FIN 3506 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: New York Mercantile Exchange, Spot Contract, Futures Contract

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bronzeturtle979

6 Oct 2016

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Learning objectives: understand what a futures contract is, it uses and its history, understand the concept of an options contract, know the different general categories of traders and their motivation, futures contracts. A futures contact is an obligation to buy (long position, agree to take delivery) and demand or sell (short position, agree to make delivery) an asset at a certain time in the future for a certain price. The price is derived form the balance of supply and demand for the underlying asset. These are standardized contract that trade on an exchange. 3: currency, single stock, weather and other exotics. Index: amount (quantity, delivery, quality, traded on an exchange, settled daily and marked to market daily, fungible (most are exited by offset, delivery in less than 2%, no credit risk. Exchanges: physical (these have been united through mergers, cbot, cme, nymex, electronic, spot price.

Related Questions

6. Institutional portfolios can take advantage of what is called "portfolio margining" under the rules of the CBOE and other options exchanges. What IS portfolio margining? Choose only one answer.

A. You only pay attention to the bottom margin of the portfolio.

B. Great leverage is possible, as the intercorrelations and natural offsets (or what we call in English a "wash") are taken into consideration.

C. No margin is required, because these are not individual investors.

7. What does the symbol ^VVIX mean?

A. Apple's volatility.

B. An exchange-traded (ETF) volatility fund.

C. The implied volatility of the VIX options themselves.

8. An example of purchasing a "real" option is a company's opening of a Shanghai office, in order to have the capacity to pursue business in China.

True

False

9. A hedge fund is "short" a portfolio of VIX call options. It's "theta" is $16,788 per day. This means, barring some big market or political or terrorist event, the fund's net asset value will increase by about $16,788 per day.

True

False

10. Imagine an equity-oriented state pension fund (such as the State of Maryland Pension funds). Suppose their equity portfolio is NOT identical to the S&P 500 index. Further, suppose that due to a state budget shortfall, the year's additions to the pension fund are likely to be less than actuarially sound. Thus, the fund is becoming very risk-averse. And it needs to implement this feeling by hedging. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER, even though there might be more than one true answer. This is actually a question about hedge ratios. A. If the equity portfolio's beta is close to 0, then they could decide to match the overall exposure, via S&P Index futures contracts, to the fund's value. That is, # of contracts times the contract multiplier times the index would approximately equal the value of the fund.

B. If the equity portfolio's beta is close to .4, then they would have a tough time using S&P 500 contracts, so they would instead use foreign exchange contracts.

C. If the equity portfolio's beta is close to 1, then they could decide to match the overall exposure, via S&P Index futures contracts, to the fund's value. That is, # of contracts times the contract multiplier times the index would approximately equal the value of the fund.

11. Go to CMEGROUP.COM We are going to hedge ULSD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-low-sulfur_diesel for a railroad, that uses ultra-light diesel fuel. Choose June 2017 as the underlying future. Let's pretend we are buying ten futures contracts. What would ten contracts cost you, using the last trade as our price? Show your math, i.e., #gallons times price per futures contract. Is this contract in contango, or normal backwardation?

12. Long options positions(long does not mean long-dated) have positive gamma, and short positions have negative gamma.

True

False

13. In valuing credit default swaps, one must estimate default probabilities. A start would be to obtain historical data for default rates from rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's. But a more complete risk profile, or risk prediction, limiting ourselves to the US market (US-based companies) would be to [pick only one choice, the best one, in your opinion]:

A. Also consider the risk of another earthquake in Japan.

B. Also consider the systematic risk associated with an economic downturn in the US, accompanied by a downturn in US stocks.

C. Also consider the possibility that Facebook options are trading at an implied volatility that is not as high as it should be, considering the lofty level of its P/E ratio.

14. A total return swap can be a form of financing vehicle to allow an investor to buy a specific bond, because: (there are two correct answers, you must pick two)

A. The payer (a financial institution) could agree to pay the bond's capital appreciation or depreciation, plus the interest payments, in return for receiving LIBOR plus some basis points.

B. The payer (a financial institution) could agree to receive the bond's capital appreciation or depreciation, plus the interest payments, in return for receiving LIBOR plus some basis points.

