Spring 2021 Sectors
Options
An option is a type of derivative that specifically gives the holder of the option the right to buy or sell the underlying security within a certain timeframe (on or before a certain date). Options may be used to manage risk, speculate on an expected movement, protect an existing position, or add leverage. In this sector, analysts will dive deeper into technical understanding of price movements, analyze the expected impacts of catalysts on price, and pitch strategies that maximize returns and mitigate risks that would arise from pure long or short positions. Detailed pitches from our options sector can be found under Portfolio & Pitches.
ESG Investing
ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance Investing is a strategy that focuses on investments in sustainable, socially responsible companies. ESG Investing has grown dramatically in recent years amid investor desires for companies with strong ethics, good relationships with communities and employees, and even shareholder rights and corporate transparency. The ESG sector aims to identify, invest in, and actively monitor companies meeting this definition, evaluating their growth, profit, and commitment to their ESG aims. Detailed pitches can be found under Portfolio & Pitches.
ETFs and Mutual Funds
Why beat the market when you can be the market? ETFs and mutual funds give investors access to a wide range of companies in a single industry / sector or companies that meet certain criteria (small cap, growth, value, etc.) in one security. ETFs are baskets of stocks put together that trade as "pieces of the total pie"; that is, you can buy a share of an ETF and have exposure to all the companies that comprise the ETF. Mutual funds work similarly, and like ETFs, can be passively or actively managed. Mutual funds pool investor money, and every investor gets a slice of the total gains realized on the holdings of the fund. Detailed ETF and mutual fund pitches can be found under Portfolio & Pitches.
An option is a type of derivative that specifically gives the holder of the option the right to buy or sell the underlying security within a certain timeframe (on or before a certain date). Options may be used to manage risk, speculate on an expected movement, protect an existing position, or add leverage. In this sector, analysts will dive deeper into technical understanding of price movements, analyze the expected impacts of catalysts on price, and pitch strategies that maximize returns and mitigate risks that would arise from pure long or short positions. Detailed pitches from our options sector can be found under Portfolio & Pitches.
ESG Investing
ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance Investing is a strategy that focuses on investments in sustainable, socially responsible companies. ESG Investing has grown dramatically in recent years amid investor desires for companies with strong ethics, good relationships with communities and employees, and even shareholder rights and corporate transparency. The ESG sector aims to identify, invest in, and actively monitor companies meeting this definition, evaluating their growth, profit, and commitment to their ESG aims. Detailed pitches can be found under Portfolio & Pitches.
ETFs and Mutual Funds
Why beat the market when you can be the market? ETFs and mutual funds give investors access to a wide range of companies in a single industry / sector or companies that meet certain criteria (small cap, growth, value, etc.) in one security. ETFs are baskets of stocks put together that trade as "pieces of the total pie"; that is, you can buy a share of an ETF and have exposure to all the companies that comprise the ETF. Mutual funds work similarly, and like ETFs, can be passively or actively managed. Mutual funds pool investor money, and every investor gets a slice of the total gains realized on the holdings of the fund. Detailed ETF and mutual fund pitches can be found under Portfolio & Pitches.
Fall 2020 Sectors
Announcing soon!
Fall 2019 Sectors
ESG - Environmental, Social, and Governance
Equities and Derivatives
Equities and Derivatives
Spring 2019 Sectors
Fixed Income
The fixed income market is one of the largest in the world. In this sector, the group will review fixed income instruments such as bonds and come up with fixed income investment theses
International Indices
Looking at international macro markets through the lens of indices. This sector will focus on macro international trends to identify investment opportunities
Quantitative Analysis
Using quantitative analysis to make investment decisions. Requires previous coding experience. Potential topics include GARCH and other statistical investing frameworks.
The fixed income market is one of the largest in the world. In this sector, the group will review fixed income instruments such as bonds and come up with fixed income investment theses
International Indices
Looking at international macro markets through the lens of indices. This sector will focus on macro international trends to identify investment opportunities
Quantitative Analysis
Using quantitative analysis to make investment decisions. Requires previous coding experience. Potential topics include GARCH and other statistical investing frameworks.
Past Sectors
Fall 2018
Derivatives
Derivatives encompass any financial product that derive their value from an underlying asset. Derivative products include options, futures & forwards, swaps, swaptions, and much more. Derivative products are most commonly used for risk management, investing strategies, and speculation. The exact nominal value of the derivatives market is not known, but it's widely regarded as the most valuable market in the world, worth up to $1.2 Quadrillion USD. Derivatives can cover any type of product or sector, ranging from currencies to commodities to indices.
Emerging Markets
An emerging market economy is one in which the country is becoming a developed nation and is determined through many socio-economic factors. Some examples could be China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, etc. Emerging Markets in terms of trading can include foreign exchange, indices, but the most common is EM funds. Emerging market funds are an attractive investment for growth investors, they can include securities from varying asset classes offering a range of options across the risk spectrum
Quantitative Analysis
Approaching investing through a statistical and quantitative framework
Spring 2018
Forex
The Forex Market, or Foreign Exchange Market, is the highest-volume and highest-valued market in the world. On an average day, up to $6 trillion US dollars worth of world currencies are traded between governments, banks, institutions, and individuals. In the Forex Sector, we analyze how current macro news is affecting Forex Rates. Members in the Forex sector will learn the fundamentals behind what moves currency prices, basic derivatives, and trading strategies. Every semester, the Forex sector will create two pitches on a currency pair (ex: SEK/USD, USD/ZAR) to pitch to the entire club during general meetings.
Commodities
By definition, a commodity is anything with value. From a financial perspective, these are financial instruments that include commodities such as agricultural products, livestock, and oil. The commodities market is the backbone of our economy, and helps facilitate daily actions like filling our cars with gas to buying coffee beans. In the Commodities Sector, we analyze how current macro news is affecting commodity prices. Members in the Commodities sector will learn the fundamentals behind what moves commodity prices, basic derivatives, and trading strategies. Every semester, the Commodities semester will create two pitches on a commodity (ex: Brent Crude, Wheat, even Orange Juice Concentrate!) to pitch to the entire club during general meetings
Indices
66% of large-cap active fund managers failed to beat the S&P 500 average return in 2016. If you can't beat the market, be the market! Indices are weighted averages of the financial performance of certain sectors or markets. This isn't just limited to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500; we look at all types of diversified investment products, both in the US and abroad.
In the Indices sector, we analyze how current macro news is affecting markets and industries, and formulate trade strategies off that news. Members in the Indices sector will learn the fundamentals behind why diversification matters, basic derivatives, and complex diversified financial products (Levered ETFs, Inverse ETFs, Fixed Income Funds, etc). Every semester, the Indices semester will create two pitches on an Index (ex: Global X Lithium ETF, Powershares Global Water Portfolio, etc) to pitch to the entire club during general meetings.
Derivatives
Derivatives encompass any financial product that derive their value from an underlying asset. Derivative products include options, futures & forwards, swaps, swaptions, and much more. Derivative products are most commonly used for risk management, investing strategies, and speculation. The exact nominal value of the derivatives market is not known, but it's widely regarded as the most valuable market in the world, worth up to $1.2 Quadrillion USD. Derivatives can cover any type of product or sector, ranging from currencies to commodities to indices.
Emerging Markets
An emerging market economy is one in which the country is becoming a developed nation and is determined through many socio-economic factors. Some examples could be China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, etc. Emerging Markets in terms of trading can include foreign exchange, indices, but the most common is EM funds. Emerging market funds are an attractive investment for growth investors, they can include securities from varying asset classes offering a range of options across the risk spectrum
Quantitative Analysis
Approaching investing through a statistical and quantitative framework
Spring 2018
Forex
The Forex Market, or Foreign Exchange Market, is the highest-volume and highest-valued market in the world. On an average day, up to $6 trillion US dollars worth of world currencies are traded between governments, banks, institutions, and individuals. In the Forex Sector, we analyze how current macro news is affecting Forex Rates. Members in the Forex sector will learn the fundamentals behind what moves currency prices, basic derivatives, and trading strategies. Every semester, the Forex sector will create two pitches on a currency pair (ex: SEK/USD, USD/ZAR) to pitch to the entire club during general meetings.
Commodities
By definition, a commodity is anything with value. From a financial perspective, these are financial instruments that include commodities such as agricultural products, livestock, and oil. The commodities market is the backbone of our economy, and helps facilitate daily actions like filling our cars with gas to buying coffee beans. In the Commodities Sector, we analyze how current macro news is affecting commodity prices. Members in the Commodities sector will learn the fundamentals behind what moves commodity prices, basic derivatives, and trading strategies. Every semester, the Commodities semester will create two pitches on a commodity (ex: Brent Crude, Wheat, even Orange Juice Concentrate!) to pitch to the entire club during general meetings
Indices
66% of large-cap active fund managers failed to beat the S&P 500 average return in 2016. If you can't beat the market, be the market! Indices are weighted averages of the financial performance of certain sectors or markets. This isn't just limited to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500; we look at all types of diversified investment products, both in the US and abroad.
In the Indices sector, we analyze how current macro news is affecting markets and industries, and formulate trade strategies off that news. Members in the Indices sector will learn the fundamentals behind why diversification matters, basic derivatives, and complex diversified financial products (Levered ETFs, Inverse ETFs, Fixed Income Funds, etc). Every semester, the Indices semester will create two pitches on an Index (ex: Global X Lithium ETF, Powershares Global Water Portfolio, etc) to pitch to the entire club during general meetings.
Career Prep and Mentoring
If you'd like any interview help or want to some advice on finance careers, feel free to contact any Executive Board Member/Sector Leader here.
