Fight Finance

Question 871  duration, Macaulay duration, modified duration, portfolio duration

Which of the following statements about Macaulay duration is NOT correct? The Macaulay duration:

(a) Is the weighted average time that an asset’s cash flows are received, usually measured in years.

(b) Divided by (1+y) equals the modified duration, where y is the yield to maturity given as an effective annual rate and duration is measured in years.

(c) Of a zero-coupon bond is equal to the bond’s maturity.

(d) Of a fixed-coupon-paying bond will be less than the bond’s maturity.

(e) Of a portfolio is an arithmetic average of the Macaulay durations of the assets in the portfolio, weighted by their face values.

Question 872  duration, Macaulay duration, modified duration, portfolio duration

A fixed coupon bond’s modified duration is 20 years, and yields are currently 10% pa compounded annually. Which of the following statements about the bond is NOT correct?

(a) The Macaulay duration of the bond is 22 years.

(b) If yields-to-maturity suddenly fell by 1 percentage point then bond prices would suddenly rise by 20% or more.

(c) If yields-to-maturity suddenly rose by 2 percentage points then bond prices would suddenly fall by 40% or less.

(d) If the bond is a zero-coupon bond then its maturity is 20 years.

(e) The modified-duration-price-change formula assumes parallel shifts in the yield curve.

Question 1041  monetary policy, business cycle

Recessions occur in the or phases of the business cycle?

Question 1036  Minsky financial instability hypothesis, leverage

Hyman Minsky, author of 'The Financial Instability Hypothesis' (1992), wrote:

In particular, over a protracted period of good times, capitalist economies tend to move from a financial structure dominated by hedge finance units to a structure in which there is large weight to units engaged in speculative and Ponzi finance. Furthermore, if an economy with a sizeable body of speculative financial units is in an inflationary state, and the authorities attempt to exorcise inflation by monetary constraint, then speculative units will become Ponzi units and the net worth of previously Ponzi units will quickly evaporate. Consequently, units with cash flow shortfalls will be forced to try to make position by selling out position. This is likely to lead to a collapse of asset values.

Which of the below statements explaining this quote is NOT correct?

(a) The "authorities [that] attempt to exorcise inflation by monetary constraint" would be central banks raising interest rates.

(b) "Speculative units will become Ponzi units" if their debt funding has a floating or variable coupon rate and their investment assets have a fixed coupon rate.

(c) "Net worth" refers to equity which equals assets less liabilities.

(d) "The net worth of previously Ponzi units will quickly evaporate" due to forced fire sales of assets to meet interest and principal payments.

(e) The "collapse of asset values" is caused by an increase in the demand for assets.

Question 1037  gross domestic product, no explanation

What effect is being referred to in the following quote from the MARTIN model description?  

Economy-wide models also account for feedback between economic variables. For example, an increase in aggregate demand will encourage firms to hire more workers, which raises employment and lowers the unemployment rate. The tightening of the labour market is likely to lead to an increase in wages growth. The resulting increase in household incomes is likely to lead to an increase in consumption, further raising aggregate demand. (Ballantyne et al, 2019)

The name of the effect being referred to is:

(a) Inflation

(b) Wage-price spiral

(c) Multiplier

(d) Monetary policy stimulus

(e) Fiscal policy stimulus

Question 1014  book build, initial public offering, capital raising, demand schedule

A firm is floating its stock in an IPO and its underwriter has received the following bids, listed in order from highest to lowest share price:

IPO Book Build Bids
Bidders	Share price	Number of shares
	$/share	millions
BidderA	2.5	2
BidderB	2	1.5
BidderC	1.5	4
BidderD	1	3
BidderE	0.5	2

 

Suppose that the firm's owner wishes to raise $6 million to expand the business by selling new stock in the initial public offering (IPO). The owner currently holds 8 million stock which are not for sale. Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

(a) The IPO share price will be $2 per share

(b) The pre-money equity market capitalisation is $16 million.

(c) The post-money equity market capitalisation is $22 million.

(d) Bidder A will be allocated their entire bid, while Bidders C, D and E will be unsuccessful.

(e) Bidder B will be allocated only 0.5m stock of their 1.5m stock bid.

Question 568  rights issue, capital raising, capital structure

A company conducts a 1 for 5 rights issue at a subscription price of $7 when the pre-announcement stock price was $10. What is the percentage change in the stock price and the number of shares outstanding? The answers are given in the same order. Ignore all taxes, transaction costs and signalling effects.

(a) -16.67%, 20%

(b) -5%, 20%

(c) 0%, 20%

(d) 7.14%, 20%

(e) 11.67%, 0%

Question 625  dividend re-investment plan, capital raising

Which of the following statements about dividend re-investment plans (DRP's) is NOT correct?

