Trade Report Homework Assignment

 

Order Number			45471455714
Type of Paper			Essay
Writer Classification Level			Undergraduate
Style of Writing			MLA/APA/CHICAGO/
Sources and References			5
Number of Pages			4
Paper Instructions Agricultural Marketing Fall 2020 SIMULATION TRADING PROJECT Specifics: x Point Value: 150 points x Individually or in Groups of 2 people x Trading occurs between 9/1/2020 ± 11/18/2020 x Reports are due Tuesday Dec 1st by midnight I. OBJECTIVES: 1. To acquaint you with sources of market and price information available for farm products. 2. To assist you in understanding the role and operation of agricultural commodity markets. 3. To give you practical experience in commodity market trading. 4. For the student to apply the concepts and tools presented in the course to identify logical chains of causes and effects determining price changes in agricultural commodity markets. II. COMMODITIES AND PRICES USED IN THIS TERM PROJECT: For this term project you may trade any of the futures contracts listed on the StockTrak page http://www.stocktrak.com/; however, you will have to do an analysis of your transactions, so it is recommended that you trade in commodities for which you can find information and for which you have an interest. Be sure to first go to familiarize yourself with the research tab in StockTrak to better understand what information is available to you. III. SIMULATION PROJECT REQUIREMENTS: A. General Requirements: You will want to approach the trading with the objective of making the greatest amount of money since this is the objective of speculators in the market. However, remember that the objective of the project is for you to learn about the role and operation of agricultural commodity markets. The focus of the evaluation of your term project will be on your analysis of the markets. Extra credit will be given out to the top team who make the greatest amount of money, and adheres to all of the requirements of this project. B. Specific Requirements: 1. You are allowed to trade in ALL available commodities, but at least 6 trades must be in agricultural commodities. (See Whe ³Trading InVWrXcWionV´ liVWed below to determine how to go about trading.) Your final report will include all the trades that you made during the semester. 2. Prior to entering a trade, research the commodity so you can justify why you entered into that particular trade. You will want to maintain a journal of articles used for research (WSJ, popular press articles, etc.) for the final report. Username:WWWtrack Password:qweasd123 2 3. For each trade, present a fundamental analysis in this form: Ex ante analysis: where you explain the reasons why you made the trade. Be sure to relate national and international events that lead you to make the trade you did. Ex post analysis: explain what happened to the commodity price after you purchased/sold the contract. Did prices move in the direction you were expecting? If not, what happened? Explain. 4. Always start your fundamental analysis with verifiable facts, and appropriately reference the sources. Once you have laid out the facts, you can start explaining how you interpret them (how you expect these facts to influence prices). If you do not include at least one verifiable fact, the trade will not count. Do not reference what your uncle John has told you about the commodity markets. It does not count. C. Written Reports: The written report should be 5-6 pages in length (excluding title page, list of trades, any tables and/or charts, and references). The format for the written report: (double-spaced, typewritten, font size 12, margins of 1 inch, Times New Roman, Align Left): a. Title page b. Body of paper (please use headings) 1) Introduction 2) Trades: The reasons why you entered into that particular trade; be sure and relate national and international events to the expected changes in prices of your futures contracts and thus to the expected profits. 3) Conclusion: Did you make or lose money, what did you think of your experience speculating in the futures market, etc. c. Reference page 1) Use MLA guidelines (for examples, see the following webpage: http://www.aresearchguide.com/12biblio.html) d. Appendix: 1) List of trades including: a. commodity (i.e., December 2018 Corn) b. dates bought and sold c. quantity d. prices bought and sold e. amount gained or lost 2) Charts/Graphs (optional) GRADING This project will be graded as follows: 3 a. Title page (5 points) b. Write a summary of your trading experiences i. Market & Economic Analysis (80 points) ii. Grammar and adherence to format requirements (35 points) c. Reference page (20 points) d. Appendix (10 points) IV. TRADING INSTRUCTIONS: To register your account in StockTrak please follow the instructions below (note that you only need to create one account per group, you do not need one for each individual in the group): To sign up please follow this link: https://www.stocktrak.com/members/registerstudent?className=Fall2020_AREC310 1. Your group will have a common password and account number. As instructor, I will have access to your trades and will be able to monitor your progress through the game. When you register please put your team name down under both username and name, this gives you privacy in the class rankings. 2. You are required to make a minimum of ten round turns. (NOTE: This means that you must make at least five buy and five sell decisions.) The purchase or sale of two contracts of corn on a certain day is one, not two, decisions. Trade as often as you like; five is just the minimum; the more you trade, the more comfortable you will become with futures contracts. You are to close all trades by Nov 18th (i.e., you will offset all contracts). 3. You may start trading right away and all trades must be completed by Nov 18th. 4. You will have an initial capital level of $1,000,000 for trading. Out of this capital base you must pay commissions, post margin, and cover any losses. 5. You are not allowed to buy more capital. You may hold up to 25% of your initial endowment in any one commodity. 6. You are NOT allowed to day trade for more than half of your trades, and if you are not familiar with markets, you may not want to trade with this strategy. 7. Keep a record of all of your transactions for your personal use as you will be asked to report your trades in your written report. Final Note: You are free to trade in any of the futures contracts or options, and you may use limit orders, stop-loss orders, or spread orders, however, you are on your own for these. You are NOT allowed to trade STOCK, BONDS, and MUTUAL FUNDS.
