288 SIE exam caril Study Guide Questions with Correct
Answers
What type of risk is unique to a specific industry, business enterprise, or investment
type? >>>Nonsystematic risk
Under which of the following circumstan
...
288 SIE exam caril Study Guide Questions with Correct
Answers
What type of risk is unique to a specific industry, business enterprise, or investment
type? >>>Nonsystematic risk
Under which of the following circumstances is an investor in a position to acquire stock?
>>>Buy a call, sell a call (The holder of a call has the right to buy stock at the strike
price if exercised. The seller of a put is obligated to buy stock at the strike price if
exercised)
Options- a premium >>>the cost of an option contract, expressed in dollars per share of
the underlying stock
Options- strike price >>>The price at which the stock will be bought or sold if the
contract is exercised, expressed in dollars per share
A customer believes that ABC's price will go up but does not have the money to buy 100
shares right now. How could the customer use options to profit from an increase in the
stock's price? >>>buy calls, write puts (both are bullish)
A corporation's offer to current stockholders of the ability to purchase a proportionate
number of new shares at a specific price for a limited time is called a >>>right (they
usually expire in 30-45 days)
American depositary receipts (ADRs) >>>issued by banks, represent a specific number
of shares of a foreign company, and trade and pay dividends in dollars
Which of the following records must be maintained for 6 years? >>>Customer ledgers
(statements)
While underwriters can assist with preparation and filing, the accuracy and adequacy of
these documents is the responsibility of the >>>Issuing corporation
What institutions serve as depository and clearing facilities? >>>Depository Trust
Company and National Securities Clearing Corporation (most specifically) then carrying
and clearing firms can act as these as well.
What is a transfer agent? >>>(often a bank) for a corporation is responsible for ensuring
that its securities are issued in the correct owner's name, canceling old and issuing new
certificates, maintaining records of ownership, and handling problems relating to lost,
stolen, or destroyed certificatesWhat is the function of the clearing corporation? >>>Acting as an intermediary in a
trade, examples of these can be a commercial bank, can be a broker-dealer but doesn't
have to be
Who is considered a control person (security) >>>those owned by directors, officers, or
persons (which include corporations, trusts, etc.) who own or control 10% or more of the
issuer's equity securities (an unaffiliated person would have to own 10% or more of the
outstanding shares)
What are the two components of Return on Investment? >>>Capital gains and income
To expand the overall economy, we want to >>>buy securities via open-market
operations, pushing interest rates down
To meet a Regulation T margin call, a customer would have how long? >>>settlement
plus 2 additional business days (or S + 2)
What is A fully disclosed broker-dealer >>>one that introduces its business to a carrying
firm to clear transactions
The regulation enacted by the SEC to protect the privacy of customer information is
known as >>>Regulation S-P
A market maker that does not honor its firm quote is said to be >>>"backing away"
A deficit in the U.S. balance of payments can occur if >>>interest rates in foreign
countries are higher than U.S. domestic rates and U.S. consumers are purchasing
(importing) foreign goods
The general partner of a limited partnership has responsibility of >>>Organizing and
managing the partnership, assumes unlimited liability, and is responsible for paying all
partnership debts
To grow or expand the economy, U.S. fiscal policy should be to >>>cut taxes (so
consumers have more money to spend) and increase government spending for
programs and development (to create more jobs)
What is the federal funds rate >>>the rate commercial money center banks charge each
other for an overnight, unsecured loan
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) >>>buy or sell Treasury securities in the
open market. Purchases add money to the economy, making the money available to
lend more plentiful, and sales take money out of the economy, making money available
to lend less plentiful.Reports of rising inventories generally occur during which period of the business cycle?
>>>Contraction, due to a lack of consumer demand
Who is exempt from registering with SIPC? >>>Those who deal exclusively with US
Government securities (i.e.-Treasury bonds), exclusively municipality securities, and in
redeemable investment company securities
Retail investor >>>An individual who makes investments such as the purchase of
securities for his or her account rather than for an organization
Market maker >>>Any entity, individual or organization, willing to accept the risk of
holding a particular security in its own account to facilitate trading and provide liquidity in
that security
When the Federal Reserve Board wants to expand (loosen) the money supply, it will
>>>buy Treasury securities from banks in the open market
SROs functioning under the SEC include... >>>FINRA, MSRB and CBOE
Mild inflation can >>>encourage growth and stimulate the economy
Discount rate >>>The rate the FRB charges member banks
Prime rate >>>The rate commercial banks (Wells Fargo) charges their most
creditworthy investors (Lincoln Financial). Prime rate decreases when banks sell
securities because there's money money in the market and don't need to charge as
much. Raise the rate when they buy securities.
