Commerce MCQs
Topic Notes: Commerce
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
101
What term describes debentures that are backed by a specific charge or security on the company's assets?
Answer:
Secured
Secured debentures are debt instruments that provide the investor with a layer of protection by creating a fixed or floating charge on the company's assets. If the company defaults on interest or principal payments, the debenture holders have the legal right to recover their dues by liquidating the specific assets pledged as security.
102
When the prevailing market interest rate exceeds the bond's coupon rate, how is the bond typically priced in the market?
Answer:
below its par value
When the market interest rate rises above the bond's fixed coupon rate, the bond becomes less attractive to investors because it pays less interest than new bonds issued at current market rates. Consequently, the bond's price must decrease to offer a competitive yield, resulting in the bond trading at a discount, or below its par value.
103
What is the formal term for long-term loans obtained by a company from the general public?
Answer:
debentures
Debentures are debt instruments used by companies to borrow money from the public at a fixed rate of interest for a long-term period. Unlike shares, which represent ownership, debentures represent a creditor relationship between the investor and the company. They are a common method for corporations to raise large sums of capital from the public market.
104
What specific right does a lessee acquire under a standard lease agreement?
Answer:
use the asset for a specified period
A lease agreement is a contractual arrangement where the lessor grants the lessee the right to use an asset for a defined period in exchange for periodic rental payments. The lessee does not gain ownership, management control, or the right to sell the asset; they only obtain the right to utilize it.
105
How are debenture holders classified in relation to a company?
Answer:
Creditors
Debenture holders are lenders who provide long-term debt capital to a company. They are creditors because the company has a legal obligation to pay them interest and repay the principal amount, unlike shareholders who are owners of the company.
106
What term describes a bond call provision that remains inactive for a specified period following the bond's issuance?
Answer:
deferred call
A deferred call provision is a clause in a bond indenture that prevents the issuer from redeeming or 'calling' the bond for a set number of years after issuance. This period provides investors with protection against early redemption, ensuring they receive interest payments for a guaranteed duration. Once this protection period expires, the issuer gains the right to call the bonds at a predetermined price.
107
Which of the following financial instruments does not represent an ownership interest in a company?
Answer:
Debentures
Debentures are debt instruments, not ownership securities. When an investor purchases a debenture, they are essentially lending money to the issuing corporation for a specified period at a fixed interest rate. Unlike equity or preference shares, which grant the holder a claim on the company's residual assets and potential dividends, debenture holders are creditors with a contractual right to interest payments regardless of the company's profitability.
108
Which of the following items is not classified as a long-term borrowing for a company?
Answer:
Loans repayable on demand from banks
Long-term borrowings are liabilities due after more than one year. Loans repayable on demand are classified as current liabilities because the lender can demand repayment at any time, making them short-term in nature rather than long-term debt.
109
What is the alternative term used to describe bonds that are already outstanding in the market?
Answer:
seasoned bonds
Outstanding bonds that have been trading in the secondary market for some time are referred to as 'seasoned bonds'. The term 'seasoned' indicates that the security has an established trading history and is not part of a new issuance. This status is important because seasoned securities often have more predictable price behavior and liquidity compared to newly issued securities.
110
How is a discount allowed on the issue of debentures classified in accounting?
Answer:
Capital loss
A discount on the issue of debentures is considered a capital loss because it represents a reduction in the amount of capital raised compared to the face value of the debt. While it is often amortized over the life of the debentures as a deferred revenue expenditure, its fundamental nature at the time of issuance is a capital loss.