FIN921 – MANAGERIAL FINANCE
ASSESSMENT 2 – Individual Essay Assignment – MANUAL
This manual outlines the followings:
? Provision of essay topics
? Task requirements
? Format and printing requirements
? Submission requirements
? Provision of essay topics
You must select one of the following three essay topics.
Topic A: Financial statement analysis has long been a major instrument to predict the probability of bankruptcy of firms. However, significant corporate scandals have revealed that financial statements are not reliable to estimate the firm’s default (bankruptcy) risk. Using the supporting evidence from journal articles, discuss whether corporates need other approaches than financial statement analysis to bankruptcy prediction. (Note: This topic is neither to discuss about historical evolution of bankruptcy prediction models, nor to list various types of default prediction models.)
Topic B: Financial market regulators worldwide recently imposed short selling restrictions on financial securities. The primary purpose of this was to curb excess stock price volatility. Discuss if these restrictions successfully achieved their purpose. Use supporting evidence from journal articles together with your own analysis of actual financial market evidence.
Topic C: Negative gearing occurs when an asset (e.g. a house or share portfolio) is financed largely by a loan and the periodic interest payments on the loan exceed the income produced by the asset in the same period (e.g. monthly interest exceeds monthly rent receipts or monthly share dividend yield). Explain the advantages and disadvantages of such arrangements in terms of risk and return, especially in the context of increasingly volatile market conditions. Illustrate your answer with example calculations and references to the journal articles and financial press.
? Task requirements
1. The essay MUST be completed individually.
2. You must address all the questions of the topic chosen, and build up your own argument from reading the relevant journal articles and news articles in the financial press.
3. At least 6 key Journal Articles should be included.
4. The maximum length of the essay (including abstract, body text, in-text citation and reference list) is 1,500 words. Essays exceeding the word limit will be penalised with 10% penalty.
5. An abstract of no more than 150 words is to preface the essay.
6. The essay should follow the structure including Abstract, Introduction, Body text, Conclusion and the Reference List.
7. Referencing and in-text citation must follow an acceptable academic format using the Harvard referencing style. Please follow the guidelines (“Referencing Guide”) uploaded on the FIN 921 moodle site. All sourced material, including direct quotations, must be appropriately acknowledged.
8. Use your own words. Reference wherever necessary. Do NOT plagiarise.
? Format and printing requirements
1. Clearly state the TOPIC NUMBER (A, B, or C) that you have chosen on the assignment coversheet (with bar code). Failure to do so will result in a 5% penalty.
2. The assignment must be typed (word processed), in font size 12 with 1.5 line spacing, on one side of the paper only.
3. Pages are to be consecutively numbered.
? Submission requirements
1. The essay is due on Wednesday, 29th March, 2017 at 3:00 pm (Week 8).
2. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your work. Server problems, network outrages, computer breakdowns, hard disc failures, and the like will not be considered for late submissions.
3. Assignment MUST be submitted through both of the following paths:
a. Submit the MS Word version via TURNITIN system, before printing out.
b. For a printed hard copy submission, you must print an assignment coversheet
(with bar code) from http://businessfaculty.uow.edu.au/coversheets/
When you submit the hard copy of your essay report, you MUST attach 1) a signed assignment coversheet with a bar code, 2) a hardcopy of the TURNITIN -originality report- and 3) a hardcopy of the report in MS Word version. Failure to do so will result in a 10% penalty.
4. Place the signed coversheet (with bar code) to the front of the assignment and take it to Business Central to be scanned and submitted. The assignment will electronically be recorded as -submitted- and an electronic receipt will be issued to your University email account.
5. A 10% penalty will be incurred for each business day the assignment is late.
6. You are NOT allowed to collaborate with anyone on this assignment. Sign the declaration stating that the submitted work is your own on the assignment coversheet.