BMC REVIEW STUDY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS.
Which driver weakened the Swiss franc? (C) - CORRECT ANSWER a) A surprise change in net export
expectations
b)A surprise change in interest rates expectations
c)A surprise change in inflation expectations
d)A surprise change in valuation expectations
How accurately do GDP portray the economy and why? - CORRECT ANSWER Inaccurately because the
scope of GDP measurements can change.
Consider the formula GDP = C+I+G+(X-M). A country is undergoing a boom in consumption of domestic
and foreign luxury goods. In one year, the dollar growth in imports is greater than the dollar growth in
domestic consumption. Assuming nothing else has changed, what happened to GDP? - CORRECT
ANSWER It went down
Here is the most important economic data for Australia and Sweden. which economy did better year-
over-year (YOY) in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012? Use the two
charts to investigate. - CORRECT ANSWER Sweden performed better
In the United States, why is there a strong correlation between unemployment and GDP? - CORRECT
ANSWER Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the U.S. economy when the number of
unemployed consumers rises, there is less consumer spending.
Here is a chart showing both nominal GDP growth and real GDP growth for a country. Which of the
following can be a true statement at the time the chart was captured? - CORRECT ANSWER The country
has deflation. The bottom line is nominal growth and the top line is real growth.
Which of the following lines is the best leading economic indicator? - CORRECT ANSWER PMI
,The "misery index" is often cited in the media as a way to measure consumer pain. It is defined as the
inflation rate plus the unemployment rate..... - CORRECT ANSWER Argentina
What typically happens to nonfarm payrolls, the PMI indicator, and housing starts at the onset of a
recession in the United States? - CORRECT ANSWER Nonfarm payrolls go down, the PMI indicator goes
DOWN, the housing starts goes down.
Which of the following qualities of economic indicators do investors prize the most? - CORRECT ANSWER
Timeliness of release
Why is the release of GDP statistics less interesting to investors than the release of other economic
indicators? - CORRECT ANSWER Because GDP statistics are released well after other economic
indicators.
Which of the following important U.S. economic indicators is only available on a quarterly basis? -
CORRECT ANSWER GDP
Which economic indicator is most directly linked to unemployment? - CORRECT ANSWER nonfarm
payrolls
Here is the economic calendar for the UK for august 2013. Examine indicators like PMI,...... - CORRECT
ANSWER Above expectations
This chart was captured in mid-2014. At that point in time, which of the following terms..... - CORRECT
ANSWER Deceleration
How have economic forecasts for this county evolved? - CORRECT ANSWER Minimal Change
These charts show data for four countries as of early 2016. For each country, the purple line.... -
CORRECT ANSWER Russia
What is the main reason that investment banks create estimates of economic indicators? - CORRECT
ANSWER To know when specific economic data points are a positive or negative surprise.
, Which of the following is the biggest pitfall of economic indicators? - CORRECT ANSWER They do not
consistently presage turning points.
Here is a chart displaying estimates of the initial jobless claims indicator, one of the main
unemployment.... - CORRECT ANSWER 260
Which country is the fourth biggest importer and exporter? - CORRECT ANSWER Japan
In 1994, the Mexican peso declined against the US dollar during so-called "Tequila Crisis.".... - CORRECT
ANSWER Both countries had large dollar-denominated debts
Using the chart given, how many NZD can you buy with 100 AUD? - CORRECT ANSWER 107.89
Allison lives in America and has just retired. It is early 2016..... - CORRECT ANSWER Norway
Review the currency pair charts for the Barbadian dollar agains the Jamaican dollar...... - CORRECT
ANSWER Hong Kong dollar against the Macanese pataca
Which of the following is not an example of a failed peg? - CORRECT ANSWER Hong Kong dollar against
the U.S. dollar in 1997.
Use the cart below to answer the question. How many Danish crown (DKK) will buy 100 (JPY) - CORRECT
ANSWER 5.360
According to the Big Mac index screen, which of the following four countries' currency is the most
undervalued? - CORRECT ANSWER China
What generally happens when a central bank unexpectedly increases interest rates? - CORRECT
ANSWER The currency strengthens.
Which driver weakened the Swiss franc? - CORRECT ANSWER A surprise change in inflation expectations
AND ANSWERS.
