英国雷丁大学 金融硕士 考试卷

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Candidates are admitted to the examination room ten minutes before the start of the examination. On admission to the examination room, you are permitted to acquaint yourself with the instructions below and to read the question paper.

Do not write anything until the invigilator informs you that you may start the examination. You will be given five minutes at the end of the examination to complete the front of any answer books used.

May/June 2010 ECM82 2009/10 A 001

Non-programmable calculators are permitted Programmable calculators without an alpha keypad are permitted Dictionaries are not permitted

THE UNIVERSITY OF READING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS & INSTITUTIONS (ECM82) Two hours Answer ALL questions in Section A (worth a total of 75 marks), answer ONE question from Section B (worth a total of 25 marks) ECM82 2009/10 A 001

Page 2 SECTION A Answer the following three (3) questions. Your answers should include brief, concise, and to-the-point explanations. All graphs must be clearly labelled. Make sure you read the entire question before answering individual parts.

1. Financial System Basics (25 marks total) (a) List and explain the core functions of financial markets. Provide a real world example of each. (12 marks)

(b) Recently, many financial markets have experienced considerable volatility. Briefly explain the factors which influence the demand and supply for financial assets. (6 marks)

(c) Another concern lately has been the anticipated increase of inflation. Explain and graphically illustrate the impact of a rise in inflation on the bond market. (7 marks)

2. Banking (25 marks total) (a) List and briefly differentiate the four major types of banks which comprise the banking sector. One key aspect of banking is the creation of credit. List the key factors on which credit creation depends. (6 marks)

(b) Briefly describe, and illustrate, the theory behind how a central bank can contract a country’s GDP. How is this related to the credit creation process? (10 marks)

(c) List the similarities and differences between investment and wholesale banking. List the major activities undertaken by investment banks and describe one in detail. (9 marks) ECM82 2009/10 A 001 Turn over

Page 3 3. Foreign Exchange Markets (25 marks total) (a) Define exchange rates. How are exchange rates related to cross rates? What is netting and how is it accomplished in the real world today? (8 marks)

(b) What is the relationship between PPP and the law of one price? If the real exchange rate between the UK and the US is 2, what does this imply about PPP? What is the relationship between the interest parity condition and purchasing power parity? (7 marks)

(c) Suppose that both US and UK inflation rates are falling, with the US rate falling twice as fast as the UK rate. Briefly describe the impact of these falling rates on the exchange rate. Illustrate your answer graphically. (10 marks) ECM82 2009/10 A 001

Page 4 SECTION B Answer ONE of the following short-answer questions. Your answers should include brief, concise, and to-the-point explanations. All graphs must be clearly labelled. Make sure you read the entire question before answering individual parts.

4. Money and Bond Markets (25 marks total) (a) Briefly describe the basic characteristics which define domestic money markets. List the three primary markets which combine to make up the domestic money market. (7 marks)

(b) List the major types of bonds sold on domestic bond markets. Compare and contrast domestic and international bond markets. (10 marks)

(c) Define Euromarkets and Eurobonds. Briefly describe medium term notes (MTNs). What differentiates them from typical Eurobonds? (8 marks)

5. Private Equity and Hedge Funds (25 marks total) (a) List the major strategies used by hedge funds. What differentiates these strategies from each other? (7 marks)

(b) Briefly explain the differences between hedge funds and mutual funds. What is the role of leverage and short selling relative to a standard hedge fund’s goals? (10 marks)

(c) Compare and contrast the use of leverage by hedge funds to the use of leverage by private equity. Explain the primary concern regarding the convergence of hedge funds and private equity. (8 marks)

[End of question paper]