Introduction Flashcards
“Financial analysts gather and process information to make investment decisions, including those related to buying and selling assets. Generally, the decisions involve trading securities, currencies, contracts, commodities, and real assets such as real estate. Consider several examples:”
“■ Fixed income analysts evaluate issuer credit-worthiness and macroeconomic prospects to determine which bonds and notes to buy or sell to preserve capital while obtaining a fair rate of return.
■ Stock analysts study corporate values to determine which stocks to buy or sell to maximize the value of their stock portfolios.
■ Corporate treasurers analyze exchange rates, interest rates, and credit condi- tions to determine which currencies to trade and which notes to buy or sell to have funds available in a needed currency.
■ Risk managers work for producers or users of commodities to calculate how many commodity futures contracts to buy or sell to manage inventory risks.
Financial analysts must understand the characteristics of the markets in which their decisions will be executed. This reading, by examining those markets from the analyst’s perspective, provides that understanding.”
