a. Since early 2022, the Fed has steadily increased the Fed Funds rate where it was just above 0 to over 5% today. Between 2021 and 2022, described in 1-2 paragraphs 2 financial impacts of Citizens Financial Group's (CFG) balance sheet, cash flows, or income statement (all found in S&P Capital IQ), and how they either improved performance or caused a loss (or loss in value) for the firm. Your June 20 case study can help support your response and be sure to quote specifics from the company's financials. The following chart shows the Fed Funds rate line chart since 2020:

b. Perform a search on Citizens Financial Group's (CFG) most recent 10(k), annual report or online news and discuss in 1-2 paragraphs an actual connection between your project bank and a securities firm, finance company, or mutual fund. Your response must include how the relationship benefits both companies, and how economic growth and decline impact both firms.

c. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are a sound approach to investing. By reviewing the Citizens Financial Groups (CFG) website, to what extent does your project bank offer ETFs to investors? Your response should simply be a listing of the funds, with a brief description and investor requirements for each (if available).

d. Go to S&P Capital IQ for your project company, on the left menu, under Most Used, click on Direct Investments. In using the chart function in the application, download or make a screenshot of Citizen Financial Groups' (CFG) direct investments for 2017-2020 and then 2020-2023. Please show graphically or by portfolio % how the company's investment strategy has changed (I showed you how to do this in the June 22 async lesson). Underneath your graph or figures, discuss in 2-4 sentences what you think the data means.