	Distinguished (100%)	Proficient (85%)		Basic (70%)	Below Expectations (50%)	Non-Performance (0%)
Thesis Statement	Raises the strongest   objection to the thesis presented in the assignment. The objection is strongly grounded in research and logical reasoning.	Raises a plausible objection to the thesis presented in the assignment. The objection is mostly grounded in research and logical reasoning.		Raises an objection to the thesis presented in the assignment. The objection is somewhat grounded in research and logical reasoning.	Attempts to raise an objection to the thesis presented in the assignment. The objection is minimally grounded in research and logical reasoning.	The objection to the thesis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.
Counter Argument	Provides a strong, thorough rebuttal to the objection. The rebuttal effectively demonstrates that the thesis can withstand the objection and applies the principles of charity and accuracy.	Provides a rebuttal to the objection. The rebuttal mostly demonstrates that the thesis can withstand the objection and mostly applies the principles of charity and accuracy.		Provides a limited rebuttal to the objection. The rebuttal somewhat demonstrates that the thesis can withstand the objection and somewhat applies the principles of charity and accuracy.	Attempts to provide a rebuttal to the objection; however, the rebuttal minimally demonstrates that the thesis can withstand the objection and does not apply the principles of charity and accuracy.	The rebuttal is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.
Conclusion	Provides clear and concise closing remarks that comprehensively summarize the essay. The remarks consider the broader controversy and/or further research that could offer additional insight into the moral solution of the business problem.	Provides closing remarks that summarize the essay. The remarks mostly consider the broader controversy and/or further research that could offer additional insight into the moral solution of the business problem. The closing remarks are somewhat unclear.		Provides closing remarks that minimally summarizes the essay. The remarks minimally consider the broader controversy and/or further research that could offer additional insight into the moral solution of the business problems. The closing remarks are unclear and/or vague.	Attempts to provide closing remarks that summarize the essay; however, the remarks do not consider the broader controversy and/or further research that could offer additional insight into the moral solution of the business problem. The closing remarks are unclear and vague.	The closing remarks are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.
Written Communication: Context of and Purpose for Writing	Demonstrates methodical application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is evident and easy to understand. Summaries, quotes, and/or paraphrases fit naturally into the sentences and paragraphs. Paper flows smoothly.	Demonstrates sufficient application of organization and presentation of content. The purpose of the writing is, for the most part, clear and easy to understand. There are some problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper flows somewhat smoothly.		Demonstrates a limited understanding of organization and presentation of content in written work. The purpose of the writing is somewhat evident but may not be integrated throughout the assignment. There are many problems with the blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly in all sections.	Organization and presentation of content are extremely limited. The purpose of the writing is unclear. There is little or no blending of summaries, paraphrases, and quotes. Paper does not flow smoothly when read.	The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics	– Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.	Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand		Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.	Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.	The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Required Formatting	Accurately uses required formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.	Exhibits required formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors.		Exhibits limited knowledge of required formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all requirements.	Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of required formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as required style.	The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Word Requirement	The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of words.	The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of words.		The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of words.	The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of words.	The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.
Written Communication: Resource Requirement	Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.	Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.		Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.	Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.	The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.