Research and report on the financial system of Australia using the example of an Australian financial institution which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Selected Financial Institution is: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (BEN)

Prepare a report which contains the following sections:
1: Introduction and Overview (Suggested length: 250 words)
Provide a brief introduction to the Australian financial system, the main financial institutions and the financial markets in Australia and preview what will be presented in the report.

2: Activities and Performance of the Selected Financial Institution (Suggested length: 300 words)
• Explain the main functions and operations of your assigned financial institution in terms of the different types of financial products and services it provides. Specifically, you should:

• describe the principal uses and sources of funds for the chosen institution and any strategies they follow in managing their assets and liabilities.
• include in your discussion how the concept of time value of money is relevant to the financial institution.
• briefly mention the performance of the financial institution in the last one year relative to the whole financial industry.

3: Participation of the Financial Institution in the Financial Markets (Suggested length: 150 words)
• Describe the participation of your assigned bank in any TWO of the following markets in some detail:

• Share market
• Bond market
• Foreign Exchange market
• Derivatives market.

4: Applicable regulations (Suggested length: 150 words)
• Describe the main laws that govern the functioning of the chosen financial institution. Also discuss how the regulatory authorities have direct or indirect oversight of the activities of the financial institution.

5: Concluding remarks (Suggested length: 100 words)
• Sum up what was discussed in the report and comment on what was deduced from the gathered information about the future outlook for the financial institution.

Words limit is expected to submit not less than 900 words but not more than 1000 words (excluding the appendix and reference list).

Include any references used and cited in report and use the Harvard referencing system.