(a) DRP's are voluntary, shareholders only participate if they choose.

(b) DRP's increase the number of shares.

(c) The number of shares issued to a shareholder participating in a DRP is usually calculated as their total dividends owed, divided by the allocation share price which is usually close to the current market share price.

(d) DRP's do not incur brokerage costs for the shareholder. This is unlike the case where the shareholder uses the cash dividend to buy more shares herself.

(e) If all shareholders participated in a company's DRP, the company would not pay any dividends and the firm's share price would not fall due to the cash dividend or the DRP.

Question 666  rights issue, capital raising

A company conducts a 2 for 3 rights issue at a subscription price of $8 when the pre-announcement stock price was $9. Assume that all investors use their rights to buy those extra shares.

What is the percentage increase in the stock price and the number of shares outstanding? The answers are given in the same order.

(a) -60%,   150%

(b) -42.22%,   150%

(c) -40%,   66.67%

(d) -22.22%,   66.67%

(e) -4.44%,   66.67%

Question 1012  moral hazard, principal agent problem, asymmetric information

When does the ‘principal-agent problem’ occur? Is it when:

I. The principal has conflicting incentives (moral hazard);

II. The agent has conflicting incentives (moral hazard);

III. The principal has incomplete information about the agent (asymmetric information); or

IV. The agent has incomplete information about the principal (asymmetric information)?

The principal-agent problem occurs when the following statements are true:

(a) I and II.

(b) III and IV.

(c) I and III.

(d) II and IV.

(e) II and III.

Question 1004  CFFA, WACC, interest tax shield, DDM

Use the below information to value a mature levered company with growing annual perpetual cash flows and a constant debt-to-assets ratio. The next cash flow will be generated in one year from now, so a perpetuity can be used to value this firm. The firm's debt funding comprises annual fixed coupon bonds that all have the same seniority and coupon rate. When these bonds mature, new bonds will be re-issued, and so on in perpetuity. The yield curve is flat.

Data on a Levered Firm with Perpetual Cash Flows
Item abbreviation	Value	Item full name
##\text{OFCF}_1##	$12.5m	Operating free cash flow at time 1
##\text{FFCF}_1 \text{ or }\text{CFFA}_1##	$14m	Firm free cash flow or cash flow from assets at time 1
##\text{EFCF}_1##	$11m	Equity free cash flow at time 1
##\text{BondCoupons}_1##	$1.2m	Bond coupons paid to debt holders at time 1
##g##	2% pa	Growth rate of OFCF, FFCF, EFCF and Debt cash flow
##\text{WACC}_\text{BeforeTax}##	9% pa	Weighted average cost of capital before tax
##\text{WACC}_\text{AfterTax}##	8.25% pa	Weighted average cost of capital after tax
##r_\text{D}##	5% pa	Bond yield
##r_\text{EL}##	13% pa	Cost or required return of levered equity
##D/V_L##	50% pa	Debt to assets ratio, where the asset value includes tax shields
##n_\text{shares}##	1m	Number of shares
##t_c##	30%	Corporate tax rate

 

Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

(a) $200m is the levered firm's asset value.

(b) $100 is the share price.

(c) $5m is the interest expense over the first year.

(d) $2m is the cash flow to debt holders in one year.

(e) $1.8m of bonds must be bought back in one year.

Question 353  income and capital returns, inflation, real and nominal returns and cash flows, real estate

A residential investment property has an expected nominal total return of 6% pa and nominal capital return of 3% pa.

Inflation is expected to be 2% pa. All rates are given as effective annual rates.

What are the property's expected real total, capital and income returns? The answer choices below are given in the same order.

(a) 3.9216%, 2.9412%, 0.9804%.

(b) 3.9216%, 0.9804%, 2.9412%.

(c) 3.9216%, 0.9804%, 0.9804%.

(d) 1.9804%, 1.0000%, 0.9804%.

(e) 1.9608%, 0.9804%, 0.9804%.

Question 575  inflation, real and nominal returns and cash flows

You expect a nominal payment of $100 in 5 years. The real discount rate is 10% pa and the inflation rate is 3% pa. Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

(a) The nominal cash flow of $100 in 5 years is equivalent to a real cash flow of $86.2609 in 5 years. This means that $86.2609 will buy the same amount of goods and services now as $100 will buy in 5 years.

(b) The real discount rate of 10% pa is equivalent to a nominal discount rate of 13.3333% pa.

(c) The nominal price of goods and services will increase by 3% every year.

(d) The real price of goods and services will increase by 3% every year.

(e) The present value of your payment will increase by the nominal discount rate every year.

Question 664  real and nominal returns and cash flows, inflation, no explanation

What is the present value of real payments of $100 every year forever, with the first payment in one year? The nominal discount rate is 7% pa and the inflation rate is 4% pa.

