Futures And Forwards

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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 Buyer’s payoffs

Pay-off Diagram:

Futures Price Spot price of underlying assets

Seller’s pay-offs

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. Increased volatility of interest rates.

Futures & Risk Hedging  Interest

Rate Risk  Exchange Rate Risk  Commodity Price Risk  Equity Price Risk

Hedging Interest Rate Risk A CFO needs to raise Rs.50 crores in February 20XX to fund a new investment in May 20XX, by selling 30-year bonds. Hedge instrument available is a 20-year, 8% Treasury -bond based Future. Cash instrument has a PV01 of 0.096585, selling at par and yielding 9.75%. It pays half-yearly coupons and has a yield beta of 0.45. Hedge instrument has a PV01 of 0.098891.

Hedging Interest Rate Risk Hence, FVh= FVc × [PV01c / PV01h] × β y = 50 × [0.096585 / 0.098891] × 0.45 = Rs.21.98 Crores If FV of a single T-Bond Future is Rs.10,00,000 then, Number of Futures (Nf) = 21.98/0.1 = 219.8 Futures

Hedging Interest Rate Risk If corporate yield rises by 80bp by the time of actual offering, it has to pay 10.55% coupon semi-annually to price it at par. Thus, it has to pay Rs.50,00,00,000 × 0.0080 × 0.5 = Rs.20,00,000 more every six months in terms of increased coupons. This additional amount will have a PV at 10.55% = 20,00,000 × PVIFA5.275%,60 = Rs.3,61,79,720 ≅ Rs.3.618 Crores

Hedging Interest Rate Risk Since corporate yield increases by 80bp, T-Bond yield will increase by 178bp resulting in an increased profit on short position in T-bond futures = 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

1a 2 6a Buyer’s a Buyer’s Broker’s Commission Broker 7a Broker 5a

3

1b 2 6b Seller’s Broker’s b Seller’s Commission Broker 5b Broker 7b

4

8a

Buyer’s Broker’s Clearing Firm

1a 2a 3 4 5a 6a 7a 8a 9a

Futures Exchange

9a

Futures Clearing House

Seller

8b 9b

Buyer’s Broker’s Clearing Firm

1b Buyer and seller instruct their respective brokers to conduct a futures transaction. 2b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers request their firm’s commission brokers execute the transaction. Note: Either Both floor brokers meet in the pit on the floor of the futures exchange and agree on a price. buyer or seller Information on the trade is reported to the clearinghouse. 5b Both commission brokers report the price obtained to the buyer’s and seller’s brokers. (or both) could 6b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers report the price obtained to the buyer and seller. be a floor trader, 7b Buyer and seller deposit margin with their brokers. eliminating the 8b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers deposit margin with their clearing firms. broker and 9b Buyer’s and seller’s brokers’ clearing firms deposit premium and margin with clearinghouse.

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 to be paid on a deposit to be received or made at a later date. The single cash settlement amount is determined by the size of deposit (notional principal), agreed upon contract rate of interest and value of the reference rate prevailing on the settlement date. Notional principal is not actually exchanged.

Determination of Settlement Amount Step-1:Take the difference between contract rate and the reference rate on the date of contract settlement Step-2: Discount the sum obtained using reference rate as rate of discount. The resultant PV is the sum paid or received. The reference rate could be LIBOR (most often used) or any other well defined rate not easily manipulated.

Hedging with FRAs Party seeking protection from possible increase in rates would buy FRAs (party is called purchaser) and the one seeking protection from decline would sell FRAs (party is called seller). These positions are opposite of those employed while hedging in futures.

Illustration A bank in U.S. wants to lock-in an interest rate for $5millions 6-month LIBOR-based lending that commences in 3 months using a 3× 9 FRA. At the time 6-month LIBOR (Spot Rate) is quoted at 8.25%. The dealer offers 8.32% to commence in 3 months. U.S. bank offers the client 8.82%. If at the end of 3 months, when FRA is due to be settled, 6-month LIBOR is at 8.95%, bank borrows at 8.95% in the Eurodollar market and lends at 8.82%.

