Topic 6 - Direct Investments: cash and fixed-interest securities Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 5 main financial asset classes?

A
  1. cash
  2. fixed interest securities (gilts, corporate bonds)
  3. equities (shares)
  4. property
  5. alternative investments (fine wine, antiques)
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2
Q

Why are investors advised to diversify their holdings between different asset classes?

A

To balance the risk as different asset classes may perform better at different stages of the economic cycle

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3
Q

Why do people choose deposit-based investments?

A
  • security of capital

- convenience

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4
Q

Name 5 different types of bank/ building society accounts.

A
  1. Traditional current account
  2. Basic bank account
  3. Interest-bearing current account
  4. Instant access savings accounts
  5. Restricted access accounts
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5
Q

What restrictions may be placed on a restricted access account?

A
  • limiting the number of withdrawals each calendar year
  • requiring a minimum notice period for withdrawals
  • creating a term account (a specified period where the saver cannot access their money)
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6
Q

What are National Savings & Investment products?

NS & I

A

Savings and investment products backed by the government. Risk is low.

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7
Q

Name 5 types of NS & I products.

A
  1. Direct Saver
  2. Income Bonds
  3. Direct ISA
  4. Premium Bonds
  5. Junior ISA
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8
Q

Which 3 NS & I products are tax free?

A
  1. Direct ISA
  2. Premium Bonds
  3. Junior ISA
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9
Q

What is the minimum age for an NS & I product?

A

16 years

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10
Q

What is an offshore account?

A

An investment medium held outside the UK

Offers more advantageous taxation of investments

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11
Q

Why do offshore accounts pose greater risk?

A
  • might not be denominated in sterling -value might be affected by exchange rates
  • may not be protected by investor protection schemes
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12
Q

Is the interest on offshore accounts taxable?

A

It must be declared to the HMRC and may be taxable

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13
Q

What are gilts?

A

Gilt-edged securities are a fixed-interest security

Form of borrowing by the UK government

Safe investments as government is not expected to default on capital payments or interest

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14
Q

What is the redemption date and what does ‘coupon’ mean?

A

The redemption date is when the government must redeem the gilt and pay back its value or par value.

The coupon is the interest rate of a gilt. Fixed rate, paid half -yearly, gross but taxable

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15
Q

Explain the meaning of this example of a gilt;

‘Treasury 5% 2021’

A

Treasury 5% 2021

A gilt with a coupon (interest rate) of 5% and a redemption date in 2021

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16
Q

What are the 3 categories of gilts?

A

Short-dated gilts- less than 5 years

Medium -dated gilts - 5-15 years

Long dated gilts - More than 15 years

17
Q

The UK Debt Management Office defines short dated gilts as what?

A

Less than 7 years

18
Q

What are index-linked gilts?

A

The interest payments and capital move in line with inflation

19
Q

Can gilts be redeemed early?

A

No. They can be sold to other investors

20
Q

What is the difference between cum-dividend and ex-dividend?

A

cum-dividend - the stock is bought with the entitlement to the next interest payment

ex-dividend - the next interest payment will be payable to the previous owner (the seller)

21
Q

Is capital gains tax (CGT) payable on the redemption of gilts?

A

No. They are entirely free of capital gains tax

22
Q

How do you calculate the running yield of a gilt?

A

running yield = coupon / price paid

e.g. £5 / £130.73 = 3.82%

23
Q

Name 4 other kinds of fixed-interest stocks.

A
  1. Local authority bonds
  2. Permanent interest -bearing shares
  3. Corporate bonds
  4. Eurobonds
24
Q

What is a corporate bond?

A

Similar to gilts
A way for companies to raise capital
Bond is issued with a promise to pay a fixed-rate of interest
Stated redemption date
Secured (backed by company assets) or unsecured

25
What is a 'debenture'?
A corporate bond that is backed by security | a charge over company assets
26
What is a 'loan stock'?
An unsecured corporate bond | not backed by security
27
Which pose more risk - corporate bonds or gilts?
Corporate bonds. | Gilts are government backed.
28
Explain what a Eurobond is.
A Eurobond is a bond traded or issued in a country that uses a currency other than the one in which the bond was denominated
29
Are fixed-interest stocks taxable?
Any interest is payed gross and classed as savings income. If it falls outside of the starting-rate band for savings, then it will be taxable at the appropriate rate
30
What is the benefit of a structured deposit?
The investor will always get their initial investment back. The reduction in risk is offset by a lowered potential for reward. They are complex and not normally purchased via a financial adviser.
31
What is Peer 2 Peer (P2P) lending?
This is also called alternative finance. A saver places their money with a P2P lender who then lends out the money to businesses. Regulated by the FCA. High risk. Not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.