Outline

Overview

Applied Portfolio Management is a two-semester program that enables undergraduate students to apply their academic knowledge and acquire practical skills by managing a portfolio of Australian equity securities using real money in real time. Students gain exposure to the world of asset management by assuming the role of analysts and are responsible for construction, monitoring and management of the University of Sydney Student Managed Fund. Analysts are divided into industry teams and begin with an evaluation of the existing investments. Following thorough economic, industry and company research and analysis, each team of analysts is required to identify opportunities in their industry and present an investment thesis to highlight undervalued stocks that may offer superior investment performance. Students make presentations on potential investments to academics, industry professionals and other analysts, who perform the role of an investment committee. Students report to the investment committee and advisory board and produce an annual report of fund activities. There is an emphasis on team-based learning and interaction with industry professionals who act as mentors to students.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	FINC3302
Academic unit	Finance
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	FINC3301
Corequisites ?	FINC3017
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jiri Svec, jiri.svec@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Small test	Investment update presentation Oral presentation	10%	Week 01	7 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Investment pitch and discussion Oral presentation	30%	Week 09	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Functional team project report Report	30%	Week 10	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Annual report Report	25%	Week 13	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Stock selection performance n/a	5%	Week 13	1 page
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Functional team project report: Each of the functional teams (macroeconomic, quantitative, risk and performance, portfolio construction) will analyse a current issue related to the investment portfolio. Each team will submit a brief written report and present their findings to the rest of the class.
Annual report: The functional and sector teams will work together to prepare an annual report to be presented to the Investment Committee and posted on the university website.
Investment pitch and discussion: Each sector team is to select a number of stocks from within their industry that they propose to be included in the portfolio. The report and presentation must detail the arguments justifying your buy recommendation, company and sector overview, catalysts that will cause the market to adjust to meet your expectations, company valuation and risk factors. The presentation will be peer-reviewed. Students are expected to contribute to the in-class discussion.
Investment update presentation: Sector teams will provide an update on the performance of stocks in their sector and whether there are any changes in their recommendations.
Stock selection performance: Each sector team will be awarded marks based on the performance of their stock selections relative to that of an underlying benchmark.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Reporting season wrap, investment update	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	Investing in growth companies (TDM)	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 03	Value Investing	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	IT valuation	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 05	Portfolio risk management, attribution of risk and marginal effects	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	Socially responsible investing	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 07	Quant	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 08	Valuation (TDM)	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	Stock pitches and discussion	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 10	Stock pitches and discussion	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 11	Fund performance evaluation and attribution re-balancing	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 12	Annual report presentations, Investment update, IC meeting	Workshop (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key drivers of value for the Australian equity market. Identify how to use economic indicators, company announcements and economic forecasts to gauge the health of the economy and individual companies. Generate a trading strategy based on this information. Build an equity portfolio based on fundamental and quantitative analysis using the above skills. Identify and manage the risks inherent in the portfolio.
LO2. Evaluate the performance of the portfolio and your stock forecasts. Reflect on the underlying drivers of value that you did or did not forecast correctly
LO3. Understand both the quantitative and qualitative sources of information that affect stock value. Identify and backtest fundamental and quantitative portfolio trading strategies. Enhance your knowledge of Excel and become proficient in the use of Eikon/Bloomberg for data, news and analytics. Identify other sources of data to aid in forecasting firm value and portfolio construction
LO4. Effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, your trading recommendations using a range of modes of communication including analyst reports and presentations. Critically analyse and peer-evaluate presentations and contribute to discussion for the benefit of the fund.
LO5. Articulate the fund’s investment philosophy and understand and act in accordance with your ethical responsibilities as a portfolio manager. Understand the benefits and costs of socially responsible investing

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

FINC3302: Applied Portfolio Management B

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect