Investment and Portfolio Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Investment and Portfolio Management - Assignment Example This research will begin with the statement that investment refers to the current commitment of dollars for a period of time so as to derive future payments that will compensate the investor for- The period for which the funds have been committed The expected rate of inflation during this period of time Compensation for the risk associated with the investment, i.e. the uncertainty of future payments The process of selection of investment categories requires analyzing, estimating and evaluating the expected risk return trade-off for the alternative investments available. Investment needs and Financial Plan differs from individual to individual, and changes with respect to the life cycle of the individual. After the investment decision is undertaken by the individual, the major function is to manage the investment portfolio evaluating the performance of the portfolio and updating the portfolio based on the changes in the economic environment and the investor’s needs. The investor has a sum of $100,000 to invest into financial products such as debt, equity, derivatives or cash according to his or her choice. The objective of the portfolio or the investment policy statement is to achieve long term growth of capital. In addition to that, the fund aims minimizing risk of capital loss through portfolio diversification. The portfolio will be monitored, analyzed and reported upon over the chosen time horizon. The return of the funds is evaluated relative to S&P 500 index.P 500 index. The strategy of the investor is to buy the stock and hold it for long term or at least three years, in expectation of long term capital appreciation. In order to mitigate the domestic gloom in the economy, few funds may be invested overseas in order to geographically diversify and earn benefits from emerging and developing markets. Proper diversification will help reduce the overall portfolio risk by spreading stock specific risk

Financial Reporting Question & Answers Assignment

Financial Reporting Question & Answers - Assignment Example It eliminates all the alternatives associated with financial reporting. There are various benefits of standardization: Standardization of accounting rules enable multinational firms in developed nations to create significant employment opportunities in the job market. Professionals in accounting and other fields find it easy to relocate to other countries as a result of globalization for there is a common language in preparation of financial reports and accounts. For instance, countries such as Hungary and India forward their accounting duties to companies based in developed countries (Iatridis 2010). These firms spend less time trying to be in line with a country’s accounting policy and strict regulations as most of the rules are adopted from International Accounting Standards. Moreover, adaptation of globalized standardized accounting standards has made it easier for firms to centralize their training in accounting and increase the number of financial care centers. Transpare ncy of unified financial standards has a boost in division of labor in the global market thus it enables smaller investors to invest in other countries. Standardization of accounting standards promotes innovation. These standards give rise to new markets and products hence, creating a significant enhancement for innovations (Hesser, 2006). Consequently, innovation result to improved sales. Minus these standards, there would be poor quality products that might limit the boosting of innovation since the remnants of the stock could not be transferable to other places. Furthermore, unified standards enlarge the scale of inventive products thus in absences of the standardized standards, these products are hardly obtained. In developed nations, the International Accounting standards assists to converge the systems of accounting and reports made available for investors. This would support global financial investments and innovations (Hal, Henock 2007). Standardized accounting standards enh ance the ability for firms to forecast profits. This is a reliable opportunity for investors because the transaction cost goes down when specific national accounting regulations disappear. Companies cut on the costs of external auditing and employment of experts for the purposes of global comparison reports. International Accounting standards initiate stiff competition in auditing that reduces the inescapable costs for auditing. Unified accounting standards reduce the costs of capital. Most domestic investors run their businesses within their countries since financial reports are prepared in line with the known worldwide accounting standards that could be easily interpreted. For international investors, the most preferred financial reports should be made using the international standards and not the domestic ones. This reduces the cost of investing in foreign countries since there is no variation in rules of accounting and cost of creating financial reports. Therefore, standardized accounting standards lower the cost of capital because investors are in agreement with lower returns from business securities and a decrease in investment risk. Who has to comply with accounting standards? Accounting standards refer to specific principles, bases, conventions, rules and practices applied by an entity in preparing and presenting financial statements. This implies that those who have to comply with the accounting stand

