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AIS Fundamental and Technical Analysis Guide

CSI Advanced Investment Strategies chapter guide for fundamental and technical analysis, with section lessons, portfolio decision cues, and review priorities.

Fundamental and Technical Analysis is an AIS exam topic weighted at 15%. Use this chapter landing page to frame the advanced portfolio decision first, then move into the section lessons for the specific client, analysis, product, tax, protection, or wealth-accumulation cues.

What this topic is really testing

  • economic analysis and the business cycle
  • industry analysis and sector positioning
  • company analysis, financial statements, and accounting context
  • valuation methods and resource-company analysis
  • technical analysis, charts, statistics, and sentiment
  • equity market, intermarket, and combined analysis

Section lessons

LessonMain review cue
Economic Analysis and the Business CycleExplain the purpose of economic analysis in an investment recommendation and how it can shape broad portfolio positioning
Industry Analysis and Sector PositioningExplain how industry analysis supports security selection and portfolio positioning
Company Analysis, Financial Statements, and Accounting ContextExplain the purpose of company analysis in a security-selection decision and how it complements macro and industry analysis
Valuation Methods and Resource-Company AnalysisDifferentiate relative valuation and intrinsic-value approaches at a high level
Technical Analysis, Charts, Statistics, and SentimentDefine technical analysis and explain its purpose in the investment process
Equity Market, Intermarket, and Combined AnalysisExplain the idea of overall equity market analysis at a high level and how it can inform broad portfolio positioning

Better first instincts

If the case feels most like…Better first move
client discovery or constraintsdefine the objective and constraint before naming a strategy
security or fund analysisconnect the evidence to portfolio fit, not just valuation appeal
alternatives or international investingtest liquidity, tax, currency, transparency, and access risk
protection or wealth dragidentify the risk or drag before choosing a tool

Common traps

  • using advanced terminology as a substitute for suitability analysis
  • ignoring after-tax and after-fee outcomes
  • treating alternatives or hedges as automatically superior because they sound sophisticated
  • missing when the best answer is to reset expectations or revise the allocation rather than add a product

In this section

Revised on Friday, May 29, 2026
1. Understanding the Client and the Portfolio Management Process
3. Analyzing and Selecting Debt and Mutual Fund Securities