Deck 10: Derivative Securities Markets

Question 1

A negotiated non-standardized agreement between a buyer and seller (with no third-party involvement)to exchange an asset for cash at some future date with the price set today is called a forward agreement.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

An in the money American call option increases in value as expiration approaches,but an out of the money American call option decreases in value as expiration approaches.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A clearinghouse backs the buyer's and seller's position in a forward contract.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Which of the following is true?

A)Forward contracts have no default risk.
B)Futures contracts require an initial margin requirement be paid.
C)Forward contracts are marked to market daily.
D)Forward contract buyers and sellers do not know who the counterparty is.
E)Futures contracts are only traded over the counter.

Question 5

Marking to market of futures contracts is the process of realizing gains and losses each day as the futures contract changes in price.

Question 6

Writing a put option results in a potentially limited gain and a potentially unlimited loss.

Question 7

The purchaser of a T-bond futures contract priced at 101-16 at the time of sale agrees to deliver $100,000 face value Treasury bonds in exchange for receiving $101,500 at contract maturity.

Question 8

You would expect the price quote for a put option to be at least $10 if the put had an exercise price of $40 and the underlying stock was selling for $50.

Question 9

In a futures contract,if funds in the margin account fall below the maintenance margin requirement,a margin call is issued.

Question 10

The buyer of a call option on stock benefits if the underlying stock price rises or if the volatility of the stock's price increases.

Question 11

A credit forward is a forward agreement that hedges against an increase in default risk on a loan after the loan has been created by a lender.

Question 12

European-style options are options that may only be exercised at maturity.

Question 13

Forward contracts are marked to market daily.

Question 14

Of the following,the most recent derivative security innovations are

A)foreign currency futures.
B)interest rate futures.
C)stock index futures.
D)stock options.
E)credit derivatives.

Question 15

Futures or option exchange members who take positions on contracts for only a few moments are called scalpers.

Question 16

If you think that interest rates are likely to rise substantially over the next several years,you might sell a T-bond futures contract or buy an interest rate cap to take advantage of your expectations.

Question 17

An increase in which of the following would increase the price of a call option on common stock,ceteris paribus?
I) Stock price
II) Stock price volatility
III) Interest rates
IV) Exercise price

A)II only
B)II and IV only
C)I,II,and III only
D)I,III,and IV only
E)I,II,III,and IV

Question 18

By convention,a swap buyer on an interest rate swap agrees to

A)periodically pay a fixed rate of interest and receive a floating rate of interest.
B)periodically pay a floating rate of interest and receive a fixed rate of interest.
C)swap both principal and interest at contract maturity.
D)back both sides of the swap agreement.
E)act as the dealer in the swap agreement.

Question 19

A professional futures trader who buys and sells futures for his own account throughout the day but typically closes out his positions at the end of the day is called a

A)floor broker.
B)day trader.
C)position trader.
D)specialist.
E)hedger.

Question 20

American options can only be exercised at maturity.

Question 21

An investor is committed to purchasing 100 shares of World Port Management stock in six months. She is worried the stock price will rise significantly over the next six months. The stock is at $45 and she buys a six-month call with a strike of $50 for $250. At expiration the stock is at $54. What is the net economic gain or loss on the entire stock/option portfolio?

A)-$500
B)-$750
C)-$900
D)$400
E)$500

Question 22

The higher the exercise price,the ________________ the value of a put and the _______________ the value of a call.

A)higher; higher
B)lower; lower
C)higher; lower
D)lower; higher

Question 23

A stock has a spot price of $55. Its May options are about to expire. One of its puts is worth $5 and one of its calls is worth $10. The exercise price of the put must be ______________ and the exercise price of the call must be ________________.

A)$50; $45
B)$55; $55
C)$60; $45
D)$60; $50
E)One cannot tell from the information given.

Question 24

A contract that gives the holder the right to sell a security at a preset price only immediately before contract expiration is a(n)

A)American call option.
B)European call option.
C)American put option.
D)European put option.
E)knockout option.

Question 25

Measured by the amount outstanding,the largest type of derivative market in the world is the

A)futures market.
B)forward market.
C)swap market.
D)options market.
E)credit forward market.

Question 26

An investor has unrealized gains in 100 shares of Amazin stock for which he does not wish to pay taxes. However,he is now bearish upon the stock for the short term. The stock is at $76 and he buys a put with a strike of $75 for $300. At expiration the stock is at $68. What is the net gain or loss on the entire stock/option portfolio?

