Pass the PRMIA PRM Certification 8013 Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

The efficient frontier is plotted on a graph with portfolio return (mean) as the y-axis and portfolio volatility, or standard deviation, on the x-axis. For a given level of volatility, it identifies the portfolio with the maximum return. Therefore Choice 'b' is the correct answer.

If a reading is taken from the y-axis (ie returns) by dropping a perpendicular line on to the efficient frontier, we can get the minimum risk portfolio for the given level of returns. So the efficient frontier can be used to identify either the highest return per unit of volatility, or the lowest volatility given a desired level of returns. The efficient frontier does not describe the market portfolio, though the market portfolio may be one of the many points on the efficient frontier. Thus the other choices are incorrect.

The lowest achievable standard deviation will be lowest when the assets are perfectly negatively correlated, ie when correlation = -1. In the case of the above choices, the lowest correlation is -0.33, which is the correct choice.

Given a choice, decision makers will maximize expected utility. The four basic axioms on which the principle of maximizing expected utility is based are:

- Transitivity of choice,

- Continuity of choice,

- Independence of choice, and

- Stochastic dominance.

Statement I is correct - since forward prices are determined as (Spot - PV of dividends)*e^(rt), an increase in dividends will reduce forward prices.

Statement II is incorrect as forward prices will be determined by near term interest rates, specifically by the borrowing rate for the period of the contract, and will stay unchanged if near term interest rates do not change.

Statement III is incorrect. Futures exchanges require both buyers and sellers to deposit initial margins as prices can move adversely for either of them.

Statement IV is incorrect, as the margin deposited when a contract is entered into is called initial margin. Margin calls thereafter resulting from movements in prices are called variation margin.

Statement V is incorrect. Most futures exchanges distinguish between hedgers and speculators and require different margins from each.

Statement VI is incorrect. Interest rate futures behave almost identically to their bond counterparts, and carry both duration and convexity.

The underlying asset in a treasury bond futures contract is any long term US Treasury bond with a maturity of more than 15 years and not callable within 15 years. The underlying asset in a Treasury note futures contract is any long term Treasury note with a maturity of no less than 6.5 years and no more than 10 years.

Note the difference between what the underlying asset is for treasury bond futures and treasury note futures. In either case, adjustments will be made for the coupon and maturity of the actual bond delivered (the concept of the adjustment of 'cheapest-to-deliver').

This is a trick question, no great science to it. Remember that the 'present value of a basis point' refers to PV01, which is the same as BPV (basis point value) referred to in the PRMIA handbook. In other textbooks, the same term is also variously called 'DV01' (dollar value of a basis point). Remember these other terms too.

PV01, or the present value of a basis point, is the change in the value of a bond (or other fixed income security) from a 1 basis point change in the yield. PV01 is calculated as (Price * Modified Duration/10,000).

Professional management that acts as the agent of the shareholders is not likely to protect debt holders from a transfer of wealth to the shareholders. All other mechanisms listed are intended to offset the agency cost for debt holders, ie the expected cost that shareholders and management will transfer wealth away to the detriment of the debt holders.

The objective of decisions relations to capital structure is to maximize the value to shareholders. The management of the company is entrusted with the job of maximizing shareholder value, and this objective is generally achieved by attempting to maximize enterprise value. Enterprise value includes the value of both debt and equity, and since debt has a fixed claim on the assets of the business, maximizing enterprise value also maximizes the value of equity.

Short calls and short puts have negative gamma, ie their delta increases at a decreasing rate as the price of the underlying change. Likewise, remember that long calls and long puts have positive gamma.

Standard deviation of this portfolio can be calculated as SQRT(4000^2*20%^2 + 6000^2*25%^2 + 2*0.6*4000*6000*20%*25%), which is equal to $2,081. Choice 'a' is the correct answer. The other answers are incorrect.