Overview
The investment simulation project requires extensive understanding of both conceptual knowledge and application of real investments. This project requires individual work doing stock trading simulation with Investopedia Stock Simulator. Students are only allowed to trade stocks, ETFs and options. And students are required to include at least 2 stocks in their portfolio with a minimum of 5 trades and a minimum trading period of 8 weeks. Each student needs to register only one account with Investopedia Stock Simulator (https://www.investopedia.com/simulator/). After registration, each student searches for the game USF SP FIN4504 24SC through https://www.investopedia.com/simulator/games/join-game, and joins the game.
- Game name: USF SP FIN4504 26SC
- Game period: May 18 – July 24, 2026
- Starting fund: $1,000,000
- Commission: None.
- Margin interest: None.
- Trading volume restriction: None.
- Diversification restriction: None.
- Minimum trades requirement: 5
- Minimum trading period: 8 weeks
The project should include the following parts:
(1) Cover page. Show your name and display name.
(2) Trading overview: A brief introduction with a graph/chart clearly showing your profit/loss starting from the beginning to the end of the game period.
(3) Trading goals: A brief introduction of your goal(s) for the trading. If your goal(s) changes as the game progresses, state how and why it changes.
(4) Trading strategy: A full analysis showing how you construct your initial strategy, including your analysis on the underlying stock, ETF and option, and reasonable projection.
(5) Trades analysis: A full report showing what happens to your profit/loss, how and why you change your trading strategy as the game progresses.
(6) Biggest winner and loser: Rank the performance of all the assets in your portfolio from the best to the worst. Identify the assets performing the best and the worst. Provide the reasons why you include them in your portfolio initially. Comment on their performance and provide the reasons why they become the biggest winner/loser.
(7) Trading conclusions. Based on the entire trading experience, state what general factors lead to your profit/loss, the appropriateness of trading strategy and change, and the lesson you learn for investments.
(8) Appendix. Attach a table showing your weekly profits and losses, any calculations supporting trading strategies you used, graphical depictions of your portfolio positions, data and information resources, etc.
The results of the trading should be written up in a formal report that does not exceed 10 pages of double-spaced 12 pt Times New Roman text (not including cover page or appendix). Set margins to 1’’ for top, bottom, left, and right. However, keep appendix to a reasonable length.
The report weighs 15 points totally and will be due by the end of Wednesday, 7/29 (11:59pm, 7/29). Please submit the project report in word or pdf file through Canvas Assignments Section before the due date. Late submission should be avoided and will be charged a penalty of 3 points per day.
The report will be graded according to the rubric shown in the table below.
Category | Criteria | Points |
Mechanics | Writing is free of grammatical and spelling mistakes. Word choice and phrasing are appropriate to add meaning. | 2 |
Writing Effectiveness | The report clearly conveys the author’s thoughts, is logical, and well structured. | 5 |
Content | The report clearly identifies the reasonable analysis done throughout the entire investment period and reflects the author's learning progress and rational reaction as a finance professional. | 8 |
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