A concise and practical guide to preparing for the Canadian Securities Exam For anyone dreaming of a career in the Canadian finance industry, whether in banking, brokerage, financial planning, or mutual funds, passing the Canadian Securities Exam is the first step on the path to success. A concise and practical guide to preparing for the Canadian Securities Exam For anyone dreaming of a career in the Canadian finance industry, whether in banking, brokerage, financial planning, or mutual funds, passing the Canadian Securities Exam is the first step on the path to success. Acknowledgements vi Introduction: How to Use this Book vii Chapter 1: The Capital Market 1 Introduction 1 Suppliers and Users of Investment Capital 1 The Role of Financial Instruments 4 Financial Markets 5 Chapter 1 Review Questions 8 Chapter 2: The Canadian Securities Industry 11 An Overview of the Canadian Securities Industry 11 The Role of Financial Intermediaries 11 The Canadian Securities Industry 12 Chartered Banks 14 Other Intermediaries 16 Chapter 2 Review Questions 18 Chapter 3: The Canadian Regulatory Environment 21 Regulatory Organizations 21 Arbitration 24 Regulation and Investor Protection 24 The Ethics of Trading 26 Takeovers and Insider Trading 28 Chapter 3 Review Questions 29 Chapter 4: Economic Principles 33 Overview of Economics 33 Measuring the Economy 34 Labour Markets 36 Interest Rates 37 Money and Inflation 38 International Economics 39 Chapter 4 Review Questions 41 Chapter 5: Economic Policy 45 Economic Theories 45 Fiscal Policy 46 Monetary Policy 46 Chapter 5 Review Questions 49 Chapter 6: Fixed-income Securities: Features and Types 53 Overview and Terminology 53 Bond Features 54 Government Securities 56 Corporate Bonds 57 Chapter 6 Review Questions 61 Chapter 7: Fixed-income Securities: Pricing and Trading 67 Bond Pricing Principles 67 The Term Structure of Interest Rates 71 Delivery, Regulation, and Settlement 72 Bond Indexes 73 Chapter 7 Review Questions 74 Chapter 8: Equity Securities: Common and Preferred Shares 79 Introduction 79 Common Shares 79 Preferred Share Characteristics 81 Stock Indices and Averages 87 Chapter 8 Review Questions 89 Chapter 9: Equity Securities: Equity Trading 95 Cash and Margin Accounts 95 Short Sales 97 Equity Transactions 98 Chapter 9 Review Questions 99 Chapter 10: Derivatives 105 Introduction 105 Options 106 Futures and Forwards 112 Rights and Warrants 115 Chapter 10 Review Questions 118 Chapter 11: Financing and Listing Securities 123 Basic Forms of Business Organization 123 The Incorporation Process 125 Government and Corporate Financing 127 The Financing Procedure 130 The Listing Process 133 Chapter 11 Review Questions 135 Chapter 12: Corporations and Their Financial Statements 139 Understanding Financial Statements 139 Statement of Financial Position 139 Statement of Comprehensive Income 143 Other Components 145 Chapter 12 Review Questions 146 Chapter 13: Fundamental and Technical Analysis 151 Overview 151 Fundamental Macroeconomic Analysis 152 Industry Analysis 153 Fundamental Valuation Models 155 Technical Analysis 158 Chapter 13 Review Questions 160 Chapter 14: Company Analysis 165 Fundamental Company Analysis 165 Interpreting Financial Statements 166 Assessing Preferred Share Investment Quality 174 Chapter 14 Review Questions 176 Chapter 15: Introduction to the Portfolio Approach 183 Introduction 183 Risk and Return 183 Portfolio Risk and Return 187 The Portfolio Management Process 189 Chapter 15 Review Questions 191 Chapter 16: The Portfolio Management Process 197 Developing an Asset Mix and Selecting Investment Styles 197 Implementing the Asset Mix 200 Monitoring the Economy, the Markets, the Portfolio, and the Client 201 Evaluating Portfolio Performance 202 Chapter 16 Review Questions 203 Chapter 17: Evolution of Managed and Structured Products 209 Managed versus Structured Products 209 Chapter 17 Review Questions 211 Chapter 18: Mutual Funds: Structure and Regulation 213 Introduction 213 The Structure of Mutual Funds 214 Labour-sponsored Venture Capital Corporations (LSVCCs) 217 Regulation of Mutual Funds 219 Chapter 18 Review Questions 223 Chapter 19: Mutual Funds: Types and Features 227 Types of Mutual Funds 227 Fund Management Styles 229 Redeeming Mutual Fund Units or Shares 229 Comparing Mutual Fund Performance 231 Chapter 19 Review Questions 233 Chapter 20: Segregated Funds and Other Insurance Products 237 Key Features of Segregated Funds 237 Maturity Guarantees and Benefits 238 Fees and Expenses 241 Tax Considerations 242 Regulation 245 Other Insurance Products 247 Chapter 20 Review Questions 247 Chapter 21: Hedge Funds 251 Overview of Hedge Funds 251 Hedge Fund Indexes 253 Benefits and Risks of Hedge Funds 253 Due Diligence 254 Hedge Fund Strategies 255 Funds of Hedge Funds 257 Chapter 21 Review Questions 257 Chapter 22: Exchange-listed Managed Products 261 Closed-end Funds 261 Income Trusts 262 Exchange-traded Funds 263 Chapter 22 Review Questions 264 Chapter 23: Fee-based Accounts 267 Fee-based Accounts 267 Chapter 23 Review Questions 269 Chapter 24: Structured Products 271 Principal Protected Notes (PPNs) 271 Index-linked Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) 272 Split Shares 272 Asset-backed Securities (ABS) 273 Mortgage-backed Securities (MBS) 274 Chapter 24 Review Questions 274 Chapter 25: Canadian Taxation 277 Taxes and Taxation Issues 277 Taxation of Investment Income 278 Tax Deferral Plans 281 Basics of Tax Planning 284 Chapter 25 Review Questions 285 Chapter 26: Working with the Retail Client 289 The Process of Financial Planning 289 Financial Planning Aids 291 Ethics and the Financial Advisor 292 Case Studies 294 Chapter 26 Review Questions 296 Chapter 27: Working with the Institutional Client 299 Who Are Institutional Clients? 299 Suitability Requirements for Institutional Investors 300 Roles and Responsibilities in the Institutional Market 301 Chapter 27 Review Questions 301 CSC Practice Examination #1: Chapters 1–12 319 CSC Practice Examination #2: Chapters 13 –27 341 Answers to Practice Exam #1: Chapters 1–12 363 Answers to Practice Exam #2: Chapters 13 –27 369