4 stages of the business cycle >>>expansion (recovery), peak (prosperity), contraction
(decline), trough, and then expansion (recovery) again
Securities Act of 1933 >>>(The Paper Act, Prospectus Act, New Issues Act) requires
that issuers who want to raise capital by making a public offering of securities to the
public, provide full and fair disclosure of all material facts about the company and the
securities being offered.
To contract or slow economic growth U.S. fiscal policy should be to >>>raise taxes and
cut government spending for programs and development
Out of the federal funds rate, discount rate, prime rate and broker call loan rate, which is
the most volatile? >>>Federal funds rate because of the overnight offerings (short-term)
The shelf offering (registration) provision under the Securities Act of 1933 allows
>>>issuers to quickly raise capital when needed or when market conditions are
favorable.Types of direct participation programs (DPPs) >>>real estate, gas and oil, and leasing
programs
Long vs short investor >>>Long (buy), short (sell)
Debenture >>>a debt obligation of a corporation backed only by its word and general
creditworthiness, written promises of the corporation to pay the principal at its due date
and interest on a regular basis.
Municipal revenue bonds >>>bonds issued to finance a project or facility with the bonds'
debt service backed by the facility's revenue stream. The revenue might come from
rents, tolls, or admission fees, among other sources.
Build America Bonds (BABs) >>>Taxable municipal securities. Two types: Direct
Payment ( provide the municipal issuer with payments from the U.S. Treasury) and Tax
Credit, or Issuer (provide the bondholder with a federal income tax credit)
Long 1 XYZ January 50, put at 2. What is the max. potential gain? >>>"Investor
BOUGHT 100 shares of XYZ in January at $50 per share, the premium is $2."
Maximum gain for a long put is calculated by subtracting the premium from the strike
price (50 − 2 = 48 per share). One contract represents 100 shares, so the buyer's
maximum gain is $4,800 (this occurs if the stock becomes worthless).
Adjusted cost basis problem >>>see example on page 129 under dividends
When must a suspicious activity report (SAR) be filed with FinCEN after noticing
suspicious activity in an account? >>>within 30 calendar days, the client may not know
he is subject to an SAR.
When can corporate accounts trade on margin? >>>Only when it is not listed as being
restricted for doing so.
When securities are held in street name, who is the beneficial owner? >>>The security
is put in the broker-dealers name, but the customer is still the beneficial owner.
What are the requirements of a business continuity plan (BCP) if there is a major
business disruption in the firm? >>>Data backup and recovery (hard and electronic
copies), alternate business location for employees, and prompt customer access to
funds and securities
What securities can be purchased on margin? >>>Equities, bonds and warrants. Mutual
funds cannot be purchased on margin, but can be used as collateral after being held for
30 days.
Spin-off >>>When one company sells all of the shares of another it ownStagflation >>>When inflation and stagnation occur simultaneously: a period of high
unemployment and lack of growth and business activity (stagnation) and high
unemployment and lack of growth and business activity (inflation)
Keynesian theory >>>Government intervention in the economy is a significant force in
creating prosperity by engaging in activities that affect aggregate demand.
Deflation >>>a general decline in prices occurring during severe recessions and the
unemployment rate is rising.
Fourth market >>>market for institutional investors in which blocks of stock trade
through electronic communications networks (ECNs) that are open 24 hours a day
acting as agents
bullish position are... >>>long (owning/buying a security in hopes that they can resell it
at a higher price later & owning securities that can be converted into rights, warrants
and long calls)
bearish positions are... >>>short
An investor purchased 100 shares of Acme Shoelace stock for $20 per share. Four
years later, the investor sold the stock for $28 per share. This investor would report
these transactions, on a per share basis, as >>>$20 cost base, $8 capital gains (cost
base: the price paid for the security, capital gain/loss: difference between the cost base
and price security sold for later)
A member firm holding stock in street name may vote the shares as it sees fit if >>>the
customer does not return the signed proxy statement by the 10th day before the
shareholders' meeting, and if the matters to be voted on are of minor importance.
