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29 Nov 2019

1. Among the key activity areas for securities firms are Investment Banking, Market Making, Trading and Mergers and Acquisitions. Briefly explain each of these areas and describe the major risks for each area

2. Explain what hedge funds are and how are they different from mutual funds. Your response must include a discussion of activities, fees and regulations.

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Related questions

Mega Fund
Mega Fund invests in stocks of US companies. With uncertainty in the world economy and in the US economy in particular, the US stock market has been quite volatile. The
current portfolio value of Mega Fund is $120 million. Brian, the portfolio manager is concerned about the volatility of stock prices and is thinking of obtaining portfolio
insurance. He also would like to diversify his holdings. With the downgrading of bonds issued in Europe, he believes that investing in bonds issued in Europe would be a good
investment and also diversify the fund holdings. Accordingly, he wants to borrow $125 million and invest in bonds of European firms for 5 years. The average yield from these bonds is 10%. However, these bonds are denominated in euro and all cash flows will occur in euros. Thus, Brian is concerned about the exchange rate risk he will be
undertaking if he invests in European bonds. He also would like to hedge the exchange rate risk through a currency swap. He has collected the following information:
On 1 April, S & P 500 Index is at 2,350. On the same day S & P futures are trading at 2,400 and S & P call options with exercise price of 2,400 is trading at 30. S & P put
options with exercise price of 2400 are trading at 60. Futures and options have a contract multiplier of 100. The options are American options.
The exchange rate on 1 April is Euro 1 = USD1.25 and the foreign exchange rate used for the beginning and end of a currency swap is the same. The swap rates are 5% USD
and 5% Euro.

Question 1
Brian would like to insure portfolio value at $120,000,000 on 1 April.
(a) Show how he can accomplish this by using S&P futures and how many futures contracts are needed.

(b) Show how he can accomplish this using S&P options and how options contracts are needed.

(c) Which of these methods is preferable? Explain why.

Question 2
If Brian enters into a currency swap contract,
(a) Explain how this helps Mega Funds from facing currency risk.
(b) Show clearly the initial cash flow, periodic cash flows, and terminal cash flow resulting from the currency swap.

Question 3
Consider the firm you work for, or another firm whose operations you are familiar with. Briefly describe its operations. What type of financial risks does that firm face?
How can you hedge against those risks? What are the constraints in hedging against those risks? Do the costs and benefits of the hedging strategy you recommend justify
hedging? Substantiate your response

scarleteel467

Question 1

Financial investments are made in efficient markets. The existence of these markets suggests that:

	a.	Investors cannot earn superior returns.
	b.	Investors cannot expect to outperform the market consistently.
	c.	Security prices are random.
	d.	Bearing additional risk will not increase return.

2 points

Question 2

A new issue of corporate securities sold to the general public must be:

	a.	Registered with the SEC.
	b.	Initially sold through brokers.
	c.	Offered initially to existing stockholders.

2 points

Question 3

Money market mutual funds invest in which of the following?

Commercial paper.

Repurchase agreements.

Corporate bonds.

	a.	1 and 2.
	b.	1 and 3.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	All of the choices are correct.

3 points

Question 4

FDIC insures:

	a.	U.S. Treasury bills.
	b.	Money market mutual funds.
	c.	Saving accounts.
	d.	Repurchase agreements.

3 points

Question 5

Which of the following does not have default risk?

	a.	Money market mutual funds.
	b.	Commercial paper.
	c.	Negotiable certificates of deposit.
	d.	U.S. Treasury bills.

2 points

Question 6

The spread is the:

	a.	Difference between the bid and ask prices.
	b.	Commission charged by the broker.
	c.	Difference between the purchase and sale prices.
	d.	Difference between the commissions charged by full-service and discount brokers.

3 points

Question 7

Securities regulations protect investors by:

	a.	Requiring disclosures of information by firms.
	b.	Stopping investors from buying overpriced stock.
	c.	Reducing competition among brokers.
	d.	Establishing commission schedules.

3 points

Question 8

If a stock is bought on margin:

	a.	The full amount of the cost of the investment is borrowed.
	b.	The commissions on the investment are increased.
	c.	The cost of the investment is reduced.
	d.	The interest on the borrowed funds is set by the SEC.

3 points

Question 9

Sarbanes-Oxley, the latest important securities law:

	a.	Reduces potential conflicts between securities analysts and investment bankers.
	b.	Legalizes the sale of securities by investment brokers.
	c.	Requires corporate boards of directors to own stock.
	d.	Mandates that security analysts file their recommendations with the SEC.

2 points

Question 10

Which of the following are true about the present value of a dollar?

It increases as the interest rate increases.

It decreases as the interest rate increases.

It increases as the time period increases.

It decreases as the time period increases.

	a.	1 and 3.
	b.	1 and 4.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	2 and 4.

