Futures and Forwards A future is a contract between two parties requiring deferred delivery of underlying asset (at a contracted price and date) or a final cash settlement. Both parties are obligated to perform and fulfill the terms. A customized futures contract is called a Forward Contract.
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Futures and Forwards
A future is a contract between two parties requiring deferred delivery of underlying asset (at a contracted price and date) or a final cash settlement. Both parties are obligated to perform and fulfill the terms. A customized futures contract is called a Forward Contract.
Cash Flows on Forwards
Pay-off Diagram:
Spot price of underlying assets
Seller’s pay-offs
Buyer’s pay-offs
FuturesPrice
Why Forwards?
They are customized contracts unlike Futures
and they are: Tailor-made and more suited for certain
purposes. Useful when futures do not exist for
commodities and financials being considered. Useful in cases futures’ standard may be
different from the actual.
Futures & Forwards Distinguished
FUTURES FORWARDS
They trade on exchanges Trade in OTC markets
Are standardized Are customized
Identity of counterparties is irrelevant
Identity is relevant
Regulated Not regulated
Marked to market No marking to market
Easy to terminate Difficult to terminate
Less costly More costly
Important Terms
Spot Markets: Where contracts for immediate delivery are traded.
Forward or Futures markets: Where contracts for later delivery are traded.
Both the above taken together constitute cash markets.
Important Terms
Futures Series: All with same delivery month with same underlying asset.
Front month and Back month. Soonest to deliver or the nearby contract Commodity futures vs. financial futures. Cheapest to deliver instruments. Offering lags.
Important Terms
Variation Margin Deliverables Substitute for Future Cash Market
Transactions Settlement in Cash
Interest Rate Futures
Two factors have led to growth:
Enormous growth in the market for fixed income securities.
If corporate yield rises by 80bp by the time of actual offering, it has to pay 10.55% couponsemi-annually to price it at par. Thus, it has to payRs.50,00,00,000 0.0080 0.5 = Rs.20,00,000 more every six months in terms of increasedcoupons.
Since corporate yield increases by 80bp, T-Bondyield will increase by 178bp resulting in anincreased profit on short position in T-bondfutures
= 22,00,00,000 0.0178 0.5= Rs.19,58,000 half yearly, which has a PV= 19,58,000 PVIFA4,89%,40
= Rs.3,41,09,729= Rs.3.411 Crores
Why Not perfect Hedge?
PV01 provides accurate and effective hedge for small changes in yields.
PV01s of cash and hedge instruments change at different rates.
PV01s need to be recalculated frequently (practice is every 5bps). This can change the residual risk profile.
Additional costs related to recalculations need to be kept in mind.
A Transaction on the Futures Exchange.
Buyer Buyer’sBroker
FuturesExchange
3
Buyer’s Broker’sCommission Broker
FuturesClearingHouse
Buyer’s Broker’sClearing Firm
Buyer’s Broker’sClearing Firm
Seller’s Broker’sCommission Broker
Seller’sBroker
Seller
1a 1b Buyer and seller instruct their respective brokers to conduct a futures transaction.2a 2b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers request their firm’s commission brokers execute the transaction.3 Both floor brokers meet in the pit on the floor of the futures exchange and agree on a price.4 Information on the trade is reported to the clearinghouse.5a 5b Both commission brokers report the price obtained to the buyer’s and seller’s brokers.6a 6b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers report the price obtained to the buyer and seller.7a 7b Buyer and seller deposit margin with their brokers.8a 8b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers deposit margin with their clearing firms.9a 9b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers’ clearing firms deposit premium and margin with clearinghouse.
1a
6a
7a
2a5a
48a 8b
9a 9b
2b5b
1b
6b
7b
Note: Either buyer or seller (or both) could be a floor trader, eliminating the broker and commission broker.
Exchange Rate Risk Hedging
Currency hedge is a direct hedge and not
a cross hedge as in case of interest rate
risk hedging. Hence, a hedge ratio of 1:1
works very well.
Forward Rate Agreements (FRAs)
FRAs are a type of forward contract wherein contracting parties agree on some interest rate tobe paid on a deposit to be received or made at alater date.
The single cash settlement amount is determinedby the size of deposit (notional principal), agreedupon contract rate of interest and value of thereference rate prevailing on the settlement date.Notional principal is not actually exchanged.
Determination of Settlement Amount
Step-1:Take the difference between contract rate andthe reference rate on the date of contract settlement
Step-2: Discount the sum obtained using reference rateas rate of discount.
The resultant PV is the sum paid or received. Thereference rate could be LIBOR (most often used) or any other well defined rate not easily manipulated.
Hedging with FRAs
Party seeking protection from possibleincrease in rates would buy FRAs (party is called purchaser) and the one seekingprotection from decline would sell FRAs(party is called seller).
