Reading 2-V: Standards of Professional Conduct & Guida

companies, research, member, report, black

Q7. Janet Coleman, a CFA Institute member, is an analyst at a regional brokerage firm. She is preparing a research report on Standard Power and Light. Due to deregulation, utility companies face increased competition. During the past year, three of the five utility companies in her region have cut their dividends by 50%, on average, to provide more internal funds for investment purposes. In a discussion with Standard's chief executive officer, Coleman learned that Standard expects to have a record amount of capital expenditures during the next year. Although Standard subsequently issued a press release about its capital expenditure plans, it did not make any public statements about a change in dividend policy. Coleman reasons that the management of Standard will be under pressure to cut its dividends within the next year to remain competitive. Coleman issues a research report in which she states:

"We expect Standard Power and Light will experience an initial decrease of $3 a share in its stock price when it cuts its dividend from $2 to $1 a share by the second quarter. We expect that Standard will strengthen its competitive position by using more internally generated funds to finance its investment opportunities. If investors buy the stock now at around $50 a share, their total return should be at least 20% on the stock."

Based on CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct, which of the following statements about Coleman's actions is TRUE?

A) Coleman violated the Standards because she used material inside information.

B) Coleman did not violate the Standards.

C) Coleman violated the Standards because she failed to separate opinion from fact in her research report.

Q8. In the preparation of a research report, a CFA Institute member may emphasize certain matters, touch briefly on others, and omit some altogether:

A) provided that the analyst both has a reasonable basis and is unconstrained by the Mosaic theory.

B) under no circumstances.

C) provided that the analyst has a reasonable basis for his or her actions.