A)$700
B)-$800
C)-$400
D)-$200
E)-$100

Question 27

A speculator may write a put option on stock with an exercise price of $15 and earn a $3 premium only if he thought

A)the stock price would stay above $12.
B)the stock volatility would increase.
C)the stock price would fall below $18.
D)the stock price would stay above $15.
E)the stock price would rise above $18 or fall below $12.

Question 28

You find the following current quote for the March T-bond contract: $100,000; Pts 32^nd,of 100 percent. You went long in the contract at the open. Which of the following is/are true?
I) At the end of the day,your margin account would be increased.
II) 55,210 contracts were traded that day.
III) You agreed to deliver $100,000 face value T-bonds in March in exchange for $89,120.
IV) You agreed to purchase $100,000 face value T-bonds in March in exchange for $89,375.

A)I,II,and III only
B)I,II,and IV only
C)I and III only
D)I and IV only
E)IV only

Question 29

The swap market's primary direct government regulator is (the)

A)SEC.
B)CFTC.
C)NYSE.
D)WTO.
E)Nobody.

Question 30

A bank with long-term fixed-rate assets funded with short-term rate-sensitive liabilities could do which of the following to limit their interest rate risk?
I) Buy a cap.
II) Buy an interest rate swap.
III) Buy a floor.
IV) Sell an interest rate swap.

A)I and II only
B)III only
C)I and IV only
D)II and III only
E)III and IV only

Question 31

A bank with short-term floating-rate assets funded by long-term fixed-rate liabilities could hedge this risk by
I) buying a T-bond futures contract.
II) buying options on a T-bond futures contract.
III) entering into a swap agreement to pay a fixed rate and receive a variable rate.
IV) entering into a swap agreement to pay a variable rate and receive a fixed rate.

A)I and III only
B)I,II,and IV only
C)II and IV only
D)III only
E)IV only

Question 32

An interest rate floor is designed to protect an institution from
I) falling interest rates.
II) falling bond prices.
III) increased credit risk on loans.
IV) swap counterparty credit risk.

A)I and IV
B)II and III
C)I and III
D)II and IV
E)I only

Question 33

New futures contracts must be approved by

A)the CFTC.
B)the SEC.
C)the Warren Commission.
D)the NYSE.
E)the Federal Reserve.

Question 34

You have taken a stock option position and,if the stock's price increases,you could lose a fixed small amount of money,but if the stock's price decreases,your gain increases. You must have ________________________________.

A)bought a call option
B)bought a put option
C)written a call option
D)written a put option
E)purchased a straddle

Question 35

You have agreed to deliver the underlying commodity on a futures contract in 90 days. Today the underlying commodity price rises and you get a margin call. You must have

A)a long position in a futures contract.
B)a short position in a futures contract.
C)sold a forward contract.
D)purchased a forward contract.
E)purchased a call option on a futures contract.

Question 36

An interest rate collar is

A)writing a floor and writing a cap.
B)buying a cap and writing a floor.
C)an option on a futures contract.
D)buying a cap and buying a floor.
E)none of the options.

Question 37

You have taken a stock option position and,if the stock's price drops,you will get a level gain no matter how far prices fall,but you could go bankrupt if the stock's price rises. You have________________________________.

A)bought a call option.
B)bought a put option.
C)written a call option.
D)written a put option.
E)written a straddle.

Question 38

In a bear market,which option positions make money?
I) Buying a call
II) Writing a call
III) Buying a put
IV) Writing a put

A)I and II
B)I and III
C)II and IV
D)II and III
E)I and IV

Question 39

A higher level of which of the following variables would make a put option on common stock more valuable,ceteris paribus?
I) Stock price
II) Stock price volatility
III) Interest rates
IV) Exercise price

A)II only
B)II and IV only
C)I,II,and III only
D)I,III,and IV only
E)I,II,III,and IV

Question 40

An agreement between two parties to exchange a series of specified periodic cash flows in the future based on some underlying instrument or price is a(n)

A)forward agreement.
B)futures contract.
C)interest rate collar.
D)option contract.
E)swap contract.