Illustration Profit/Loss= (8.82-8.95) × 5 millions × 182/360 = - $3286.11 Hedge Profit/Loss = D× (RR-CR)× NP× 182/360 = 1 × (8.95-8.32) × 5 millions× 182/360 = $15925 Amount Received/Paid = $15925/1.04525= $15235.59 Note: 8.95 × 182/360 = 4.525

Index Futures Contract 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 Settlement)

(Margin and

The settlement price of an index futures contract on a particular day was 1100. The multiple associated is 150. The maximum realistic change that can be expected is 50 points per day. Therefore, the initial margin is 50×150 = Rs.7500. The maintenance margin is set at Rs.6000. The settlement prices on day 1,2,3 and 4 are 1125, 1095, 1100 and 1140 respectively. Calculate mark-to-market cash flows and daily closing balance in the account of Investor who has gone long and the one who has gone Short at 1100. Also calculate net profit/(loss) on each contract.

Illustration Long Position: Day Sett. Price Op. Bal. M-T-M CF Margin Call 1 1125 7500 + 3750 11250 2 1095 11250 - 4500 6750 3 1100 6750 + 750 7500 4 1140 7500 + 6000 13500 Net Profit/(loss) = 3750-4500+750+6000 = Rs. 6000

Cl. Bal

Short Position: Day Sett. Price Op. Bal. M-T-M CF Margin Call 1 1125 7500 - 3750 2250 6000 2 1095 6000 + 4500 10500 3 1100 10500 - 750 9750 4 1140 9750 - 6000 2250 6000 Net Profit/(loss) = -3750+4500-750-6000 = (-) Rs. 6000

Cl. Bal

Pricing of Index Futures Contracts 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 = RIF i.e. (IE-IC) + D = (FE-FC) + RF Since IE = FE FC = 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 future FC = 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, then A. B. C. D. E. F.

Profit on short sale of futures (1195 – 850) ×100 = Rs.34,500 Cash Div recd on port. (1150 × 0.04 × 0.5 × 100 = Rs. 2,300 Loss on sale of port. (1150 – 850) ×100 = ( - ) Rs.30,000 Net Profit = 34,500 +2,300 – 30,000 = Rs.6,800 Half yearly return = 6800 ÷ (1150×100)=0.0591 = 5.91% Annual return (1.0591)2 – 1 = 0.1217 = 12.17%

Stock Index Arbitrage: Illustration

If index closes at 1300, A. B. C. D.

= = = =

(-) 10,500 2,300 15,000 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: 150 × 0.8 + 0.02 × X = 200 × 1.2 i.e. X = (200 × 1.2 – 150 × 0.8) / 0.02 = 6000 contracts, assuming Nifty future available at Rs.5000, multiple of 4 and beta of contract as 1.0 No. of contracts will be 600 for a multiple iof 40 and 240 for a multiple is 100.

Euro-rate Differentials (Diffs) Introduced on July 6, 1989 in US, it is a futures contract tied to differential between a 3-month non-dollar interest rate and USD 3-month LIBOR and are cash settled.

Euro-rate Differentials (Diffs) Example: If USD 3-month LIBOR is 7.45 and Euro 3-month LIBOR is 5.40 at the settlement time, the diff would be priced at 100 – (7.45 –5.40) = 97.95. Suppose in January, the March Euro/dollar diff is prices at 97.60, this would suggest that markets expects the differential between USD LIBOR and Euro LIBOR to be 2.40% at settlement in March.

Euro-rate Differentials (Diffs) They are used for: 1. Locking in or unlocking interest rate differentials when funding in one currency and investing in another. 2. Hedging exposures associated with non-dollar interestrate sensitivities. 3. Managing the residual risks associated with running a currency swap book. 4. Managing risks associated with ever changing interestrate differentials for a currency dealer

Foreign Exchange Agreements (FXAs) They allow the parties to hedge movements in exchange rate differentials without entering a conventional currency swap. At the termination of the agreement, a single payment is made by one counterparty to another based on the direction and the extent of movement in exchange rate differentials. Visit mbafin.blogspot.com for more