CSC1 Sample Questions Answers

A stop buy order is used to protect a short position. This type of order instructs the broker to purchase a security if its price rises to a specified level, limiting the short seller's potential loss. It is triggered when the price reaches or surpasses the set stop price, helping the short seller exit the position to avoid unlimited losses.

Study Document References:

Volume 1, Chapter 9:Order Types and Protecting Short Positions, discussing how stop buy orders function for short sellers​​.

A stock split reduces the price per share, making the shares more affordable to smaller or retail investors. This does not increase the market capitalization or shareholder value but makes trading easier by improving liquidity and accessibility.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 8:Equity Securities, section on "Stock Splits and Consolidations," describes the purpose and benefits of stock splits for investors, particularly in terms of affordability and liquidity​.

An option is "in-the-money" when it has intrinsic value:

For aput option, it is in-the-money when the underlying asset’s price isbelowthe strike price, allowing the holder to sell the asset at a higher price (strike price).

Incorrect options clarify the following:

A call option is in-the-money when the underlying asset’s price isabovethe strike price.

A unique risk associated with short selling is the potential for unlimited loss. When a short seller borrows and sells a security in anticipation of its price falling, they must later buy it back to return it to the lender. If the security's price rises instead of falling, there is no theoretical limit to how high the price can go, leading to unlimited losses for the short seller.

This differs from long positions, where the maximum loss is limited to the initial investment amount.

Study Document References:

Volume 1, Chapter 9:Short Margin Accounts, including the mechanics and risks of short selling​​.

A stock split is used as a corporate strategy to decrease the price of individual shares by increasing the number of shares outstanding. This makes the shares more affordable for a broader range of investors, improving liquidity and potentially enhancing marketability.

For example, in a 2-for-1 stock split, shareholders receive two shares for every one share they own, and the share price is halved.

Study Document References:

Volume 1, Chapter 8:Stock Splits and Corporate Strategy, including the rationale for adjusting share prices​​.

Aforward contractis a derivative instrument whose value is derived from the value of an underlying asset, such as commodities, currencies, or financial instruments. It is a customized agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a future date at a specified price.

A. Real estate investment trust: A REIT is an equity instrument tied to real estate assets, not a derivative.

C. Preferred share: A preferred share is an equity security with fixed dividends, not a derivative.

D. Inflation-linked bond: These are fixed-income securities linked to inflation rates but are not considered derivatives.

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​​.

The settlement date for Government of Canada bonds follows theT+1 rule, meaning settlement occursone business day after the transaction date. This rule ensures efficient clearing and settlement processes in the government bond market.

B. Same day the transaction takes place: While this applies to some instruments in rare cases (e.g., cash transactions), it is not the standard for Government of Canada bonds.

C. Two business days after the transaction (T+2): This applies to equity trades and corporate bonds but not government bonds.

D. Three business days after the transaction (T+3): This is an outdated settlement timeline.

Self-directed brokers are the most cost-effective option for investing in derivatives. They provide a platform for investors to execute trades independently without the additional costs associated with advisory services offered by full-service brokers. Investors are charged lower transaction fees, making this option ideal for cost-conscious individuals who are comfortable making their own investment decisions.

B. A full-service broker: Full-service brokers charge higher fees because they provide additional advisory and management services.

C. An integrated firm: Integrated firms offer both retail and institutional services, which generally come with higher fees compared to self-directed platforms.

D. An investment boutique: Boutique firms typically specialize in niche markets and may have higher service costs, which are not ideal for cost-effective derivatives trading.

Aninvestment bankerin a sell-side firm is responsible for structuring new debt issues and bringing them to the primary market. This involves determining the appropriate structure for the debt offering, pricing it based on market conditions, and marketing it to potential investors. Investment bankers play a key role in the capital-raising process for issuers.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 1:The Canadian Securities Industry, section on "The Role of Investment Dealers," outlines the roles of investment bankers in the primary markets, including structuring and underwriting securities​.

TheCanadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)is responsible for overseeing trading and market-related activities of participants on Canadian equity marketplaces. CIRO conducts surveillance to ensure compliance with rules, regulations, and fair market practices.

Other options:

OBSI (Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments): Handles disputes between financial institutions and their clients but does not conduct trading surveillance.

OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions): Regulates and supervises federally regulated financial institutions, focusing on their solvency.

CSA (Canadian Securities Administrators): Coordinates securities regulation across Canada but does not directly monitor trading activities.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 3:The Canadian Regulatory Environment, section on "Market Surveillance and Trading Oversight" explains CIRO's role​.

Timing lags refer to delays between the implementation of fiscal policy measures (such as tax cuts or increased government spending) and their impact on the economy. In this case, the politician's government was unable to implement the promised fiscal policies due to the high debt level, which delayed or negated the planned economic measures.

