Question of the Week

The broadest measure of the activity and movement of the overall stock market can be measured by using which of the following indexes?

a) Lehman Aggregate Bond Index
b) Wilshire 5000
c) Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)
d) S&P 500

Answer: The correct answer is b).

The Wilshire 5000 is a value weighted index that consists of more than 7,000 issues that trade on the NYSE, AMEX and in the OTC market. It is considered to be the broadest measure of the activity and movement of the overall stock market. The DJIA consists of 30 industrial stocks and is the most widely used index, but it is the narrowest measure of the market. The S&P 500 measures the largest issues that trade on the NYSE. The Lehman Aggregate Bond Index tracks the performance of more than 5,000 different types of bonds.


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Professionals FAQs
  1.

    Where can I look for a financial planner?

    References from trusted friends or family members can help you find a financial planner; however, keep in mind that your friends' financial situations and goals may differ from yours and, therefore, their planners won't necessarily be the best fit for you.The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards certifies financial planners and maintains an online list of certified financial planners on its CFP Board of Standards website.
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    If I am looking to get an Investment Banking job. What education do employers prefer? MBA or CFA?

    If you are looking specifically for an investment banking position, an MBA may be marginally preferable over the CFA. The caveat here is that the MBA would most probably need to be from a Top-20 B-School.The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is well worth considering if you (a) are aiming for an entry-level position in investment banking, and/or (b) cannot afford to shell out six figures for an MBA or have to settle for a lesser-known B-school.That's because in the investment banking field, most entry-level positions are at the analyst level.
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    Can I still pass the CFA Level I if I do poorly in the ethics section?

    You may still pass the Chartered Financial Analysis (CFA) Level I even if you fare poorly in the ethics section, but don't count on it. The CFA Institute has long emphasized that ethics is a particular area of focus for it. The seriousness with which the CFA Institute views ethics is evident from the fact that for exam candidates with borderline total scores, performance on the ethics section can mean the difference between passing and failing the exam.
  4.

    Under the USA, registration as an IAR includes all of the following EXCEPT:

    Under the USA, registration as an IAR includes all of the following EXCEPT: A. Minimum net capitalB. Passing a qualification examC. Filing a consent to service of processD. Posting a surety bond The correct answer is "A", since only an IA would need to prove minimum net capital requirements.