Series 7 Flashcards
US Govt Agency securities are sold through —
A selling group appointed by the Agency
US Govt agency securities are sold @
PAR
The Bond Buyer Index contains
20 GO bonds with 20 years to maturities rated at A or better
The VISIBLE SUPPLY includes:
General Obligation Bonds, revenue bonds, industrial revenue bonds (includes all competitive and negotiated LONG TERM bond sales over the next 30 days)
Most of the Registration Statement filed with the SEC is information that is found in the —
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Long margin account INITIAL margin req. is what and set by who
50% set by the FRB (Reg T)
Long margin account MINIMUM maintenance requirement is what and is set by who
25% set by FINRA
______ and _____ can be performed in a cash account
Long sale of a security and Sale of a Covered Call
The (4) Critical pieces of information to be obtained before account can be opened are:
Name, Mailing Address, SSN, birthdate (to be independently verified within reasonable time before or after account opening)
Whose signatures are required on a new account from when a customer is opening a cash account?
Registered Rep and Manager/Principal
If customer fails to meet Reg T call within specified max 5 business day limit, what can be done?
- BD can request an extension for payment from the SRO 2. BD can sell securities from the account in an amount to satisfy the call
Margin is computed on:
NET purchases of the day
INITIAL EQUITY to open a margin account is ?
$2000
“Not Held” refers to an order that___
gives discretion to floor trader as to price and time of execution
(3) types of corporate underwriting are:
- FIRM 2. STAND BY 3. ALL OR NONE
Underwriter in corporate bond offering selects syndicate based on:
- geographic location 2. track record 3. financial capability 4. historic relationship
Bond Buyer 11 Bond Index contains___
11 General Obligation Bonds rated “AA” or better
The Parity Formula for common stock/Convertible Bond is ____
Current Price of Bond/#of Converted Shares
Converted Shares =
Par/Conversion Price
A bond Resolution is the contract between who?
Issuer and Bondholder
2 Things found in a municipal bond resolution are?
- Restrictive covenants to which the issuer must adhere 2. Any call provisions providing for redemption prior to maturity
Mill Rate is multiplied by what?
the total assessed value of the property
Commercial paper matures when and at what price?
A preset date and a preset price
Commercial paper is quoted on a
YIELD BASIS
Definition of commercial paper is –
unsecured promissory note –short term money market instrument
What Government issues are subject to state and local taxes as well as federal?
GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC
The feasibility study on a new municipal revenue offering is performed by who?
An independent consultant
Blue chip corporation experiencing short term cash flow shortage could use ___ to improve cash flow
commercial paper (short term money market instrument)
In the sale of a long position in a RESTRICTED long margin account, 50% of all the proceeds of the sale are credited to where?
the SMA (to be borrowed from) the other 50% is required to be used to reduce debit
What is the industry minimum for opening a short margin account?
$2000 even though reg T requires just 50% initial margin, if below $2000, must still deposit $2000 in account
For a PREMIUM BOND, Effective Yield is _____ than COUPON
Effective Yield is LESS THAN Coupon for a PREMIUM BOND
For a DISCOUNT BOND, Effective Yield is ____ than COUPON
Effective yield is MORE THAN Coupn for a DISCOUNT BOND
____ and ____ are NOT margin able and must be paid in FULL
Mutual fund shares and option purchases
Leveraged ETF minimum margins are calculated by:
multiplying leverage % by FINRA minimum margin
Customer account records to be kept by the RR under FINRA rule include:
Record by customer namer account # of each security position AND Record of the aggregate position maintained among all customers in each security
What is the formula to find the market value @ which a short margin account is at the 30% minimum maintenance level?
Credit Balance/1.3
If a customer has excess equity in a Long Margin Account, they can :
- borrow CASH in amount NO GREATER than excess equity (SMA) 2. BUY Marginable Securities without depositing cash in amount NO GREATER than TWICE the excess equity (SMA)
What is the formula to find market value at which a LONG MARGIN account is at the 25% minimum maintenance level?
Debit Balance/.75
If a customer sells securities and fails to deliver on settlement date, the position must be bought in how many business days later?
10! (they have 10 days to be delivered by customer after the 3 days to settlement have passed, or they are bought back by the brokerage firm)
Requirement fro BDs to disclose privacy policies to customers and permit customers to “opt out” of having info disclosed to 3rd parties (SEC) Regulation is:
Regulation SP (statement of PRivacy)
Under FINRA - the initial approval of new accounts, in writing, is performed by who?
