Course Syllabus –2019-2020

Teacher: John Murray

Room: 220

House 2

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Business Department Phone Number: 201-858-5800

Course Description

Topics covered include: Securities markets and the investment environment; return, risk and modern portfolio concepts; stocks, bonds and valuation techniques; mutual funds and portfolio management; derivatives (options), Bank investments, FDIC, SEC

Objective: Acquire a thorough basic knowledge of investments and the securities markets by the end of the school year. Become familiar with the theories presented as well as practical applications. Gain ability to evaluate different investment vehicles, recognizing the risks inherent in each and weighing them appropriately against the potential return.

Class Protocol: Lectures will address the information contained in my Power point presentations. Students will be asked to comment in class on news items related to the securities markets. Tests will cover all information contained in Power point presentations.

Class Materials

Trading Account – Students will compete in two (2) stock market simulations. They will have two (2) separate trading accounts.
Homework – Discussion problems, cases and problem sets will be assigned.
Other Publications – The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s are highly recommended, student subscriptions are available from the instructor. I subscribe to both and will have them in class.
Calculator
Pen/Pencil
Notebook

Grading Policy: Your grades are weighted.

Percentage

Tests/Quiz 50%

Quiz 25%

Homework 20%

Class Conduct 5%

Total 100%

Useful Websites

Stock/Trak (portfolio simulations) www.stocktrk.com

Bloomberg (financial and market news) www.bloomberg.com

TheStreet.com (financial and market news and commentary) www.thestreet.com

IndexFunds (best in-depth source on indexing) www.indexfunds.com

American Stock Exchange (information of ETFs) www.amex.com

Securities and Exchange Commission

(Obtain company reports directly from EDGAR) www.sec.gov

ValueLine.com (company profiles and analysis) www.valueline.com

Fool.com (stock research and discussion boards) www.fool.com

Zacks.com (earnings estimates and analyst recommendations) www.zacks.com

Lehman Brothers (best source for bond indexes) www.lehman.com

Dr. Ed Yardeni’s Economics Network (Stock Market Lab)

http://205.232.165.149/stocklab.asp

StockCharts.com (Chart School is informative) www.stockcharts.com

Big Charts (interactive charting) www.bigcharts.com

Treasury Direct (information on purchasing Treasury debt) Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.

FutureSource (Commodities) www.futuresource.com

Yahoo/finance.com http://finance.yahoo.com/

Google/finance.com www.google.com/finance

Test/Quiz Policy

All students must take Test/Quiz as scheduled. If a student is absent on the day of a test/quiz, he/she will be expected to take the test/quiz the next day they are present in class. If a student is absent the day before a scheduled test/quiz, and is present on the day of the test/quiz, he/she will be given the option of taking the test/quiz that day or the next.

Homework

All assignments are due on the due date. If a student is absent on the due date but knew about the assignment, they are expected to hand in their homework that day. There are no make up assignments.

Extra Credit

I do not give extra credit.

Class Rules

I will follow Bayonne High School policy regarding lateness to class, cuts, electronic devices, dress code/uniform policy etc. These policies can be found in chapter 4 of the student handbook under student conduct and school citizenship.