Trading Securities

B is correct. A market order guarantees immediate execution at the best available price but provides no price certainty. The actual execution price may differ from the last quoted price, especially in fast-moving or illiquid markets.

A (guarantees current quoted price) is incorrect because market orders guarantee execution, not price. C (only executes at $50 or less) describes a limit order, which specifies a maximum purchase price. D (expires at end of day) confuses order type with time qualifiers. Market orders typically execute immediately, though they can be designated as day or GTC (Good Till Canceled) orders.

A is correct. A limit order allows the investor to specify the maximum price they are willing to pay (for a buy) or the minimum price they will accept (for a sell). In this case, a buy limit order at $45 ensures the investor pays $45 per share or less, providing price certainty.

B (market order) is incorrect because market orders execute at the best available price without price guarantees. C (stop order) becomes a market order when triggered and is typically used to limit losses or enter positions. D (stop-limit order) combines stop and limit features but is more complex than needed here. The investor simply wants a maximum purchase price, making a basic limit order the appropriate choice.

A is correct. A stop order (also called a stop-loss order) becomes a market order once the stop price is reached or passed. When DEF trades at $54.50, it triggers the $55 stop, converting it to a market order that executes immediately at the best available price, which might be $54.50 or another price depending on market conditions.

B (becomes a limit order) describes a stop-limit order, not a stop order. C (executes at exactly $55) is incorrect because stop orders provide no price guarantee after being triggered. They become market orders subject to the current market price. D (order cancels) is wrong because stop orders activate and execute when triggered, they do not cancel.

B is correct. The fundamental difference is what happens after the order is triggered. A stop order becomes a market order (guaranteeing execution but not price), while a stop-limit order becomes a limit order (guaranteeing price or better but not execution).

A (stop for buying, stop-limit for selling) is incorrect because both order types can be used for buying or selling. C (different expiration rules) is wrong because both order types can be designated as day orders or GTC orders independently of their type. D (stop executes immediately, stop-limit requires approval) confuses the order types with execution mechanics. Stop orders execute immediately as market orders once triggered, while stop-limit orders may or may not execute depending on whether the limit price can be met.

D is correct. Regulation T, established by the Federal Reserve, sets the initial margin requirement at 50% for most equity purchases. This means investors must deposit at least 50% of the purchase price in cash, and can borrow the remaining 50% from the broker-dealer.

A (25%) confuses initial margin with maintenance margin. The 25% figure is the FINRA minimum maintenance requirement for long positions. B (30%) is the maintenance margin requirement for short positions, not the initial margin. C (100%) would represent a cash account transaction with no margin borrowing.

D is correct. The maintenance margin requirement for long positions is 25% of current market value. Using the formula: Market Value = Debit Balance ÷ (1 - Maintenance %), we get $20,000 ÷ 0.75 = $26,667. When the market value falls to $26,667, equity would be exactly 25% ($6,667 equity ÷ $26,667 market value), triggering a margin call.

A ($30,000) represents where equity would be 33%, which is above the 25% maintenance requirement and would not trigger a call. B ($20,000) might tempt test-takers who forget that equity must be 25% of market value, not just equal to the debit. C ($10,000) is too low and represents a misunderstanding of the calculation.

A is correct. The initial margin requirement for short sales is 50% under Regulation T, calculated as 50% of the market value of the shorted securities. For 200 shares at $80, the total value is $16,000, and 50% of that is $8,000. The investor must deposit $8,000 in addition to the $16,000 proceeds from the short sale.

B ($4,800) is 30%, which is the maintenance margin for short positions, not the initial requirement. C ($4,000) is 25%, which confuses maintenance margin for long positions with initial margin. D ($16,000) is 100% of the transaction value, which would be the initial margin if Reg T required matching the full value, but the actual requirement is 50%.

C is correct. As of May 2024, most securities including stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds settle on T+1 (trade date plus one business day). A transaction executed on Monday settles on Tuesday.

A (T+0 or same-day settlement) applies only to options, not stocks. B (T+3) was the standard for equity trades prior to 2017 and is no longer used for most securities. D (T+2) was the previous settlement cycle for stocks before the change to T+1 in May 2024, though it still applies to municipal bonds.

C is correct. The primary risk of market orders, especially for large blocks of thinly traded (illiquid) securities, is significant slippage. The investor may receive an execution price substantially worse than the last quoted price because there may not be sufficient liquidity at current price levels to absorb the entire order.

A (may not execute same day) is incorrect because market orders typically execute immediately at the best available price, even if that price is unfavorable. B (converts to limit order) is wrong as market orders remain market orders and do not convert. D (broker may reject) is unlikely since brokers generally accept market orders, though they may warn clients about potential price impact for large orders in illiquid stocks.

B is correct. A Good Till Canceled (GTC) order remains active until it is either filled or explicitly canceled by the client (or until the broker's maximum time limit is reached, often 90 days to 6 months depending on firm policy). Unlike day orders that expire at the end of the trading day, GTC orders provide flexibility for investors willing to wait for their price.

A (expires in 30 days) is incorrect because while some brokers may impose time limits on GTC orders (typically 90 days or longer), there is no standard 30-day rule. C (converts to market order) is wrong as GTC is a time qualifier, not an order type, and does not change the order type. D (only with market orders) is backwards since GTC orders are most commonly used with limit orders, not market orders, which typically execute immediately.