Analysis of investment orientation in building the optimal stock portfolio before and after Covid-19

An applied study in the Iraqi Stock Exchange for the period (2018-2021)

Thesis Submitted

to the Board of the College of Administration and Economics,

 Kerbala University, in Fulfillment of the Requirements for Master’s

 degree in Finance and Banking

Presented by

Hiyam Hassan Hadi AL-Moussawi

Under supervision  

Noor Sabah Hammed AL-Dahan        

This study aims to analyze the investment orientation in building the optimal stock portfolio before and after Covid-19 by building the optimal stock portfolio In the Iraqi Stock Exchange on a periodic basis and showing which stocks entered and which stocks exited from trading in relation to the stocks listed in the Iraq Stock Exchange. The stock portfolios are built using the Sharp single index model

In order to analyze the investors’ orientation in building their investment portfolios, a detailed analysis was conducted of the study sample represented by 34 companies listed on the Iraqi Stock Exchange for the period from January 2018 to December 2021, which were selected according to the specified conditions. And some statistical and financial methods were used, in addition to relying on the Excel program. Accordingly, the study concluded a number of conclusions, the most important of which are: There is a clear Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the investment orientation of companies traded and listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange. The study came out with a number of recommendations, the most important of whichh are: Guiding investors to study issues related to return and risk at the level of all sectors, in order to reach an optimal investment portfolio capable of overcoming the risk and economic fluctuations that befall various sectors.