Islam Is the Way of Life Essay Example for Free

Islam Is the Way of Life Essay Thank yuo Mrs. Chairman. Well, good morning everyone. I would like to utter my very first salam to the honourable judges, respected teachers and fellow friends. My name is Noor Husna Bt. Ahmad Toha and Im from the red team. The reason why am I standing here today is to give a speech entitled Islam is the Way of Life. First and foremost, I believed that each one of us had already heard the phrase Islam is the Way of Life quite often but what does it really means? So today, lets make ourselves clear with it. Teachers and students, Islam guides from the cradle to the grave. It guides us in all aspects of life rather than just prayer and worship. The way of life of Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H is the way of life of Islam. His 24 hours of life is the perfect model for the people to follow until the Dooms Day. His way of speech, dresiing, his dealing with the wives, children and people in general, his sitiing, walking, sleeping, eating and even his way in the lavatory are model to us. His dealing as the ruler of the Islamic nation, as the judge, as the commander in chief of army, as the head of the family are examples to follow. Prophet Muhammad had once said, I have left two things with you which if you hold onto, you shall not misguided; The Book of God and my example. Humans are made to obey The Creator. Following the Sunnah are one of the many ways to show our devotion to Allah, and the most important is surely to be gracious and respectful to Allahs Messenger as stated in the Holy Quran in the first sentence of Surat Al-Hujurat which means, O you who believe, do not put yourselves forward before Allah and His Messenger, but fear Allah: for Allahis He Who hears and knows all things. We can see a lot of scams in the business nowadays which is very contrary to what has been taught to us by the Prophet. It is a compulsary to us to be fair and honest in trading. Deceiving is completely forbidden. Cheating in business does not benefits anything but it is more likely to gives bad effect to our own life.

The Rise Of The Papacy In Rome

The Rise Of The Papacy In Rome The ascendancy of the bishop of Rome over the whole of the Catholic Church, an institution recognized as the papacy, took centuries to grow. During the first few hundred years of the church, the title pope, which denotes father, was applied for any important and esteemed bishop. Furthermore, the bishop of Rome was one of a number of significant bishops in Christendom. Rome had always been treasured for her relationship with Paul and Peter and her stand as the Church in the Empires capital. This was particularly noticed after Christianity was made legal under Constantine which made the importance of that office grow further with each passing roman bishop. The dogma of the authority of the pope ultimately reached its height in the late 13th century, when Pope Boniface VIII asserted full religious and non-religious authority over every human being.  [1]   Rome prior to Pope Gregory In 535 it was invaded by an army sent by the emperor Justinian to bring it back under the control of the Roman Empire, the capital of which was now Constantinople.The war between the Ostrogoths and the Empire lasted for some twenty years, devastating the countryside and disrupting social organization.546 the city lay uninhabited for forty days. The final victory of the imperial forces left Italy dangerously open to the attentions of another Germanic group, the Lombards. In 568, under their king Alboin, they made their way into Italy, and by force of arms steadily established themselves over most of the peninsula. During Pope Gregory regin Gregory the Great whos life culminated in his holding the office of pope (590604). line of popes whom assumed office after Pelagius I (556-561) who was unworthy Pope but was forced on the Church by Justinian.He is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in the long. The empire was unstable and Byzantine power had greatly subsided.[1] This was the world into which Gregory, who was drawn to monasticism, was born. Gregory had an interesting and refreshing outlook on missions. He was spurred on to his first missions project in response to the king of Lombard refusing baptism for his subjects. He renewed the church using Benedictine principles. The Bishop of Rome had an immediate impact on believers by reformed congregational worship by introducing choirs in order to read liturgy, he raised the standard of education of the clergy, and an emphasized in preaching. He took the task of protecting Rome from the Lombard threat that lasted in treaty that lasted for a short time period. This was only one treaty of many since Gregory negotiated treaties with several barbarian kings which helped take political steps to protect the Christian community by being destroyed by war. This helped him become the first Pope to act as a temporal ruler which eventually came part of the Papal States. Gregory the Great established the pattern of church government in England that had everyone being supervised by someone higher. He also started missionary work that spread out of his region.Part of the reason was he was labeled the Great had to do with his influential writings that impacted the Middle ages.[7] Also, during his time as pope, he was an advocate of clerical celibacy.[8] Furthermore, he was instrumental in the conversion of the Visigothic King Recared to Nicene Catholicism in SpainThrough research we have discovered that the position of Pope gained great influence and power something that has yet to stop. It must be noted that Gregory was the first Pope with a monastic background; he made a mark in history. Gregory used strategies such as connections with the Byzantine elite, which caused him to become well known among the upper class Bishops in the Early Church During the early periods of Christianity, five cities arose as significant core of Christianity. These were Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople and Alexandria. Even though the Roman Church was highly regarded, the Churches in the East in general had more influence and numbers than those of the West. Following the granting of legal status to Christianity by the Decree of Milan, the church took up the same governmental structure as the Empire whereby geographical provinces were ruled by bishops. These bishops of key cities therefore rose in power.  [2]   Rome wasnt only the city that could profess to have had a unique responsibility in Christs Church. Jerusalem had the reputation of being the city of Christs death and resurrection. Furthermore, a significant church council took place there in the first century. Antioch was the location where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Alexandria was an important early center of Christian belief. Constantinople developed into a very significant city after Constantine shifted his capital there in 330 AD.  [3]   Nevertheless, by the fifth century, the bishop of Rome started claiming his superiority over all other bishops. Moreover, several church fathers made this claim for him as well. Why Rome? Romes association with Peter was the main spiritual reason its ultimate dominance. According to customs, Peter visited Rome all through his life and, more significantly, was martyred there. This is affirmed by the belief that his remains are below the St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City. St. Paul was thought to have been martyred in Rome as well. The majority of the claims for the popes authority are supported by one major argument- the so called Petrine theory. Affirmed by the Council of Florence in 1439, outlined as a subject of faith by the First Vatican Council in 1870, and approved by the Second Vatican Council in 1964, Jesus Christ bestowed the position of Primacy in the church upon Peter only. The First Vatican Council based their claim on a classical New Testament text long linked with it. In Mathew 16, Jesus inquires from his disciples who they believe he is. Peter says, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus responds: Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.   [4]   Given that the word Peter stands for rock, the above stated verse has been taken by the Roman Catholic Church to mean that Peter was charged with the task of overseeing the formation of Gods Church, had spiritual power over it which he passed on to successive Popes (Protestants disagree that the rock signifies not only to Peter but to his admission of faith.) Additional biblical support for their claim has been found in the Gospel of John, whereby the resurrected Jesus directs Peter to feed my sheep. An imagery of St. Peter watching over the gates of heaven has its origin from the Matthew 16 passage.  [5]   The Bishop of Rome was one of the most significant Bishops of Western Europe up until the Reformation due to a number of factors. Being the city which lay claim to having the first martyr, (Peter), Rome was the historical capital of the empire and a politically key city, so it was expected that the bishop of the city would in addition be important. Furthermore, the pope was the most dominant figure that remained in Rome after the capital of the empire was moved to Constantinople by Constantine. The Bishop of Rome claimed control over all other bishops and Christians based on biblical passages, but some of it was as a result of political and cultural realities. In Western Europe, there existed no other cities to rival Rome giving the Roman Bishop automatic prestige. In the east however, there were rivals such as Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople and Jerusalem. The bishop of Constantinople never did stoop to Roman claims. Additional prestige on Rome was as a result of tradition. It w as a city of martyrs. The earliest persecutions, initiated by Nero, occurred at Rome. In addition, Peter was martyred at Rome. As earlier observed, Rome was the solitary city in the Western hemisphere of the Empire while the rest (four) were found in the Eastern region of the Empire. As the two areas became increasingly culturally and politically advanced, the eastern region was in charge of decisions concerning the church and political life whereas Rome was sought out regarding decisions of vital nature, whether it be of political or religious side.  [6]   In addition, the barbarian attacks of the fifth century were significant. Leo I, considered by many as the first pope in the modern sense, was influential in convincing Attila the Hun not to attack Rome in 452. When it finally fell to the Vandals in 455, Leo persuaded their leader not to set the city on fire. These endeavors further added to the prestige to the bishop of Rome. Besides, when Rome fell to the barbarians in 455 AD, the church grew to be the defender of order, justice, and the remainder of civilization. The bishop of Rome was active in recapturing the harmony and steadiness that had been crushed by the attacks. Compared to the West, the Eastern side of the empire endured for another 1000 years, hence the bishops there didnt match the political significance as their Roman counterparts.  [7]   The reality of Rome being the center of political and religious power within Western Europe had some positive ramifications. Firstly, the Christian cause was broadened and Rome was viewed by not only Western Europe as the key voice and head of Christianity, owing in large part to the Catholic Church, but in addition accepted by the people who lived in the Eastern region of Europe. Rome accorded the bishops the chance to petition resolutions that were made, in regarding their standing and duty as men of faith. Many bishops that were given judgment that they sensed were unfair petitioned their case to the Roman Spiritual authority at the time.  [8]   The reality of Rome being the center of political and religious power within Western Europe had also negative positive ramifications. In time, the lines started to blur and it became difficult to differentiate between the responsibility of the church and government. There existed the feudal system that echoed the spiritual chain of command that had been advocated for by earlier theologians. This practice gave rights to landowners, allowing their servants to till the land in exchange for imbursement of wages or debt. In spite of this, wealthy persons arose who had servants that were obliged to them. This reached a point where it became a never-ending cycle of assistance with little to no possibility of ever being set free of their gained obligations. The church as well started to function in a way that was not planned by the founding fathers, for instance abbots being married. The lowest point of the Papacy occurred when at some point in when Stephen VI was in office, a trial took pla ce where his predecessor, who had passed away 3 days earlier, was taken before a council, found guilty and dragged through the city. After the ordeal, he was buried in a common grave. Subsequently his papal robes were taken and his fingers cut off.  [9]   Whereas Rome was the key voice of the Catholic Church, the church faced many challenges leading up to the Reformation.

Experimentalism :: Creative Writing Essays

Writing I find exciting often gets called experimental. In America this is another word for marginal. It's patronizing. Other countries distribute legitimacy in literary culture differently. For example, when in the U.K., Kathy Acker wrote for the Times Literary Supplement. Can you imagine Acker writing for the New York Times Book Review!? Just the experience of reviewing her work in the NYT Book Review caused several reviewers to spontaneously combust. On the other side of the Atlantic, debates on literary aesthetics are part of public — not just academic — life. Not so here, which means the conventions of representation that underlie mainstream fiction in this country can't be effectually critiqued. (I don't consider academic debates to be part of public life.) So what conventions of representation am I talking about? Consider identity. Mainstream fiction tends to assume separate and coherent individuals, each with a single body and character which is built, rather than destroyed, by conflict. I believe it is possible to have one identity in your thumb and another in your neck. I think identities can travel between persons who have an unusual mutual sympathy. Let's not even mention multiple personality. But what I want to talk about today is the manipulation and construction of social distance. Mainstream fiction assumes a position not too close, not too far away. A situation is implied, an entire social horizon, which is speckled with white individuals who maintain distance from one another and from social â€Å"problems". Containment. Segregation. A narrative structure which covertly mirrors the growth of white suburbs since WWII, where there is no discomfort around racism because only white people are present. Breaking this long chain of social convention at any link can easily result in personal and literary deformity, which is another term for experimentation. My sister was older, and kept her drugs and screwing in the basement the same way she kept her jewelry there. Her lovers were thin white men whose trouble was drug-related. When Paul got out of Cook County Jail he carried an odor of rape and had large nerve spots in his eyes. Fear moving like a breeze in a prison yard, I could feel that in my stomach when he was around; otherwise I didn't care. I thought about Monica. Her sharp teeth and brown cheeks. The way her greed slid across my hips could be scary but her palms were narrow as slots, that made it okay to have sex with her.

Special Education Essay -- Education Teaching

Introduction Since the passing of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools are required to serve all students regardless of their disability in a least restrictive environment. Due to increase in the number of students being identified and placed in general education classrooms, educators can expect to serve students with disabilities. It is important to understand the different types of disabilities, the characteristics of these disabilities, and causes; in order to ensure the success of students. This paper will define severe disabilities, mental retardation, traumatic brain injury, autism, and deaf-blindness. In addition, this paper will address the characteristics and causes of each disability. Definition of Severe Disabilities There are many different definitions used to define the meaning of severe disabilities, a general definition for severe disabilities is any disability that significantly limits a person's physical, mental or emotional performance, and requires ongoing extensive support in more than one major life activity in order to participate fully in education, community settings or work. According, to Heward (2009), severe disabilities includes, â€Å"students with significant disabilities in intellectual, physical, and/or social functioning, students that have multiple disabilities or deaf-blindness, students with severe mental retardation, severe emotional disturbance, and severe disabilities or health impairments are encompassed by the term† (p.453). Characteristics of Severe Disabilities Depending upon, the combination and severity of disabilities, and the age of the person with severe disabilities they may exhibit a wide range of characteristics, however, â€Å"one defining characteristic ... ...ents that has one or more disabilites. By having a better understanding of the defintion, characteristics, and causes of these disabiliteis educators can be better prepared to instuct their students. By gaining a better insight of theses students and how they learn, educators can use effective strategies to ensure the success of all students. Works Cited Heward, W. L. (2009). Exceptional children: An introduction to special education (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. (2004). Disabilities Fact Sheet. Retrieved January 8, 2011 from http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/fs10.pdf National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page. Retrieved January 8, 2011 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm

