Material that students wish to be assessed should
always be included in the main body of the text.
Guidance on referencing can be found on Durham University website and in the
Business School Students SharePoint Site.

MARKING GUIDELINES

Performance in the summative assessment for this module is judged against the
following criteria:

• Relevance to question(s)
• Organisation, structure and presentation
• Depth of understanding
• Analysis and discussion
• Use of sources and referencing
• Overall conclusions

PLAGIARISM AND COLLUSION

Students suspected of plagiarism, either of published work or the work of other
students, or of collusion will be dealt with according to School and University
guidelines.
END OF ASSESSMENT

ECON3241
Security Investment Analysis
Undergraduate Programmes 2021/22



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StockTrak Account Registration

Please go to the following link to register:
https://durham.stocktrak.com/members/register?admin=6429659&session=242124
You will be presented with the following form:

ECON3241
Security Investment Analysis
Undergraduate Programmes 2021/22



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Please complete the form as requested. Once registered you will automatically be
enrolled on the assignment and can begin trading from Monday, January 17th.
All students need to register an account on StockTrak by Friday, January 28th.
Failure to do so will result in a delay in being able to construct your portfolio and may
have a negative impact on your final grade. Any students who do not register by
January 28th will need to contact the module leader (michael.lucey@durham.ac.uk)
directly.