# QFA research brief template

A learning resource from Nanyang FinTech Catalyst. This is a template, not a completed member project or investment recommendation.

## Question and hypothesis
What specific relationship are you testing? What evidence would reject your hypothesis?

## Data and provenance
List sources, access dates, licences, sample dates, frequency and missing-value handling. Explain how you prevent survivorship and look-ahead bias.

## Baseline and method
Describe a simple baseline. State the signal, when it becomes knowable, execution timing, position rules and parameter choices.

## Validation
Separate development and out-of-sample periods before tuning. Document all experiments, including failures. Test whether results depend on a small number of observations.

## Costs and risk
Model commission, spread, slippage, turnover and relevant financing costs. Show drawdowns and exposure alongside returns.

## Results and limitations
Report gross and net results, sensitivity tests and uncertainty. Distinguish simulated performance from live results. Explain what the experiment cannot establish.

## Reproduce the work
Link the approved repository, environment, seed, data instructions and exact command. Include a small test that catches an important failure mode.

## Publication review
Obtain author approval and verify data-sharing rights. Remove credentials, personal data and confidential partner material before publication.