Questions and Answers of Contemporary business

Go to the website listed below to access recent financial statements for Canadian Tire. Access the most recent annual report and locate the balance sheet. What is the firm’s current capital
The head of an executive search firm that focuses on CFOs notes that only 7.5 percent of both male and female CFOs move up to the chief executive position. Why do you think this percentage is so low?
Explain the risk-return trade-off.
Using a news source such as the CBC (www.cbc.ca) or the Globe and Mail (www.theglobeandmail.com), search for an announcement of a recent merger or acquisition. An example would be Rogers
Should company shareholders help decide how much top executives are paid?
What three questions does a financial plan address?
Would you want to be an executive in a public corporation where shareholders had a say on pay? Why or why not?
Working in a small team, select three publicly traded companies. Visit each firm’s website. Find the part of the website that includes information for investors. Review each firm’s dividend
As noted in the chapter, one of the most unfortunate mergers in corporate history involved Time Warner and America Online. Research this merger. Why did analysts expect it to be successful? Why did
Why does “going green” make good business sense for large corporations?
Why do firms often choose to invest excess cash in marketable securities?
Discuss the concept of leverage. Use a numerical example toillustrate the effect of leverage.
How do ESG practices affect a company’s market value and long-term financial potential?
What are the two aspects of accounts receivable management?
From a strategy standpoint, do you think it is a good idea for PayPal not to perform credit checks on possible borrowers? Why or why not?
Explain the difference between an expansion decision and a replacement decision.
Is this approach a good alternative to small business lending from traditional banks? Discuss the pros and cons of alternative lenders like PayPal.
Explain the concept of leverage.
What other organizations or groups should Stock-Trak consider partnering with? Why?
Why do firms generally rely more on long-term funds rather than short-term funds?
What other educational products or services could Stock-Trak develop?
What is an important determinant of a firm’s dividend policy?
What are the three sources of short-term funding?
Explain trade credit.
Why is commercial paper an attractive short-term financing option?
What is the most common type of security sold privately?
Explain venture capital.
What is a sovereign wealth fund?
Define the synergy.
What is an LBO?
What are the two types of divestitures?
To be effective, laws must be practical and enforceable; they must also be updated periodically to reflect changes in societal views and values. Go online and research your home community. Can you
The business world is filled with tort cases, and many involve product liability. One of the most famous cases is the customer who sued McDonald’s because she spilled a cup of its hot coffee in her
Choose one of the following companies or select another one that interests you. Research the company online. Learn what you can about the firm’s goods and services, work processes, and facilities.
Assess your own personal insurance needs. What types of coverage do you currently have? How do you see your insurance needs changing in the next five to 10 years?
Go online and research one of these man-made disasters: the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or the Westray Mine disaster in Nova Scotia. Learn what you can about the role of insurance companies in
Prepare a chart outlining your current standard of living, the standard of living you had while growing up, and the standard of living you expect or hope to achieve after you complete your education.
Create a chart detailing how you think you could use your money most effectively. What are your pitfalls? In what areas do you already use your money well?
Create a weekly budget and a monthly budget. Keep a daily journal of your expenses for the next month to see how well you stick to the budget. Compare your results in class. In what areas did you do
Even though you are still in school, you face many important financial issues, from paying college or university expenses to dealing with credit cards. Visit the website
Analyze your current credit situation. What are your existing debts? How much are you paying each month? Did you borrow for the right reasons? List some steps you could take to improve your
Prepare your personal cash budget for next month. Keep in mind the following suggestions as you prepare your budget:a. Cash inflows. Your sources of cash include your payroll earnings, if any; gifts;
Working with a partner, assume that a firm needs $10 million in additional long-term capital. It currently has no debt and $40 million in equity. The firm’s options are issuing a 10-year bond (with
Visit the website for Next restaurant at www.nextrestaurant.com to learn more about the restaurant’s innovative method of selling tickets in advance. Think of another business that doesn’t
Write the executive summary portion of the business plan for your potential business.
In the financial system, who are the borrowers and who are the savers?
Go to the website of the Bank of Canada www.bankofcanada.ca Locate information on the Bank of Canada’s board of directors. Prepare a short report on the 14-member board. Who are the current
What is the financial system?
Do you think these initiatives go far enough in trying to address climate change? Why or why not.
