You are a financial analyst hired by a consulting firm to conduct an in-depth analysis of a diversified financial institution operating in the current economic landscape. This financial institution runs operations in general and life insurance, pension funds, mutual funds, and commercial banking. Your task is to critically examine how this institution navigates challenges and seizes opportunities under the prevailing economic conditions. You can make your own assumptions regarding i) the country in which the financial institution is located and ii) the stages of the business (start-up, growth, maturity, or decline). Your report must address the following areas: 1. Provide an overview of the current economic conditions and their impact on the financial institution. 2. Examine the impact of monetary policy, inflation and interest rates on the performance and strategies of the financial institution. 3. Discuss recent, existing or potential regulations and their impact on the operations of the financial institution. 4. Evaluate the sustainability prospects for this institution and its role in promoting sustainability. (10 marks) 5. Provide recommendations for the financial institution in managing its potential risks based on your analysis. (10 marks) [Total 50 marks] Q1: Should I write the final assignment in the form of a report or a question-and-answer format? A: You can write the report in a 'question-and-answer format' with two separate sections (Task 1 and Task 2). Provide a separate list of reference for each section. OR You can also write them in a 'Business Report' format, especially for Task 1. You can assume that you are a financial analyst writing the Business Report to your customers. See 'Guide to Report Writing' on ELE. You can also review the Recap Recording on Week 2 Academic Writing Skills Workshop. Q6: When I provide my view in the answers, how can I strengthen the argument? A: You can use academic text/articles, research reports and/or real-world evidence to support your answers. You can also support your answers with figures and/or tables. Q7: Can I add pictures to my report? A: Yes, you may want to use images in your report. Please see Assessment Handbook (Page 9) on the use of images and photographs. This guide will show you what you need to consider when using other people's images, and where to search for online images. https://libguides.exeter.ac.uk/usingimages Please ensure that any images you use are free for public use. Q8: Apart from the company's annual reports, where can I find other relevant information? A: You can use secondary resources and reference the source of your information. You can also download data from Financial Databases available in the Business School (e.g. WRDS, S&P Compustat, S&P Capital IQ, Bloomberg etc). See information on how to access the databases: https://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/finance-accounting/research/resources/