These positions are opposite of thoseemployed while hedging in futures.
Illustration
A bank in U.S. wants to lock-in an interest rate for$5millions 6-month LIBOR-based lending thatcommences in 3 months using a 39 FRA. At the time 6-month LIBOR (Spot Rate) is quoted at 8.25%. Thedealer offers 8.32% to commence in 3 months. U.S. bankoffers the client 8.82%. If at the end of 3 months, whenFRA is due to be settled, 6-month LIBOR is at 8.95%,bank borrows at 8.95% in the Eurodollar market andlends at 8.82%.
Illustration
Profit/Loss= (8.82-8.95) 5 millions 182/360= - $3286.11
It is an obligation to deliver at settlement an amount equal to ‘x’ times the difference between the stock index value on expiration date and the contracted value
On the last day of trading session the final settlement price is set equal to the spot index price
Illustration (Margin and Settlement)
The settlement price of an index futures contract on aparticular day was 1100. The multiple associated is 150.The maximum realistic change that can be expected is 50points per day. Therefore, the initial margin is 50×150 =Rs.7500. The maintenance margin is set at Rs.6000. Thesettlement prices on day 1,2,3 and 4 are 1125, 1095,1100 and 1140 respectively. Calculate mark-to-marketcash flows and daily closing balance in the account ofInvestor who has gone long and the one who has goneShort at 1100. Also calculate net profit/(loss) on eachcontract.
Assuming that an investor buys a portfolio consisting of stocks in the index, rupee returns are:
RI = (IE – IC) + D, where
RI = Rupee returns on portfolio
IE = Index value on expiration
IC = Current index value
D = Dividend received during the year
Pricing of Index Futures Contracts
If he invests in index futures and invests the money in risk free asset, then
RIF = (FE – FC) + RF,
where
RIF = Rupee return on alternative investment
FE = Futures value on expiry
FC = Current futures value
RF = Return on risk-free investment
Pricing of Index Futures Contracts
If investor is indifferent between the two options, then
RI = RIFi.e. (IE-IC) + D = (FE-FC) + RF
Since IE = FEFC = IC + (RF – D)
(RF – D) is the ‘cost of carry’ or ‘basis’ and the futures contract must be priced to reflect ‘cost of carry’.
Stock Index Arbitrage
When index futures price is out of sync with the theoretical price, the an investor can earn abnormal risk-less profits by trading simultaneously in spot and futures market. This process is called stock index arbitrage or basis trading or program trading.
Stock Index Arbitrage: Illustration
Current price of an index = 1150
Annualized dividend yield on index = 4%
6-month futures contract price = 1195
Risk-free rate of return = 10% p.a.
Assume that 50% of stocks in the index will
pay dividends in next 6 months. Ignore
margin, transaction costs and taxes. Assume a
multiple of 100. Is there a possibility of stock
Index arbitrage?
Stock Index Arbitrage: Illustration
Fair price of index futureFC = IC + (RF – D)
= 1150 + [(1150×0.10×0.5)-(1150×0.04×0.5)] = 1150 + 34.5 = 1184.5 (hence it is overpriced)
Investor can buy a portfolio identical to index and short-sell futures on index.If index closes at 850 on expiration date, thenA. Profit on short sale of futures (1195 – 850) ×100 = Rs.34,500B. Cash Div recd on port. (1150 × 0.04 × 0.5 × 100 = Rs. 2,300C. Loss on sale of port. (1150 – 850) ×100 = ( - ) Rs.30,000D. Net Profit = 34,500 +2,300 – 30,000 = Rs.6,800E. Half yearly return = 6800 ÷ (1150×100)=0.0591 = 5.91%F. Annual return (1.0591)2 – 1 = 0.1217 = 12.17%
Stock Index Arbitrage: Illustration
If index closes at 1300,
A. = (-) 10,500
B. = 2,300
C. = 15,000
D. = 6,800 = 12.17% p.a.
Application of Index Futures
In passive Portfolio Management:
An investor willing to invest Rs.1 crore can buy futures contracts instead of a portfolio, which mimics the index.
Number of contracts (if Nifty is 5000)
= 1,00,00,000/5000 ×100 = 20 contracts
Advantages: Periodic rebalancing will not be required. Potential tracking errors can be avoided. Transaction costs are less.
Application of Index Futures
In Beta Management:
In a bullish market beta should be high and in a bearish market beta should be low i.e. market timing and stock selection should be used.
Consider following portfolio and rising market forecast.
Equity : Rs.150 millions
Cash Equivalent : Rs.50 millions
Total : Rs.200 millions
Assume a beta of 0.8 and desired beta of 1.2
Application of Index Futures
The Beta can be raised by,a. Selling low beta stocks and buying high beta stocks
and also maintain 3:1 ratio. Or,b. Purchasing ‘X’ contracts in the following equation: