You have R40,000 to invest in Sophie Shoes, a stock selling for R80 a share. The initial margin requirement is 60 percent. Ignoring taxes and commissions, show in detail the impact on your rate of return if the stock rises to R100 a share and if it declines to R40 a share assuming: (a) you pay cash for the stock, and (b) you buy it using maximum leverage.

2. Lauren has a margin account and deposits R50,000. Assume the prevailing margin requirement is 40 percent, commissions are ignored, and the Gentry Wine Corporation is selling at R35 per share.

a. How many shares can Lauren purchase using the maximum allowable margin? b. What is Laurens profit (loss) if the price of Gentrys stock

i. rises to R45?

ii. falls to R25?

c. If the maintenance margin is 30 percent, to what price can Gentry Wine fall before

Lauren will receive a margin call?

3. Suppose you buy a round lot of Francesca Industries stock on 55 percent margin when the stock is selling at R20 a share. The broker charges a 10 percent annual interest rate, and commissions are 3 percent of the stock value on the purchase and sale. A year later you receive a R0.50 per share dividend and sell the stock for R27 a share. What is your rate of return on Francesca Industries?

4. You decide to sell short 100 shares of Charlotte Horse Farms when it is selling at its yearly high of R56. Your broker tells you that your margin requirement is 45 percent and that the commission on the purchase is R155. While you are short the stock, Charlotte pays a R2.50 per share dividend. At the end of one year, you buy 100 shares of Charlotte at R45 to close out your position and are charged a commission of R145 and 8 percent interest on the money borrowed. What is your rate of return on the investment?