Effective Communication Essay

For the past six weeks being back in the classroom has help me to shift my focus when it comes to communicating. There was a point and time when I felt like what I said and how I said it was the only thing that mattered. However, I have learned throughout this course that Communicating an authentic self requires consistency between your presentation of self and your self – concept. Our presentation of self depends on whom we are communicating with and is called facework (Dobkin (2006). Communication in a Changing World). In this essay, I am prepared to show evidence of how I have learned to communicate better as well as the things that I need to improve within my methods of communication. After reviewing my Personal Skills Inventory Chart, I am not where I want to be but I am better than what I use to be six weeks ago. These changes will not happen overnight but, I am bound to improve them prior to me advancing to my next level as a student of Walden University. My grandmothers always use to tell us that there are three sides to every story, your story, the other person story and then the truth. This old age theory still holds truth when communicating whether, it’s online or face-to-face. I have learned that in order for me to be effective in communicating that I have to be face-to-face with an individual so that the other person would be able to see and notice the sincerity that I pose within the conversation. While communicating face-to-face, I can feel assured that my point is being communicated with validity as well as the other person(s) can know that I have received their message as well. I have notice that when online I can hide my true feelings, emotions and persona. The hidden quadrant represents those things that you know about yourself but that others do not (Dobkin (2006). Communication in a Changing World) is what I find that I am able to hide behind when communication online. When communicating online whether if it is in an email or chat communication for me personally is rather difficult because there are time that the message you are typing could not be received in the manner that you intended to say it. I often communicate with my wife throughout the day via email and depending on the nature of the conversation she tries to read between the lines of the email to find my emotion in what I am saying. When she or other persons do this they tend to think that I feel a certain type of way about the conversation and most likely that is not the case. When communicating online I am also able to hide behind those emotions and not say what I really would like to say to the person. However, when communicating face-to-face that emotion cannot go unnoticed and the receiving party would have to respect your stance. As I plan to move ahead within my course of degree work, I am hoping to improve my writing skills. For some time I have always struggled with grammar and writing to be proficient and professional whether if it was an email or a paper due for class. While in seminary, we were taught to write our sermons as we would be speaking to someone so therefore you conversation style would not always match your grammar. To help me to improve in my writing I am going to continue using the tools provided for me as a student of Walden such as Grammarly. Grammarly (formerly Sentenceworks) is an automated grammar and writing revision tool for academic writing (Walden Writing Center. (2009). Scholarly writing). I have started to use this tool since week 3 of this course and I have found it to be a great help prior to submitting papers to be graded. There is another source that I would continue to use which is turnitin  . This tool has become a valuable tool for me because it assures that I am submitting my assignments to the highest degree of academic integrity that is expected of me as a student of Walden. Lastly, I would continue to employ the help of my wife who has looked over majority of my assignments to assure that I am writing with clarity and my grammar is in order. In the next term I have been enrolled in an English Composition course that I am certain is going to challenge not only my thinking but, my writing as well. I am looking forward to challenge as this is one of my main goals and focal point at this time. While Walden University offer persons like me who have a very busy personal, family and career life the opportunity to learn from home and at your time schedule it can still be a change. Therefore, going forward I plan to improve my Time Management Skills. Since this was my first time back in the classroom in 12 years, I found it hard in the beginning balance my job, family, church and other social outlets that I belong to while trying to complete assignments. My enrollment advisor was very effective in helping me manage getting assignments in on time. Going forward, I plan on working ahead, reading the material and having an understanding of the assignment prior to the due date. Now that my children are back in school that would help me out a lot as well because we can all sit down at a designated time to complete assignments instead of me trying to complete mine and entertain them while they were on summer break. In my household we have a standard of Academic Excellence that everyone who is in class is upheld to. So with this charge to my children I plan to lead by example which would help me to improve in the area of time management. Even though this course only lasted for six weeks, I am very grateful for the knowledge and information that I have learned about communication. I am now more aware of verbal and non-verbal communication and also how other people can perceive information just by â€Å"judging a book by its cover. † The challenge has presented itself in completing assignments on time while trying to manage other areas of life but for the most part I have adhered to those deadlines but look forward to improving in that area as well. Lastly, I am excited about using the tools and methods that are provided to me to help me along the way with my writing skills. I recall one the first couple days of class and looking at some other classmates discussions, at first I felt bad because I thought my writing was horrible but, then I realize I wasn’t alone. However, in due time I plan to be very proficient in my writing skills that I would only produce scholarly work.