Which driver weakened the Swiss franc? (C) - CORRECT ANSWER a) A surprise change in net export
expectations
b)A surprise change in interest rates expectations
c)A surprise change in inflation expectations
d)A surprise change in valuation expectations
How accurately do GDP portray the economy and why? - CORRECT ANSWER Inaccurately because the
scope of GDP measurements can change.
Consider the formula GDP = C+I+G+(X-M). A country is undergoing a boom in consumption of domestic
and foreign luxury goods. In one year, the dollar growth in imports is greater than the dollar growth in
domestic consumption. Assuming nothing else has changed, what happened to GDP? - CORRECT
ANSWER It went down
Here is the most important economic data for Australia and Sweden. which economy did better year-
over-year (YOY) in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012? Use the two
charts to investigate. - CORRECT ANSWER Sweden performed better
In the United States, why is there a strong correlation between unemployment and GDP? - CORRECT
ANSWER Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the U.S. economy when the number of
unemployed consumers rises, there is less consumer spending.
Here is a chart showing both nominal GDP growth and real GDP growth for a country. Which of the
following can be a true statement at the time the chart was captured? - CORRECT ANSWER The country
has deflation. The bottom line is nominal growth and the top line is real growth.
Which of the following lines is the best leading economic indicator? - CORRECT ANSWER PMI
,The "misery index" is often cited in the media as a way to measure consumer pain. It is defined as the
inflation rate plus the unemployment rate..... - CORRECT ANSWER Argentina
What typically happens to nonfarm payrolls, the PMI indicator, and housing starts at the onset of a
recession in the United States? - CORRECT ANSWER Nonfarm payrolls go down, the PMI indicator goes
DOWN, the housing starts goes down.
Which of the following qualities of economic indicators do investors prize the most? - CORRECT ANSWER
Timeliness of release
Why is the release of GDP statistics less interesting to investors than the release of other economic
indicators? - CORRECT ANSWER Because GDP statistics are released well after other economic
indicators.
Which of the following important U.S. economic indicators is only available on a quarterly basis? -
CORRECT ANSWER GDP
Which economic indicator is most directly linked to unemployment? - CORRECT ANSWER nonfarm
payrolls
Here is the economic calendar for the UK for august 2013. Examine indicators like PMI,...... - CORRECT
ANSWER Above expectations
This chart was captured in mid-2014. At that point in time, which of the following terms..... - CORRECT
ANSWER Deceleration
How have economic forecasts for this county evolved? - CORRECT ANSWER Minimal Change
These charts show data for four countries as of early 2016. For each country, the purple line.... -
CORRECT ANSWER Russia
What is the main reason that investment banks create estimates of economic indicators? - CORRECT
ANSWER To know when specific economic data points are a positive or negative surprise.
, Which of the following is the biggest pitfall of economic indicators? - CORRECT ANSWER They do not
consistently presage turning points.
Here is a chart displaying estimates of the initial jobless claims indicator, one of the main
unemployment.... - CORRECT ANSWER 260
Which country is the fourth biggest importer and exporter? - CORRECT ANSWER Japan
In 1994, the Mexican peso declined against the US dollar during so-called "Tequila Crisis.".... - CORRECT
ANSWER Both countries had large dollar-denominated debts
Using the chart given, how many NZD can you buy with 100 AUD? - CORRECT ANSWER 107.89
Allison lives in America and has just retired. It is early 2016..... - CORRECT ANSWER Norway
Review the currency pair charts for the Barbadian dollar agains the Jamaican dollar...... - CORRECT
ANSWER Hong Kong dollar against the Macanese pataca
Which of the following is not an example of a failed peg? - CORRECT ANSWER Hong Kong dollar against
the U.S. dollar in 1997.
Use the cart below to answer the question. How many Danish crown (DKK) will buy 100 (JPY) - CORRECT
ANSWER 5.360
According to the Big Mac index screen, which of the following four countries' currency is the most
undervalued? - CORRECT ANSWER China
What generally happens when a central bank unexpectedly increases interest rates? - CORRECT
ANSWER The currency strengthens.
Which driver weakened the Swiss franc? - CORRECT ANSWER A surprise change in inflation expectations