What records have to be maintained for 6 years? >>>Blotters, general ledger, stock
ledger, customer ledger, and customer account records
Churning >>>Excess trading in a customer's account, can happen in discretionary and
nondiscretionary accounts
What will be found in a trade confirmation? >>>trade date, account number, description
of the security, CUSIP number, commissions (not markups or markdowns), RR's ID
number, BOT (bought) or SLD (sold) position, number of shares, yield, price per share,
amount paid, and net amount
DERP >>>Declarate date: When the BOD approves the dividend payment
Ex-Dividend date: one business day before the record date, or two business days after
the trade date (regular way settlement), stock must be purchased before Ex date
Record date: when stockholders receive the dividend distributionPayable date: when the shareholders receive dividend checks (the actual payment)
Interest payments for securities >>>corporate bond: pay semiannually
inflation >>>Rising employment due to an increase in demand for goods and services
best efforts underwriting types: >>>All or none: underwriter sells all of the shares or
cancels the underwriting
Mini-max: fixing a minimum/maxiumum (floor or ceiling) dollar amount to be sold in
order to move forward with the entire offering
market maker >>>A broker-dealer that accepts the risk of holding a particular security in
its account to facilitate trading and provide liquidity in that security
Prime rate >>>the rate charged to their most credit worthy corporate customers for
unsecured loans, set by individual commercial banks
balance of payments >>>the flow of money between the US and other countries
trustee >>>An institution or a person responsible for making all investment,
management, and distribution decisions in an account maintained in the best interests
of another who has been legally appointed to provide these services (i.e.-fiduciary
appointed to manage assets in a trust)
custodian >>>An institution or a person responsible for making all investment,
management, and distribution decisions in an account maintained in the best interests
of another (i.e.-Custodian of an account of a minor)
Cooling-off period lasts... >>>20 CALENDAR days, not business, since the SEC has
received it
When the FOMC buys treasury securities, interest rates will... >>>be lowered since the
money supply is loosening and there is more money being pumped into the economy
What investment products are NOT covered by the FDIC? >>>Mutual funds, annuities,
life insurance policies, and stocks/bonds.(An annuity with a self-directed IRA or mutual
fund with a certificate of deposit are covered)
Types of interest rates charged >>>Discount rate- FRB
Federal Funds Rate- Large commercial banks to one another for overnight loans of $1M
or more (short-term, most volatile)
Prime Rate- Large commercial banks charge to credit worthy investors
Broker Loan Rate- banks charge broker dealers on money they borrowed to lend to
margin account customersShelf offering registration >>>when issuers can raise money quickly when needed or
when market conditions are just right by selling shares, the transaction does not have to
happen immediately, can occur in the primary and secondary offerings
Supply-side theory >>>Government should allow market forces to determine prices of
all goods and that the federal government should reduce government spending as well
as taxes.
Access equals delivery rule >>>Applies to the final prospectus and aftermarket
prospectus delivery obligations. It does not apply to preliminary prospectuses. No
prospectus can be delivered before the registration date
A strong US dollar leads to.. >>>more affordablility for U.S. consumers to buy more
foreign goods, so U.S. imports increase. As more imported goods flow in, more money
flows out—deficit.
prime brokerage account >>>a customer (an institution) selects one member to provide
custody and financing of securities and executes trades with other firms known as
executing brokers.
Depository trust company (DTC) >>>serves the custody needs of securities industry
participants in the US and a number of foreign countries as well.
carrying firm >>>or clearing broker-dealers, can execute trades, clear and settle
transactions, take custody of customer funds and securities, and handle all back-office
tasks, such as sending trade confirmations and statements for themselves as well as for
other broker-dealers.
introducing/fully disclosed >>>A broker-dealer has a line of business restricted solely to
the purchase and sale of securities with trade executions being handled by another
member firm, it introduces its customers to a clearing firm
Main purpose of issuer/primary market transactions >>>hopes of raising capital by
selling securities to the investing public
Secondary market transactions are where... >>>investors buy and sell securities to and
from one another
Primary market transactions are where... >>>Issuers, or someone acting as an issuer,
sells securities to the investing public
U.S. consumers are increasing their imports of foreign-made goods, what will likely
happen to the GDP? >>>The GDP will decrease (it is a measure of goods and services
produced), so if there are more foreign goods being shipped in, there are less US goods
being produced domesticallyWhat is the only form of advertising permitted before the effective date? >>>Tombstone
ads
What is the primary regulatory body for the securities industry? >>>the SEC, not FINRA
The cost of doing business is closely linked to the cost of money, which is known as
>>>interest
Firm commitment underwriting is when... >>>Underwriters acting as principals and
committing to purchase any unsold shares for the syndicate account
FINRA regulates >>>all matters related to investment banking (securities underwriting),
trading in the OTC market, trading in NYSE-listed securities, and the conduct of FINRA
member firms and associated persons
Syndicate >>>two or more broker-dealers (investment bankers) which work with an
issuer through, for example, the registration process in the case of corporate securities
and bring the issuer's securities to the market by selling them to investors. There are
syndicates that specialize in underwriting municipal bonds. The members of a syndicate
are also known as the underwriters or collectively the underwriting group.
A depository >>>A business entity that performs the function of receiving and delivering
payments and securities on behalf of both parties to a securities transaction
What type of risk can be reduced through diversification? >>>Nonsystematic risk (i.e.-
business, capital, financial, call, prepayment, currency, liquidity, regulatory, legislative,
and political risk)
What type of risk cannot be reduced through diversification? >>>Systematic risk (i.e.-
market, interest rate, reinvestment, and inflation/purchasing power)
Limited partnerships >>>An investment that allows for a share in the income, gains,
losses, deductions, and tax credits of the business entity to pass through to investors
The effect of continually rising retail prices on the investment returns of one's portfolio is
best described as >>>Inflation risk
Long call and long put >>>call buyer owns the right to buy shares (bullish), while the put
buyer has the right to sell the shares (bearish)
Short call and short put >>>call writer has the obligation to sell the shares (bearish),
while the put writer has the obligation to buy the shares (bullish)
What does it mean when a fund is highly leveraged? >>>It means they are borrowing to
purchase, or buying on margin. (i.e.- a hedge fund is highly leveraged)Penny stock >>>a non-Nasdaq listed (therefore, Bulletin Board or "OTC Pink") stock
trading under $5 per share. If a stock is listed on an exchange or listed on Nasdaq, it is
not a penny stock, regardless of price.
T-bonds and T-notes pay interest.... >>>semiannually
Why is a fixed security not considered a security? >>>because the annuity buyer
assumes no investment risk, the insurance company does. They do, however, assume
inflation risk.
A convertible feature for a corporate bond allows >>>a bondholder to convert a debt
instrument into securities that give the investor ownership rights
What causes a mutual fund's NAV per share to fall? >>>when the fund pays a dividend
to shareholders and when the market value of the portfolio declines
American-style vs. European-style option >>>American: call or put buyers can exercise
a contract any time BEFORE expiration
European: call or put buyers can exercise a contract on the expiration day only (last day
of trading)
Where do tax deductions for real estate programs derive from? >>>mortgage interest
paid and depreciation
When the U.S. government deposits securities with a trustee, against which it issues
certificates representing principal payments only, and no regular interest payments,
these are known as >>>Treasury STRIPS
What are the three yields used for debt instruments that all mean the same thing?
>>>Nominal, stated and coupon yield, they are all fixed at the time the bond is issued
Sovereign risk is... >>>a type of political risk, the risk of default by a country on its debt
instruments (i.e.-The ratings on the debt instruments of a foreign country with
outstanding loans from a number of other countries worldwide have been downgraded.
The impact felt due to the risk of possible default is known as)
Legislative vs Regulatory risk >>>Legislative: the changing of laws
Regulatory: the changing of regulations
Liquid vs illiquid investments >>>Investments in stocks and bonds are considered liquid
(i.e.-common stock), while investments in assets (works of art, real estate, automobiles)
are considered illiquid
A registered representative speaks to a customer about a particular 6% municipal bond
quoted on a 6.5% basis. What does this mean? >>>6% is the bond's coupon, while
6.5% is the bond's yield to maturityMoney market instruments guaranteed by a bank that are used to provide capital for
international trade/ provide short-term financing for importers and exporters are called
>>>bankers' acceptances (BAs)
If an investor is long an option contract and wishes to exercise the contract, the investor
notifies the broker-dealer, who then notifies... >>>the OCC (Options Clearing
Corporation) who's duty is to standardize, guarantee the performance and issue options
contracts
If the buyer exercises the contract, then the seller... >>>is obligated to fulfill the terms of
the contract
What does a bond certificate represent? >>>The borrower's obligation to repay the
amount it borrowed plus interest
What happens in repo (reverse repurchase) agreement >>>a dealer agrees to buy
securities from an investor and sell them back later at a higher price.