(a) $3,466.6667

(b) $3,333.3333

(c) $3,205.1282

(d) $1,485.7143

(e) $1,428.5714

Question 734  real and nominal returns and cash flows, inflation, DDM, no explanation

An equities analyst is using the dividend discount model to price a company's shares. The company operates domestically and has no plans to expand overseas. It is part of a mature industry with stable positive growth prospects.

The analyst has estimated the real required return (r) of the stock and the value of the dividend that the stock just paid a moment before ##(C_\text{0 before})##.

What is the highest perpetual real growth rate of dividends (g) that can be justified? Select the most correct statement from the following choices. The highest perpetual real expected growth rate of dividends that can be justified is the country's expected:

(a) Inflation rate.

(b) Nominal GDP growth rate.

(c) Real GDP growth rate.

(d) Nominal total return on the share market index.

(e) Real total return on the share market index.

Question 740  real and nominal returns and cash flows, DDM, inflation

Taking inflation into account when using the DDM can be hard. Which of the following formulas will NOT give a company's current stock price ##(P_0)##? Assume that the annual dividend was just paid ##(C_0)##, and the next dividend will be paid in one year ##(C_1)##.

(a) ##P_0=\dfrac{C_\text{1,nominal}}{r_\text{nominal} - g_\text{nominal}}##

(b) ##P_0 =\dfrac{C_0 (1+g_\text{nominal} )^1}{r_\text{nominal} - g_\text{nominal}}##

(c) ##P_0=\dfrac{C_\text{1,real}}{r_\text{real} - g_\text{real}}##

(d) ##P_0=\dfrac{C_0 (1+r_\text{real})^1}{r_\text{real} - g_\text{real}}##

(e) ##P_0=\dfrac{C_0(1+r_\text{nominal} )^1}{r_\text{nominal} - g_\text{nominal}} - C_0##

Question 1015  RBA cash rate, monetary policy

Former Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Phil Lowe says that the RBA cash rate is the interest rate in the Australian:

(a) Money market.

(b) Term deposit market.

(c) Mortgage loan market.

(d) Bond market.

(e) Equity market.

Question 1019  RBA cash rate, monetary policy, wealth effect

Former RBA Governor Phil Lowe says that when the RBA raise the cash rate, asset prices tend to:

(a) Rise, making asset-holders feel wealthier and likely to spend more on consumption at the shops.

(b) Rise, making asset-holders feel poorer and likely to spend less on consumption at the shops.

(c) Fall, making asset-holders feel wealthier and likely to spend more on consumption at the shops.

(d) Fall, making asset-holders feel poorer and likely to spend less on consumption at the shops.

Question 935  real estate, NPV, perpetuity with growth, multi stage growth model, DDM

You're thinking of buying an investment property that costs $1,000,000. The property's rent revenue over the next year is expected to be $50,000 pa and rent expenses are $20,000 pa, so net rent cash flow is $30,000. Assume that net rent is paid annually in arrears, so this next expected net rent cash flow of $30,000 is paid one year from now.

The year after, net rent is expected to fall by 2% pa. So net rent at year 2 is expected to be $29,400 (=30,000*(1-0.02)^1).

The year after that, net rent is expected to rise by 1% pa. So net rent at year 3 is expected to be $29,694 (=30,000*(1-0.02)^1*(1+0.01)^1).

From year 3 onwards, net rent is expected to rise at 2.5% pa forever. So net rent at year 4 is expected to be $30,436.35 (=30,000*(1-0.02)^1*(1+0.01)^1*(1+0.025)^1).

Assume that the total required return on your investment property is 6% pa. Ignore taxes. All returns are given as effective annual rates.

What is the net present value (NPV) of buying the investment property?

(a) $1,190,459.24

(b) $809,540.76

(c) $768,212.01

(d) -$231,787.99

(e) -$190,459.24

Question 238  CFFA, leverage, interest tax shield

A company increases the proportion of debt funding it uses to finance its assets by issuing bonds and using the cash to repurchase stock, leaving assets unchanged.

Ignoring the costs of financial distress, which of the following statements is NOT correct:

(a) The company is increasing its debt-to-assets and debt-to-equity ratios. These are types of 'leverage' or 'gearing' ratios.

(b) The company will pay less tax to the government due to the benefit of interest tax shields.

(c) The company's net income, also known as earnings or net profit after tax, will fall.

(d) The company's expected levered firm free cash flow (FFCF or CFFA) will be higher due to tax shields.

(e) The company's expected levered equity free cash flow (EFCF) will not change.

Question 343  CFFA, capital budgeting

An old company's Firm Free Cash Flow (FFCF, same as CFFA) is forecast in the graph below.

To value the firm's assets, the terminal value needs to be calculated using the perpetuity with growth formula:

###V_{\text{terminal, }t-1} = \dfrac{FFCF_{\text{terminal, }t}}{r-g}###

Which point corresponds to the best time to calculate the terminal value?

(a) Point A.

(b) Point B.

(c) Point C.

(d) Any of the points.

(e) None of the points.

Question 344  CFFA, capital budgeting

A new company's Firm Free Cash Flow (FFCF, same as CFFA) is forecast in the graph below.

To value the firm's assets, the terminal value needs to be calculated using the perpetuity with growth formula:

###V_{\text{terminal, }t-1} = \dfrac{FFCF_{\text{terminal, }t}}{r-g}###

Which point corresponds to the best time to calculate the terminal value?

(a) Point A.

(b) Point B.

(c) Point C.

(d) Any of the points.

(e) None of the points.

Question 406  leverage, WACC, margin loan, portfolio return

One year ago you bought $100,000 of shares partly funded using a margin loan. The margin loan size was $70,000 and the other $30,000 was your own wealth or 'equity' in the share assets.

The interest rate on the margin loan was 7.84% pa.

Over the year, the shares produced a dividend yield of 4% pa and a capital gain of 5% pa.

What was the total return on your wealth? Ignore taxes, assume that all cash flows (interest payments and dividends) were paid and received at the end of the year, and all rates above are effective annual rates.

(a) 1.0757%

(b) 2.7067%

(c) 5.1333%

(d) 9.0000%

(e) 11.7067%

Hint: Remember that wealth in this context is your equity (E) in the house asset (V = D+E) which is funded by the loan (D) and your deposit or equity (E).

Question 498  NPV, Annuity, perpetuity with growth, multi stage growth model

A business project is expected to cost $100 now (t=0), then pay $10 at the end of the third (t=3), fourth, fifth and sixth years, and then grow by 5% pa every year forever. So the cash flow will be $10.5 at the end of the seventh year (t=7), then $11.025 at the end of the eighth year (t=8) and so on perpetually. The total required return is 10℅ pa.

Which of the following formulas will NOT give the correct net present value of the project?

(a) ##-100+ \dfrac{ \dfrac{10}{0.1} \left(1-\dfrac{1}{(1+0.1)^3} \right)}{(1+0.1)^2} +\dfrac{\left(\dfrac{10}{0.1-0.05}\right)}{(1+0.1)^5} ##

(b) ##-100+ \dfrac{10}{(1+0.1)^3} +\dfrac{10}{(1+0.1)^4} +\dfrac{10}{(1+0.1)^5} +\dfrac{\left(\dfrac{10}{0.1-0.05}\right)}{(1+0.1)^5} ##

(c) ##-100+ \dfrac{ \dfrac{10}{0.1} \left(1-\dfrac{1}{(1+0.1)^4} \right)}{(1+0.1)^2} +\dfrac{\left(\dfrac{10.5}{0.1-0.05}\right)}{(1+0.1)^6} ##

(d) ##-100+ \dfrac{10}{(1+0.1)^3} +\dfrac{10}{(1+0.1)^4} +\dfrac{10}{(1+0.1)^5} +\dfrac{10}{(1+0.1)^6} +\dfrac{\left(\dfrac{10.5}{0.1-0.05}\right)}{(1+0.1)^6} ##

(e) ##-100+ \dfrac{ \dfrac{10}{0.1} \left(1-\dfrac{1}{(1+0.1)^3} \right)}{(1+0.1)^3} +\dfrac{\left(\dfrac{10}{0.1-0.05}\right)}{(1+0.1)^5} ##

Question 67  CFFA, interest tax shield

Here are the Net Income (NI) and Cash Flow From Assets (CFFA) equations:

###NI=(Rev-COGS-FC-Depr-IntExp).(1-t_c)###

###CFFA=NI+Depr-CapEx - \varDelta NWC+IntExp###

What is the formula for calculating annual interest expense (IntExp) which is used in the equations above?

Select one of the following answers. Note that D is the value of debt which is constant through time, and ##r_D## is the cost of debt.

(a) ##D(1+r_D)##

(b) ##D/(1+r_D) ##

(c) ##D.r_D ##

(d) ##D / r_D##

(e) ##NI.r_D##

Question 367  CFFA, interest tax shield

There are many ways to calculate a firm's free cash flow (FFCF), also called cash flow from assets (CFFA). Some include the annual interest tax shield in the cash flow and some do not.

Which of the below FFCF formulas include the interest tax shield in the cash flow?

###(1) \quad FFCF=NI + Depr - CapEx -ΔNWC + IntExp### ###(2) \quad FFCF=NI + Depr - CapEx -ΔNWC + IntExp.(1-t_c)### ###(3) \quad FFCF=EBIT.(1-t_c )+ Depr- CapEx -ΔNWC+IntExp.t_c### ###(4) \quad FFCF=EBIT.(1-t_c) + Depr- CapEx -ΔNWC### ###(5) \quad FFCF=EBITDA.(1-t_c )+Depr.t_c- CapEx -ΔNWC+IntExp.t_c### ###(6) \quad FFCF=EBITDA.(1-t_c )+Depr.t_c- CapEx -ΔNWC### ###(7) \quad FFCF=EBIT-Tax + Depr - CapEx -ΔNWC### ###(8) \quad FFCF=EBIT-Tax + Depr - CapEx -ΔNWC-IntExp.t_c### ###(9) \quad FFCF=EBITDA-Tax - CapEx -ΔNWC### ###(10) \quad FFCF=EBITDA-Tax - CapEx -ΔNWC-IntExp.t_c###

The formulas for net income (NI also called earnings), EBIT and EBITDA are given below. Assume that depreciation and amortisation are both represented by 'Depr' and that 'FC' represents fixed costs such as rent.

###NI=(Rev - COGS - Depr - FC - IntExp).(1-t_c )### ###EBIT=Rev - COGS - FC-Depr### ###EBITDA=Rev - COGS - FC### ###Tax =(Rev - COGS - Depr - FC - IntExp).t_c= \dfrac{NI.t_c}{1-t_c}###

(a) 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.

(b) 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.

(c) 1, 4, 6, 8, 10.

(d) 2, 3, 5, 7, 9.

(e) 1, 3, 5, 8, 10.

Question 1045  payout policy, leverage, capital structure, beta

A levered firm has only 2 assets on its balance sheet with the below market values and CAPM betas. The risk free rate is 3% pa and the market risk premium is 5% pa. Assume that the CAPM is correct and all assets are fairly priced.

Balance Sheet Market Values and Betas
Balance sheet item	Market value ($m)	Beta
Cash asset	0.5	0
Truck assets	0.5	2
Loan liabilities	0.25	0.1
Equity funding	?	?

 

The firm then pays out all of its cash as a dividend. Assume that the beta and yield on the loan liability remain unchanged. Ignore taxes, transaction costs, signalling, information asymmetries and other frictions.

Which of the following statements is NOT correct? This event led to a:

(a) $0.5m decrease in equity to $0.25m and cash to zero.

(b) Asset beta of 1 and required return on assets (or WACC before tax) of 8% pa.

(c) $0.50 fall in the share price if there are 1 million shares.

(d) Equity beta of 3.9 and required return of 22.5% pa.

(e) Debt-to-assets ratio of 50%.

Question 941  negative gearing, leverage, capital structure, interest tax shield, real estate

Last year, two friends Lev and Nolev each bought similar investment properties for $1 million. Both earned net rents of $30,000 pa over the past year. They funded their purchases in different ways:

• Lev used $200,000 of his own money and borrowed $800,000 from the bank in the form of an interest-only loan with an interest rate of 5% pa.
• Nolev used $1,000,000 of his own money, he has no mortgage loan on his property.

Both Lev and Nolev also work in high-paying jobs and are subject personal marginal tax rates of 45%.

Which of the below statements about the past year is NOT correct?

(a) Lev’s annual interest expense would have been $40,000.

(b) Lev’s annual loss before tax on the investment property was $10,000

(c) Lev’s annual loss after tax on the investment property was $5,500

(d) Lev’s personal tax saving due to the investment property was $5,500.

(e) Nolev’s personal tax payable due to the investment property was $13,500.

Question 1046  leverage, capital structure

A levered firm has only 2 assets on its balance sheet with the below market values and CAPM betas. The risk free rate is 3% pa and the market risk premium is 5% pa. Assume that the CAPM is correct and all assets are fairly priced.

Balance Sheet Market Values and Betas
Balance sheet item	Market value ($m)	Beta
Cash asset	0.5	0
Truck assets	0.5	2
Loan liabilities	0.25	0.1
Equity funding	?	?

 

The firm then pays off (retires) all of its loan liabilities using its cash. Ignore interest tax shields.

Which of the following statements is NOT correct? All answers are given to 6 decimal places. This event led to a:

(a) $0.25m decrease in loans to zero and cash to $0.25m.

(b) Rise in the asset beta to 1.333333 and required return on assets (or WACC before tax) to 9.666667% pa.

(c) Rise in the equity beta to 2 and required return on equity to 13% pa.

(d) Fall in the debt-to-assets ratio to zero.

Question 591  short selling, future, option

After doing extensive fundamental analysis of a company, you believe that their shares are overpriced and will soon fall significantly. The market believes that there will be no such fall.

