2.26 One orange juice futures contract is on 15,000 pounds of frozen concentrate that in September 2009 a company sells a March 2011 orange juice futures contract 120 cents per pound. In December 2009, the futures price is 140 cents; in December 2010 it is 110 cents and in February 2011 it is closed out at 125 cents. The company has a December year end. What is the company’s profit or loss on the contract?
F=140 P&L = -20*15000
F=110 P&L=+30*15000
F=125 P&L=-15*15000
Total P&L =-5*15000=75,000
2.27 A company enters into a short futures contract to sell 5000 bushels of wheat for 450 cents per bushel. The initial margin is $3000 and the maintenance margin is $2000. What price change would lead to a margin call? Under what circumstances could $1500 be withdrawn from the margin account?
A drop in the margin account of more than $1000 will cause a margin call. The margin account will drop if the price increases (since this is a short position) by more than $1000/5000=$0.20 or 20 cents.
1500 could be withdrawn if the price drops by $1500/5000=$0.30 or 30 cents.
2.28 Suppose that there are no storage costs for crude oil and the interest rate for both borrowing and lending is 5% per annum. How could you make money on January 8, 2007 by trading June 2007 and December 2007 contracts on Crude oil? Settle June 2007 Settle December 2007
January 8 60.01-0.1=59.91 62.94-0.28=62.66
January 9 60.01 62.94
Right now: Long June contract & Short September Contract
In June: receive oil, borrow 59.91 at 5%, pay 59.91, store the oil
In September: deliver oil and receive 62.66, return loan of 59.91*e^(5%*(6/12))=61.42.
2.25 Explain what is meant by open interest. Why does the open interest usually decline in the month preceding the deliver month? On a particular day, there are 2000 particular futures contracts. Of the 2000 traders on the long side of the market, 1400 closing out position and 600 were