To learn more about online trading, visit the website of a brokerage firm that offers online trading, such as BMO InvestorLinewww.bmoinvestorline.com or Scotia iTRADEwww.scotiaitrade.com. Most
Collect current interest rates on the following types of bonds: Canada Savings Bonds, AAA-rated municipal bonds, AAA-rated corporate bonds, and BBB-rated corporate bonds. Arrange the interest rates
Think about your own banking and investing practices. What steps can you take to be greener?
Visit the website listed below. Access the Bank’s 2020 annual statement and answer the following questions:a. How did COVID-19 effect the Bank of Canada's funds management activities?b. What was
What is a security? Give several examples.
Working with a partner, assume you are considering buying shares of RONA or The Home Depot. Describe how you would analyze the two companies’ shares to decide which you would buy.
List the two most common ways in which funds are transferred between borrowers and savers.
Are traders overreacting when they sell off large numbers of shares based on bad news? Why or why not?
Working in a small team, identify a large bank. Visit that bank’s website and look up its most recent financial statements. Compare the bank’s financial statements to those of a nonfinancial
What are the major types of securities?
How much of an impact does economic news from Canada have on world markets?
Assume you’re investing money for retirement. What investment criteria are the most important to you? Go to the MSN Money website (https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/fundscreener/). Use the filter on
What areas of the government issue bonds?
What factors should traders consider when determining how permanent a market disruption likely is?
The term glass cliff refers to an observation that women are promoted into top positions during challenging times and, sometimes, upheaval. Research some of the current challenges of the Canadian
What is a financial market?
The banking sector tends to shy away from financing new technology startup companies, creating a need for equity financing through angels and venture capitalists. Why do you think chartered banks are
Distinguish between a primary and a secondary financial market.
What are the pros and cons of robo advisers? Do you agree that this type of adviser appeals mainly to a younger demographicwith less money to invest? Would you use a robo adviser?
Some accuse robo advisers of providing second-rate portfolio solutions, suitable only for small investors who cannot afford a traditional adviser. Others argue that young people are being educated on
Briefly explain the role of financial institutions in the sale of securities.
Companies usually argue that a stock buyback is the best use of capital at a particular time and that there is no better investment than in the company itself. Do you agree? Why or why not?
What are the world’s two largest stock markets?
What other ways might a company go about increasing shareholder value? Are buybacks simply a trend of a few companies with extra cash on their balance sheets?
What is an electronic communications network (ECN)?
Those who are not fans of online-only meetings argue that investors should have the opportunity to look a CEO or board member in the eye. Others argue that technology can largely replicate the
What are the two main types of financial institutions?
Some argue that using technology for shareholder meetings broadens access, while others argue that it shuts out shareholders. Which side do you agree with? Explain.
What is the Bank of Canada?
List the two tools the Bank uses to control the supply of money and credit.
Who regulates banks?
Define insider trading.
Where do Canadian banks rank compared with international banks in terms of asset size?
Do other countries have organizations that play roles similar to those played by the Federal Reserve?
The IASB is responsible for setting and modifying international accounting rules. Go to the IASB’s website (www.ifrs.org); click on “About Us” and select “Who We Are.” Print out the
Describe how a shift in the economy has created a new career path for accounting students.
Contact a local public accounting firm and set up an interview with one of the accountants. Ask the accountant about their educational background, why they were attracted to the accounting
Define it accounting.
As noted in the chapter, many business professionals often seek the CPA designation. Visit the website of CPA Canada (www.cpacanada.ca). Click on “Become a CPA,” and then “The CPA Certification
How can forensic accounting change the world of business?
Suppose you work for a Canadian firm that has extensive operations in various countries. You are preparing your firm’s financial statements,and you need to convert data from the various currencies
Who uses accounting information?
Visit sedar.com and type in the name of a public company. Then click on “financials” to view the firm’s current financial statements. Prepare a brief report comparing those statements with the
What other financial instruments are available for green or sustainable investment? How can we think about the importance of returns on Green Bonds in comparison to their social benefits? Discuss the
Identify two public companies operating in different industries. Collect at least three years’ worth of financial statements for the firms. Calculate the financial ratios listed in Table 16.1.
What is double-entry bookkeeping? Give a brief example.
What parameters could be used to measure the environmental impact of green bonds?
You’ve been appointed treasurer of a local not-for-profit organization. You want to improve the quality of financial reporting to existing and potential donors. What kinds of financial statements
List the three services offered by public accounting firms.
What are the benefits of rewarding whistle-blowers?
What tasks do management accountants perform?

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