50+ Nomura Holdings Interview Questions and Answers

I am proficient in Python and Java.

• I have experience in developing web applications using Django framework in Python.

• I have also worked on Java projects using Spring framework.

• I am familiar with object-oriented programming concepts and data structures.

• I have worked on projects involving database management using SQL.

• I am constantly learning and improving my skills in these languages.

Hashing is a technique to convert data of arbitrary size to a fixed size. Hash table is a data structure that uses hashing to store data.

• Hashing is used to index and retrieve items in a database because it is faster than other methods.

• Hash table is a data structure that uses a hash function to map keys to array indices.

• Hashing key is the input to the hash function that produces a hash value.

• Hashing is used in password storage, checksum generation, and data encryption.

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. It is a process followed by software development teams to design, develop and test high-quality software.

• The phases of SDLC are Planning, Analysis, Design, Development, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.

• Planning involves defining the project scope, goals, and objectives.

• Analysis involves gathering and analyzing requirements.

• Design involves creating a detailed design of the software.

• Development involves coding and building th...read more

Inner join, outer join, and left outer join are types of SQL joins used to combine data from multiple tables.

• Inner join returns only the matching rows from both tables

• Outer join returns all rows from both tables, with null values for non-matching rows

• Left outer join returns all rows from the left table and matching rows from the right table

• Example: Inner join - SELECT * FROM table1 INNER JOIN table2 ON table1.id = table2.id

• Example: Outer join - SELECT * FROM table1 FULL OUTER...read more

Yes, we can implement circular queues using two stacks.

• We can use two stacks to implement a circular queue.

• One stack will be used for enqueue operation and the other for dequeue operation.

• When the enqueue stack is full, we can transfer all elements to the dequeue stack and vice versa.

• This way, we can maintain the circular nature of the queue.

• Example: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/queue-using-stacks/

Yes, we can implement queues using two stacks.

• We can use two stacks, one for enqueue operation and another for dequeue operation.

• To enqueue an element, push it onto the first stack.

• To dequeue an element, pop all elements from the first stack and push them onto the second stack, then pop the top element from the second stack.

• This ensures that the first element that was enqueued is the first one to be dequeued.

• Time complexity for enqueue and dequeue operations is O(1).

Derivatives are financial contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset or security.

• Interest rate swaps involve exchanging fixed and floating interest rate payments between two parties.

• Forward contracts are agreements to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date.

• Futures contracts are similar to forward contracts but are traded on exchanges and have standardized terms.

• Options give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an...read more

Stacks and queues are data structures used to store and manipulate collections of elements.

• Stacks follow the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) principle, where the last element added is the first one to be removed.

• Queues follow the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle, where the first element added is the first one to be removed.

• Examples of stacks include the call stack in programming and the undo/redo feature in text editors.

• Examples of queues include waiting in line at a store and pr...read more

Yes, I know several sorting algorithms.

• One of the most popular is QuickSort, which uses a pivot element to divide the array into smaller sub-arrays and recursively sorts them.

• Another common algorithm is MergeSort, which divides the array into smaller sub-arrays and then merges them back together in sorted order.

• InsertionSort is a simple algorithm that iterates through the array and inserts each element into its correct position in a sorted sub-array.

• BubbleSort compares adjace...read more

Heap sort is a comparison-based sorting algorithm that uses a binary heap data structure.

• It divides the input into a sorted and an unsorted region.

• It repeatedly extracts the maximum element from the unsorted region and inserts it into the sorted region.

• It has a worst-case time complexity of O(n log n).

I would rate myself 8 in Java and 7 in database.

• I have extensive experience in Java programming and have worked on multiple projects using Java.

• I am proficient in database management and have worked with various database systems like MySQL and Oracle.

• I am constantly learning and improving my skills in both Java and database management.

• I have also completed relevant courses and certifications in Java and database management.

• I am confident in my ability to handle complex progra...read more

Solving Monty Hall problem using Bayesian probability

• Assign prior probabilities to each door

• Update probabilities based on host's action

• Calculate posterior probabilities and choose the door with highest probability

• Example: If prior probability of winning behind each door is 1/3, and host opens a door with a goat, the posterior probability of winning behind the remaining door is 2/3

• Example: Bayes' theorem can be used to calculate the posterior probability

Var is a measure of the potential loss on an investment due to market risk.

• Var stands for Value at Risk

• Types of var include historical var, parametric var, and Monte Carlo var

• Var helps in assessing the potential risk of loss in an investment portfolio

Journal entries in trading are used to record financial transactions and events.

• Journal entries are used to record transactions such as purchases, sales, and expenses.

• They are used to keep track of the financial health of a company.

• Examples of journal entries in trading include recording the purchase of inventory, recording the sale of goods, and recording expenses such as rent and utilities.

• Journal entries are typically recorded in a general ledger.

• They are important for fin...read more

Nomura is a leading global financial services firm with expertise in global markets.

• Nomura has a strong presence in global markets, offering a wide range of services such as investment banking, asset management, and research.

• They have a global network of offices and clients, providing opportunities to work on diverse and challenging projects.

• Nomura's reputation for innovation and excellence in global markets makes it an attractive choice for analysts seeking a dynamic and fas...read more

Writing Gmail on paper is not practical.

• Writing emails on paper defeats the purpose of using email as a digital communication tool.

• It is time-consuming and inefficient to write out emails by hand.

• Gmail is designed to be used on a computer or mobile device, not on paper.

Nomura analyst advises against investing in Indian cement industry despite high demand.

• Possible oversupply in the market

• High competition leading to lower profit margins

• Environmental concerns and regulations

• Potential impact of government policies and infrastructure projects

• Company-specific issues such as debt levels or management concerns

The probability of a stick cut twice forming a triangle is 1/4.

• The stick must be cut into three pieces to form a triangle.

• The length of the longest piece must be less than the sum of the other two.

• The probability is 1/4 because there are four possible outcomes.

• The outcomes are: no triangle, acute triangle, right triangle, or obtuse triangle.

The growth rate of number of subscribers can be found by calculating the percentage change in the number of subscribers over a period of time.

• Calculate the difference between the number of subscribers at the beginning and end of the period.

• Divide the difference by the number of subscribers at the beginning of the period.

• Multiply the result by 100 to get the percentage growth rate.

• Consider any external factors that may have affected the growth rate, such as marketing campaigns...read more

Revenue prediction for a telecom company over the next five years.

• Analyze historical revenue data and industry trends

• Consider the impact of new technologies and competitors

• Evaluate the company's marketing and pricing strategies

• Factor in macroeconomic conditions and regulatory changes

• Use forecasting models such as time series analysis and regression analysis

Selling inventory will increase current ratio as it reduces current assets and current liabilities remain the same.

• Current ratio = Current assets / Current liabilities

• Selling inventory reduces current assets

• Current liabilities remain the same

• Therefore, current ratio increases

• Example: If current assets were $100 and current liabilities were $50, the current ratio would be 2. If inventory worth $20 is sold, current assets would reduce to $80 and current ratio would increase to ...read more

Solve for X in the given equation involving modulus function.

• Use the properties of modulus function to simplify the equation.

• Solve for X by considering different cases based on the sign of X.

• Check the solution by substituting it back into the original equation.

Futures and forwards are financial contracts that allow parties to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price and date in the future.

• Futures are standardized contracts traded on exchanges, while forwards are customized contracts traded over-the-counter.

• Both futures and forwards are used for hedging or speculation.

• Example: A farmer can use a futures contract to lock in a price for their crops before harvest.

• Example: An investor can use a forward contract to buy a foreign cu...read more

IB stands for Investment Banking which has different segments such as M&A, Equity Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets, Sales & Trading, and Research.

• M&A (Merger and Acquisition) - deals with the buying, selling, and merging of companies

• Equity Capital Markets - deals with the issuance of stocks and other equity-related securities

• Debt Capital Markets - deals with the issuance of bonds and other debt-related securities

• Sales & Trading - deals with the buying and selling of secu...read more

Bond market is a financial market where investors buy and sell debt securities issued by corporations or governments.

• Bonds are essentially loans made by investors to issuers

• The bond market is important for companies and governments to raise capital

• Bond prices and yields are inversely related

• The bond market can be segmented by issuer, credit rating, maturity, and type of bond

• Examples of bonds include Treasury bonds, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and high-yield bonds

Credit default swaps are financial contracts that allow investors to protect themselves against the risk of default on a debt instrument.

• Credit default swaps are essentially insurance policies on debt instruments.

• They allow investors to transfer the risk of default to another party.

• The buyer of a credit default swap pays a premium to the seller, who agrees to pay out in the event of a default.

• Credit default swaps played a major role in the 2008 financial crisis.

Different types of joins are Inner Join, Left Join, Right Join, and Full Outer Join.

• Inner Join returns only the matching rows from both tables.

