S&P Global Junior Research Analyst Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Finance is the management of money and investments.

• Finance involves managing money, investments, and financial risks.

• It includes activities such as budgeting, investing, and financial analysis.

• Examples of finance include personal finance, corporate finance, and public finance.

Fixed income securities provide a fixed return while variable income securities provide a return that fluctuates based on market conditions.

• Fixed income securities provide a fixed rate of return, such as bonds or CDs

• Variable income securities provide a return that fluctuates based on market conditions, such as stocks or mutual funds

• Fixed income securities are generally considered less risky than variable income securit...read more

Bonds are financial instruments that represent a loan made by an investor to a borrower, typically a government or corporation.

• Bonds are debt securities that pay interest over a fixed period of time.

• They are used by governments and corporations to raise capital.

• Investors who purchase bonds are essentially lending money to the issuer in exchange for regular interest payments and the return of the principal amount at mat...read more

Different types of bonds include government bonds, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and convertible bonds.

• Government bonds are issued by national governments to finance their activities and are considered low-risk investments.

• Corporate bonds are issued by corporations to raise capital and typically offer higher yields than government bonds.

• Municipal bonds are issued by local governments to fund public projects and are...read more

Provision for bad debts is an accounting practice of setting aside a portion of revenue to cover potential losses from customers who do not pay their debts.

• Provision for bad debts is a common practice in businesses that extend credit to customers.

• It is a way to account for potential losses from customers who may not pay their debts.

• The provision is usually a percentage of revenue or accounts receivable.

• The provision is...read more

Share and stock are both forms of ownership in a company, but there are some differences.

• Shares represent ownership in a specific company, while stocks can refer to ownership in multiple companies

• Shares can be bought and sold on stock exchanges, while stocks are traded on stock markets

• Shares may have different classes with varying voting rights, while stocks typically have equal voting rights

• Shares may pay dividends, w...read more

Balance Sheet is a financial statement that provides a snapshot of a company's financial position at a specific point in time.

• It presents the assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity of a company.

• Assets are resources owned by the company, such as cash, inventory, and property.

• Liabilities are the company's obligations, such as loans and accounts payable.

• Shareholders' equity represents the company's net worth, calcu...read more