Northern Trust Operating Services Officer Interview Questions and Answers

Var is a keyword in programming languages used to declare variables.

• Var is short for variable.

• It is used to declare a variable and assign a value to it.

• The data type of the variable is inferred from the assigned value.

• Example: var x = 5; // x is now a variable of type integer with value 5

To make a class immutable, we need to ensure that its state cannot be modified after creation.

• Make all fields private and final

• Do not provide any setters

• If mutable objects are used, return copies instead of references

• Ensure that any methods that modify state return a new instance instead of modifying the existing one

Threads are lightweight processes that share memory and resources, while processes are independent and have their own memory and resources.

• Threads are a part of a process and share the same memory space.

• Processes are independent and have their own memory space.

• Threads are faster to create and switch between than processes.

• Processes are more secure and stable than threads.

• Examples of processes include web browsers and t...read more

The 2008 financial crisis was caused by a combination of factors including subprime mortgages, risky investments, and lack of regulation.

• Subprime mortgages were given to borrowers who were not creditworthy and could not afford to repay the loans.

• These mortgages were then bundled together and sold as securities to investors, who were not aware of the high risk involved.

• Investment banks also made risky investments and us...read more

Different types of risks associated with a bond

• Interest rate risk - changes in interest rates affect bond prices

• Credit risk - risk of default by the issuer

• Inflation risk - risk of loss of purchasing power due to inflation

• Liquidity risk - risk of not being able to sell the bond when needed

• Call risk - risk of the issuer calling back the bond before maturity

• Reinvestment risk - risk of not being able to reinvest the coupon...read more

To price a bond, calculate the present value of its future cash flows.

• Determine the bond's face value, coupon rate, and maturity date.

• Calculate the bond's yield to maturity.

• Use the yield to maturity to discount the bond's future cash flows.

• Add up the present values of the cash flows to get the bond's price.

• Consider any additional factors that may affect the bond's price, such as credit risk or call provisions.

Option pricing involves calculating the value of an option based on various factors.

• The current price of the underlying asset is a key factor in option pricing.

• Volatility of the underlying asset also plays a significant role.

• Time to expiration, interest rates, and strike price are other important factors.

• Various models such as Black-Scholes and binomial models are used to price options.

• Option pricing can be complex and...read more

Duration is the length of time something takes to complete.

• Duration can be measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.

• It is often used to describe the length of a movie, song, or event.

• In project management, duration refers to the amount of time a task or project will take to complete.

• Duration can also refer to the length of time a medical treatment or medication should be taken.

• It is important to consider duration

Duration will be greater for a fixed rate bond.

• Fixed rate bonds have a longer duration than floating rate bonds.

• Duration is the measure of a bond's sensitivity to interest rate changes.

• Fixed rate bonds have a fixed interest rate, so their duration is longer as they are more sensitive to interest rate changes.

Mitigate credit risk by diversifying portfolio, setting credit limits, and monitoring creditworthiness.

• Diversify portfolio to spread risk across different industries and companies.

• Set credit limits based on the borrower's creditworthiness and ability to repay.

• Monitor creditworthiness of borrowers regularly to identify potential risks and take necessary actions.

• Use credit insurance or guarantees to protect against defau...read more

Both data quality and timeliness are important, but it depends on the specific use case.

• Data quality is crucial for decision-making and analysis, as inaccurate data can lead to incorrect conclusions.

• Timeliness is important for real-time decision-making and time-sensitive operations.

• In some cases, data quality may be more important, such as in medical research where accuracy is critical.

• In other cases, timeliness may be...read more