General Principal (#24)
What are (4) ways a corporation can redeem its debt prior to maturity?
- purchase outstanding debt securities in the open market 2. make formal tender offer at price determined by the issuer 3. call outstanding securities at pre established dates and prices 4. can force conversion of convertible bonds that have appreciated in the market by calling them
In a repurchase agreement , who is the lender who is the seller
Repurchase agreement – Lender = public customer —– Seller = Govt dealer
Percentage of Par quote is also known as
dollar quote (corporate and govt bonds and muni TERM bonds)
On what basis are municipal SERIAL BONDS quoted
YIELD BASIS
A Port Authority issue is a
self supporting municipal REVENUE bond (CANNOT be OVERLAPPING debt)
Wer are corporate bonds traded?
NYSE (few) and OTC
A municipality can decease debt with:
- US Govt Securities 2. US Govt Agency securities 3. Bank CDs (rarely)
Private purpose revenue bond income is subject to what taxes?
State and local and AMT (federal tax)
What Govt issues have a FIXED COUPON RATE?
TNotes TBonds (both are issued at PAR)
What Govt issues are zero coupon OIDs and have no stated interest rate?
TBills and STRIPS
The Revenue Fund consists of:
All gross revenues from the facility
Eurodollar bonds are purchased by who?
Foreigners (No US income tax)
Who insures CDs
FDIC up to 250k if in CUSTOMERS NAME
Treasury Note trades settle through:
Fed Funds
A guaranteed corporate bond is guaranteed by:
another corporation
Eurodollar bonds cannot be issued by who:
US Government
Who issues Eurodollar bonds?
- US Corporation 2. US State and Local municipalities 3. Foreign corporations 4. Foreign governments
Where are Eurodollar bonds issued
in foreign countries (but payable in US dollarS)
Minimum denomination for a mortgage backed pass through certificate is:
$25000 (to discourage small investors)
Flow of funds for municipal Revenue offerings are set forth in the —
TRUST INDENTURE
Which municipal bonds are subject to Federal income tax?
“Non essential use” private Purpose Municipal issues (via AMT) (convention center)
TAC has a higher degree of ____ than PAC
extension risk (same level or prepayment risk)
TAC bonds protects against what?
prepayment risk (designed to pay target amount of principal each month)
PACs and TACs provide ___ against prepayments during periods of falling interest rates
Call protection
The (3) measures for GO bond analysis (ratios) are:
- Debt/Assessed valuation of property 2. debt/population 3. taxes collected/taxes assessed
(3) Municipal Trading Market-Secondary Market joint account form for what reasons?
- purchased a block of bonds offered through another municipal trading firm 2. purchase a blouse of bonds offered by a bank 3. purchase a block of bonds offered AON in Bloomberg
Is the trading market of govt and agency bonds active or inactive?
Active (deepest and most traded in the world) - VERY narrow spreads
how are Govt and Agency Bonds quoted?
1/32nds (Dollar bonds – % of par)
Basis =
yield to maturity
Tax of Treasury receipts (STRIPS) are do when?
annually (even though no money actually received)
A tender option allows what?
The bondholder to “put” the bond back to the issuer, receiving par for each bond and therefore is protected from market risk in a rising interest rate environment
Mandatory redemption provisions can only be met by:
depositing required funds to the sinking fund
As interest rates fall, Discount bonds _____ than will similar premium bonds
appreciate more rapidly
Bond trading at a discount can indicate (2 things):
- the issuer credit rating has deteriorated (forcing prices down and b/c more risky– yields go up) Discount bonds – Yield>Coupon
- Market interest rates have risen
Discount Bond prices are more ____ to interest rate movements than premium bonds
Discount bond prices are MORE SENSITIVE to interest rate movements
Which bonds are more LIKELY to be called?
PREMIUM bonds
Treasury Note interest accrues on what basis?
Actual day month, actual day year (All Govt bonds)
Overlapping debt is structured as ____ and backed by ____
Structured as SERIAL bonds and backed by Full Faith and Credit of the ISSUER
Overlapping debt is apportioned based on?
relative assessed valuations (shared by different political subdivisions)
only ____ debt can be overlapping –
G.O.
ETNS offer investors these (3) benefits:
- Lack of liquidity risk 2. tax efficiency 3. access to returns of foreign investments
An ETN is:
a structured product (based on index) offered by banks that gives return tied to a benchmark index (debt of the bank and backed by FFC of the bank)
ETNs make NO___?
interest or dividend payments
Essential difference between ARS (auction rate securities) and VRDO is:
embedded put option in VRDO
Interest accrues of municipals bonds on what basis?
