Markets FAQs
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How do interest rate changes implemented by the Fed affect the stock market?
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What is a blank-check company?
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What does it mean to have "dry powder"?
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Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which of the following are exempt from registration as investment advisers under normal circumstances?
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I'm a teacher. Which is better for me, a 401(k) or 403(b)? What is the difference? From whom do I get these plans?
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How are the interest charges calculated on my margin account?
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I know there is a form of deposit insurance where a portion of my bank account deposits is protected. Is there anything like this for my investments?
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I've heard some "market gurus" claim returns of up to 400% annually. Is this possible?
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What does it mean to use technical divergence in trading?
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Does the party loaning shares in a short sale transaction benefit in any way other than from the interest earned on the loan?
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Short selling vs. purchasing a put option: how do the payoffs differ?
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Can I make money using put options when prices are going up?
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How is spread calculated when trading in the forex market?
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If a country's currency is determined by the strength of its economy, why isn't the U.S. dollar worth more than the British pound?
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How do companies benefit from interest rate and currency swaps?
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In M&A how does an all-stock or all-cash deal affect the equity of the buying company?
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What does it mean when a bond has a put option?
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Can investors short sell pink sheet or over-the-counter stocks?
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Can I roll my 403(b) and 457 into other low-cost venders when I change jobs?
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Do I have to complete all exams within a certain period of time to receive the CFA charter?
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I hold a professional degree. Am I eligible to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP)certification examination?
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I have a CFA designation. Do I qualify for any exemptions from FINRA licensing exams?
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How can I find out if my employer is a member of FINRA?
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What is the best method of analysis for forex trading?
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What do people mean when they say there is a "bubble" going on in the market, such as a "housing bubble" or a "technology bubble"?
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Why was Microsoft subject to antitrust charges in 1998?
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What is an echo bubble?
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What kinds of investments are allowed in a qualified retirement plan, and what kinds are forbidden?
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What does it mean when a stock symbol has a .PK after it?
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My broker just sold securities out of my account without my permission. Is this legal?
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What is the difference between a buy-side analyst and a sell-side analyst?
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What's the difference between a straddle and a strangle?
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What investments are available to someone with no earned income?
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I make over $100,000/yr and my adjusted gross income precludes standard IRA contributions. My contributions to my 401(k) plan at work are limited to about $7,000/yr. It seems I'm being penalized for my income. Are there other retirement savings options av
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What is the difference between a merger and a takeover?
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Do stop or limit orders protect you against gaps in a stock's price?
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What are the disadvantages of using net present value as an investment criterion?
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What are the steps to get a company listed on the OTCBB?
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How do central banks acquire currency reserves and how much are they required to hold?
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What is the best time of the day to trade?
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What should I use as a benchmark for my small-cap stock portfolio?
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If a company undergoes an acquisition can an employee withdraw 401(k) funds tax free?
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How do I become a CFA charterholder?
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I failed the Series 6 exam. How long must I wait before I can re-take it?
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What careers are popular among CFA charterholders?
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Does FINRA make any allowances for people whose first language is not English?
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How do central banks inject money into the economy?
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Is scalping a viable forex trading strategy?
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What causes a recession?
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Who is Mr. Copper?
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How does pyramiding work?
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Where can I find a company's annual report and its SEC filings?
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What is late-day trading? Why is it any different from buying and selling stocks in the after-hours market?
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What is arbitrage?
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Do hedge funds and mutual funds invest in commodities in high inflation environments?
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What is the weighted average of outstanding shares? How is it calculated?
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If an IRA owner dies after starting required minimum distributions (RMD) but the spouse is under 70.5, can the spouse roll over the IRA into his/her own IRA, and stop RMDs until age 70.5?
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My brokerage firm won't allow naked option positions. What does this mean?
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How are foreign exchange rates affected by commodity price fluctuations?
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How can I find out which stocks also trade as options?
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Can an option be exercised on the expiration date?
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Why is the U.S. stock market doing well despite the recent U.S. economic downturn?
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What is relative strength?
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What is options backdating?
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How many attempts at the Series 7 exam are permitted?
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How can unethical executives use options backdating to evade taxes?
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Is it possible to take the Series 6 exam without being sponsored?
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Can I obtain my CFA charter without U.S. work experience?
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Do I need to be a U.S. resident to take the Series 63 exam as an individual?
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How does a credit crunch occur?
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What types of accounts are available for forex trading?
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How are stock warrants different from stock options?
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What is a gatekeeper?
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What is the relationship between the PPI and the CPI?
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How does FINRA differ from the SEC?
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I own options on a stock, and it's just announced a split. What happens to my options?
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When must a company announce earnings?
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Which option is better on a mutual fund: a growth option or a dividend reinvestment option?
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What are the minimum margin requirements for a short sale account?
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How can I hedge against rising diesel prices?
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What do the "BxA" numbers on my brokerage's trading screen mean?
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I am in the second year of taking SEPP distributions from my IRA. Can I transfer some of the funds to a new IRA with different investment options?
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What does it mean when the shares in my account have been liquidated?
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What does the diluted share price reveal about a company's financial strength?
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What am I buying and selling in the forex market?
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Can I trade a currency when its main market is closed?
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Is an earnings surprise priced into the opening value by market makers or does the buyer/seller response drive the price?
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Do I need to take the Series 6 examination after I have already successfully completed the Series 7?
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What are the most common currency pairs traded in the forex market?
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Do I need to be sponsored or employed by a member firm in order to write the Series 66 exam?
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I have already obtained my Series 7; however, I am no longer working for a member firm. How do I prevent my license from expiring?
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If my employment with my current firm terminates relatively soon, do I have two years before my FINRA exams expire no matter how long I was with the last member firm?
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How can I withdraw from my CFA Level 1 exam?
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What are managed futures?
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What is a Bermuda swaption?
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What does negative shareholder equity on a balance sheet mean?
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How do I use a "basket" option?
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What happens to the stock prices of two companies involved in an acquisition?
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Are long-term U.S. government bonds risk-free?
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I'm about to retire. If I pay off my mortgage with after-tax money I have saved, I can save 6.5%. Should I do this?
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