Reading 2-I: Standards of Professional Conduct & Guidanc

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Q36. Robe Advisory Services operates an office in San Francisco, where it manages portfolios for its clients based in the United States. The firm also maintains an office in Tokyo, where it employs Sam Lee who researches Japanese stocks. According to the CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct, Lee is required to maintain knowledge of and comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations in:

A) both the U.S. and Japan, but not the CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct.

B) Japan, but not the U.S., and the CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct.

C) both the U.S. and Japan and the CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct.

Q37.Sometimes a CFA Institute member simply feels a law has been violated by his firm, and sometimes the member knows a law has been violated. Which of the following pairs of guidelines is CORRECT with respect to the first step a member should take in each case? The member should first contact:

A) the firm's counsel if he feels a law has been violated and contact his supervisor if he knows a law has been violated.

B) the firm's counsel if he feels a law has been violated and the SEC if he knows a law has been violated.

C) his supervisor in the firm if he feels a law has been violated and contact the firm's counsel if he knows a law has been violated.

Q38.Bob Blanford, CFA, is an investment analyst for a large global brokerage firm. He recently moved to Ragatan, a developing country with few securities laws and regulations. As part of conducting a company analysis, Blanford interviews Ravi Shanti, vice-president of finance at Starr Industries. Starr is a major industrial firm in Ragatan and a client at Blanford’s firm. Based on his analysis, Blanford suspects that Shanti may have deliberately overstated Starr’s current earnings and its earnings for the past several quarters. If this information becomes public, Blanford believes that Starr’s stock price will drop substantially. Blanford suspects that Shanti may have violated Ragatan’s securities laws. Which of the following statements is least likely to comply with Standard I, Professionalism? Blanford should:

A) take no action.

B) determine the legality of the activity, possibly by consulting counsel.

C) disassociate himself from the client, if the activity is illegal or unethical.

Q39.Shortly after becoming employed by Valco & Co., an investment banking firm, Stan McDowell, CFA, learns that most of Valco's initial public offerings (IPO) are really effected in order to profit management via price manipulation of the shares. McDowell observes an illegal act, sanctioned by senior management, in progress and refuses to sign off on his responsibility. Instead, McDowell takes the documentation to his supervisor and tells him he should sign it in his place. This action is:

A) a violation of the Code and Standards since he is required not to knowingly participate or assist in such an act.

B) an overreaction. Senior management's sanctioning of the act absolves McDowell from his ordinary responsibility as a CFA Institute member.

C) a suitable reaction, and he is in compliance with the Code and Standards.