30/360 (up to but not including settlement)
Conversion Price =
Par value of bond/conversion ratio
Brokered CDs may have initial interest rate higher than ______
higher than market rate of interest, but that rate will be lowered after the CD is held for a stated time period (step up-step down)
Brokered CDs in secondary market are very ____
LIMITED (b/c most are held to maturity)
As the market price of a bond moves, the tax equivalent yield —
changes as well
Corporate bond denominations have ____ effect on MARKETABILITY
NONE
Reports of CORPORATE BOND (and non asset backed agency bonds) trades are made to:
TRACE w/in 15 minutes of execution – FINRA OTC
Reports of MUNICIPAL BOND trades are made to:
RTRS
In Municipal tradng market, what is the difference between PRINCIPAL and AGENT?
PRincipal - member firm acts as DEALER/Market maker (charges a markup/markdown) – sells from inventory
Agent - member firm acts as BROKER/agent (charges commission)
*capacity in which the BD acted must be included on the confirmation
A control relationship is defined by MSRB as?
any relationship wherein a person at the municipal securities firm is in a position to influence a municipal issuer whose securities are being traded by that firm (MUST DISCLOSE)
What is a “When, As, If Issued” transaction?
A securities transaction/trade where actual settlement date is not known until the new issue of the municipal securities is printed and the offering has been closed between the syndicate and the issuer
A new issue municipal bond investor seeks information about an issuers financial condition would examine what?
The Official Statement (if available - may request)
When is a preliminary official statement delivered to a customer?
if the final official statement is not ready at the time of settlement
Upon customer request – a dealer in a competitive muni syndicate must disclose:
- order priory provisions 2. initial offering price of each maturity (required to be disclosed)
What is the usual priority of municipal syndicate fill:
Presale, Group Sale (Syndicate), Designated, Member Takedown (Member)
Three things MSRB rules consider to be advertising:
Form Letters, Circulars, Abstracts or summaries of Officail Statment
Municipal advertising copies must be retained by the member for how long?
4 years
Who approved municipal securities advertising?
either General Principal or Municipal Securities Principal (#53)
When it comes to stated rates on muni securities advertisement, the advertisement must state what?
if the rate mentioned is coupon or yield
What is the anti-reciprocal” rule –
prohibits mutual funds from compensating brokerage firms for their sales of mutual fund shares by sending their portfolio trades through that firm
Is there a specified time period Official Statement must be kept?
No! (customer complaints, account statements, and trade comparisons must be kept)
MSRB rules are enforced by:
FRB, FINRA, OCC (all regulatory bodies over banks)
Broker Dealer enforcement agencies =
SEC and FINRA
For municipal new issues what is the Disclosure?
Final official Statement - NOT required since muni are exempt
Used by UWs to perform Due Diligence on the issue and sell to potential customers
Municipal complaints (MSRB) are handled ins hat way?
handled or approved by the municipal securities principal (#53) – must be settled
Municipal advertisements must be approved by who and kept for how long?
Municipal Securities Principal (#53) or General Securities Principal (#24)
Kept for 4 years
What is EMMA?
Electronic Municipal Market Access; MSRB Website – gives muni investors acces to muni disclosure documents and muni price reporting at no charge
MSRB regulates>
Muni bank dealers and Muni Brokers
Registered Broker dealers are regulated by?
FINRA and SEC
Banks NOT members of a Self Regulatory Organization that trade municipal securities are regulated by who?
FDIC, OCC, FRB>
During 90 day apprenticeship period - new municipal brokers are prohibited from what?
CANNOT contact/SOLICIT customers or effecting trades for customers (but they CAN trade with other brokers, give quotes, and perform clerical functions)
CANNOT earn commission
Municipal PRINCIPAL must review and approve what?
Each new account, each municipal transition, each customer complaint, approve each mailing piece to be sent to solicit business
PRINCIPAL does NOT approved official statement
Who prepares the Municipal Official Statement?
the Bond Counsel
MSRB rules – confirmation disclosure for bonds sold @ PAR does NOT have to include:
yield at which the transaction was effected and resulting dollar price ( bc will not differ from stated rate of interest since bonds were traded at par)
**Has to be included if issued at a premium or discount)
Enforcement authorities of the OTC market include:
FINRA and SEC
Enforment of regulations regarding trading of LISTED securities in the THIRD MARKET are performed by?