3 points

Question 11

Time value concepts may not be used to determine:

	a.	The present value of an annuity.
	b.	The margin required on a stock purchase.
	c.	The future value of $100 deposited in a bank.
	d.	The present value of a lump sum.

2 points

Question 12

What is the marginal tax rate?

	a.	The tax rate paid on investment gains from items purchased on margin.
	b.	The tax rate paid on an additional dollar of taxable income.
	c.	The margin required on a stock purchase.
	d.	The present value of a lump sum.

2 points

Question 13

Examples of capital gains include sales of which of the following?

IRA accounts.

Stocks sold for a profit.

Real estate sold for a profit.

	a.	1 and 2.
	b.	1 and 3.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	All of these choices.

3 points

Question 14

With a Roth IRA, the individual:

	a.	May deduct annual contributions.
	b.	Earns tax-free income.
	c.	Defers taxes.
	d.	Avoids estate taxes.

2 points

Question 15

Sources of unsystematic risk include which of the following?

A firms financing decisions.

A firms operations.

Fluctuating market prices.

	a.	1 and 2.
	b.	1 and 3.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	All of these choices.

2 points

Question 16

For diversification to reduce risk:

	a.	The returns on the individual securities should be highly correlated.
	b.	The prices of the stocks should be stable.
	c.	The returns on the individual securities should be negatively correlated.
	d.	One firm should offer dividends and the other should offer capital gains.

2 points

Question 17

Which of the following are true about beta coefficients?

They are a measure of systematic risk.

They relate the return on an individual security to the return on the market.

They measure the variability of an assets return.

	a.	1 and 2.
	b.	1 and 3.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	All of these choices.

3 points

Question 18

Which of the following does an efficient portfolio do?

Maximizes risk for a given return.

Minimizes risk for a given return.

Maximizes return for a given level of risk.

Minimizes return for a given level of risk.

	a.	1 and 3.
	b.	1 and 4.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	2 and 4.

3 points

Question 19

The security market line does not:

	a.	Indicate the relationship between risk and return.
	b.	Relate the market return and beta to a stock's return.
	c.	Identify the optimal portfolio for the investor.
	d.	Use beta coefficients as a measure of risk.

3 points

Question 20

Mutual funds ____ realized capital gains and income (for example, dividends received):

	a.	Retain.
	b.	Reinvest.
	c.	Distribute.
	d.	Distribute or reinvest.

2 points

Question 21

An index fund limits its portfolio to:

	a.	High quality securities.
	b.	Stocks that respond to changes in the consumer price index.
	c.	Stocks included in an aggregate measure of stock prices.
	d.	Stocks of firms in a particular industry.

2 points

Question 22

Mutual funds with beta coefficients greater than 1.0:

	a.	Have outperformed the market.
	b.	Have underperformed the market.
	c.	Have more systematic risk than the market.
	d.	Have less systematic risk than the market.

3 points

Question 23

Which of the following will tend to cause a stock's price to fall?

The firms beta declines.

The firms beta increases.

The risk-free rate declines.

The risk-free rate increases.

	a.	1 and 3.
	b.	1 and 4.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	2 and 4.

2 points

Question 24

The use of P/E ratios to select stocks suggests that:

	a.	High P/E stocks should be purchased.
	b.	Low P/E ratio stocks are overvalued.
	c.	A stock should be purchased if it is selling near its historic low P/E.
	d.	A stock should be purchased if it is selling near its historic high P/E.

2 points

Question 25

What does the efficient market hypothesis require?

Financial markets to be competitive.

Prices to adjust rapidly.

Prices of undervalued securities to fall.

	a.	1 and 2.
	b.	1 and 3.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	All of these choices.

3 points

Question 26

Which of the following does the strong form of the efficient market hypothesis suggest?

Inside information will not lead to superior investment results.

Inside information will lead to superior investment results.

Studying financial statements will not lead to superior investment results.

Studying financial statements will lead to superior investment results.

	a.	1 and 3.
	b.	1 and 4.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	2 and 4.

3 points

Question 27

Which of the following is the least broad-based measure of stock prices?

	a.	NASDAQ market index.
	b.	Dow Jones industrial average.
	c.	S&P 500 stock index.
	d.	AMEX market value index.

3 points

Question 28

What is dollar-cost averaging?

	a.	Periodically buying a round lot of stock.
	b.	Periodically investing a specified dollar amount in a stock.
	c.	A means to increase the average cost basis.
	d.	A means to ensure a positive return.

2 points

Question 29

Stock dividends cause:

	a.	The price of a share of stock to rise.
	b.	The price of a share of stock to fall.
	c.	The value of the firm to rise.
	d.	The value of the firm to fall.

2 points

Question 30

Which of the following occurs when a stock has a two-for-one split?

	a.	The price of the stock doubles.
	b.	The firm's assets increase.
	c.	The firm's liabilities decrease.
	d.	The par value of the stock is reduced.

3 points

Question 31

Dividend reinvestment plans offer which of the following advantages?

Deferment of federal income taxes.

A convenient means to accumulate shares.

Dollar-cost averaging.

	a.	1 and 2.
	b.	1 and 3.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	2.

3 points

Question 32

When the Federal Reserve seeks to expand the money supply, it:

	a.	Sells securities.
	b.	Buy securities.
	c.	Runs a deficit.
	d.	Runs a surplus.

2 points

Question 33

The sum of cash, currency, and demand deposits is:

	a.	M1.
	b.	M2.
	c.	M3.
	d.	M4.

3 points

Question 34

If the Federal Reserve lowers the target federal funds rate:

	a.	The discount rate rises.
	b.	Liquidity in the banking system is increased.
	c.	Security prices fall.
	d.	Required reserves are also decreased.

3 points

Question 35

The anticipation of inflation suggests that the investor should:

	a.	Buy bonds.
	b.	Anticipate higher interest rates.
	c.	Avoid real estate investments.
	d.	Sell stocks of gold companies.

3 points

Question 36

The current ratio is unaffected by:

	a.	Using cash to pay a dividend.
	b.	The collection of an account receivable.
	c.	Selling inventory for a profit.
	d.	Selling bonds and using the funds to finance inventory.

2 points

Question 37

Which of the following are true as the debt ratio increases?

Fewer assets are debt financed.

More assets are debt financed.

The ratio of debt equity increases.

The ratio of debt equity decreases.

	a.	1 and 3.
	b.	1 and 4.
	c.	2 and 3.
	d.	2 and 4.

2 points

Question 38

The technical approach suggests that future stock prices are forecasted by:

	a.	Past stock rates.
	b.	Financial ratios.
	c.	Accounting statements.
	d.	Monetary policy.

2 points

Question 39

The Dogs of the Dow strategy:

	a.	Forecasts the direction of the Dow Jones averages.
	b.	Suggests buying the Dow stocks with the highest dividend yields.
	c.	Outperforms the S&P 500.
	d.	Suggests buying the lowest-priced Dow stocks.

3 points

Question 40

Behavioral finance combines aspects from which two fields in an attempt to identify human traits that affect investment decisions?

	a.	Accounting and finance.
	b.	Finance and psychology.
	c.	Physics and finance.
	d.	Finance and marketing.

ceruleanelephant209

Fundamentals of Investing, 13th Ed., Smart/Gitman/Joehnk, Chapter 10, Problem 1CP:

Max and Veronica Shuman, along with their teenage sons, Terry and Thomas, live in Portland, Oregon. Max is a sales rep for a major medical firm, and Veronica is a personnnel officer at a local bank. Together they earn an annual income of around $100,000. Max has just learned that his recently departed rich uncle has named him in his will to the tune of some $250,000 after taxes. Needless to say, the family is elated. Max intends to spend $50,000 of his inheritance on a number of long-overdue family itmes (like some badly needed remodeling of their kitchen and family room, the down payment on a new Porsche Boxster, and braces to correct Tom's overbite). Max wants to invest the remaining $200,000 in various types of fixed-income securities.

Max and Veronica have no unusual income requirements or health problems. Their only investment objectives are that they want to achieve some capital appreciation, and tehy want to keep their funds fully invested for at least 20 years. They would rather not have to rely on their investments as a source of current income but want to maintain some liquidity in their portfolio just in case.

a. Describe the type of bond investment program you think the Shuman family should follow. In answering this question, give appropriate consideration to both return and risk factors.

b. List several types of bonds that you would recommend for their portfolio and briefly indicate why you would recommed each.

c. Using a recent issue of the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, or an online source, construct a $200,000 bond portfolio for the Shuman family. Use real securities and select any bonds (or notes) you like, given teh following ground rules:
1. The porfolio must include at least one Treasury, one agency, and one corporate bond; also, in total, the portfolio must hold at least five but no more than eight bonds or notes.
2. No more thatn 5% of the portfolio can be in short-term U.S. Treasury bills (but note that if you hold a T-bill, that limits your selections to just seven other notes/bonds).
3. Ignore all transaction costs (i.e., invest the full $200,000) and assume all securities have par values of $1,000 (although they can be trading in the market at something other than par).
4. Use the latest available quotes to determine how many bonds/notes/bills you can buy.

d. Prepare a schedule listing all the securities in your recommended portfolio. Use a form like the one shown below and include the information it calls for on each security in the portfolio.

e. In one brief paragraph, note the key investment attributes of your recommended portfolio and the investment objectives you hope to achieve with it.

viridiancrow437

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