Question 1
Question
The 'Delivery versus Payment' system means that:
Answer
-
the trade date will be the same as the settlement date
-
the stock will be exchanged simultaneously with the cash
-
the transfer of ownership will take place on the trade date
-
the cash will be paid as soon as receipt of the stock is confirmed
International Certificate in Wealth & Investment Management
Question 2
Question
Which of the following gives the right, but not the obligation, to sell individual equity at a
specified date for a given price?
Answer
-
Future
-
Forward contract
-
Put option
-
Call option
Question 3
Question
Which of the following types of investment incurs a liability for capital gains tax once sold?
Answer
-
Classic car
-
Government bonds
-
Units in unit trusts
-
Primary residence
Question 4
Question
A company's Market Value Added equates to the market assessment of the present value of
the company's future:
Answer
-
dividend distributions
-
economic value added
-
capital costs
-
gross profits
Question 5
Question
If a client wanted to make additional contributions to an occupational pension scheme, which of
the following options would give him the greatest choice of provider and a say in how the
funds are invested?
Answer
-
Non-contributory occupational scheme
-
Contributory occupational scheme
-
Freestanding Additional Voluntary Contributions
-
Additional Voluntary Contributions
Question 6
Question
Portfolio performance is:
Answer
-
rarely measured in absolute terms, mostly measured in relative terms
-
rarely measured in relative terms, mostly measured in absolute terms
-
only ever measured in relative terms
-
only ever measured in absolute terms
Question 7
Question
A client arranged for a wealth management firm to look after his investments on a non
discretionary basis. This means that the firm:
Answer
-
receives commission on the investment instead of fees
-
leaves the investment decisions to the client
-
subcontracts custodianship of the investment assets to a third party
-
bears some financial responsibility for any investment losses
Question 8
Question
Which of the following Fitch ratings denotes the LOWEST level of risk for a bond?
Question 9
Question
Which of the following implications will help to ensure financial advisers act in their clients'
best interest?
Answer
-
Firms that give investment advice must address the potential for adviser remuneration to
distort consumer outcomes
-
Investment firms will need to switch clients into products that have no trailing
commissions
-
Firms that give investment advice must charge fees within a guidance range set by the FCA
-
Investment firms will need to change their price lists to remove all percentage based fees
Question 10
Question
If the real annual returns of a UK equity investment are normally distributed around the mean
return of 8% with a standard deviation of 4.5% approximately two-thirds of the returns
recorded will be within what range?
Answer
-
-5.5% and 21.5%
-
-1% and 17%
-
3.5% and 12.5%
-
5.75% and 10.25%
Question 11
Question
Which of the following is likely to be the MOST important consideration when selecting the
most appropriate protection product for a client?
Answer
-
The level of the premium and charges
-
The financial strength of the provider
-
The quality of the service provided
-
Investment choice and performance
Question 12
Question
Which of the following is a limitation rather than an assumption of the Capital Asset Pricing
Model?
Answer
-
Investors are rational and risk averse
-
Investors hold a well-diversified portfolio
-
Investors make investment decisions based on mean variance analysis
-
Investors are rewarded for more than just their exposure to systemic risk
Question 13
Question
One of the core functions of the financial services sector is to facilitate the bringing together
of:
Question 14
Question
Which of the following statements is TRUE about preference shares?
Answer
-
The most common type is the deferred share
-
They offer a lower dividend rate than the comparative coupon rate on a debenture
-
Dividends are guaranteed each year
-
In most cases they do not carry voting rights
International Certificate in Wealth & Investment Management
Question 15
Question
What are the possible implications for investment performance of investing in an ethical fund?
Answer
-
The fund may be more volatile because of the increased exposure to smaller company
holdings
-
Ethical funds invest primarily in large companies producing lower total returns
-
There are no suitable benchmarks for the client to measure performance against
-
Total returns are likely to be higher due to the increased level of diversification in ethical
funds
Question 16
Question
When considering the money supply, money is accurately described as anything that is
generally:
Answer
-
convertible to sterling currency
-
acceptable as a means of settling a debt
-
sustainable in value over a defined period
-
tradable and held outside of a bank or building society deposit
Question 17
Question
What type of information is contained in a Key Features Document?
Answer
-
A clear description of the financial product being recommended to the client
-
Cancellation rights if a client changes their mind about investing in a product
-
All product recommendations listed in the financial plan and the reasoning behind them
-
Taxation implications for all the products listed in the financial plan
Question 18
Question
An investor allowed the principle of 'regret aversion' to influence his actions. This resulted in
him:
Answer
-
declining to buy a stock based purely on a previous bad experience
-
B buying a badly performing stock from a friend as recompense for recommending it in the
first place
-
holding a poorly performing stock for an irrationally long period
-
only selling stock once a specified loss threshold had been reached
Question 19
Question
Firms that specialise in looking after the assets of pension funds and fund managers are
normally known as:
Answer
-
trustees
-
registrars
-
underwriters
-
custodians
Question 20
Question
Global Depositary Receipts traded on the London Stock Exchange are settled in which
currency?
Answer
-
Euros
-
US Dollars
-
Japanese Yen
-
UK Sterling
Question 21
Question
Jackie is a private client investor and you ascertain that her investment objective and risk
tolerance are capital growth and cautious. During the meeting she asks you for your thoughts
on the use of derivatives. You respond that, in your opinion, derivatives:
Answer
-
are normally appropriate only where there is a high risk tolerance
-
only generate an income stream and so are not compatible with her objective
-
can generate capital growth and are suitable where there is a low risk tolerance
-
can be traded only on an execution only basis as firms cannot offer any advice or opinion
Question 22
Question
Which of the following is a fiscal policy used to stimulate the economy?
Answer
-
Raising interest rates
-
Cutting interest rates
-
Raising personal taxes
-
Cutting personal taxes
Question 23
Question
Where the proposer and the life assured are different people under a life policy, the policy:
Answer
-
provides cover on a joint life basis
-
was taken out on someone else's life
-
owner holds power of attorney status
-
was arranged by a financial adviser acting independently
Question 24
Question
Why is a time weighted return (TWR) preferred to a money weighted return (MWR) when
evaluating performance?
Answer
-
TWR only requires portfolio values at the start and end of the investment period along
with dates and size of each cash flow
-
TWR eliminates the timing effect of cash flows into and out of the fund
-
TWR measures the fund growth resulting from both the underlying performance of the
portfolio and the size and timing of cash flows into and out of the fund
-
TWR calculates the risk adjusted return per unit of risk
Question 25
Question
Where a trade operates on a T+2 basis, this normally means that:
Answer
-
the cash is paid two calendar days after the stock is delivered
-
the cash is paid two business days after the stock is delivered
-
settlement takes place two calendar days after the trade date
-
settlement takes place two business days after the trade date
Question 26
Question
Which MAIN class of financial asset is normally considered to be the LEAST liquid?
Answer
-
Equities
-
Corporate bonds
-
Government bonds
-
Property
Question 27
Question
Which of the following rules applying to financial intermediaries is directly underpinned by the
principle of fiduciary responsibility?
Answer
-
Commission disclosure
-
Money laundering
-
Professional indemnity
-
Best execution
Question 28
Question
Two sets of data are positively correlated. If one set of data rises in value, what will happen to
the other set?
Question 29
Question
What is the MAIN purpose of a power of attorney document?
Answer
-
It appoints someone to distribute the assets of a deceased person
-
It enables ownership of property to transfer from one person to another person
-
It allows one person to conduct specific transactions on behalf of another person
-
It entitles one trustee to override the demands of another trustee
Question 30
Question
Four bond portfolios each hold a variety of stock. Which one of them is BEST described as
operating a barbell strategy?
Answer
-
Portfolio A, which consists solely of bills maturing in one year plus bonds maturing in 25
and 30 years
-
Portfolio B, which consists solely of bills maturing in six months plus bonds maturing in 5,
10, 15 and 20 years
-
Portfolio C, which consists solely of bonds maturing in 1, 3 and 5 years
-
Portfolio D, which consists solely of bonds maturing in 20, 25 and 30 years
Question 31
Question
Which of the following is a characteristic of a quote driven market?
Answer
-
Orders from buyers and sellers are automatically matched and executed
-
Market makers prioritise orders according to transaction size
-
Trading hours are longer than for order driven markets
-
Market makers are obliged to provide two way prices
Question 32
Question
Which measurement in relation to a fixed interest investment is given by the following
formula?
Question 33
Question
Corporation tax is a factor when considering investment as it can:
Question 34
Question
What differentiates Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP)?
Answer
-
A Indirect taxes, depreciation and net exports
-
Indirect taxes and depreciation
-
Depreciation and property income
-
Net property income
Question 35
Question
Which of the following would MOST likely be found in a formal written report presenting
recommendations to a client?
Answer
-
Details of family and dependants
-
The tax implications on the client's position
-
Details of the client's occupation, earnings and other income sources
-
A summary of the client's assets and liabilities
Question 36
Question
Why do portfolios need a regular annual or periodic review?
Answer
-
To ensure that all assets are priced on a regular basis
-
To ensure that all assets are reconciled against the market
-
To ensure that all cash balances are reconciled against the actual bank
-
To ensure the portfolio still meets the client's objectives and is positioned correctly given
the market conditions
Question 37
Question
A characteristic of the foreign exchange market is that:
Question 38
Question
The running yield of a corporate bond is determined by calculating the coupon as a percentage
of the:
Answer
-
market price
-
issue price
-
gross dividend
-
nominal value
Question 39
Question
When recommending an investment product to a client, what material information MUST the
adviser disclose in order to satisfy the fiduciary relationship that exists between the two
parties?
Answer
-
Only details which have been specifically requested by the client
-
Whatever is needed to produce a guaranteed return
-
Only details which are considered to affect the investment risk
-
Whatever is needed in order for the client to make an informed decision
Question 40
Question
A function of the Monetary Policy Committee is to:
Answer
-
attempt to control inflation by setting the base rate
-
intervene in the financial markets to control money supply
-
maintain confidence in the UK financial system
-
promote public understanding of inflation
Question 41
Question
Where funds are to be set aside to provide for the future financial maintenance of a disabled
child, this can normally be achieved through the establishment of a legal document called a:
Answer
-
codicil
-
trust
-
grant of representation
-
power of attorney
Question 42
Question
The excess return of a portfolio or security above that of the risk adjusted benchmark is known
as:
Answer
-
alpha
-
beta
-
duration
-
premium
Question 43
Question
Which of the following types of organisation is MOST likely to arrange finance for a company
wanting to float on the stock market?
Answer
-
Insurance companies
-
Investment banks
-
Custodians
-
Bancassurers
Question 44
Question
Where the mining costs of a particular metal increase to 105% of that metal's current price,
this indicates that:
Answer
-
demand is significantly rising
-
supply has become unreliable
-
there is likely to be a shortage of raw materials
-
production activities are likely to stop
Question 45
Question
An independent financial adviser would make recommendations on which type of product?
Answer
-
The firm's own products
-
Products of one other provider
-
Products from across the market place
-
A range of products from a limited number of providers
Question 46
Question
The demand curve for a particular product will be horizontal where the supplying firm operates
in:
Answer
-
a perfect competitive market
-
a monopolistic market
-
a sector generating excessive profits
-
a sector generating minimal profits
Question 47
Question
What lump sum must someone aged 35 invest today given an assumed annual growth rate of
7% if they are to accrue a lump sum of £450,000 at the age of 65?
Answer
-
£14,018
-
£59,115
-
£64,285
-
£420,560
Question 48
Question
An investment manager believes that markets are inefficient and that he can obtain abnormal
returns after transaction charges. Which investment style is he most likely to adopt?
Answer
-
Passive
-
Indexation
-
Active
-
Satellite
Question 49
Question
What inter-governmental body develops and promotes national and international policies to
combat money laundering and terrorist financing?
Answer
-
Financial Stability Board
-
World Trade Organisation
-
Financial Action Task Force
-
International Monetary Fund
Question 50
Question
A call option is an option that generally confers
Answer
-
the right to buy
-
the right to sell
-
a contract to sell
-
a contract to buy
Question 51
Question
A consumer purchases a designated investment and the firm provides the consumer with
detailed cancellation rights over the telephone, immediately after the purchase. How has the
firm contravened the rules?
Answer
-
Designated investments require notice of cancellation rights to be signed by the customer
-
Cancellation rights must be given in writing
-
Consumers must be informed of cancellation rights before a purchase is confirmed in all
cases
-
Consumers must receive cancellation rights in writing before identification checks are
undertaken
Question 52
Question
The annual return of a portfolio in each of the last six years has been 8.2%, 3.6%, 5.1%, 2.1%,
9.4% and 4.7%. What is the arithmetic mean return?
Question 53
Question
Who controls the assets of a trust and looks after the property for the person or persons who
will ultimately benefit from it?
Answer
-
Benefactors
-
Beneficiaries
-
Creditors
-
Trustees
Question 54
Question
An individual has been advised to invest in some shares by a friend. He wants to make sure that
he invests in companies which do not have a volatile share price. To achieve this he should
select shares which have a beta factor of:
Question 55
Question
One of the key objectives of financial services regulation is to:
Answer
-
encourage market competition
-
reduce financial crime
-
ensure products and services represent value for money
-
liaise with financial services regulators from other countries
Question 56
Question
Exchange-traded funds normally operate by:
Answer
-
tracking indices
-
tracking an individual security
-
investing in fund of funds
-
investing in manager of managers funds
Question 57
Question
Which is the MOST important reason for an adviser to conduct regular reviews of a client's
circumstances and arrangements?
Answer
-
To help the client complete any tax documentation
-
To ensure that the adviser complies with any regulatory requirements
-
To ensure that any products continue to meet a client's needs
-
To ensure that the adviser retains any repeat business from the client
Question 58
Question
A company's p/e ratio recently changed from 12 to 15. This normally indicates that:
Answer
-
the share value has fallen
-
growth expectations have improved
-
dividend levels have become less stable
-
the relevant market sector is in decline
Question 59
Question
John is worried that he will be unable to work due to a heart attack. Which of the following
would enable him to claim if he had a severe heart attack?
Question 60
Question
Which of the following is a feature in Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT)?
Answer
-
APT relies on identified factors being correlated
-
The variables of APT include real economic factors
-
The principal component of APT is the return on an index of all shares
-
APT is equivalent to a single factor Capital Asset Pricing Model
Question 61
Question
The members of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) collectively
regulate how much of the world's securities markets?
Question 62
Question
Units in a unit trust fund are sold by which of the following?
Answer
-
The trustee
-
The registrar
-
The manager
-
The depositary
Question 63
Question
Paulo is a non-resident investor. How is he likely to benefit from a double taxation treaty?
Answer
-
By incurring tax at a reduced concessionary rate
-
By opting for the country with the lowest tax rate
-
By avoiding the need to register with the tax authorities
-
By obtaining a refund of withholding tax
Question 64
Question
Which of the following is MOST LIKELY to be a factor causing market movement?
Question 65
Question
What are two advantages of investing in an offshore trust?
Answer
-
Less complex product and only local taxes apply
-
Privacy and flexibility for the client
-
Security and a less complex product
-
Privacy and only local taxes apply
Question 66
Question
Based on the principles of Modern Portfolio theory, an equity fund will operate on the
'efficient frontier' if:
Answer
-
the optimum level of systematic risk is obtained
-
the best level of diversification is achieved
-
the fund's alpha value is negative
-
the fund's beta value is one or more
Question 67
Question
Which of the following investments is covered by insider dealing legislation?
Answer
-
Commodity derivatives
-
Equity options
-
Gold
-
Residential property
Question 68
Question
What is a key feature of exchange-traded commodities?
Answer
-
They are an open-ended collective investment vehicle
-
They are available only to high net worth individuals
-
There is limited exposure to derivative contracts
-
No additional shares can be created by the fund
Question 69
Question
When conducting investment business for a private customer, what must a firm do?
Answer
-
Only invest in products that are classified as low risk
-
Make the customer aware of costs and commissions
-
Meet face to face with the client
-
Disclose the underlying investments in the investment products
Question 70
Question
The Liquidity (Acid Test) ratio measures a company's ability to:
Answer
-
increase its current assets
-
meet its current liabilities
-
increase its inventory turnover
-
pay its non-current liabilities
Question 71
Question
When giving financial advice on the subject of protection, it is important to quantify a client's
assets to:
Answer
-
determine whether the costs can be offset against tax liabilitie
-
establish what shortfall may arise if an insured event occu
-
ensure that the underwriters have sufficient information
-
identify the client's appropriate risk profile
Question 72
Question
Bond portfolio X exclusively contains relatively long-dated stock whereas Bond portfolio Y
operates a laddering strategy. This means that Bond X is likely to:
Answer
-
generate higher yields
-
present less of a credit risk
-
be more sensitive to interest rate changes
-
represent a more diversified approach
Question 73
Question
In order to determine how 'efficient' the market is, financial service regulators will normally
consider the extent to which:
Answer
-
products and services represent a reasonable return on capital employed
-
relevant information is reflected in the price formation basis
-
competition is clustered within each product sector
-
regulation is needed to address existing systemic weaknesses
Question 74
Question
Where an investment fund established in the UK satisfies the UCITS directive and is sold in
another EU country, what is the position regarding local taxes and local marketing laws?
Answer
-
It will not be subject to either
-
It will be subject to local taxes but not local marketing laws
-
It will be subject to local marketing laws but not local taxes
-
It will be subject to both local taxes and local marketing laws
Question 75
Question
Which of the following would provide the lowest level of risk for risk averse investors with
short term horizons?
Answer
-
Long term gilts
-
Cash deposits
-
Ordinary shares
-
Warrants
Question 76
Question
In a two-stock portfolio which of the following correlations would normally offer the greatest
level of diversification?
Question 77
Question
A client in the UK was granted lasting power of attorney in relation to his elderly mother. Why
did this facility fail to provide him with control over her financial affairs after she was deemed
to have lost her mental capacity?
Answer
-
She was over retirement age when her poor state of mind was first diagnosed
-
He was her adopted son
-
She only granted him health and welfare powers
-
He was operating a power of attorney for his father at the same time
Question 78
Question
In which country can shareholders be assured that listed companies will comply with the OECD
Principles for Corporate Governance?
Question 79
Question
The regulations state that Money Laundering Reporting Officers appointed by financial services
firms must:
Answer
-
hold the status of employee
-
hold a recognised law or accountancy qualification
-
register with the country's central bank
-
register with the country's data protection agency
Question 80
Question
The Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities Directives (UCITS) cover
investment funds established in which location(s)?
Question 81
Question
How does asset allocation help meet a client's needs?
Answer
-
It enables clients to invest wholly in one of the MAIN asset classes to maximise returns
-
It reduces the investor's risk by investing across a range of asset classes, sectors and individual stocks
-
It provides a benchmark for a client to assess how well his investments have performed
-
It enables investors to pool their investments with others and reduce the risk of direct
investment in shares
Question 82
Question
In technical analysis, the term, 'primary movement' refers to which of the following?
Answer
-
Short-term share price trend
-
Long-term share price trend
-
Short-term dividend policy
-
Long-term dividend policy
Question 83
Question
John is taking out a life insurance policy on Mary, his wife, and one for himself. Which of the
following statements is TRUE once the policy is in force?
Question 84
Question
An investor has a requirement for an 8% return and is considering choosing Stock X to satisfy
this need. Based on the Capital Asset Pricing Model, if the beta value of this stock is
recalibrated from 1.2 to 1.3, this would:
Answer
-
increase the likelihood that the stock would be suitable
-
decrease the likelihood that the stock would be suitable
-
automatically trigger an increase in the investor's required rate
-
automatically trigger a decrease in the investor's required rate
Question 85
Question
One of the fundamental aims of a traditional hedge fund is to minimise which type of
investment-related risk?
Answer
-
Inflation risk
-
Issuer risk
-
Market risk
-
Liquidity risk
Question 86
Question
Which of the following is a factor that must be considered when constructing a portfolio?
Answer
-
Verification of the client's identity
-
The client's risk tolerance
-
The category of investment service required
-
Performance measurement
Question 87
Question
The difference between a nominal rate of return and a real rate of return relates solely to the
effects of
Answer
-
taxation
-
charges
-
inflation
-
compounding
Question 88
Question
Using Modern Portfolio Theory to create a two stock portfolio, which of the following is TRUE?
Answer
-
The lower the correlation of stock returns, the greater the portfolio's diversification
-
The higher the correlation of stock returns, the greater the portfolio's diversification
-
The higher the correlation of stock returns, the lower the level of total risk associated with
any given level of expected return
-
The lower the correlation of stock returns, the higher the level of total risk associated with
any given level of expected return
Question 89
Question
A private equity fund is MOST likely to use a structure similar to that of which of the following?
Answer
-
Investment Trust
-
Limited Partnership
-
OEIC
-
SICAV
Question 90
Question
If clients approach a firm knowing exactly which product they wish to purchase, and ask the
firm simply to arrange the purchase, this type of transaction is normally described as:
Answer
-
best advice
-
instruction processing
-
nominal dealing
-
execution only
Question 91
Question
Which of the following is NOT counted as part of the Current Account Balance?
Answer
-
Imported and exported goods
-
Dividends on UK holdings of overseas assets
-
Long-term capital flows
-
Interest on UK holdings of overseas assets
Question 92
Question
Which of the following does a passive investment manager principally invest in?
Question 93
Question
If a collective investment scheme is unauthorised, this means that it is specifically banned
from:
Answer
-
operating a bid/offer spread
-
holding some of the fund assets in cash
-
being marketed to the general public
-
paying out dividends
Question 94
Question
Which mix of investments is most appropriate for a risk averse investor?
Answer
-
50% commodities and 50% equities
-
50% cash and 50% gilts
-
50% foreign exchange and 50% CFD's
-
50% property and 50% PIBS
Question 95
Question
If $2,200 is invested for four years with interest at the rate of 6% p.a., compounded half-yearly,
what will be the value at the end of this period?
Answer
-
$2,696.55
-
$2,777.45
-
$2,786.89
-
$2,860.77
Question 96
Question
The relationship between an adviser and a client means that the adviser has a duty to:
Answer
-
ensure suitable compensation is available if the client suffers a loss
-
check with a third party before providing advice to the client
-
report any wrong-doings to the authorities
-
always act in the best interests of the client