Monday quiz

Kickstart the week with a quick test of your investment knowledge--this week's focus is on funds

Holly Cook | 13-07-09 | E-mail Article

1. Which of the following is true of a passive fund management strategy?
a) Tracking a benchmark, having determined the acceptable level of risk

b) Tracking a benchmark, before determining the acceptable level of risk

c) Outperforming a benchmark, after determining the acceptable level of risk

d) Attempting to out-perform a benchmark

2. When there is an increase in the number of assets in a portfolio, total risk is reduced due to the:
a) Increase in unsystematic risk

b) Increase in systematic risk

c) Decrease in unsystematic risk

d) Decrease in systematic risk

3. Returns are usually calculated as:
a) Change in price divided by the end price of the security

b) Change in price plus dividends (and dividends re-invested) divided by the end price of the security

c) Change in price plus dividends (and dividends re-invested) divided by the start price of the security

d) Dividends divided by price plus change in price of the security

4. Before the objectives of a fund can be set, which of the following does not need to be known?

a) The client's preference for risk and return

b) The client's future liabilities

c) The client's tax position

d) All potential stocks that will outperform the portfolio

5. Which of the following are key issues facing a tracker fund manager?
i. Market timing

ii. Method of index replication

iii. Frequency of portfolio rebalancing

a) i only

b) i and ii

c) ii and iii

d) i and iii

Answers
1. a) A passive fund attempts to replicate the return of a specified index, e.g. the FTSE 100.

2. c) Unsystematic risk (also known as inherent/specific risk) is reduced by diversification. Note: Systematic risk (market/business risk) cannot be diversified away.

3. c) Returns on are usually calculated using TOTAL returns, i.e. dividends + capital gains.

4. d) The first three choices would all be part of the 'fact find' the firm would perform on the customer under the Fitness and Properness Principle of Information About Customers.

5. c) Market timing forms part of an active strategy and is therefore not of relevance to a tracker fund manager.

Check out our Morningstar Glossary for more definitions and explanations.

Holly Cook is Site Editor of Morningstar.co.uk and Hemscott.com. She would like to hear from you but cannot give financial advice. You can contact the author via this feedback form.
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