preview

Problem Set 2 With Answers

Satisfactory Essays

FIN532M: Financial Derivatives
Problem Set 2
DUE DATE: Feb. 12, 2015
1. How can you differentiate the forward price from the value of a forward contract?

(2 points)

2. Explain why an FRA can be viewed as an exchange of a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest payments and how you can use FRA in mitigating risks.
(4 points)
3. The standard deviation of monthly changes in the spot price of live cattle is 1.2 cents per pound. The standard deviation of monthly changes in the futures price of live cattle for the closest contract is 1.4.
The correlation between the futures price and the spot price changes is 0.7. It is now Feb 5 and a beef producer is committed to purchase 200,000 pounds of live cattle on April 10. The producer …show more content…

(Portfolio) Mismatched
(Portfolio) Matching using FRA
(FRA)
Investment earning at RK

Investment earning at RK

Paying the principal at RK

Loan paying interest at RM

Loan paying interest at RM

Investing the principal at RM

3. Given:
Standard deviation (delta spot prices) = 1.2 cents/pound
Standard deviation (delta futures prices) = 1.4 cents/pound
Correlation between delta spot and delta futures prices = 0.7
1 futures contract = 40,000lbs
Purchasing requirement = 200,000 lbs
a. Optimal hedge ratio: h* = 0.7 x (1.2/1.4) = 0.6
b. Optimal number of contract:
N = 0.6 x (200,000/40,000) = 3 contracts
Since you are the one who needs to purchase the live cattle, then you should long 3 May live cattle futures contract and close out the position in April by shorting 3 contracts.

4. Given:
Current Index : 1,200
6-month Risk-free rate: 3.5% p.a. continuous compounding
Dividend yield: 1% p.a. continuous compounding
6-month Futures Price = 1,200 x e[(3.5% – 1%) x 0.5] = 1,215.09

5. Given:

R4 = 4.2%
R5 = 4.5%
RF =?

T4 = 4
T5 = 5

T5 – T4 = 1

5th year Forward Rate (Forward rate for the periods year 4 to year 5)
RF = (R5T5 – R4T4)/(T5 – T4) = [(4.5% x 5) – (4.2% x 4)]/(5 – 4) = 5.70%
6. Given:

L = $1 million
RK = 6% p.a compounded annually
RF = 5.6% p.a. continuously compounded
R2 = 5% p.a. continuously compounded
T2 = 5
T1 = 3

You are the borrower, thus
VFRA = [L x (RF – RK) x (T2 –

Get Access