Deck 1: Why Study Financial Markets and Institutions?

Question 1

Compared to interest rates on long-term U.S.government bonds,interest rates on ________ fluctuate more and are lower on average.

A) medium-quality corporate bonds
B) low-quality corporate bonds
C) high-quality corporate bonds
D) three-month Treasury bills
E) none of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The stock market is important because

A) it is where interest rates are determined.
B) it is the most widely followed financial market in the United States.
C) it is where foreign exchange rates are determined.
D) all of the above.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Stock prices since the 1980s have been

A) relatively stable, trending upward at a steady pace.
B) relatively stable, trending downward at a moderate rate.
C) extremely volatile.
D) unstable, trending downward at a moderate rate.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Changes in stock prices

A) affect people's wealth and their willingness to spend.
B) affect firms' decisions to sell stock to finance investment spending.
C) are characterized by considerable fluctuations.
D) all of the above.
E) only A and B of the above.

Question 5

The largest one-day drop in the history of the American stock markets occurred in

A) 1929.
B) 1987.
C) 2000.
D) 2001.

Question 6

From 1980 to early 1985 the dollar ________ in value,thereby benefiting American ________.

A) appreciated; businesses
B) appreciated; consumers
C) depreciated; businesses
D) depreciated; consumers

Question 7

(I)Debt markets are often referred to generically as the bond market.
(II)A bond is a security that is a claim on the earnings and assets of a corporation.

A) (I) is true, (II) false.
B) (I) is false, (II) true.
C) Both are true.
D) Both are false.

Question 8

A declining stock market index due to lower share prices

A) reduces people's wealth and as a result may reduce their willingness to spend.
B) increases people's wealth and as a result may increase their willingness to spend.
C) decreases the amount of funds that business firms can raise by selling newly issued stock.
D) both A and C of the above.
E) both B and C of the above.

Question 9

Markets in which funds are transferred from those who have excess funds available to those who have a shortage of available funds are called

A) commodity markets.
B) funds markets.
C) derivative exchange markets.
D) financial markets.

Question 10

Typically,increasing interest rates

A) discourages individuals from saving.
B) discourages corporate investments.
C) encourages corporate expansion.
D) encourages corporate borrowing.
E) none of the above.

Question 11

(I)A bond is a debt security that promises to make payments periodically for a specified period of time.
(II)A stock is a security that is a claim on the earnings and assets of a corporation.

A) (I) is true, (II) false.
B) (I) is false, (II) true.
C) Both are true.
D) Both are false.

Question 12

A stronger dollar benefits ________ and hurts ________.

A) American businesses; American consumers
B) American businesses; foreign businesses
C) American consumers; American businesses
D) foreign businesses; American consumers

Question 13

Interest rates are important to financial institutions since an interest rate increase ________ the cost of acquiring funds and ________ the income from assets.

A) decreases; decreases
B) increases; increases
C) decreases; increases
D) increases; decreases

Question 14

A weaker dollar benefits ________ and hurts ________.

A) American businesses; American consumers
B) American businesses; foreign consumers
C) American consumers; American businesses
D) foreign businesses; American consumers

Question 15

The price paid for the rental of borrowed funds (usually expressed as a percentage of the rental of $100 per year)is commonly referred to as the

A) inflation rate.
B) exchange rate.
C) interest rate.
D) aggregate price level.

Question 16

The price of one country's currency in terms of another's is called

A) the foreign exchange rate.
B) the interest rate.
C) the Dow Jones industrial average.
D) none of the above.

Question 17

Compared to interest rates on long-term U.S.government bonds,interest rates on three-month Treasury bills fluctuate ________ and are ________ on average.

A) more; lower
B) less; lower
C) more; higher
D) less; higher

Question 18

Financial markets and institutions

A) involve the movement of huge quantities of money.
B) affect the profits of businesses.
C) affect the types of goods and services produced in an economy.
D) do all of the above.
E) do only A and B of the above.

Question 19

The bond markets are important because

A) they are easily the most widely followed financial markets in the United States.
B) they are the markets where interest rates are determined.
C) they are the markets where foreign exchange rates are determined.
D) all of the above.

Question 20

Financial market activities affect

A) personal wealth.
B) spending decisions by individuals and business firms.
C) the economy's location in the business cycle.
D) all of the above.

Question 21

A security

A) is a claim or price of property that is subject to ownership.
B) promises that payments will be made periodically for a specified period of time.
C) is the price paid for the usage of funds.
D) is a claim on the issuers future income.

Question 22

In general,from 2001 through 2013,the dollar ________ in value relative to major foreign currencies.

A) appreciated
B) depreciated
C) remained about the same

Question 23

The organization responsible for the conduct of monetary policy in the United States is the

A) Comptroller of the Currency.
B) U.S. Treasury.
C) Federal Reserve System.
D) Bureau of Monetary Affairs.

Question 24

In recent years

A) interest rates have remained constant.
B) the success of financial institutions has reached levels unprecedented since the Great Depression.
C) stock markets have crashed.
D) all of the above.

Question 25

(I)Banks are financial intermediaries that accept deposits and make loans.
(II)The term "banks" includes firms such as commercial banks,savings and loan associations,mutual savings banks,credit unions,insurance companies,and pension funds.

A) (I) is true, (II) false.
B) (I) is false, (II) true.
C) Both are true.
D) Both are false.