This reflects the challenge of timing lags in fiscal policy, where structural constraints (such as debt levels) prevent timely execution.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 5:Economic Policyunder "Challenges of Government Policy" discusses timing lags in implementing fiscal measures (CSC Volume 1, Chapter 5)​.

When submitting a trade ticket for a short sale, an investment advisor mustmark the sell-order ticket as a short sale. This ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and informs the broker and exchange that the sale involves borrowed shares. Marking the order appropriately helps maintain transparency and enables monitoring for potential market manipulation.

A. Verify the client can borrow the shares: The responsibility for ensuring share availability lies with the broker, not the advisor.

C. Obtain minimum margin amount from client: This is done separately as part of the account setup and transaction process, not when submitting the trade ticket.

D. Mark it as a margin order: Short sales involve margin, but the ticket must specifically indicate "short sale" rather than just "margin."

When the public distribution of a security drops to an unacceptably low level, the exchange may consider delisting the security. This action ensures that the securities listed on the exchange meet minimum requirements to maintain market integrity and liquidity. Delisting is a permanent measure and typically occurs after other corrective actions fail, such as halting or suspending trading.

The primary responsibility for gatekeeping in the securities industry resides with CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) dealer members and their employees. This gatekeeping role includes adhering to regulations, implementing Know Your Client (KYC) and Know Your Product (KYP) rules, and ensuring compliance with ethical standards and client-focused reforms.

Dealer members and their employees must ensure that the products and services offered are suitable for their clients and that any potential conflicts of interest are managed appropriately.

Study Document References:

Volume 1, Chapter 3:The Gatekeeper Role in Securities Regulation, focusing on the responsibilities of CIRO dealer members​​.

True inflation is defined as a general and sustained increase in the prices of goods and services throughout an economy over time.

A (Jump in call prices)andD (one-time price increase due to tax)are isolated events and not inflation.

B (Sustained decrease in prices)describes deflation, not inflation.

References:Volume 1, Chapter 4 ("The Impact of Inflation")​.

Provincial savings bonds are a suitable option for an investor seeking a guaranteed return over a fixed period, such as seven years. These bonds are backed by the credit of the issuing provincial government and provide a stable and secure investment, ensuring predictable returns. They are often issued during specific sales campaigns and offer safety comparable to federal bonds but tailored to provincial residents.

Other options:

Preferred shares: Provide fixed dividends but do not guarantee returns.

Common shares: Subject to market risk and do not offer guaranteed returns.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): Can track bonds or equities but are subject to market fluctuations and do not guarantee returns.

References:

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

Manyrobo-advisorsoffer a hybrid model where an automated portfolio recommendation is supplemented by human oversight. A telephone call with an advisor ensures the portfolio generated by the algorithm aligns with the client’s risk tolerance and investment objectives. This step helps meet regulatory suitability requirements.

A. The service is exclusively provided to intermediaries such as advisors and employers: Robo-advisors are directly available to retail clients and are not exclusive to intermediaries.

B. The portfolios are rarely rebalanced: Robo-advisors typically offer frequent or automatic rebalancing to maintain target asset allocations.

C. Portfolios are built primarily with individual stocks and bonds: Robo-advisors predominantly use ETFs for diversification and cost-efficiency, not individual securities.

When a corporation issues preferred shares rather than debt, it avoids increasing its leverage (debt-to-equity ratio). Preferred shares are considered equity for financial reporting purposes and do not require the repayment of principal like debt instruments. Although they may have fixed dividend obligations, these are not legally binding in the way interest payments on debt are.

Issuing preferred shares allows the corporation to strengthen its balance sheet while potentially preserving its credit rating. Preferred shares do not directly affect leverage but provide capital without increasing debt.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 8:Preferred Shares, section on "Why Companies Issue Preferred Shares" explains the advantages of using preferred shares instead of debt​.

Stock index performance is best measured usingpercentage changesrather than absolute values like point changes, relative values, or share price changes. This is because percentage changes provide a normalized measure of performance, allowing for meaningful comparisons over time or between different indexes, regardless of their starting levels or the specific units in which the index is expressed.

Comparative Analysis: Percentage changes allow investors to compare the performance of indexes with vastly different base values or compositions. For example, a 100-point movement on a low-value index might be significant, while the same point movement on a high-value index might be trivial.

Normalized Returns: They normalize the performance, enabling easier tracking of relative gains or losses over time.

International Relevance: With global markets often using indexes based on different currencies or methodologies, percentage changes standardize comparisons across markets.

A. Relative value changes: This term lacks a precise definition in the context of performance measurement and is not commonly used in evaluating index performance.

B. Point changes: While point changes are informative for intraday movements or headlines, they lack context without knowing the index's value. For example, a 50-point drop could represent 0.5% or 5%, depending on the index level.

C. Share price changes: This is specific to individual securities and does not apply to indexes, which aggregate multiple stocks.