C. The payer retains ownership of the bond for the life of the contract.

mauvelocust294

Compute the expected return of a portfolio given these three economic states, their likelihoods, and the potential returns:

Economic State Probability Return

Fast Growth 20.00% 30.00%

Slow Growth 50.00% 6.00%

Recession 30.00% -2.00%

Answer

		8.40%
		11.33%
		12.65%
		15.47%

Compute the standard deviation of a portfolio given these three economic states, their likelihoods, and the potential returns:

Economic State Probability Return

Fast Growth 20.00% 30.00%

Slow Growth 50.00% 6.00%

Recession 30.00% -2.00%

Answer

1.28%

4.36%

7.82%

11.34%

Year-to-date, Company O had earned -2.10% return. During the same time period Company V earned 8.00% and Company M earned 6.25%. If you have a portfolio made up of 40.00% Company O, 30.00% Company V, and 30.00% Company M, what is the overall portfolio return?

Answer

5.778%

4.270%

6.871%

3.435%

Risk that CAN BE eliminated through proper diversification is called _____.

Answer

		market risk
		firm-specific risk
		systematic risk
		non-diversifiable risk

GIVEN: Spot Rate: 1 X = 1.02 Y
30 Day Forward Rate: 1 X = 1.15 Y
Your currency is "X" and you will be paying 345Y. You would ____ because _____.

Answer

		pay now; of the irrelevance of payment time
		pay now; it will take less "X"
		pay in 30 days; it will take less "X"

The amount of one currency needed to purchase one unit of another currency is the _____.

Answer

		derivative rate
		exchange rate
		backwardation rate
		over-the-counter rate

The price of an option is called a(n) _____.

Answer

		expiration cost
		holding cost
		premium
		proceeds

When a futures contract expires, the parties usually _____.

Answer

		have a party when losses are low
		take delivery of the contract asset
		do a cash settlement
		swap off liabilities.

When a forward contract expires, the parties will _____.

Answer

		have a party when losses are low
		deliver the contract asset
		do a cash settlement
		swap off liabilities.

Any asset whose value is derived from the value of some underlying asset is a(n) ____.

Answer

		derivative
		primary capital
		spot asset
		intermediary asset

Which of the following is not traded on an exchange?

Answer

		options
		futures
		forwards
		they are all exchange-traded

A system under which a country's exchange rates are tied to another currency by government policy is _____.

Answer

		floating exchange rates
		pegged exchange rates
		convertible exchange rates
		forward rates

One of the _______ for business with a floating exchange rate system is the _______ planning business activities in an international market.

Answer

		disadvantages; difficulty of
		advantages; easiness of
		irrelevant situations; normal
		none of the above

U.S. dollars deposited in foreign banks are called _____ and interest paid on these deposits is normally tied to _____.

Answer

		non-foreign deposits; FED funds rate
		indirect dollars; Discount Funds Rate
		Eurodollars; LIBOR
		none of the above

____ is a disadvantage of the gold standard.

Answer

		Excess currency slowing economic growth
		Excess inflation
		A non-variable beta
		Lack of currency to promote continued economic expansion

A monetary system in which paper money can be converted directly to gold is a(n) ___.

Answer

		dollar backed float
		gold standard
		currency float
		Americanized gold standard
		none of the above

Reason(s) for the Great Depression following the Great War include:

Answer

		trade protectionism
		isolationism
		nationalism
		all of the above
		none of the above

An agreement between the WW II allies in 1944 designed to prevent the problems leading to the Great Depression and WW II and to rebuild Asia and Europe was the _____.

Answer

		Armistice of 1945
		Bretton Woods Agreement
		Lend Lease Act for Asia and Europe
		none of the above

A derivative is used to ____ thereby _____.

Answer

		float; gaining excess currency for expansion
		peg currency; improving trade with a primary partner
		hedge; reducing/eliminating risk
		none of the above

Easier business planning is an advantage of the ______ system.