Question 26

Monetary policy is chiefly concerned with

A) how much money businesses earn.
B) the level of interest rates and the nation's money supply.
C) how much money people pay in taxes.
D) whether people have saved enough money for retirement.

Question 27

Money is anything accepted by anyone as payment for services or goods.

Question 28

________ was the stock market's worst one-day drop in history in the 1980s.

A) Black Friday
B) Black Monday
C) Blackout Day
D) none of the above

Question 29

________ are an example of a financial institution.

A) Banks
B) Insurance companies
C) Finance companies
D) All of the above

Question 30

Banks are important to the study of money and the economy because they

A) provide a channel for linking those who want to save with those who want to invest.
B) have been a source of financial innovation that is expanding the alternatives available to those wanting to invest their money.
C) are the only financial institution to play a role in determining the quantity of money in the economy.
D) do all of the above.
E) do only A and B of the above.

Question 31

A rising stock market index due to higher share prices

A) increases people's wealth and as a result may increase their willingness to spend.
B) increases the amount of funds that business firms can raise by selling newly issued stock.
C) decreases the amount of funds that business firms can raise by selling newly issued stock.
D) both A and B of the above.

Question 32

Economists group commercial banks,savings and loan associations,credit unions,mutual funds,mutual savings banks,insurance companies,pension funds,and finance companies together under the heading financial intermediaries.Financial intermediaries

A) act as middlemen, borrowing funds from those who have saved and lending these funds to others.
B) produce nothing of value and are therefore a drain on society's resources.
C) help promote a more efficient and dynamic economy.
D) do all of the above.
E) do only A and C of the above.

Question 33

From the peak of the high-tech bubble in 2000,the stock market ________ by over ________ by late 2002.

A) collapsed; 75%
B) rose; 35%
C) collapsed; 30%
D) rose; 50%

Question 34

Economists group commercial banks,savings and loan associations,credit unions,mutual funds,mutual savings banks,insurance companies,pension funds,and finance companies together under the heading financial intermediaries.Financial intermediaries

A) act as middlemen, borrowing funds from those who have saved and lending these funds to others.
B) play an important role in determining the quantity of money in the economy.
C) help promote a more efficient and dynamic economy.
D) do all of the above.
E) do only A and C of the above.

Question 35

The central bank of the United States is

A) Citicorp.
B) The Fed.
C) Bank of America.
D) The Treasury.
E) none of the above.

Question 36

Monetary policy affects

A) interest rates.
B) inflation.
C) business cycles.
D) all of the above.

Question 37

Banks,savings and loan associations,mutual savings banks,and credit unions

A) are no longer important players in financial intermediation.
B) have been providing services only to small depositors since deregulation.
C) have been adept at innovating in response to changes in the regulatory environment.
D) all of the above.
E) only A and C of the above.

Question 38

The Dow fell below 7,000 in 2009,only to start a bull market run,reaching new highs above ________ in 2013.

A) 12,000
B) 10,000
C) 15,000
D) 19,000

Question 39

The largest financial intermediaries are

A) insurance companies.
B) finance companies.
C) banks.
D) all of the above.

Question 40

Money is defined as

A) anything that is generally accepted in payment for goods and services or in the repayment of debt.
B) bills of exchange.
C) a riskless repository of spending power.
D) all of the above.
E) only A and B of the above.

Question 41

Financial markets are what makes financial institutions work.

Question 42

Holding everything else constant,as the dollar strengthens foreigners will buy more U.S.exports.

Question 43

Although the internet has changed many aspects of our lives,it hasn't proven very useful for collecting and/or analyzing financial and economic data.

Question 44

A financial intermediary borrows funds from people who have saved.

Question 45

How does the value of the dollar affect the competitiveness of American businesses?

Question 46

A stock is a debt security that promises to make periodic payments for a specific period of time.

Question 47

Have interest rates been more or less volatile in recent years? Why?

Question 48

Interest rates can be accurately described as the rental price of money.

Question 49

In a bull market stock prices are rising,on average.

Question 50

Why should consumers be concerned with movements in foreign exchange rates?

Question 51

The government organization responsible for the conduct of monetary policy in the United States is the U.S.Treasury.

Question 52

Financial innovation has provided more options to both investors and borrowers.

Question 53

Interest rates are determined in the bond markets.

Question 54

What is monetary policy and who is responsible for its implementation?

Question 55

In recent years,financial markets have become more stable and less risky.

Question 56

In recent years,financial markets have become more risky. However,only a limited number of tools (such as derivatives)are available to assist in managing this risk.

Question 57

Monetary policy affects interest rates but has little effect on inflation or business cycles.

Question 58

Holding everything else constant,as the dollar weakens vacations abroad become less attractive.

Question 59

Financial institutions are among the largest employers in the country and frequently pay very high salaries.

Question 60

Different interest rates have a tendency to move in unison.

Question 61

If you are planning a vacation to Europe,do you prefer a strong dollar or weak dollar relative to the euro? Why?

Question 62

Why is the stock market so important to individuals,firms,and the economy?

Question 63

What is money?

Question 64

What are financial intermediaries and what do they do?

Question 65

How has the stock market performed since 2000?

Question 66

How does a bond differ from a stock?

Question 67

What is the central bank and what does it do?