Pass the CSI Canadian Securities Course CSC1 Questions and answers with CertsForce

Provincial savings bondsare available for purchase only during specific periods, often during annual campaigns. They are a secure investment option backed by the issuing provincial government and are available only to residents of the issuing province. They are not issued internationally and do not mature every six months.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 6:Fixed-Income Securities, section on "Provincial and Municipal Securities" discusses the features and issuance timing of provincial savings bonds​.

The normal shape of a yield curve is anupward slope, indicating that longer-term bonds offer higher yields than shorter-term bonds. This reflects the additional risk and time value of money associated with longer maturities.

A. Downward slope: This could describe a yield curve during unusual circumstances, such as a period of market uncertainty or deflation.

B. Inverted: An inverted yield curve, where shorter-term yields exceed longer-term yields, is a rare occurrence and often signals economic recession.

D. Humped: A humped curve is rare and occurs when intermediate-term yields exceed both short-term and long-term yields.

When acting as aprincipal, investment dealers buy and sell securities for their own account. They generate revenue by earning aspread, which is the difference between the price at which they buy securities (bid price) and the price at which they sell them (ask price). This is distinct from their role as an agent, where revenue is earned through commissions on trades executed on behalf of clients.

A. Through commissions: Commissions are earned when acting as an agent, not as a principal.

B. Through tracers: This term does not apply to revenue generation.

C. Through brokerage charges: Brokerage charges relate to fees imposed on client accounts, not principal trading spreads.

One advantage of public listing is the goodwill generated among shareholders. Public listing enhances the company's visibility, credibility, and reputation, which can attract investors, customers, and business partners. This goodwill often facilitates access to capital and strengthens the company's market presence.

Study Document References:

Volume 1, Chapter 12:Advantages of Public Listing, outlining benefits such as goodwill and increased capital access​​.

Determining the present value of a bond involves discounting the future cash flows (coupon payments and the principal repayment at maturity) back to the present using an appropriate discount rate. The first step in this process is to identify the correct discount rate, which reflects the bond's required rate of return or the prevailing market interest rate for bonds with similar risk and term characteristics.

The appropriate discount rate accounts for factors such as the bond's credit risk, term to maturity, and prevailing economic conditions. Once the discount rate is determined, the present value of the coupon payments and the principal amount can be calculated.

Study Document References:

Volume 1, Chapter 7:Calculating the Present Value of Bonds, including concepts of discount rates and how they affect bond pricing​​.

At the end of the five-year term, if the issuer does not redeem the rate-reset preferred shares, the shareholder can choose to:

Continue holding the shares at the reset fixed rate.

Convert them intofloating-rate preferred shareswith rates tied to a benchmark (e.g., prime or LIBOR).

This conversion offers flexibility to the shareholder based on market conditions.

A. Exchange for a specified number of common shares: Rate-reset preferred shares do not have this feature.

B. Exchange for a fixed-rate preferred share: The fixed-rate component is reset, not exchanged.

C. Exchange for an unsecured bond: This is not a feature of rate-reset preferred shares.

Frictional unemployment arises from normal labor market activities, such as people transitioning between jobs, entering or re-entering the workforce, or temporarily being unemployed after completing education. This type of unemployment is always present, even in a healthy economy, and reflects short-term gaps in employment rather than structural or economic downturns.

Natural unemployment (Option A):Refers to the combination of frictional and structural unemployment present in an efficient economy.

Structural unemployment (Option B):Caused by mismatches between skills workers possess and those needed by employers, often due to technological advances.

Cyclical unemployment (Option C):Linked to economic recessions or downturns where demand for labor decreases.

Aninterest rate forward agreement (FRA)is anover-the-counter (OTC)derivative contract. Unlike exchange-traded derivatives, OTC contracts are not centrally cleared, meaning there is no intermediary to guarantee performance. This increases counterparty (default) risk, making FRAs inherently riskier than exchange-traded contracts.

A. Individual investor buying shares on an exchange during the ex-rights period: This is a standard transaction involving equity securities, not derivatives, and carries no default risk.

C. Exchange-traded equity option contract between an individual investor and a dealer: Exchange-traded derivatives are backed by a clearinghouse, which mitigates default risk.

D. Individual investor entering a futures contract with an institutional investor: Futures contracts are also exchange-traded and centrally cleared, reducing default risk.

To reduce a national deficit, governments canincrease taxationto generate more revenue. This measure, combined with controlled spending, helps reduce the shortfall between revenues and expenditures.

B. Increase government spending: This would increase the deficit further unless matched by revenue increases.

C. Decrease taxation: This would reduce revenue and worsen the deficit.

D. Increase interest rates: This impacts monetary policy and borrowing costs but does not directly reduce a fiscal deficit.

Government securities are awarded at auction using both competitive and non-competitive bidding. In a non-competitive bid, the participants (such as smaller investors or institutions) agree to accept the average yield determined by the competitive bidding process. This mechanism ensures equitable access to government securities without the need to compete directly on yield, promoting broad participation in the market​​.