Free CSI CSC1 Practice Exam with Questions & Answers

When a country’s central government is at risk of defaulting on its debt, lenders perceive higher risks and demand higher interest rates as compensation. This results in:

Anincrease in interest ratesfor borrowing by all entities in the country.

OptionsA and Bare incorrect because exchange rates usually decline (currency devalues) when default risk rises.

D. Decrease in interest ratesis the opposite of what happens in such scenarios.

References:Volume 1, Chapter 4 ("Sovereign Risk and Interest Rates")​.

A foreign pay bond is a type of bond that allows the investor to choose the currency in which to receive interest payments, usually between the currency of the issuer's country and a foreign currency. This feature provides flexibility for investors who may want to manage currency risk or take advantage of fluctuations in exchange rates.

Review of Other Options:

A. Eurobonds:

Eurobonds are international bonds issued in a currency other than the currency of the country where they are issued. However, they do not provide the investor with a choice of interest payments in different currencies.

C. Subordinated Debentures:

These are unsecured bonds that rank below other debts in terms of repayment priority in case of liquidation. They do not involve currency options for interest payments.

D. Floating-Rate Securities:

These bonds have variable interest rates that adjust periodically based on a benchmark interest rate, such as LIBOR or prime rate, but they do not allow investors to choose the currency of interest payments.

Why B is Correct:

Foreign pay bonds are explicitly designed to offer investors a choice of interest payments in two currencies, making them unique among fixed-income securities. This feature provides added flexibility for investors dealing with foreign exchange considerations.

References:

Canadian Securities Course (CSC), Volume 1, Chapter 6: Fixed-Income Securities – Features and Types. Detailed explanation of foreign pay bonds and their distinguishing features​.

Discussion of bond types and their characteristics, including Eurobonds and floating-rate securities, in Chapter 6​.

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​.

Warrants are securities issued by a company to existing shareholders, giving them the right to purchase additional shares at a predetermined price, often over a longer period (years). Warrants are typically used as an incentive or as part of financing arrangements.

This differs from rights, which are similar but usually have a shorter exercise period, often weeks.

Study Document References:

Volume 1, Chapter 8:Warrants and Rights, discussing their features and purposes​​.

The approximate price change of a bond due to a change in interest rates can be estimated using the formula:

Price Change (%)=−Duration×ΔInterest Rate\text{Price Change (\%)} = - \text{Duration} \times \Delta \text{Interest Rate}Price Change (%)=−Duration×ΔInterest Rate

Given:

Duration= 5

Current Price= $103

Change in Interest Rate(Δ\DeltaΔ) = 2% or 0.02

Price Change (%)=−5×0.02=−0.10 (−10%)\text{Price Change (\%)} = -5 \times 0.02 = -0.10 \, (-10\%)Price Change (%)=−5×0.02=−0.10(−10%)

The new price is calculated as:

New Price=Current Price×(1+Price Change)=103×(1−0.10)=103×0.90=97.85\text{New Price} = \text{Current Price} \times (1 + \text{Price Change}) = 103 \times (1 - 0.10) = 103 \times 0.90 = 97.85New Price=Current Price×(1+Price Change)=103×(1−0.10)=103×0.90=97.85

A. $108.15andB. $113.30: These represent price increases, which are incorrect for rising interest rates.

D. $92.70: This reflects a greater-than-actual price drop, which is inconsistent with the duration-based calculation.

Retained earningsrepresent the portion of a company’s annual profit that is retained and not paid out as dividends. It is used to reinvest in the business or pay down debt.

B. Comprehensive incomeincludes all changes in equity except those from owner contributions or distributions.

C. Share capitalrefers to funds raised by issuing shares.

D. Gross profitis revenue minus the cost of goods sold, not the portion retained.

References:Volume 1, Chapter 11 ("Corporations and Their Financial Statements")​.

Improving a municipality's credit rating involves adopting sustainable financial strategies that enhance fiscal stability and resilience. Option D, which focuses on attracting diversified investments, is the most effective approach to achieve this goal in the long term.

A. Increase cash flow through higher business taxes to improve debt repayment abilityRaising business taxes may improve immediate cash flow, but it risks driving businesses away, which can harm the municipality's economic base over time. An over-reliance on higher taxation can discourage investment and stunt growth, making it an unsustainable strategy​.

B. Negotiate a deal with the provincial government to back up its securitiesWhile support from a provincial government can stabilize credit in the short term, it does not address the underlying economic fundamentals. Long-term creditworthiness depends on the municipality's ability to generate and manage its own revenues, reducing dependency on external guarantees​​.

C. Build a strong, exclusive industry with little competition in the regionSpecializing in a single industry introduces concentration risk. If the industry declines or faces competition, the municipality’s financial base would weaken significantly. Economic diversification is essential to mitigate such risks​​.

D. Attract new investments from various industries to increase tax revenueEncouraging investments across multiple industries diversifies the economic base and creates a stable revenue stream. This approach spreads risk, improves fiscal resilience, and aligns with long-term credit rating improvement strategies as outlined in the CSC course materials. By fostering a diverse and dynamic economy, the municipality enhances its ability to service debt and sustain financial health​​.

Explanation of Options:

Economic Diversification

CSC Volume 1 emphasizes the importance of economic diversification for reducing fiscal vulnerabilities and promoting sustainable growth (Chapter 4, "Economic Indicators"). Diversification spreads risk and enhances resilience, making it a key driver for improving credit ratings​.

Municipal Creditworthiness

Discussions in CSC Volume 2 highlight how a strong, diversified economy underpins municipal credit ratings by providing a consistent and reliable revenue base (Chapter 6, "Municipal Securities")​.

Tax Revenue and Economic Growth

Fiscal strategies discussed in Volume 1 (Chapter 5, "Fiscal Policy") stress the importance of balancing revenue generation with economic incentives to foster investment and growth​.

Supporting References from CSC Materials

TheCanada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC)insures eligible deposits (e.g., term deposits) up to a maximum of$100,000 per depositor per member institution. In this case:

Keith has $150,000 in ABC Trust Company → $100,000 is insured.

Keith has $75,000 in XYZ Trust Company → Entire $75,000 is insured.

Total insured amount = $100,000 (ABC) + $75,000 (XYZ) = $200,000.

References:Volume 1, Chapter 3 ("Investor Protection Funds and Insurance")​.

For an emerging company with limited assets and innovative goals,crowdfundingis an excellent option to maximize public exposure and raise capital. Crowdfunding involves soliciting small investments from a large number of people, typically through online platforms, making it ideal for startups or innovative ventures like the use of hot water springs for clean energy.

Other options:

Escrowing shares: Typically used to restrict the sale of shares for a certain period, not for raising capital.

Offering a greenshoe option: Applies to stabilizing stock prices in an IPO or follow-on offering, not raising initial capital.

Filing disclosure documents with SEDAR+: Necessary for public companies but does not directly raise capital or increase exposure.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 12:Financing and Listing Securities, section on "Capital Raising Options" covers crowdfunding as a method for startups to raise funds​.

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."