Background: Currently, an abundance of websites offer online services to track the performance of stock portfolios. However, the most comprehensive options may require a fee and usually do not provide advice tailored to the investor. An online user interface offers wide-ranging analysis of stock performance and counsel on managing the portfolio based on a concurrent study in technical analysis and other strategies used to predict stock movements. This project combines the convenience of other online interfaces with the personalized guidance typically reserved for paper in order to create a single destination for viewing past performance, current conditions, and future possibilities.
Summary: This project, which primarily uses PHP and MySQL, consists of four main phases. The first major step is extensive research of online user interfaces, database organization, and data retrieval. Following this preparatory period, the interface is created with a basic level of functionality. Next, advice and analysis are combined with a refined interface that is marked by thoroughness and ease of use. Finally, all features are further enhanced to incorporate additional conclusions of the related project in a final testing of sample portfolios.
The final result is an online financial manager that provides detailed analysis of stock movements and personalized advice, presented according to the aesthetic preferences of the user. Thorough research in the technical and financial aspects of the project allow the combination of the online user interface and the analytical program to give users reliable suggestions in the uncertain world of portfolio management.
Visuals: The final product of a user interface, which will include appropriate graphs, constitutes the visual component of this project.
The following graphic shows the most recent completed format of display of the project (10 December 2002). The interface will be similiarly styled and will contain many of the same data shown below.
—Joseph Hess (25 FEBRUARY 2003)