Question 41

My bank has a larger number of adjustable-rate mortgage loans outstanding. To protect our interest rate income on these loans,the bank could
I) enter into a swap to pay fixed and receive variable.
II) enter into a swap to pay variable and receive fixed.
III) buy an interest rate floor.
IV) buy an interest rate cap.

A)I and III only
B)I and IV only
C)II and III only
D)II and IV only

Question 42

FNMA has direct holdings of 30-year fixed-rate mortgages financed by three- to five-year agency securities sold to the public.

Question 43

How does a futures or option clearinghouse assist traders?

Question 44

A bank has made a risky loan to a midsize consumer goods manufacturer. With the weaker economy,the borrower is expected to have trouble repaying the loan. The bank decides to purchase a digital default option. Which one of the following payout patterns does a digital option provide?

A)The option seller pays a stated amount to the option buyer,usually the par on the loan or bond,in the event of a default on the underlying credit.
B)The option seller pays the buyer if the default risk premium or yield spread on a specified benchmark bond of the borrower increases above some exercise spread.
C)If the option buyer makes fixed periodic payments to the option seller,the seller will pay the option buyer if a credit event occurs.
D)If the option buyer makes periodic payments to the seller and delivers the underlying bond or loan,the seller pays the par value of the security.
E)If interest rates change,the option seller will begin making fixed-rate payments to the option buyer.

Question 45

A bank lender is concerned about the creditworthiness of one of its major borrowers. The bank is considering using a swap to reduce its credit exposure to this customer. Which type of swap would best meet this need?

A)Interest rate swap
B)Currency swap
C)Equity linked swap
D)Credit default swap
E)DIF swap

Question 46

Suppose a stock is priced at $50. You are bullish on the stock and are considering buying March calls with an exercise price of $45 and $55,respectively. The 45 call is priced at $8.50 and the 55 call is quoted at $2.75. What should you consider in deciding which to purchase if you do not plan on exercising prior to maturity?
Be specific.

Question 47

When would a forward contract be better for hedging than a futures contract?

Question 48

A stock is priced at $33.25. The stock has 35 call options that expire in 60 days. The underlying stock price volatility is 39 percent per year and the annual risk-free rate is 4.5 percent. According to the Black-Scholes option pricing model,what is the most you should be willing to pay for this call option?

Question 49

When would an option hedge be better than a futures or forward hedge?

Question 50

A U.S. firm has a European subsidiary that earns euros. The subsidiary has borrowed dollars at a floating rate of interest. What kind of risk does the subsidiary have?
What kind of swap could be used to limit the subsidiary's risk?
Be specific.

Question 51

FNMA has direct holdings of 30-year fixed-rate mortgages financed by three- to five-year agency securities sold to the public.

Question 52

Using the Black-Scholes model,explain what happens to the value of a call as S,T,and σ² change. Why is the relationship between risk and price different for options than for other securities?

Question 53

Two competing fully electronic derivatives markets in the United States are

A)CME Globex and Eurex.
B)Philadelphia Exchange and AMEX.
C)NYSE and ABS.
D)CME and Pacific Exchange.
E)D-Trade and IMM.

Question 54

Buying a call at the money call option and writing a put at the money put option are two ways to make money when prices rise. When would each be the preferable strategy?

Question 55

Your firm enters into a swap agreement with a notional principal of $40 million wherein the firm pays a fixed rate of interest of 5.50 percent and receives a variable rate of interest equal to LIBOR plus 150 basis points. If LIBOR is currently 3.75 percent,the NET amount your firm will receive (+)or pay (-)on the next transaction date is

A)-$2,200,000.
B)$2,625,000.
C)$125,000.
D)-$100,000.
E)-$875,000.

Question 56

The type of swap most closely linked to the subprime mortgage crisis is the ____________.

A)interest rate swap
B)currency swap
C)equity linked swap
D)credit default swap
E)DIF swap

Question 57

What determines the success or failure of an exchange-traded derivative contract?
Why were currency and interest rate futures introduced in the early and late 1970s,respectively?

Question 58

When might an option on a futures contract be preferable to an option on the underlying instrument?

Question 59

A contract wherein the buyer agrees to pay a specified interest rate on a loan that will be originated at some future time is called a(n)

A)forward rate agreement.
B)futures loan.
C)option on a futures contract.
D)interest rate swap contract.
E)currency swap contract.

Question 60

A stock is priced at $27. An American call option on this stock with a $25 strike must be worth at least how much?
Numerically show why.