Economic Value Added (EVA) measures a company's true economic profit by assessing whether it generates returns above its cost of capital.
EVA=Net Operating Profit After Tax (NOPAT)#(Capital Employed×Cost of Capital)EVA = \text{Net Operating Profit After Tax (NOPAT)} - (\text{Capital Employed} \times \text{Cost of Capital}) EVA=Net Operating Profit After Tax (NOPAT)#(Capital Employed×Cost of Capital)
* Why is Option B Correct?
* A negative EVA means the firm's returns are lower than its cost of capital, leading to value destruction.
* Why Not Other Options?
* A (Slowing growth rate) # EVA measures profitability, not growth rate.
* C (Below sector average) # EVA is firm-specific, not a comparative measure.
* D (Value is nil) # A company may still be profitable, but inefficient.
# Reference: CFA Institute (EVA Analysis), CISI Wealth & Investment Management.

When a firm acts as an agent, it executes trades on behalf of clients and earns a commission for each transaction.
* Why is Option C Correct?
* Agents do not take ownership of securities but facilitate transactions.
* They charge a fixed fee or percentage-based commission for each trade executed.
* Why Not Other Options?
* A (Profiting from the spread) # Market makers profit from bid-ask spreads, not agents.
* B (Providing advice) # Advice is provided by investment advisers, not agents.
* D (Trading against its own order book) # Agents do not take opposing positions; this applies to principal trading.
# Reference: FCA Handbook (Market Conduct Rules), CISI Wealth & Investment Management.

A Rules-Based model provides strict, prescriptive compliance requirements to ensure regulatory adherence.
* Why is Option C Correct?
* It removes ambiguity by outlining clear-cut rules that financial firms must follow.
* Example: The FCA's Conduct of Business Sourcebook (COBS) provides detailed guidelines on investment advice and suitability.
* Why Not Other Options?
* A (Evolves quickly) # Rules-based systems are rigid and slow to adapt.
* B (Guidance) # A Principles-Based system (not Rules-Based) provides general guidance.
* D (Combination of interests) # This relates more to self-regulation models.
# Reference: FCA Regulatory Framework, CISI Wealth & Investment Management.

Withholding tax is a tax deducted at source on dividends, interest, and royalty payments before they are paid to non-residents.
* Taxation on Foreign Dividends: Investors receiving dividends from foreign companies may have tax deducted by the source country before the net dividend is paid.
* Double Taxation Relief: Many countries have Double Taxation Agreements (DTA) with the UK, allowing UK investors to claim relief against withholding tax.
* Stamp Duty & VAT Irrelevance: Stamp Duty applies to purchases of shares, and VAT does not apply to dividends.
# Reference: HMRC Double Taxation Agreements, CISI Wealth & Investment Management.

Double Taxation Relief (DTR) ensures that income earned in a foreign country is not taxed twice-once in the country where the income is earned and again in the investor's home country.
* How It Works:
* If an investor pays foreign tax on overseas income, they can offset that tax liability against their domestic tax bill.
* The UK has Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) with multiple countries to prevent double taxation on dividends, interest, and capital gains.
* Example:
* A UK investor receives £10,000 in dividends from US stocks and is charged a 15% withholding tax in the US.
* Under a UK-US tax treaty, the investor receives a tax credit for the amount paid in the US, reducing UK tax liability.
# Reference: HMRC Double Taxation Agreements, CISI Wealth & Investment Management.