2009 Investment Challenge

2009
Investment Contest Rules

1. The 2009 Investment Contest is an extra credit project for students taking Business. To compete, investing groups must officially register with the contest judge, Mr Evans. Winning teams will win a variety of prizes.
2. The contest will begin on September 28 as the earliest time a group may register. The competition begins on October 1 and will close December 10. Winners will be certified and announced by December 15.
3. Teams must register by submitting a formal, printed letter to Mr Evans. The letter must state the name of the team, the members of the team, as well as a short description of their investment goals. Teams must be between 2-6 members. Once accepted, each team will be issued a “Corporate Certificate” by the judge. Teams may register as early as September 28. The final date teams may register to compete is October 15.
4. Teams will be given an imaginary “Investment Account” beginning at $100,000 (USD). Each team may make investment choices once each week. Investments can be made in any investment vehicle that is easily bought and sold on a world marketplace, and have their prices and results tracked on one of the following financial websites: Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg.com, The Motley Fool, scottrade.com. Other websites may be used, provided they have been approved by Mr Evans. Investments can be in the stock, bonds or debentures of companies, debentures from governments, or investments in other investment vehicles such as commodities (gold, corn, oil).
5. To make an investment, teams will fill out an “Investment Order” to buy or sell their investment. The investment order will be on a form provided by Mr Evans. Information required will be: Name of Investment – Web/Market site where the investment price is tracked (Yahoo Finance, etc), amount in dollars or shares/units the team wants to buy. Investment orders must be turned in on the last day of each week (Normally Friday, except for holidays). The sale or purchase of investments will be made at the CLOSING price of the next business day (normally Monday, except for holidays). Note: The information on the Investment order must be detailed enough to complete the order. For example, if a company issues three types of stock (one ordinary and two preferred shares) the team must clearly designate which type of share they are buying. This can normally be done by listing the Market Code for that particular investment (easily found on the approved web sites).
6. Any money not invested by the team will be considered invested in a Money Market Fund, paying 1.5% APR on a weekly basis.
7. Mr Evans will track the results of teams investments on a weekly basis and will post the week-to-week results in the classroom #40.
8. PRIZES: There will be a number of prizes for the competitors of this contest. 100 Extra Credit Points will be distributed to the top performing teams. The distribution of the points will be based on the total number of teams and students participating. The exact formula to winning extra credit will be posted after October 15 when team entries are finished. A Private Pizza Party will be held for the top teams, details will be provided in December. All team members will receive official certificates showing their completion of the contest. There will also be prizes for best individual investment by a team, worst investment team, as well as others.
9. Mr Evans is the sole judge of this contest. His judgment is final on all matters.

Back from Vacation!

May 25 and we are back from vacation! Remember- Group Research project proposals are due Monday. Congratulations! You had an extra week to work on them!

This week we will do some review and take our Bimestre tests, while getting started looking towards our 2d Bimestre projects. it should be a crazy week!

Practice Break Even Point Analysis

Here is information for a practice in preparation of the Monday Quiz:

Business: Hannah's Hats

Capacity: 2000 hats
Output 65%
Price: $25/hat

Costs:
Material $5/hat
Labor: $4000/month
Administration: $1500/month
Marketing: $1000/month
Power: $100/month
Rent: $2000/month

#1- Use the Unit Contribution method to find the Break Even Output

#2 Complete a detailed Break Even Point Chart

#3 - What is the Margin of Safety both in units and as a percent?

Good luck!

Grade Reminders

Tuesday I will be sending academic notifications to parents who have promedios below 68. If you have not turned in any assignments, you must have them turned in by Monday to have a chance for them to be counted.

New Week!

We are closing out the end of our first unit. Quiz on Tuesday! Don't forget to study!

Clean up those notebooks!

Just a reminder - on Friday everybody turns in notebooks. Make sure all the assignments are in and compete!

Production Planning

I hope everybody had an enjoyable Semana Santa!

This week we will begin studying production planning in more detail. Remember to bring your notebook and textbook to class everyday!

Also - Your report on Cemex is due Monday! Don't forget!

Happy Semana Santa!

To all of my wonderful students - Enjoy Semana Santa!

Just two weeks into our new school year and we are faced with a big, 4-day holiday weekend. Most of you will probably head for the beach, but no matter where you go, have a great time. But remember, your papers and reading assignment is still due Monday!

Also, Monday will be a partial day because of Dia del Maestro (Teacher Day - another holiday? I loooove this place) - but even if our scheduled class is not held that day the papers still need to be turned in.

Have a wonderful time!

Questions for CEMEX Case Study

Some students haven´t been able to find the questions they are supposed to answer for the CEMEX Case Study. Here they are to make sure all can see:

1) Describe the main differences between primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. Give examples of how CEMEX carries out work involving each of these sectors.

2) Explain what is meant by sustainable location and evaluate some of the action taken by CEMEX to locate in a sustainable way.

3) Give two examples of how CEMEX is contributing to sustainable performance. Show what the benefits are to the company and to the environment.

4) Evaluate why a business should locate close to its raw materials and end market. Explain yur answer by referring to quarries, ready mix concrete and dredging activities.

Then chose one of the following Ecuador companies for further research:

Petroecuador
Alegro PCS
TAME
Empresa Electrica de Ecuador.

Compare and contrast what you discover about Cemex and your chosen company about environmental friendliness and sustainability.

That´s the entire assignment! It still needs to be typed or printed to the Paper grading Rubric Standards, and needs to be turned in by April 13.

Have a great week!

First Assignment - CEMEX

Here is your first assignment for class. Click on the link for The Times 100. From the web site, find the case study for CEMEX. Read the case study, and answer the questions at the end of the case study.

Then chose one of the following Ecuador companies for further research:

Petroecuador
Alegro PCS
TAME
Empresa Electrica de Ecuador.

Compare and contrast what you discover about Cemex and your chosen company about environmental friendliness and sustainability.

Answer the questions in the case study and write a commentary about your findings. The paper is due April 13 (Note that this is a change, originally it was listed as due 8 April). It must meet class report writing guidelines and be typed or printed.

An Overview of the Program

The IBO Business and Management syllabus is a critical study of the ways in which individuals and groups interact in a dynamic business environment. Many areas of Business will be studied in the coming years but here we will examine how business decision are made and how these decisions relate to the internal and external environments, the international dimension and through citizenship.

The IB course as provided at Colegio Americano is two years in duration – it follows the High Level (HL) program of the International Baccalaureate Organization for a total of 240 hours of total classroom instruction. Throughout the two years the students have the opportunity to study and research issues facing an organization(s), and analyze the decisions made by them. Students in Quinto Curso are starting the first year of this two-year program.

The syllabus consists of six compulsory modules and a research project. During this year, all members of this course will get the opportunity to study:

b. Marketing
The role of marketing
Market research
Marketing plans including the 5P’s


f. Operations Management
Production
Production planning
Quality assurance
Location of production

Also, all students will complete two research projects that will be internally assessed by the class teacher.

Welcome to Quinto Curso Business!

Welcome to the new school year. I am Richard Lloyd Evans and I am the instructor at Colegio Americano, including the Quinto Curso Business Class. This year we will have a lot of exciting activities as we learn about the global business environment.

This blog will have information about the class, including links to information sites for the students. It is also a wonderful place for parents to check occasionally to see what work we are doing and what homework assignments the students should be working on.

I'm looking forward to having a great year!