Which of the following strategies is NOT a good idea, assuming that your prediction is true?

(a) Sell any of the firm's shares that you already own.

(b) Short-sell the firm's shares.

(c) Sell futures written on the shares.

(d) Buy put options written on the shares.

(e) Buy call options written on the shares.

Question 675  option, option profit, no explanation

Which of the below formulas gives the profit ##(\pi)## from being long a call option? Let the underlying asset price at maturity be ##S_T##, the exercise price be ##X_T## and the option price be ##f_{LC,0}##. Note that ##S_T##, ##X_T## and ##f_{LC,0}## are all positive numbers.

(a) ##\pi_{LC}=max⁡(S_T-X_T,0) + f_{LC,0}##

(b) ##\pi_{LC}=max⁡(X_T-S_T,0) + f_{LC,0}##

(c) ##\pi_{LC}=-max⁡(S_T-X_T,0) + f_{LC,0}##

(d) ##\pi_{LC}=max⁡(X_T-S_T,0) - f_{LC,0}##

(e) ##\pi_{LC}=max(S_T-X_T,0) - f_{LC,0}##

Question 676  option, option profit, no explanation

Which of the below formulas gives the profit ##(\pi)## from being short a call option? Let the underlying asset price at maturity be ##S_T##, the exercise price be ##X_T## and the option price be ##f_{LC,0}##. Note that ##S_T##, ##X_T## and ##f_{LC,0}## are all positive numbers.

(a) ##\pi_{SC}=max⁡(S_T-X_T,0) + f_{LC,0}##

(b) ##\pi_{SC}=-max⁡(S_T-X_T,0) + f_{LC,0}##

(c) ##\pi_{SC}=max⁡(X_T-S_T,0) + f_{LC,0}##

(d) ##\pi_{SC}=-max⁡(S_T-X_T,0) - f_{LC,0}##

(e) ##\pi_{SC}=-max(X_T-S_T,0) - f_{LC,0}##

Question 687  option, no explanation

Which of the following statements about call options is NOT correct?

(a) Buyers of call options are required to pay an initial margin at the start.

(b) Call options are a zero-sum game in the sense that the winner gains at the expense of the loser.

(c) Buyers of call options have to pay the option price at the start.

(d) Buyers of call options do not care about the credit risk of the original call option seller since the contract is novated by the exchange.

(e) Speculators who sell call options hope that the underlying asset price falls.

Question 690  option

A trader just bought a European style put option on CBA stock. The current option premium is $2, the exercise price is $75, the option matures in one year and the spot CBA stock price is $74.

Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

(a) The long trader paid the option premium at the start.

(b) The option is 'out of the money' at the start.

(c) The long trader wishes for the underlying CBA stock price to fall.

(d) The option can only be exercised at maturity.

(e) If the stock price falls to $60 at maturity, then the long trader can buy the underlying stock for $60, exercise his option to sell the underlying stock to his counterparty for $75, making a payoff at maturity of $15 and a profit of $13.

Question 584  option, option payoff at maturity, option profit

Which of the following statements about European call options on non-dividend paying stocks is NOT correct?

(a) A long call option's payoff at maturity is equal to the maximum of zero or the underlying asset price at maturity minus the exercise price. ##f_\text{T,LC} = max(S_T - K, 0)##

(b) A long call option's profit is equal to the payoff at maturity less the initial option price. ##\pi_\text{LC} = max(S_T - K, 0) - c_0##

(c) The breakeven price is the underlying asset price at which a long option contract gives zero profit. When ##max(S_T - K, 0) - c_0 = 0##, then ##S_T = K+c_0##.

(d) A call option's break-even price is always more than its strike price.

(e) Call options should only be exercised at maturity if the underlying asset price is above the break-even price.

Question 271  CAPM, option, risk, systematic risk, systematic and idiosyncratic risk

All things remaining equal, according to the capital asset pricing model, if the systematic variance of an asset increases, its required return will increase and its price will decrease.
If the idiosyncratic variance of an asset increases, its price will be unchanged.

What is the relationship between the price of a call or put option and the total, systematic and idiosyncratic variance of the underlying asset that the option is based on? Select the most correct answer.

Call and put option prices increase when the:

(a) Systematic variance of the underlying asset increases.

(b) Idiosyncratic variance of the underlying asset increases.

(c) Systematic, idiosyncratic or total variance of the underlying asset increases.

(d) Systematic variance of the underlying asset decreases.

(e) Systematic, idiosyncratic or total variance of the underlying asset decreases.

Question 837  option, put call parity

Being long a call and short a put which have the same exercise prices and underlying stock is equivalent to being:

(a) Long a stock only.

(b) Long a stock and long a bond.