FINRA
For registered Rep to take a second job – requires approval of who?
BRanch Manager under FINRA rules (need written approval)
Form element component of CE requirement for RR at a member firm is:
Administered by: FINRA member employer compliance department
Must be completed ANNUALLY
SA’s- Assistant Reps - Order Processor may perform which functions?
Accept UNSOLICITED orders and take new account information (Series 11)
What services are considered to be “clerical” and allow a BD to charge the customer for such services? (FINRA)
Collection of Dividends, safekeeping of securities, handling transfer and reregister of securities, appraisals of securities in customer portfolio
Fully paid customer securities cannot:
- be commingled with customer margin securities 2. cannot be commingled with firm positions 3. cannot be REHYPOTHECATED to a bank
Is exchanging customer margin securities with other collateral to secure a debt balance a violation of FINRA
NO!
Rule 5130 (FINRA) prohibits RRs from purchasing new issue of common stock until when?
It is sold in the secondary market, even an investment club that the RR is greater than 10% participant in – is restricted
What is FRONT Running?
registered rep buys stock in advance of placing a large buy order for a customer. RR is hoping to make a profit from a rise in the stocks price due to the influence of the large purchase
What is FREE RIDING?
customer buys securities and then sells the same securities without the intent to pay for the purchase – any profit on the trades belongs to the customer since it is the customers account (BDs don’t allow this)
Post use review and approval refers to what? (FINRA)
emails sent by a registered rep to customers; rule used if member firm has an electronic communications compliance program
Who must approved research reports?
the member firm supervisory analyst (FINRA rule) — reports of that member firm’s research, and 3rd part research to be used with potential clients
Research analysts putting out a Buy recommendation on a security are prohibited from buying or selling that security during –
30 days prior to research report recommendation
5 days after recommendation
In an IPO, member who acted as manager or co manager CANNOT issue research report on that company within how many days of the effective date?
40 CALENDAR days following the effective date
Under SEC rules, rep would be considered to be delivery RESEARCH REPORT to customer is communication:
- analyzes securities and provides basis upon which to make an INVESTMENT DECISION
- is distributed to 15 or more clients
(written or verbal - can be seminar)
Regulation AC requires research analysis at member firms to:
- give written certification on EACH published research report
- give blanket certification to all APPEARANCES made each QUARTER
Mutual fund advertising CANNOT show:
projected performance
to make a Public offering of a Direct Participation Program (DPP) issue must:
- be registered with SEC (they are “non-exempt” offers under SA 1933)
- Regulated under FINRA
Fidelity bonds are maintained by brokerage firms to protect against loss due to:
- embezzlement by employees 2. securities loss 3. employee theft
FINRA rule, disputes between RR and BROKERAGE FIRM are:
- handled by binding arbitration
2. NON APPEALABLE
Who is permitted to be included in arbitration panels?
- persons affiliated with member firms 2. disinterested person w/ no industry affiliation 3. attorneys that are members of the bar
* *key is to be DISinterested
Disciplinary actions taken by FINRA include:
Code of Procedure:
Censure, Suspension, Expulsion, Fines, take away securities licenses (termination of employment)
Investment company securities that are REDEEMABLE
- open end fund shares
- Fixed Unit Investment Trust
- Participating Unit Investment Trust (variable annuity)
Initial public offering are sold for the first time in the:
PRIMARY MARKET
Futures contracts trade on the:
CBOT - Chicago Board of Trade (no a securities exchange – it is a futures exchange)
NYMEX - NY Mercantile Exchange
CME - Chicago Mercantile Exchange
An efficient trading market is one with:
small Bid/Ask spread and high trading volumes
the OTC market (OTCBB/Pink Sheets) is a:
Negotiated Market
Stocks listed on the NYSE can also be listed and traded on:
the Chicago (Midwest) Stock Exchange Boston Stock Exchange Any Regional Exchange
Individuals who make a secondary market in corportate bonds include:
market makers
traders
dealers (same as market makers)
Retail member firms that route order to maker makers in return for compensation are permitted to do so subject to:
Best execution requirements (but must disclose the practice on customer confirmations)
SEC requires execution must occur at “best market”
Regulation NMS Rule 605 covers:
quality of trade executions by exchanges – monthly report
Regulation NMA Rule 606 covers:
broker dealers and how they route their orders to exchanged for executions (flow through)
who trades on the NYSE floor?
- Specialists (DMM)
- Floor Broker (agent for retail member firms
- Two Dollar Brokers (execute order for retail member forms when floor brokers are too busy)