Important Interest Rates Quiz
29 Questions
2 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary market responsible for?

  • Providing loans to private firms
  • Offering new securities to the public (correct)
  • Trading previously issued securities
  • Facilitating mergers and acquisitions
  • What does venture capital primarily target?

  • High-growth, early-stage privately held firms (correct)
  • Low-risk, government bonds
  • Mature, stable investment opportunities
  • Established public companies
  • Which investment strategy focuses on replicating a market index?

  • Active management
  • Technical analysis
  • Passive management (correct)
  • Fundamental analysis
  • What distinguishes private equity from venture capital?

    <p>Private equity targets high-growth, established firms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of an initial public offering (IPO)?

    <p>To sell shares to the public for the first time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Fed Funds Rate primarily used for?

    <p>Interest rate for overnight lending among banks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements correctly describes LIBOR?

    <p>A lending rate among banks in the London Market</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'basis point' refer to?

    <p>One-hundredth of a percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does securitization benefit lenders?

    <p>It provides cash by converting loans into tradable securities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO)?

    <p>A security backed by a collection of loans sold by lenders</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary asset backing a Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS)?

    <p>Mortgages or collections of mortgages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does securitization play in financial markets?

    <p>It increases asset liquidity by converting them into securities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic distinguishes a CDO from other financial securities?

    <p>It is a derivative security affected by the price of other assets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the different risk classes called that the SPV uses to categorize loans?

    <p>Tranches</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tranche typically receives the highest credit rating?

    <p>Senior tranche</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do credit rating agencies play in the securitization process?

    <p>They assess the creditworthiness of each tranche.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the responsibility of the servicer in the cash flow distribution process?

    <p>To collect cashflows from payments of borrowers and distribute it to the investors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which financial intermediaries facilitate the movement of funds between savers and borrowers?

    <p>Banks and investment companies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one technique used by SPVs to enhance the attractiveness of securities?

    <p>Credit enhancement techniques</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When cash flows are distributed, which tranche receives payment first?

    <p>Senior tranche</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of investment companies?

    <p>To manage funds for investors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of a Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS)?

    <p>To allow investors to profit from the mortgage market</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a Credit Default Swap (CDS)?

    <p>A credit derivative that provides protection against default risks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a systemic risk?

    <p>The risk associated with the failure of an entire economic system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in the securitization process?

    <p>Asset origination with loans issued to borrowers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) play in securitization?

    <p>It holds the assets in case the lender goes bankrupt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might lenders create asset pools during securitization?

    <p>To select loans with similar characteristics for efficiency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens after the lender transfers assets to the SPV?

    <p>The SPV pays the lender for the assets and issues securities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key benefit of investing in asset-backed securities like MBS?

    <p>They enable investment in mortgages without direct involvement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Important Interest Rates

    • Fed Funds Rate: Overnight lending rate charged by depository institutions in the US for uncollateralized capital loans.
    • LIBOR: Lending rate among banks in London, serving as a benchmark for short-term interest rates for securities like swaps or mortgages.
    • Basis Point (bp): Measurement unit equal to one-hundredth of a percent; e.g., 10bp equals 0.10%.

    Securitization

    • Involves pooling various debt instruments into standardized securities to convert future cash flows into immediate cash.
    • Facilitates lenders in offloading debt and risk from their balance sheets while generating liquidity.
    • Results in creation of tradable securities backed by revenue-generating assets.

    CDO and MBS

    • Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDO): Investment product representing a bundle of loans, allowing holders to collect amounts from original borrowers.
    • Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS): Debt security backed by mortgages, allowing investors to profit from the mortgage sector without direct involvement in home loans.

    Credit Default Swap (CDS)

    • Type of credit derivative offering protection against default; buyers make periodic payments to sellers.
    • Sellers agree to compensate buyers for premiums and interest if the debt issuer defaults.
    • Systemic Risk: Risk tied to widespread failures in the financial system, affecting capital providers' trust in institutions.

    Securitization Process Steps

    • Asset Origination: Lenders issue loans to borrowers.
    • Asset Pooling: Lenders create a pool of loans with similar characteristics.
    • Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): Separate legal entity established to isolate loan assets from lender's balance sheet risks.
    • Tranching: SPV divides loans into different risk classes, categorized as senior, mezzanine, and junior.

    Further Securitization Steps

    • Credit Enhancement: Techniques used to improve the attractiveness of securities to investors.
    • Rating: Credit agencies assess and rate each tranche based on risk.
    • Marketing and Sale: Securities marketed and sold to investors via investment banks.
    • Cash Flow Distribution: Payments from borrowers are distributed to investors, prioritizing senior tranches.
    • Monitoring: Servicer oversees loan performance, providing regular reports to investors.

    Financial Intermediaries

    • Institutions bridging the gap between savers and borrowers, including banks, pension funds, and investment banks.
    • Investment Companies: Manage funds for investors, e.g., mutual funds and hedge funds.
    • Investment Bankers: Specialize in underwriter roles for new securities issuance.

    Market Definitions

    • Primary Market: Where new securities are initially offered, such as during an IPO.
    • Secondary Market: Previously issued securities are traded among investors.
    • Initial Public Offering (IPO): First sale of company shares to the public.

    Investment Management Strategies

    • Passive Management: Strategy focused on replicating market index performance without active trading.
    • Active Management: Strategy aimed at outperforming market indices through targeted investment decisions.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Description

    Test your knowledge on crucial interest rates like the Fed Funds Rate and LIBOR. This quiz covers the definition, significance, and impact of these rates on various financial markets. Perfect for finance students or anyone looking to deepen their understanding of interest rates.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser