Writing Securities Research

In light of recent developments in global legislation, the role of analysts has become more complex and challenging. Many analysts seek to understand the underlying principles behind current laws and regulations around the world that have been prompted by Sarbanes-Oxley.Writing Securities Research: A Best Practice Guide helps analysts to understand the regulatory and best practice issues that they constantly face. However, the advice contained is not just intended to help analysts stay out of jail and avoid penalties, it also suggests ways to write better research reports and be competitive.This practical guide examines the issues that regulators and the press find important, including the definition and supervision of research, sourcing of information, insider trading, front-running and selective distribution, libel, copyright and plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and use of e-mail. These are explained through the use of actual case studies taken from around the world. The bookalso shows how to present recommendations, valuations, forecasts, risk assessments, and sensitive issues such as rumours&M&A speculation, politics&religion, and retractions&apologies in an acceptable manner, again with practical examples.As such, the book is a useful reference tool for all securities professionals around the world, including equity and credit research analysts on both the buy and sell sides, securities research managers, financial advisers, wealth managers, financial editors, compliance officers, supervisory analysts, regulators, and students of finance, especially CFA students. As Dr. Mark Mobius, President of Templeton Emerging Markets Fund, says in hisforeword to the book, "There is a strong need for this book, it is relevant in any setting, and it will equip analysts with many useful tools to help them achieve success." The inclusion of the Alex cartoons to demonstrate serious issues in a light-hearted way is an added bonus.