Chapter 2 - The Canadian Securities Industry Flashcards

1
Q

Securities regulation is the responsibility of what government level?

A

provincial

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2
Q

what are the securities regulation bodies?

A

Ontario securities commission (OSC), BC Securities Commission (BCSC)

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3
Q

Self-regulatory organization (SROs) provide oversight for what?

A

Investment industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIRCO), TSX, TSX Venture Exchange

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4
Q

what are other “SRO” players

A

The Canadian Depository for Securities (CDS)
> acts as a box where the transaction between investors take place
> owned by TMX

Canadian Investor Protection funds (CIPF)
> insurance brokerage account contents (not losses)

Canadian Securities Institute
>offers courses required for licensing by regulators

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5
Q

What are Investment Dealers

A
  • small number of national-scope investment dealers (big banks, a few independent)
  • many small “boutique” investment dealers (specialize in specific sectors, sometimes employee owned)
  • multiple departments within an investment dealer (underwriting, trading, investment banking, brokerage)
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6
Q

what are the 2 types of brokers

A

Full-service brokers offer “high-touch” service and advice (High fees)

Discount brokers offer limited services such as stock and bond execution, but no advice (Low fees)

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7
Q

what does “leveraged” mean?

A

Short-term borrowing finances long-term investment

Borrow money every 90 days to finance a 20-year mortgage

Financial leverage – uses borrowed funds to increase the potential return on an investment

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8
Q

any risks with the “borrow short and lend long” strategy?

A

Usually interest rate increases over time; Companies and investors borrow for a short maturity at a smaller interest rate

Then they lend that same money for a longer time at a higher interest rate

Ex. Car loans, mortgages. Etc.
They borrow the money from you and me (short term deposits)

What happens over the past few years:
The increase in interest rate is not constantly increasing
The interest rates have DECREASED over time

This means if we borrow at 8% and lend at 5% this would not be sustainable

This is what happened to small – medium sized banks in the US

We don’t have this in Canada because we have more strengthened larger banks in Canada that is regulated

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9
Q

Technological Changes, how has it affected the financial industry

A
  • increased interconnections of markets
  • interlisted securities
  • multiple listings for securities
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10
Q

how has globalization affected financial markets

A

Markets are no longer restricted to local suppliers and issuers of capital

Canadian investors can buy US listed shares; Canadian banks lend to US borrowers

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11
Q

what are some regulatory changes to secure financial markets

A

Post-crisis financial regulation is increasing the compliance responsibility for financial firms

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)

Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

At the same time that technology increasingly facilitates easier capital flows, regulation creates additional barriers

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12
Q

what does “underwriting” mean

A

Underwriting – selling newly issued securities to investors

Investment dealers

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13
Q

investment dealers as principals vs as agents

A

As principals:
Investment Dealer agrees to a price with the issuer and buys all of the shares/bonds (aka. “bought deal”)

As Agents:
Investment Dealers market the shares or bonds to investors on a “best efforts” basis; the Investment Dealer does not purchase

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14
Q

Does an investment Dealer face more risk as an agent or Principal?

A

As a principal because they have bought all of the shares and bonds and take on the risk of not being able to sell the bonds

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15
Q

secondary markets: how do investment dealers sell securities on financial markets (principals vs agents)

A

As principals:
Invest their own capital and earn a spread between purchase and sale prices (aka. Proprietary or liability trading)

As agents:
Invest their clients’ capital and earn a commission on executed trades (aka brokerage)

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16
Q

What happens after a trade is settled?

A

The trade is settled

Cash from the buyer’s brokerage account is transferred to the brokerage account of the seller

Share ownership is transferred from the seller to the buyer

CDS “clears” or “settles” the trade (hence the term “clearinghouse”) as the central repository keeping track of who owns each of a company

Registered owners have their name on the (electronic) share certificate (really a book entry)

Shares in “street” form are registered in the name of the brokerage

The broker then keeps track of individual client ownership

17
Q

What is the role of banks in financial markets?

A

Banks collect money from depositors (chequing and savings accounts) and lend the money to borrowers (car loans, mortgages)

Banks earn the difference between the cost of borrowing (interest paid to depositors) and revenue from lending (interest paid by borrowers)

18
Q

what are the chartered banks?

A

Banks in Canada are governed by the Bank Act (among other acts)
Schedule I: Domestic Banks
Schedule II: Subsidiaries of Foreign Banks
Schedule III: Branches of Foreign Banks

The Big Six Banks (BMO, BNS, CIBC, NA, RY, TD) ae Schedule I banks
Also called “conglomerate” banks or banking institutions
Own subsidiaries in non-banking areas like insurance and investments

19
Q

what are other bank-like companies

A

Trust and Mortgage Companies
Currently similar to banks, but can also act as Trustees

Credit Unitions and Caisses Populaires
Owned by customers/depositors
profit returned to owners; not focused on profits

20
Q

What are life insurance companies

A

Match liabilities (death) with assets
Invest mostly in long-term fixed income products

Insurers can own trusts and offer banking and investment products
Line between types of financial companies is

Large life insurers used to be owned by policyholders, but “demutualized” to become public companies

21
Q

what are property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Companies

A

P&C insurers cover cars, houses, businesses assets
Distinct from life insurers

P&C liabilities occur more frequently in a customer’s life
Ex. Car accidents; more frequent payout than life insurers, consequently shorter-term investments

22
Q

what are investment funds

A

Mutual funds, hedge funds, ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)

Mutual funds usually trade more than ETFs
>It is a basket or collection of stocks / bonds
>Companies will manage these basket of bonds for investors

Hedge funds take money from private investors

> Often formed as trusts that distribute Units to investors

May also be corporations of limited partnerships LPs)

Closed-ended funds are not listed on an exchange
>No fixed number of units outstanding
>Investors can only purchase and redeem units from/with the investment fund

23
Q

what are pension plans?

A

Government sponsored
>CPPIB (everyone), OMERs (municipal employees), OTPP (teachers)

Company sponsored
>Rogers, Agrium, Bank of Montreal

Conservative, long-term focus
>match the expected payoff of investments with the expected liabilities
>Underfunding shows up on the balance sheet

Large government sponsored pension plans have become significant players in global financial markets