Why Percentage Changes?Incorrect Options:Reference from the CSC® Study Material:The Canadian Securities Course explains the role of indexes in tracking market performance and highlights the importance of percentage changes for measuring and interpreting their performance. This is because percentage changes provide consistency and relevance when comparing different periods or indexes with varying base values (CSC Volume 1, Chapter 8, "Stock Indexes and Averages")​.

Key Concepts Related to Index Performance:

Market indexes represent a basket of securities designed to reflect the overall performance of a specific market or sector.

Percentage changes effectively capture market sentiment and performance trends.

Common Canadian market indexes such as the S&P/TSX Composite Index and international indexes like the S&P 500 often report movements in both points and percentages, with the latter providing a more accurate representation of market dynamics​​.

This understanding is fundamental for financial professionals analyzing market trends, investment performance, and conducting portfolio management.

References:

CSC Volume 1, Chapter 8, "Equity Securities: Common and Preferred Shares – Stock Indexes and Averages"​.

CSC Volume 1, Chapter 7, "Fixed-Income Securities: Pricing and Trading – Bond Indexes" for comparative index concepts​.

A rate-reset preferred share pays a fixed dividend rate that is periodically reset based on a predetermined benchmark, such as the yield to maturity on the five-year Government of Canada bond, plus a fixed spread. This type of share offers a balance between fixed-income predictability and adjustments for changing interest rates.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 8:Preferred Sharesunder "Types of Preferred Shares" explains rate-reset preferred shares and their connection to benchmark yields like the five-year Government of Canada bond (CSC Volume 1, Chapter 8)​.

Treasury bills (T-bills) are short-term fixed-income securities issued by the Government of Canada with maturities of one year or less, including terms as short as six months or less. They do not pay interest in the conventional sense. Instead, they are sold at a discount to their facevalue, and investors receive the full face value upon maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the face value represents the investor's earnings.

A. Guaranteed bonds: These are long-term securities that pay periodic interest (coupons) and do not fit the short-term, non-interest-paying description of T-bills.

B. Commercial paper: Issued by corporations, not governments, and used to finance short-term liabilities.

D. Term deposits: These are bank products, not government securities, and typically pay interest over their term.

In an equity transaction,marginrefers to the loan that a dealer extends to a client to facilitate the purchase of securities. The client pays a portion of the purchase price (the margin requirement), while the dealer provides the remainder as a loan. This enables clients to leverage their investments and potentially enhance returns, albeit with increased risk.

Other options:

Amount paid by a client when using credit to buy securities: Describes the margin requirement but does not fully define margin.

Good-faith deposit to ensure future financial obligations: Refers to initial margin in derivatives trading, not equity transactions.

Interest paid by the client to borrow securities: Refers to short-selling, not buying on margin.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 9:Equity Transactions, section on "Margin Accounts" explains the mechanics of margin trading and loans​.

The description of a company's fixed assets, including details about their nature, valuation methods, and depreciation, is typically found in thenotes to the financial statements. Thesenotes provide additional context, explanations, and details about the figures presented in the financial statements. The statement of financial position will list fixed assets, but the comprehensive description is found in the notes.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 11:Corporations and Their Financial Statements, section on "Notes to the Financial Statements" describes how notes are used to provide critical details about items in the financial statements, including fixed assets​.

The principle of retraction in retractable preferred shares allows the shareholder to force the issuing company to redeem the shares for cash at a predetermined price on or after a specifieddate. This feature is identical toretractable bonds and debentures, which give the bondholder the option to require the issuer to repay the principal before maturity.

A. Callable preferred shares: Callability benefits the issuer, not the holder, and is not similar to retraction.

B. Retractable common shares: Such securities are not common in the market and are not comparable to retractable preferred shares.

C. Redeemable preferred shares: Redemption is at the issuer’s discretion, unlike retraction, which is at the holder’s discretion.

The shares held by institutional investors, along with other shares available for trading by the public, are referred to as thepublic float shares. These are the issued shares of a company that are actively traded in the market, excluding restricted shares held by insiders or strategic investors.

Other options:

Issued shares: Includes all shares a company has issued, including restricted shares.

Outstanding shares: Includes all shares held by all shareholders, including restricted shares and shares not available for trading.

Market capitalization shares: Not a term used to describe shares; market capitalization is a measure of a company's total value based on its stock price and outstanding shares.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 8:Equity Securities, section on "Public Float and Market Capitalization" explains the concept of public float shares​.

The Bank of Canada uses anoperating band of 50 basis pointsto manage the overnight rate. The top of the band is theBank Rate, and the bottom is the rate the Bank pays on settlement balances. The overnight rate typically operates within this band.

A. 25 basis points: This is too narrow to accommodate monetary operations.

B. 75 basis points: This is wider than the standard operating band.

D. 100 basis points: This is incorrect; the operating band is 50 basis points.