(c) Long a stock and short a bond.

(d) Short a stock and long a bond.

(e) Short a stock and short a bond.

Question 838  option, put call parity

A stock, a call, a put and a bond are available to trade. The call and put options' underlying asset is the stock they and have the same strike prices, ##K_T##.

Being long the call and short the stock is equivalent to being:

(a) Long the put only.

(b) Long the put and long the bond.

(c) Long the put and short the bond.

(d) Short the put and long the bond.

(e) Short the put and short the bond.

Question 839  option, put call parity

A stock, a call, a put and a bond are available to trade. The call and put options' underlying asset is the stock they and have the same strike prices, ##K_T##.

You are currently long the stock. You want to hedge your long stock position without actually trading the stock. How would you do this?

(a) Long call, long put and long bond.

(b) Long call, long put and short bond.

(c) Long call, short put and short bond.

(d) Short call, short put and short bond.

(e) Short call, long put and short bond.

Question 427  takeover

In a takeover deal where the offer is 100% cash, the merged firm's number of shares will be equal to the acquirer firm's original number of shares. or ?

Question 428  takeover

In a takeover deal where the offer is 100% scrip (shares), the merged firm's number of shares will be equal to the acquirer firm's original number of shares. or ?

Question 429  takeover

In a takeover deal where the offer is 100% scrip (shares), the merged firm's number of shares will be equal to the sum of the acquirer and target firms' original number of shares. or ?

Question 383  Merton model of corporate debt, real option, option

In the Merton model of corporate debt, buying a levered company's debt is equivalent to buying the company's assets and:

(a) Selling government bonds.

(b) Buying a call option on the company's assets.

(c) Buying a put option on the company's assets.

(d) Selling a call option on the company's assets.

(e) Selling a put option on the company's assets.

Question 389  real option, option

You're thinking of starting a new cafe business, but you're not sure if it will be profitable.

You have to decide what type of cups, mugs and glasses you wish to buy. You can pay to have your cafe's name printed on them, or just buy the plain un-marked ones. For marketing reasons it's better to have the cafe name printed. But the plain un-marked cups, mugs and glasses maximise your:

(a) Expansion option.

(b) Abandonment option.

(c) Timing (or delaying) option.

(d) Production (or switching) option.

(e) Underlying asset.

Question 396  real option, option

Your firm's research scientists can begin an exciting new project at a cost of $10m now, after which there’s a:

• 70% chance that cash flows will be $1m per year forever, starting in 5 years (t=5). This is the A state of the world.
• 20% chance that cash flows will be $3m per year forever, starting in 5 years (t=5). This is the B state of the world.
• 10% chance of a major break through in which case the cash flows will be $20m per year forever starting in 5 years (t=5), or instead, the project can be expanded by investing another $10m (at t=5) which is expected to give cash flows of $60m per year forever, starting at year 9 (t=9). Note that the perpetual cash flows are either the $20m from year 4 onwards, or the $60m from year 9 onwards after the additional $10m year 5 investment, but not both. This is the C state of the world.

The firm's cost of capital is 10% pa.

What's the present value (at t=0) of the option to expand in year 5?

(a) $12.54m

(b) $13.71m

(c) $20.98m

(d) $26.25m

(e) $27.37m

Question 833  option, delta, theta, standard deviation, no explanation

Which of the following statements about an option (either a call or put) and its underlying stock is NOT correct?

(a) The option’s expected future continuously compounded returns are always more than or equal to the underlying stock’s expected future continuously compounded returns.

(b) The option’s standard deviation of dollar price changes is always less than or equal to the underlying stock’s standard deviation of dollar price changes.

(c) The option’s standard deviation of continuously compounded returns are always less than or equal to the underlying stock’s standard deviation of continuously compounded returns.

(d) As time elapses and the maturity date of an option approaches, its price will fall, all other things remaining equal.

(e) If the underlying stock’s price rises by $0.01, the call option’s price will rise by less than $0.01 and the put option’s price will fall by less than $0.01.

Question 542  price gains and returns over time, IRR, NPV, income and capital returns, effective return

For an asset price to double every 10 years, what must be the expected future capital return, given as an effective annual rate?

(a) 0.2

(b) 0.116123

(c) 0.082037

(d) 0.071773

(e) 0.06054

Question 708  continuously compounding rate, continuously compounding rate conversion

Convert a 10% continuously compounded annual rate ##(r_\text{cc annual})## into an effective annual rate ##(r_\text{eff annual})##. The equivalent effective annual rate is:

(a) 230.258509% pa

(b) 10.536052% pa

(c) 10.517092% pa

(d) 10.468982% pa

(e) 9.531018% pa

Question 398  financial distress, capital raising, leverage, capital structure, NPV

A levered firm has zero-coupon bonds which mature in one year and have a combined face value of $9.9m.

