7ECON021W International Economy and Financial Markets Assessment Brief: Recorded Group Presentation

WESTMINSTER BUSINESS SCHOOL SCHOOL OF ORGANISATIONS, ECONOMY, AND SOCIETY

Module Title: International Economy and Financial Markets
Module code: 7ECON021W.
Assessment title: Recorded Group Presentation.
Assessment weighting: 40% of the total module mark
Assessment deadline: Monday 1st Dec 2025 at 13:00 hours.
Submission method: Turnitin via the module blackboard site.
Date and form of feedback: Monday 15th Dec 2025 online feedback.
Assessment format: Recorded Group Assignment.
Word limit or Length of presentation: 15 minutes/12 slides max

Semester 1, 2025/2026

7ECON021W ASSESSMENT BRIEFING

RECORDED GROUP ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

Focussing on a country of your choice, critically examine how crude oil price volatility continues to affect investments, interest rates, and debt profile of the country. Discuss the alternative measures and market instruments that a supplier (such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and a consumer (such as the British Airways) could take to hedge themselves from oil price volatility.

You are required to upload your recorded group presentation no later than Monday 1st Dec 2025.         
The presentation group will comprise of 3 students and the presentation will be restricted to 15 slides maximum, and it will not exceed 15 minutes duration.

You are required to provide a copy of your recorded assignment slides via the submission link made available on the module submission link on the blackboard no later than Monday1st December 2025. No more than 3 students are allowed in a group. Any uploaded assessment materials must be audible, legible and the presenter’s face clearly visible and not obscured. Each individual group member must include their student ID number & individual task number on their assignment cover sheet before submitting same to the group representative. One group representative only will upload the presentation slides on behalf of a group. A voluntary group arrangement list will be provided, and anyone not assigned to a group should contact the module leader asap.

BREAK DOWN OF TASKS FOR INDIVIDUAL GROUP MEMBERS

To pass, each group must share and comprehensively address the following tasks among themselves. 

The presentation will be marked individually, and individual efforts and knowledge will be adequately rewarded.:

1. Key performance indicators of the chosen country including her GDP, debt to GDP ratio, trade balance with particular attention to oil-related products. Comment on the country’s major trading partners and oil trade analyses. You will need to support your arguments with recent trend analyses of the above-mentioned indicators and their critical evaluation. Apply a thorough knowledge of relevant trade theories, and derivative tools to support your arguments. Provide a reference list. TASK 1     
2. Examine how oil price volatility is likely to impact on the country’s economic indicators (including interest rate, exchange rate, national debt profile, and the nation’s treasury bond performance, and discuss its policy implications. A clear trend analyses of the above indicators would be helpful. Provide a clear and thoughtful advice to the country that you have chosen on how to mitigate the impacts of the oil price volatility. Provide a reference list. TASK 2
3. Using knowledge of derivatives, provide thoughtful suggestions on how to mitigate the impacts of the oil-price volatility on the country’s economy and discuss the effectiveness of your suggestions. Your discussion must indicate how to hedge oil price volatility using spot, futures, forward swap and options transactions. Demonstrate evidence of research and provide thoughtful suggestions. Provide a reference list. TASK 3
   Comprehensive pre-submission revisions session will be announced via the black board to provide adequate support and assistance to the cohort. This is in addition to individual consultation that could be booked by individual student with the module leader.

LEARNING OUTCOMES ADDRESSED

The above assessment seeks to ascertain critical knowledge of the learning outcomes outlined below. 

1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the nature and implications of exchange rate risk and methods of protection, using derivative markets.
2. Deal with complex problems associated with capital movement and international investment decision making.
3. Critically analyse the factors that contributed to international debt crisis and evaluate the implications of various policies for emerging markets and the global economy and communicate their conclusions to a specialist or nonspecialist audience. (Los: 1, 2, 4,)

7ECON021W ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The assessment criteria will be equally weighted. When you are completing your assessment remember you will need to fulfil the brief, and the assessment criteria as outlined below. 

Generic Marking criteria the assessments

80-100 An outstanding piece of work: All assessment criteria have been met at an exceptionally high standard.

• Displays exceptional initiative, creativity, sophistication, and originality.
• Provides insightful analysis.
• Demonstrates originality and rigour of argument.
• Shows independent synthesis of ideas and understanding.
• Demonstrates reflexivity and critical analysis to generate transformative solutions/responses.
• Demonstrates substantial independent research.
• Communicates complexity clearly and succinctly with excellent standard of presentation.

70-79 An excellent piece of work: All assessment criteria have been met at a high standard.

• Demonstrates sophisticated understanding across the field of study and related areas.
• Draws on a range of techniques and information sources for independent analysis.
• Demonstrates creativity and flair in task/enquiry.
• Provides robust and insightful argument.
• Provides a high quality critical and reflexive analysis.
• Demonstrates substantial independent research
• Communicates ideas clearly and succinctly with good standard of presentation.

60-69 A good piece of work: All assessment criteria have been met at a good standard.

• Demonstrates breadth and/or depth of understanding across the field of study and related areas.
• Synthesises knowledge to address task/enquiry.
• Presents argument cogently and clearly.
• Demonstrates extensive research and critical use of resources.
• Communicates ideas clearly with a good standard of presentation.

50-59 A sound piece of work: All assessment criteria have clearly been met.

• Demonstrates understanding of appropriate range of concepts and theoretical approaches.
• Provides an argument to frame response to enquiry/task.
• Uses a range of relevant sources provided to undertake research.
• Undertakes meaningful analysis/reflection in relation to the enquiry/task.
• Communicates ideas using an appropriate format with few weaknesses in presentation.

40-49 FAIL: An inadequate piece of work: One or more relevant assessment criteria are not met.

• Provides clear limitations in the range of concepts/principles explored
• Demonstrates lack of clarity and depth of understanding in relation to the task/enquiry.
• Uses a narrow range of sources to support task/enquiry.
• Provides limited analysis/reflection.
• Communication is unclear with significant weaknesses in presentation.

39-0 FAIL: A poor piece of work: Most of the relevant assessment criteria area not been met.

• Demonstrates poor understanding of key concepts and principles.
• Shows significant weaknesses and omissions in completing the task.
• Omits analysis/reflection.
• Uses inadequate information sources.
• Communication is unclear with significant weaknesses in presentation.

The University has arrangements for marking, internal moderation, and external scrutiny. Further information can be found in Section 12 of the Handbook of Academic Regulations.