FI 352

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF SECURITIES

Harry Portolos, MBA

Adjunct Professor
Ageno School of Business
GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY

Email: leadsop@sbcglobal.net
Telephone: 707-746-6288

Course Description

Examination of empirical evidence concerning non-efficient markets in which

technical analysis studied includes trends analysis, volume and open interest
indicators, contrarian opinion theories, and particular technical theories such as
Dow Theory and Elliot waves.

A course designed for the investor-trader or investment industry professional

seeking to understand and incorporate the workings of technical analysis in their
decision making.

Course Objectives

1) To sensitize the student to the underlying power and flow of Mass

Psychology and the principles underlying Technical Analysis.

2) To enable the student to recognize and comprehend a broad range of

technical analysis concepts, procedures and uses.

3) To develop within the student an elementary capacity to apply the theories

and methods of technical analysis to actual market situations.

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 4) To have the student begins to develop a repertoire of technical tools,
concepts, and procedures which are best suited to their particular
investment/money management goals and their own personality.

5) Prepare the student for Chartered Market Technicians (CMT) Examination

#1.

Required Materials

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets, written by John Murphy,

technician extraordinaire and commentator on CNBC. (Required)

Study Guide for Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets, a Self-

Training Manual, written by John Murphy. (Required)

Technical Analysis, The Complete Resource for Financial Market Technicians,

2nd Addition, Charles D. Kirkpatrick, (Optional)

Technical Analysis, Alan Shaw, Reprinted from Financial Analysts Handbook,

Second Edition, Edited by Summer N. Levine, Published by Dow Jones-Erwin, Inc.
1988, Dow Jones-Irwin, Homewood, (11). (Provided online in CyberCampus)

Market Technicians Association Educational Foundation, Study and lecture

materials covering broad categories of technical analysis. (Provided online in
CyberCampus)

Technical Analysis Explained, Martin J. Pring. (Optional)

Other books, articles, and information sources will be recommended during the
course. Numerous handouts will be provided in class to supplement the text and
help illustrate the various concepts and topics covered. Current and historical
charts will be utilized in demonstrations. Students will be encouraged to make use
of the internet. In addition to exploring the many web sites offering technical analysis
as the primary method of analysis, other software programs will be examined.

Contacting the Instructor

Email: leadsop@sbcglobal.net (preferred)

Ph. 707-746-6288 (when you really need to talk)
Meet before or after class.

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Course Requirements, Student Responsibilities, Evaluations
Classes include lectures and discussions and extensive use of visual aids. Stock
market analysis rests upon a series of logical and empirical principles: therefore,
the student shall demonstrate a detailed knowledge of text and lecture materials
through quizzes and examinations. Market analysis requires continual practice in
decision making under uncertainty. Hence, students will frequently be asked to
assess given market conditions and/or stock performance. Active participation
during class meetings will be encouraged.

Students must participate every week. They must go to all forums and fully
participate. You will receive an opportunity to evaluate the course and instructor
at least once this term.

Course Procedure

SKILL DRILLS

Each class session will commence with lecture material, examples of

concepts, and possible opportunities for utilization of lessons learned. There will
also be a quiz that will be composed of ten to twelve objective questions based
upon the material assigned for that session. Typically, the assigned materials will be
from the texts or from the Market Technician Association Educational Foundation
(MTAEF) handouts. These quizzes will be reviewed the following week. They shall
often serve to organize the lecture and discussion of that class session.
During the preceding week, the student is encouraged to complete the
questions found in the Study Guide that accompanies the John Murphy book.
Those are self-correctable questions and give the student the opportunity to
evaluate her/his grasp of the basic concepts and procedures of technical
analysis. In addition, a few "Mini 'Cases" will be assigned to challenge the
student to interpret, apply and evaluate the pertinent TA principles and
procedures. These Mini-cases may or may not be reviewed in class.
During the tenth session of the course a "Mid-term Examination" will be
given. The topics covered by these mid-terms will span the material assigned
during the prior weeks. The mid-term will be abbreviated, approximately 30
questions in length. The exam will be composed of the objective type of
questions, primarily multiple choice, used in the Murphy Study Guide and likely
to be found on the Final Examination. The mid-term examination will be
collected, graded and returned to the student the following week.
The Final Examination is scheduled for the last session of the course.
Comprehensive of the entire subject matter of the course, the Final Examination
will be between 100 and 130 questions in length. Students earning a grade of
"B" or better on the Final Examination and a grade of "B" or better for the entire
course should be fully prepared to take the CMT I examination. Students are
encouraged to form study groups to prepare for the examinations, particularly to
prepare for the Final Examination.

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Grading Policy

70% Knowledge and Comprehension: Exams and quizzes.

15% Projects: Term papers, projects, or demonstrations exhibiting a clear

understanding of given methodologies, theories, software, concepts, and/or
trading systems. Annotated chart portfolio.

15% Class Participation

Instructor Bio

He has been a stockbroker and active trader since 1990. He is a long-standing

member of the Technical Securities Analysts Association and the International
Federation of Technical Analysts. He has been guest speaker at TSAA, AAII and
GGU Finance Club. He is the recipient of the Macomb S. Watts, III award. Harry
has taught technical analysis at Golden Gate University since 2003 continually
receiving high praise for his ability to reduce complex subject matter to easily
understandable material. Dedicated to teaching, he has been commended for
sharing his insights in trading.

Course Outline

Session Topic Assignment

Session 1 Introduction to Technical Market analysis

Session 2 Behavioral Finance

Session 3 Chart Construction

Session 4 Trend Analysis

Session 5 Volume

Session 6 Cycle Theory

Session 7 Sentiment

Session 8 Pattern Recognition I

Session 9 Pattern Recognition II

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Session Momentum Indicators/ Mid-term Exam
10
Session Relative Strength
11
Session Intermarket Analysis
12
Session Portfolio Management / Wyckoff /
13
Session Review & Exam Prep.
14
Session Final Examination
15

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