Investors are risk-neutral and therefore all debt and equity holders demand the same required return of 10% pa.

In one year the firm's assets will be worth:

• $13.2m with probability 0.5 in the good state of the world, or
• $6.6m with probability 0.5 in the bad state of the world.

A new project presents itself which requires an investment of $2m and will provide a certain cash flow of $3.3m in one year.

The firm doesn't have any excess cash to make the initial $2m investment, but the funds can be raised from shareholders through a fairly priced rights issue. Ignore all transaction costs.

Should shareholders vote to proceed with the project and equity raising? What will be the gain in shareholder wealth if they decide to proceed?

(a) Yes, $3m

(b) Yes, $1.5m

(c) Yes, $1m

(d) No, -$0.5m

(e) No, -$1.5m

Question 864  option, binomial option pricing

A one year European-style put option has a strike price of $4. The option's underlying stock pays no dividends and currently trades at $5. The risk-free interest rate is 10% pa continuously compounded. Use a single step binomial tree to calculate the option price, assuming that the price could rise to $8 ##(u = 1.6)## or fall to $3.125 ##(d = 1/1.6)## in one year. The put option price now is:

(a) 0.401817831

(b) 0.430922619

(c) 0.444077381

(d) 0.490781407

(e) 0.861038209

Question 832  option, Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing

A 12 month European-style call option with a strike price of $11 is written on a dividend paying stock currently trading at $10. The dividend is paid annually and the next dividend is expected to be $0.40, paid in 9 months. The risk-free interest rate is 5% pa continuously compounded and the standard deviation of the stock’s continuously compounded returns is 30 percentage points pa. The stock's continuously compounded returns are normally distributed. Using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model, determine which of the following statements is NOT correct.

(a) ##d_1=-0.001033933##

(b) ##N[d_1]=0.447492432##

(c) ##d_2=-0.431999277 ##

(d) ##N[d_2]=0.332870969 ##

(e) ##c_0=0.81951217##

Question 866  option, Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing

A one year European-style put option has a strike price of $4.

The option's underlying stock currently trades at $5, pays no dividends and its standard deviation of continuously compounded returns is 47% pa.

The risk-free interest rate is 10% pa continuously compounded.

Use the Black-Scholes-Merton formula to calculate the option price. The put option price now is:

(a) $1.550849674

(b) $0.982509295

(c) $0.666414943

(d) $0.287263739

(e) $0.055037262

Question 422  takeover

Acquirer firm plans to launch a takeover of Target firm. The firms operate in different industries and the CEO's rationale for the merger is to increase diversification and thereby decrease risk. The deal is not expected to create any synergies. An 80% scrip and 20% cash offer will be made that pays the fair price for the target's shares. The cash will be paid out of the firms' cash holdings, no new debt or equity will be raised.

Firms Involved in the Takeover
	Acquirer	Target
Assets ($m)	6,000	700
Debt ($m)	4,800	400
Share price ($)	40	20
Number of shares (m)	30	15

Ignore transaction costs and fees. Assume that the firms' debt and equity are fairly priced, and that each firms' debts' risk, yield and values remain constant. The acquisition is planned to occur immediately, so ignore the time value of money.

Calculate the merged firm's share price and total number of shares after the takeover has been completed.

(a) $23.1111 share price and 45m shares on issue.

(b) $38.4 share price and 37.5m shares on issue.

(c) $40 share price and 31.5m shares on issue.

(d) $40 share price and 36m shares on issue.

(e) $44.4444 share price and 33.75m shares on issue.

Question 426  takeover

Acquirer firm plans to launch a takeover of Target firm. The deal is expected to create a present value of synergies totaling $0.5 million, but investment bank fees and integration costs with a present value of $1.5 million is expected. A 10% cash and 90% scrip offer will be made that pays the fair price for the target's shares only. Assume that the Target and Acquirer agree to the deal. The cash will be paid out of the firms' cash holdings, no new debt or equity will be raised.

Firms Involved in the Takeover
	Acquirer	Target
Assets ($m)	60	10
Debt ($m)	20	2
Share price ($)	10	8
Number of shares (m)	4	1

Assume that the firms' debt and equity are fairly priced, and that each firms' debts' risk, yield and values remain constant. The acquisition is planned to occur immediately, so ignore the time value of money.

Calculate the merged firm's share price and total number of shares after the takeover has been completed.

(a) $8.84 share price and 5m shares on issue.

(b) $9.4 share price and 5m shares on issue.

(c) $9.625 share price and 4.8m shares on issue.

(d) $9.75 share price and 4.738462m shares on issue.

(e) $9.8298 share price and 4.7m shares on issue.