Answer

		mixed exchange rate
		floating exchange rate
		derivative exchange rate
		gold standard
		none of the above

____ is the chance that some unfavorable event will occur.

Answer

		Expected return
		Risk
		Coefficient of variation
		Correlation

raspberrycicada573

Compute the expected return of a portfolio given these three economic states, their likelihoods, and the potential returns:

Economic State Probability Return

Fast Growth 20.00% 30.00%

Slow Growth 50.00% 6.00%

Recession 30.00% -2.00%

Answer

		8.40%
		11.33%
		12.65%
		15.47%

Compute the standard deviation of a portfolio given these three economic states, their likelihoods, and the potential returns:

Economic State Probability Return

Fast Growth 20.00% 30.00%

Slow Growth 50.00% 6.00%

Recession 30.00% -2.00%

Answer

		1.28%
		4.36%
		7.82%
		11.34%

Year-to-date, Company O had earned -2.10% return. During the same time period Company V earned 8.00% and Company M earned 6.25%. If you have a portfolio made up of 40.00% Company O, 30.00% Company V, and 30.00% Company M, what is the overall portfolio return?

Answer

		5.778%
		4.270%
		6.871%
		3.435%

Risk that CAN BE eliminated through proper diversification is called _____.

Answer

		market risk
		firm-specific risk
		systematic risk
		non-diversifiable risk

GIVEN: Spot Rate: 1 X = 1.02 Y
30 Day Forward Rate: 1 X = 1.15 Y
Your currency is "X" and you will be paying 345Y. You would ____ because _____.

Answer

		pay now; of the irrelevance of payment time
		pay now; it will take less "X"
		pay in 30 days; it will take less "X"

The amount of one currency needed to purchase one unit of another currency is the _____.

Answer

		derivative rate
		exchange rate
		backwardation rate
		over-the-counter rate

The price of an option is called a(n) _____.

Answer

		expiration cost
		holding cost
		premium
		proceeds

When a futures contract expires, the parties usually _____.

Answer

		have a party when losses are low
		take delivery of the contract asset
		do a cash settlement
		swap off liabilities.

When a forward contract expires, the parties will _____.

Answer

		have a party when losses are low
		deliver the contract asset
		do a cash settlement
		swap off liabilities.

Any asset whose value is derived from the value of some underlying asset is a(n) ____.

Answer

		derivative
		primary capital
		spot asset
		intermediary asset

Which of the following is not traded on an exchange?

Answer

		options
		futures
		forwards
		they are all exchange-traded

A system under which a country's exchange rates are tied to another currency by government policy is _____.

Answer

		floating exchange rates
		pegged exchange rates
		convertible exchange rates
		forward rates

One of the _______ for business with a floating exchange rate system is the _______ planning business activities in an international market.

Answer

		disadvantages; difficulty of
		advantages; easiness of
		irrelevant situations; normal
		none of the above

U.S. dollars deposited in foreign banks are called _____ and interest paid on these deposits is normally tied to _____.

Answer

		non-foreign deposits; FED funds rate
		indirect dollars; Discount Funds Rate
		Eurodollars; LIBOR
		none of the above

____ is a disadvantage of the gold standard.

Answer

		Excess currency slowing economic growth
		Excess inflation
		A non-variable beta
		Lack of currency to promote continued economic expansion

A monetary system in which paper money can be converted directly to gold is a(n) ___.

Answer

		dollar backed float
		gold standard
		currency float
		Americanized gold standard
		none of the above

Reason(s) for the Great Depression following the Great War include:

Answer

		trade protectionism
		isolationism
		nationalism
		all of the above
		none of the above

An agreement between the WW II allies in 1944 designed to prevent the problems leading to the Great Depression and WW II and to rebuild Asia and Europe was the _____.

Answer

		Armistice of 1945
		Bretton Woods Agreement
		Lend Lease Act for Asia and Europe
		none of the above

A derivative is used to ____ thereby _____.

Answer

		float; gaining excess currency for expansion
		peg currency; improving trade with a primary partner
		hedge; reducing/eliminating risk
		none of the above

Easier business planning is an advantage of the ______ system.

Answer

		mixed exchange rate
		floating exchange rate
		derivative exchange rate
		gold standard
		none of the above

____ is the chance that some unfavorable event will occur.

Answer

		Expected return
		Risk
		Coefficient of variation
		Correlation

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FIN 3506 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: New York Mercantile Exchange, Spot Contract, Futures Contract

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