A preemptive right for existing shareholders is best described as >>>the right to
purchase shares in an amount that would keep a shareholder's proportionate ownership
in the corporation unchanged when a company issues additional shares
When is settlement for options trading? >>>The next business day, the day after the
trade date, T + 1 (i.e.-If someone purchased a call on Tuesday, December 5, the
settlement for that trade would be on Wednesday, December 6.)
capital market vs money market instruments >>>capital market: intermediate to longterm, equity or debt securities with maturities of one year or more
money market: short-term, highly liquid, high-yielding debt securities, to corporations,
banks, broker-dealers, government municipalities, US government, maturities of 1 year
or less, higher degree of safety, no interest payments (purchase at discount and mature
at face value)
Types of money market instruments >>>Certificates of deposit (CDs), Bankers'
Acceptances (BAs), Commercial paper, US Treasury bills, Repurchase Agreements
(REPOs), and Federal Funds
What are ad valorem taxes? >>>real estate taxes issued by local municipalities (towns,
cities, or counties -- never states)
What is capital risk? >>>the potential for an investor to lose some or all of their money
(the invested capital) under circumstances unrelated to an issuer's financial stability
(i.e.-least likely when they invest in securities backed by the government, but likely
when they invest in derivative products like options or businesses like DPPs)What are depletion allowances? >>>Tax deductions that compensate an oil and gas
program for the decreasing supply of the resource after it is taken out of the ground and
sold
Limited partnerships consist of... >>>a large group of investors contributing a small sum
While options accounts are initially approved by the branch office manager (BOM), they
must ultimately be approved by the... >>>Reigistered options principal (ROP) in a
promptly manner
When the current yield is higher than the coupon, what does this mean? >>>The bond
was purchased at a discount
When a bond is being sold with current interest rates lower than coupon, what does this
mean? >>>The bond was sold at a premium
How are ETFs priced? >>>by supply and demand where transactions prices may be
higher or lower than the fund's NAV
What is market timing? >>>Short-term purchases and sales of a mutual fund to take
advantage of price fluctuation
What is the most common form of direct participation programs (DPPs)? >>>Limited
partnerships (LPs): business entities allowing for the economic consequences of the
business to flow through to the individual investors (partners).
What is the one option contract with unlimited loss potential? >>>A short call, it is
bearish and wants to see the price of the stock rise
What do federal funds represent? >>>the amount by which a bank exceeds its required
deposits to be held on reserve at the FRB
What are the steps for opening a new options account? >>>Obtain essential facts from
the customer, get approval from the branch manager, enter the initial order, then obtain
a signed options agreement
What are anticipation notes? >>>Short-term municipal obligations that generate funds
for a municipality that expects alternate longer-term financing (i.e.-TANs, RANs,
TRANs, BANs, CLNs, GANs)
What are the 3 types of investment companies under the Investment Act of 1940?
>>>Face-amount certificates, unit investment trusts, and management companies (both
open- and closed-end)The declaration, record and payment dates are all set by ___________, while the exdividend date is set by _________. >>>DRP are set by the BOD, while E is set by
FINRA or the exchange
Exception reports are filed when... >>>There is suspicious activity in a customer
account or when there is improper use of a customers' securities or funds
What is capping? >>>A form of market manipulation, often used by those who have
written (Short) call option contracts, in which they enter sell orders in a stock for the
purpose of keeping the stock from rising above the strike price, so that the calls wont be
in-the-money and therefore exercised
What is backing away? >>>The failure to honor a firm quote on a security
What is a contemporaneous trader? >>>Someone who enters into a transaction at the
same time as someone else who has and may be acting on inside information; they can
sue the other person for up to 5 years after the violation has occurred
What are the three stages of money laundering? >>>Placement, layering, then
integration
Regulation T >>>set by the FRB, the initial margin requirement is 50% of sale proceeds
to be deposited in the customer's margin account
Standard corporate actions >>>cash and stock dividends, even and uneven stock splits
(both forward and reverse) and the issuance of warrants and rights
Nonstandard/unique corporate actions >>>mergers and acquisitions, takeovers,
spinoffs, tender offers and buy-back or repurchases of stock
What must happen in order to sell short? >>>The shares must be borrowed, or located
in order to borrow.
What does Regulation S-P consider nonpublic information? >>>a customer's Social
Security number, account balances, transaction history, and any information collected
through an internet cookie (a home address is not included as nonpublic information)
What is the threshold for triggered suspicious activity and is grounds for filing an SAR
(as compared to a CTR)? >>>At least $5,000 in funds or assets. A CTR is triggered by
amounts greater than $10,000 in funds or assets
What is a tender offer? >>>When a company offers to buy outstanding securities for
cash or for cash plus other securities from its stockholders or bondholders
[Show More]