CSI CSC1 - Canadian Securities Course Exam 1

Stock index performance is best measured usingpercentage changesrather than absolute values like point changes, relative values, or share price changes. This is because percentage changes provide a normalized measure of performance, allowing for meaningful comparisons over time or between different indexes, regardless of their starting levels or the specific units in which the index is expressed.

Comparative Analysis: Percentage changes allow investors to compare the performance of indexes with vastly different base values or compositions. For example, a 100-point movement on a low-value index might be significant, while the same point movement on a high-value index might be trivial.

Normalized Returns: They normalize the performance, enabling easier tracking of relative gains or losses over time.

International Relevance: With global markets often using indexes based on different currencies or methodologies, percentage changes standardize comparisons across markets.

A. Relative value changes: This term lacks a precise definition in the context of performance measurement and is not commonly used in evaluating index performance.

B. Point changes: While point changes are informative for intraday movements or headlines, they lack context without knowing the index's value. For example, a 50-point drop could represent 0.5% or 5%, depending on the index level.

C. Share price changes: This is specific to individual securities and does not apply to indexes, which aggregate multiple stocks.

Why Percentage Changes?Incorrect Options:Reference from the CSC® Study Material:The Canadian Securities Course explains the role of indexes in tracking market performance and highlights the importance of percentage changes for measuring and interpreting their performance. This is because percentage changes provide consistency and relevance when comparing different periods or indexes with varying base values (CSC Volume 1, Chapter 8, "Stock Indexes and Averages")​.

Key Concepts Related to Index Performance:

Market indexes represent a basket of securities designed to reflect the overall performance of a specific market or sector.

Percentage changes effectively capture market sentiment and performance trends.

Common Canadian market indexes such as the S&P/TSX Composite Index and international indexes like the S&P 500 often report movements in both points and percentages, with the latter providing a more accurate representation of market dynamics​​.

This understanding is fundamental for financial professionals analyzing market trends, investment performance, and conducting portfolio management.

References:

CSC Volume 1, Chapter 8, "Equity Securities: Common and Preferred Shares – Stock Indexes and Averages"​.

CSC Volume 1, Chapter 7, "Fixed-Income Securities: Pricing and Trading – Bond Indexes" for comparative index concepts​.

Ashort form prospectusis a streamlined disclosure document that companies can use to raise funds more efficiently under specific conditions. The issuer must meet specific eligibility criteria outlined in Canadian securities regulations to qualify for filing a short form prospectus.

Key Conditions for Filing a Short Form Prospectus:

Listed Securities Requirement: The company must have its securities listed and actively traded on an eligible stock exchange (e.g., TSX or another recognized exchange). This requirement ensures that the company already complies with reporting obligations and has a history of providing transparent information to investors.

Continuous Disclosure History: The company must be a reporting issuer in one or more Canadian jurisdictions for at least 12 months, providing continuous disclosure (e.g., financial statements, material changes).

No Principal Asset Restriction: The company must not primarily rely on cash or cash equivalents as its principal asset, as this does not provide a sufficient operational track record.

Domestic Reporting Requirement: The company must not rely solely on foreign jurisdiction reporting; it must fulfill Canadian reporting requirements.

Review of Options:

Option A:Incorrect. While the prospectus may be used for financing purposes, it is not a condition specific to the short form prospectus.

Option B:Correct. A company must have securities listed and actively traded on an eligible exchange to use the short form prospectus​​.

Option C:Incorrect. Companies whose principal assets are cash or cash equivalents are typically not eligible for a short form prospectus.

Option D:Incorrect. The company must not exclusively be a reporting issuer in foreign jurisdictions; it must comply with Canadian reporting requirements.

References:

Canadian Securities Course (CSC), Volume 1, Chapter 12: Financing and Listing Securities. Discussion on eligibility for short form prospectus filings and reporting issuer status​.

National Instrument 44-101: Short Form Prospectus Distributions.

Self-directed brokers are the most cost-effective option for investing in derivatives. They provide a platform for investors to execute trades independently without the additional costs associated with advisory services offered by full-service brokers. Investors are charged lower transaction fees, making this option ideal for cost-conscious individuals who are comfortable making their own investment decisions.

B. A full-service broker: Full-service brokers charge higher fees because they provide additional advisory and management services.

C. An integrated firm: Integrated firms offer both retail and institutional services, which generally come with higher fees compared to self-directed platforms.

D. An investment boutique: Boutique firms typically specialize in niche markets and may have higher service costs, which are not ideal for cost-effective derivatives trading.

Bond indexes are widely used in the securities industry to constructbond index funds, which aim to replicate the performance of the bond market or a specific segment of it.

A (Provide liquidity)refers to market-making activities, not bond indexes.

B (Direct purchase)is uncommon, as bond indexes are benchmarks rather than individual investments.

D (Assess credit risk)is achieved through credit rating agencies, not bond indexes.

References:Volume 1, Chapter 7 ("Bond Indexes")​.

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A stock split reduces the price per share, making the shares more affordable to smaller or retail investors. This does not increase the market capitalization or shareholder value but makes trading easier by improving liquidity and accessibility.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 8:Equity Securities, section on "Stock Splits and Consolidations," describes the purpose and benefits of stock splits for investors, particularly in terms of affordability and liquidity​.

Frictional unemployment arises from normal labor market activities, such as people transitioning between jobs, entering or re-entering the workforce, or temporarily being unemployed after completing education. This type of unemployment is always present, even in a healthy economy, and reflects short-term gaps in employment rather than structural or economic downturns.

Natural unemployment (Option A):Refers to the combination of frictional and structural unemployment present in an efficient economy.

Structural unemployment (Option B):Caused by mismatches between skills workers possess and those needed by employers, often due to technological advances.

Cyclical unemployment (Option C):Linked to economic recessions or downturns where demand for labor decreases.

The FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index is acapitalization-weighted index, meaning that the weights of its components are based on their market value. It includes bonds from various issuers (both government and corporate) with terms to maturity of at least one year.

A. US dollar bonds from Canadian issuers are included: Only bonds denominated in Canadian dollars are included.

B. Only bonds with a term to maturity of 30 days or more are eligible for inclusion: Bonds must have a minimum term to maturity of one year, not 30 days.

D. Only government bonds are included: The index includes both government and corporate bonds.

Aninvestment bankerin a sell-side firm is responsible for structuring new debt issues and bringing them to the primary market. This involves determining the appropriate structure for the debt offering, pricing it based on market conditions, and marketing it to potential investors. Investment bankers play a key role in the capital-raising process for issuers.

References:

Volume 1, Chapter 1:The Canadian Securities Industry, section on "The Role of Investment Dealers," outlines the roles of investment bankers in the primary markets, including structuring and underwriting securities​.

TheCanada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC)insures eligible deposits (e.g., term deposits) up to a maximum of$100,000 per depositor per member institution. In this case:

Keith has $150,000 in ABC Trust Company → $100,000 is insured.

Keith has $75,000 in XYZ Trust Company → Entire $75,000 is insured.

Total insured amount = $100,000 (ABC) + $75,000 (XYZ) = $200,000.

References:Volume 1, Chapter 3 ("Investor Protection Funds and Insurance")​.