• Left Join returns all the rows from the left table and matching rows from the right table.

• Right Join returns all the rows from the right table and matching rows from the left table.

• Full Outer Join returns all the rows from both tables.

• Examples: Inner Join - SELECT * FROM table1 INNER JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column

• Left Joi...read more

Options are financial contracts that give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price.

• Call option: gives the buyer the right to buy an underlying asset at a predetermined price within a specified time period

• Put option: gives the buyer the right to sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price within a specified time period

• American option: can be exercised at any time before the expiration date

• European option: ca...read more

I faced some personal challenges during my studies, but I have learned from them and have improved my skills through internships and extracurricular activities.

• Faced personal challenges during studies

• Learned from challenges and improved skills

• Participated in internships and extracurricular activities to enhance knowledge

• CGPA does not reflect overall potential or work ethic

LIBOR and MIBOR are benchmark interest rates used in financial markets.

• LIBOR stands for London Interbank Offered Rate and is the average interest rate at which major banks in London lend to each other.

• MIBOR stands for Mumbai Interbank Offered Rate and is the interest rate at which banks in Mumbai lend to each other.

• Both rates are used as benchmarks for various financial products such as loans, mortgages, and derivatives.

• LIBOR is widely used in international markets while MIBO...read more

Packet switching involves breaking data into packets for transmission, while store and forward switching involves receiving the entire message before forwarding.

• Packet switching breaks data into small packets for transmission, allowing for more efficient use of network resources.

• Store and forward switching receives the entire message before forwarding it to the next destination, which can lead to delays.

• Packet switching is commonly used in modern computer networks, such as th...read more

VLOOKUP searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a corresponding value in the same row. HLOOKUP does the same horizontally.

• VLOOKUP: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

• HLOOKUP: =HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup])

• lookup_value: the value to search for in the first row or column of the table

• table_array: the range of cells that contains the data to be searched

• col_index_num/row_index_num: the colum...read more

Packet transfer in TCP involves segmenting data, adding headers, sending packets, acknowledging receipt, and retransmitting if necessary.

• Data is segmented into packets with headers added for source and destination information

• Packets are sent over the network to the destination

• The receiver acknowledges receipt of packets and requests retransmission if needed

• TCP ensures reliable delivery by reordering packets and handling congestion control

• Example: Sending an email involves bre...read more

To create an IPSec Tunnel with CSR, you need to configure the necessary settings on both devices.

• Configure the IPSec settings on the CSR device, including encryption algorithms, authentication methods, and pre-shared keys

• Ensure that the CSR device has a public IP address and is reachable from the remote device

• Configure the remote device with matching IPSec settings and establish the tunnel with the CSR device

A pivot table is a data summarization tool used in spreadsheet programs.

• It allows users to group and summarize large amounts of data in a concise, tabular format.

• Users can easily manipulate the data by dragging and dropping fields into different areas of the table.

• Pivot tables are commonly used in data analysis and business intelligence to identify trends and patterns.

• For example, a sales team might use a pivot table to analyze sales data by region, product, and time period.

Spanning Tree Protocol is a network protocol that ensures a loop-free topology for Ethernet networks.

• Prevents loops in Ethernet networks by blocking redundant paths

• Designated switches are elected to forward traffic on each segment

• Uses Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) to communicate and determine the topology

• Common implementations include IEEE 802.1D (STP), 802.1w (RSTP), and 802.1s (MSTP)

Exposures include credit, market, operational, and liquidity. CSA is a Credit Support Annex. Product types include derivatives, bonds, and loans.

• Exposures can be credit, market, operational, or liquidity related

• CSA stands for Credit Support Annex and is a legal document that regulates collateral for derivatives transactions

• Product types can include derivatives, bonds, and loans

Repo is a financial transaction where one party sells securities to another party with an agreement to buy them back at a later date.

• Repo stands for repurchase agreement.

• It is a short-term borrowing mechanism used by banks and other financial institutions.

• The party selling the securities is known as the 'seller' or 'borrower', while the party buying the securities is known as the 'buyer' or 'lender'.

• The interest rate on a repo transaction is known as the 'repo rate'.

• Example: ...read more

Derivatives are financial contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset or security.

• Derivatives can be used for hedging or speculation.

• Common types of derivatives include options, futures, and swaps.

• Derivatives can be traded on exchanges or over-the-counter.

• Derivatives played a role in the 2008 financial crisis.

• Derivatives can be complex and carry significant risk.

