Finance Questions

1. Too-big to fail: [Read the article by Senator Kaufman "Three years later, Dodd-Frank is a failure: Column", USA Today] A. Kaufman argues that Dodd -Frank is failure because it does not effectively eliminate "Too-big to fail" Do you agree? B. What institutions are too big to fail? Why are such institutions allowed to exist and operate in the world? C. What should regulators do about these institutions when they have excessive losses? D. Looking forward, what meaningful regulations would you enact to break-up their operation, and prevent causing world- wide contagion? 2. Identify and explain the Monetary Equation? What are its economic implications? What causes Inflation? What is the relationship of Inflation to Money Supply? Based on the theory, critically examine Quantitative Easing 1,2 and in United States and explain the rationale for and its potential impact on the economy? 3. Your Bank has stated that pays 3% Interest, annually compounded, for year certificate of deposit. You have decided to invest $10,000 for 7 years. If the average rate of Inflation during the years is 2.5% per year during the years, and you anticipate being in the 20% tax bracket for the first years, and 40% for the next years, what is your Real, After Tax return? Should you make the Deposit? 4. Stress testing of banks and capital injection has been adopted in the United States, and is being currently implemented by the European Banks. A. What is Stress Testing and how is implemented? B. What are the advantages and limitations of Stress Testing? C. Explain in your own words how reliable are these tests for ensuring banking stability and preventing contagion? D. What additional steps would you recommend to regulators to ensure stability and prevent bank failures? 5. Problem: State Bank's balance sheet is listed below Market yields and durations (in years) are in parenthesis, and amounts are in millions. Calculate Assets Liabilities Equity Cash $20 Demand Deposits $250 Fed Funds (5.05% 0.02) 150 MMDAs (4.5% 0.50y T-bills (5.25%, 0.22) 300 (no minimum balance requirement) 360 T-bonds (7.50%, 7.55) 200 CDs (4.3% 0.48) 715 Consumer loans (6% 2.50) 900 CDs(6%,4.45) 1,105 C&lloans 5.8% 6.58) 475 Fed Fund (5% 0.02) 515 Fixed-rate morigages 7.85 19.50) 1200 Commercial paper (5.05% 0.45) 400 Variable mortgages, Subordinated debt repriced @ quarter(6.3% 0.25) 580 Fixed-rate 7.25% 6.65) 200 Premises dequipment 120 Total Liabilities $3,545 Equity 400 Total assets $3,945 Total Liabilies and equity $3,945 What is State's Bank's duration gap? b. Use these duration values to calculate the expected changed in the value of the assets and liabilities of State Bank for the predicted increase of 2.5 percent in interest rates What is the change in equity value forecasted from the duration values for the predicted increase in interest rates of 2.5 percent? 6. Discuss the impact of High speed, and Algorithmic trading on financial markets? Identify any discuss two specific strategies and explain how it works. Given the potential for FLASH CRASH should we ban Algorithmic High speed trading in Securities? Yes or No. If you answer yes, what are the implications of your answer for markets, traders and participants? If you answer No. how do we deal with future Flash Crashes?