Resources
The Trading Room is a state-of-the-art teaching and research center located in the Smith Academic Technology Center at Bentley University (Suite 226). As the centerpiece of the university's Hughey Center for Financial Services, the Trading Room provides firsthand exposure to financial concepts such as trading, portfolio construction, corporate finance concepts and risk management.
The 5000 square-foot facility comprises two parts: the main trading floor and the adjacent business suite, which is used as an overflow facility. In aggregate, the Trading Room is equipped with 60 widescreen Hewlett Packard workstations — each with 32" curved HP panel monitors — and 24 Bloomberg terminals. Each workstation is equipped with real-time and delayed data as well as industry standard valuation software.
The Trading Room also features 16 NEC 42" LCD screens and three ticker tapes displaying market information, news headlines and real-time data.
Trading Room staff are available to students during business hours to assist students in software set up, usage and research.
Software
Through the Trading Room, the Hughey Center for Financial Services (HCFS) provides students with access to an unrivaled collection of datafeeds and analytical tools. This investment positions the HCFS as one of the most powerful investment research teaching centers in the country. Provided below is a description of each application. For information on workshops, mini classes and tutorials provided for each of the applications, please visit our resources page.
Bloomberg is a comprehensive, online service for global financial information that includes: Company information (stock performance, news, balance sheets, historical data, officers, evaluations, etc.); information on U.S. and foreign markets; extensive sets of data and statistics on industries, companies, etc.; numerous options for analyzing and graphing data; country monitors, economic calendars and currency news; and news services (general, markets, economics, special reports, etc.).
Bloomberg has one of the most extensive databases of information available in the financial world. Bloomberg’s built-in screening, searching, and analysis tools allow for extensive data retrieval, interpretation, and manipulation. Information on every financial market, instrument, and variable in the world is at your fingertips. Bloomberg’s international information coverage is also wide-ranging, with news and economic information on every country available both real-time and historically. Advanced bond screening, custom option monitoring, portfolio tracking, Excel data exportation, technical analysis, FX cross-rates, industry tracking, global economic statistics, relative company analysis; these are simply a handful of the hundreds of the integrated Bloomberg functions designed to allow the end user near infinite information access and ability.
Capital IQ Platform is a web and Excel-based research product that combines deep information on companies, markets, and people worldwide with robust tools for fundamental analysis, idea generation, and workflow management. Capital IQ Platform is deployed at over 2,700 leading investment banks, fund managers, private capital firms, and corporations worldwide.
FactSet is a complete source for financial information. It combines more than 200 databases from industry-leading suppliers and powerful analytical tools into a single information system. FactSet has more thn 50 applications that allow users to analyze companies, portfolios, markets, and economies seamlessly. The program's comprehensive platform enables users to customize data to the smallest degree and to present data in a infinite variety of formats, including customized reports and charts. Some of the tools included are: Company Analytics, Real-Time Market Data, Market Analysis, Ownership Analytics, Deal / M&A Analysis, Hosted Data Storage, Portfolio Analysis, Risk Analysis, Fixed Income Analysis, Screening Tools, and Spreadsheet Models.
FactSet integrates real-time global news and quotes into the FactSet desktop application to provide complete analytic, research and market data to the user. The program allows the user to easily access real-time, fundamental and historical data from a single platform. With virtually limitless customization, you can tailor your screen to fit your specific needs. Easily change the look and feel of the screen displays, customize your watch lists and quote displays, filter news stories and access your portfolio holdings in real time.
Morningstar provides students with a basic understanding of the functionality of the software. Morningstar provides detailed information on more than 20,000 mutual funds, equities, ETFs, and hedge funds, including historical data (monthly, quarterly and annual), fund composition, portfolio screening, risk adjusted star-ratings, investment style boxes, and analyst reviews and commentaries. Morningstar also offers the ability to rank and compare funds, perform advanced analysis for research purposes, and construct and analyze mutual fund portfolios.
Palisade Statistical Suite extends the forecasting capability of spreadsheet models created in MS Excel and provides the information needed to make accurate, efficient and confident risk management decisions. The program can create projected sales figures, expense data or other finnacial statements items based on historical data. Using Monte Carlo simulation, Palisade displays a range of possible outcomes and the likelihood of achieving each of them. The program can also be interfaced with RISKOptimizer to conduct linear and nonlinear optimizations. Optimization is the process of finding the best, or optimal, solution for your model.
This can be accessed through classes and faculty members.
Financial Trading System (FTS) is a web-based software package that allows professors and Trading Room staff to simulate markets using pre-designed cases, teaching modules and other supporting material. With this system, students have the opportunity to manage their own real-time position, act as market traders and apply trading theories. Through the use of FTS students learn important concepts from personal trading experiences by viewing the problem from both a trading and trading support perspective. Cases that are used cover Fixed Income markets, Equity markets, Derivative markets as well as Swaps markets.
FTS can be accessed through classes and faculty members.
Additional Resources
The Bentley Academic Technology Center provides various additional educational materials and resources through the ATC website. On the site, the ATC provides a comprehensive list of instructional tools & applications that are offered through the Academic Technology Center.
Certification Programs
The Hughey Center for Financial Services (HCFS) prides itself in its efforts to support a proactive educational environment where students learn above and beyond what is required by their classes. In support of this goal, the Hughey Center Trading Room encourages students to become certified on various financial software applications. The Hughey Center for Financial Services currently offers Bloomberg and Morningstar certifications to all of our enrolled students. This experience has increased the marketability of Bentley students in a wide variety of fields including: investment banking, asset management, sales & trading, wealth management, bio-tech and financial planning, where these skills are the foundation of informed decision-making.
Our Policy
To use any of our resources you must be a current Bentley student or faculty members. All resources must be used for Bentley courses, projects, and clubs. Use for internships or for the benefit of persons outside Bentley is strictly prohibited. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the fair use of these resources.
Contact:
781-891-3442
tradingroom@bentley.edu
Smith Technology Center - Suite 226