Option chain is a list of all available options for a particular stock or index, showing their strike prices and expiration dates.

• Option chain helps traders to analyze and compare different options available for a stock or index.

• It includes information such as the option's strike price, expiration date, and implied volatility.

• Option chain can be used to identify potential trading opportunities and to manage risk.

• For example, a trader can use option chain to find the most prof...read more

Option swap is a financial derivative that involves exchanging one set of options for another.

• Option swap is also known as a cross-option swap.

• It involves two parties exchanging options on the same underlying asset.

• The options being exchanged can have different strike prices, expiration dates, or other terms.

• Option swaps are often used to manage risk or to take advantage of market conditions.

• For example, an investor might swap a call option with a high strike price for a call...read more

Yes, I have experience using BGP in managing network routing.

• I have configured BGP peering between routers to exchange routing information.

• I have troubleshooted BGP routing issues to optimize network performance.

• I have implemented BGP route filtering and policy-based routing.

• I have worked with BGP communities for traffic engineering purposes.

Output errors are errors that occur when data is being sent out of a system or device.

• Output errors can occur when there is a problem with the transmission of data from a device or system.

• These errors can result in corrupted or incomplete data being sent to the intended recipient.

• Examples of output errors include dropped packets in network communication or garbled text in printed documents.

An option is a contract that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a certain date.

• Options are commonly used in the stock market as a form of derivative trading.

• There are two types of options: call options and put options.

• Call options give the buyer the right to buy an underlying asset at a specific price, while put options give the buyer the right to sell an underlying asset at a specific price.

• O...read more

The ppt was well-organized and visually appealing.

• The content was presented in a clear and concise manner.

• The use of graphics and charts helped to illustrate key points.

• The color scheme and design were visually appealing.

• The overall structure of the ppt was easy to follow.

Trading comparables are a valuation method used to determine the value of a company by comparing it to similar publicly traded companies.

• Trading comparables involve analyzing financial metrics such as revenue, EBITDA, and P/E ratios of similar companies in the same industry.

• This method assumes that the market values similar companies similarly, and can be used to determine a fair valuation for the company being analyzed.

• For example, if a company is in the retail industry, tra...read more

Schema design for a University

• Entities: Student, Professor, Course, Department, University

• Relationships: Student enrolls in Course, Professor teaches Course, Department offers Courses, University has Departments

• Attributes: Student (ID, Name, GPA), Professor (ID, Name, Department), Course (ID, Name, Department, Credits), Department (ID, Name, Head), University (Name, Location)

A program to validate a date input by the user

• Check if the input date follows the format MM/DD/YYYY

• Validate if the month is between 1 and 12

• Validate if the day is within the range based on the month and year (taking leap years into account)

• Ensure the year is a valid 4-digit number

Put call parity is a principle that establishes a relationship between the prices of European call and put options.

• Put call parity states that the price of a European call option and a European put option with the same strike price and expiration date should be equal.

• The formula for put call parity is C + PV(K) = P + S, where C is the price of the call option, PV(K) is the present value of the strike price, P is the price of the put option, and S is the current stock price.

• Pu...read more

Sort an array of numbers in ascending or descending order.

• Use built-in sorting functions like sort() or sorted() in Python.

• For descending order, pass reverse=True as an argument.

• For custom sorting, use a lambda function as a key argument.

• In JavaScript, use the sort() method with a compare function.

• In Java, use Arrays.sort() method.

• In C++, use the sort() function from the algorithm library.

A blocking queue is a data structure that allows insertion and removal of elements in a FIFO (First In First Out) manner. If the queue is empty, the removal operation will block until an element is available.

• Use a circular buffer to implement the queue

• Use a mutex to synchronize access to the queue

• Use a condition variable to block the removal operation if the queue is empty

• Implement methods for adding and removing elements from the queue

The question is likely asking the candidate to explain their understanding of financial analysis and how they apply it in their work.

• Explain the process of financial analysis, including gathering data, analyzing financial statements, and making recommendations based on findings.

• Discuss the importance of financial analysis in decision-making for businesses and investors.

• Provide examples of how you have used financial analysis to identify trends, assess risk, and make strategic...read more

Cloudformation is a service provided by AWS for infrastructure as code, allowing users to create and manage AWS resources using templates.

• Automate the creation and management of AWS resources

• Define infrastructure in a template file using JSON or YAML

• Easily replicate and scale infrastructure

• Maintain consistency and reduce human error

• Rollback changes if needed