Reading 2-VI: Standards of Professional Conduct & Guida

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Q1. A CFA Institute member makes a recommendation of a stock in which his firm has a material ownership. He does not know of the material ownership at the time of the recommendation. A day later, he learns of the material ownership and immediately sends out an addendum informing clients of that fact. With respect to Standard VI(A), Disclosure of Conflicts, and Standard V(A), Diligence and Reasonable Basis, this is:

A) a violation of both Standards.

B) a violation of Standard VI(A), only.

C) not a violation of either Standard.

Q2. Phil Trobb, CFA, is preparing a purchase recommendation on Aneas Lumber for his research firm. All of the following are potential conflicts of interest EXCEPT:

A) Trobb's research firm has a large stake of ownership in Aneas Lumber.

B) Trobb's cousin repairs machines for Aneas.

C) Aneas hires Trobb as a consultant to analyze Aneas' financial statements.

Q3. Ryan Brown, CFA, is an analyst with a large insurance company. His personal portfolio includes a significant investment in QRS common stock that his firm does not currently follow. The director of the research department asked Brown to analyze QRS and write a report about its investment potential. Based on CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct, Brown should:

A) disclose the ownership of the stock to his employer and in the report.

B) sell his shares of QRS before completing the report.

C) decline to write the report without specific approval of his supervisor.

Q4. Dwight Dawson, a CFA charterholder and portfolio manager at Ascott Investments, was recently appointed to the investments committee at Brightwood College. He will receive no compensation from Brightwood for serving on this committee. Another person at Ascott manages part of Brightwood’s endowment. Dawson does not inform Ascott’s compliance office of his involvement with Brightwood, because he does not believe doing so is necessary.

Brenda Hamilton, a CFA candidate, also works for Ascott as an investment analyst. Procedures established at Ascott prohibit personal trading in securities analyzed or recommended by Ascott. One of these securities is Horizon, a telecommunications firm. Hamilton buys 10 shares of Horizon for her infant son’s trust account. She believes that reporting this purchase to Ascott’s compliance officer is unnecessary because the amount of the transaction is small and is not for her own personal account.

Did Dawson or Hamilton’s actions violate CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct?

A) Dawson: Yes, Hamilton: Yes.

B) Dawson: No, Hamilton: No.

C) Dawson: No, Hamilton: Yes.

Q5. Will Lambert, CFA, is a financial analyst for Offshore Investments. He is preparing a purchase recommendation on Burch Corporation. According to CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct, which of the following statements about disclosure of conflicts is most correct? Lambert would have to disclose that:

A) he has a material beneficial ownership of Burch Corporation through a family trust.

B) his wife owns 2,000 shares of Burch Corporation.

C) both of these choices require disclosure.