Derivatives Flashcards
What is a futures contract?
An agreement to buy or sell a specified quantity of a specific asset on a specified future date at a price agreed today
What does the long position of a future describe?
Buyer of a future
What does the short position of a future describe?
Seller of the future
How is the value of a future derived?
From the value of the underlying asset
What is the delivery date also known as?
Expiry date
What is a contingent liability in futures?
An investment position where an investor may lose more money than they originally invested
What is a CFD?
Contracts for difference - cash settled derivatives
What is a forward?
Forward is a deal between two parties NOT on an exchange (OTC)
In what market does a the long futures make money?
In a price rising market
In what market does a short future make money?
In a falling market
What is max loss and gain for a long future?
Max loss - price of future
Max gain - Unlimited
What is max loss and gain for a short future?
Max loss: Unlimited
Max gain: price of future
How do you close out a long position?
Selling - going short
What do Bulls believe?
Market will rise - so they buy (long)
What do bears believe?
Market will fall - so they sell (short)
What is a short hedge used for?
Used to remove the uncertainly of owning an asset e.g. sell a future
What is a long hedge used for?
Used to remove the uncertainly of not owning asset e.g buy a future
What is arbitrage?
When you make a risk free profit exploiting anomalies in the prices between 2 related but different markets
What is an option?
Right to buy or sell an underlying on or before a set date (optional)
What is a call option?
Right to buy the underlying
What is a put option?
Right to sell the underlying
What is the exercise (strike) price?
Price at which an option specifies the asset can be bought or sold
What is the option premium?
Price paid for the option
What is a European style option?
Can be exercised at expiry only
What is an American option?
Can be exercised at anytime up to expiry
What is a Bermudian option?
Can be exercised at expiry or on specific specified dates
What is an Asian style option?
Exercised at the average price over a set period of time
What is a flex contract?
Options providing the user the ability to negotiate maturity, exercise price and style of contract
What is a barrier (knock out/in) option?
Option is activated when underlying reaches a specified barrier
What is a binary (digital) option?
Pays a fixed amount or nothing
What is a look back (path dependant) option?
Where the holder can pick highest / lowest price over the period
What is a ratchet option?
Series of options in one package
What is a chooser option?
Holder can choose if it’s a put or call upon exercise
What is a compound option?
An option giving the right on another option
What is a contingent liability transaction?
Derivative where you may lose more money than originally invested
What is the shape of P/L for holder of a long call?
Flat and then sharp rise
What is the shape of P/L for holder of a long put?
Sharp down and then flat
What is the shape of P/L for writer of a short call?
Flat and then sharp down
What is the shape of P/L for writer of a short put?
Sharp up and then flat
What type of strategy is a long call? Max loss/gain and breakeven?
Bullish
Max Loss: Premium
Max Gain: unlimited
Breakeven: Strike + Premium
What type of strategy is a short call? Max loss/gain and breakeven?
Bearish / Neutral
Max Loss: Unlimited
Max Gain: Premium
Breakeven: Strike + Premium
What type of strategy is a long put? Max loss/gain and breakeven?
Bearish
Max Loss: Premium
Max Gain: Strike - Premium
Breakeven: Strike - Premium
What type of strategy is a short put? Max loss/gain and breakeven?
Bullish/ Neutral
Max Loss: Strike - Premium
Max Gain: Premium
Breakeven: Strike - Premium
How do you make a synthetic long call?
Long underlying + Long put
What is a highly geared option?
Smaller outlay, for a larger profit or loss e.g. OTM options
What is T Bill
UK Gov debt bond, usually up to 3 months. Zero coupon discount issuance
What is commercial paper?
Unsecured short dated company debt
What is a certificate of deposit?
Deposit with interest e.g. term deposit
Standard settlement for spot trades?
T + 2
How long can FX forwards be for?
Up to 12 months
What is the gilt edged market?
UK GOV Debt market
Life, coupon and settlement time for GILTS (UK)?
Up to 50 years
Semi annual
T+1
Life, coupon and settlement time for T bonds (US)?
T notes, 2-10
T bonds: Over 10
Semi annual
T+1
Life, coupon and settlement time for German Bonds?
Schatz: 1.75 - 2.25, Bobl: 4.5 - 5.5 Bund: 8.5 - 10
Annual
T+2
Life, coupon and settlement time for French bonds (OATS)
OATS - Up to 50
Annual
T+2
Life, coupon and settlement time for Italian bonds (BTP)
3 - 30
Semi Annual
T + 2
Life, coupon and settlement time for Japanese’s bonds (JGB)
Normal: 10, Superlong: 20
Semi annual
T+1 domestic
T+3 Cross border
For credit agencies what is a default rating?
Moody’s - C
S&P / Fitch - D
For credit agencies what is investment grade long term rating?
Moody’s: Aaa to Baa3
S&P and Fitch: AAA to BBB-
For credit agencies what is investment grade short term rating?
Moody’s: P1 - P3
S&P: A1 to A3
Fitch: F1+ to F3
What is the basic characteristics for equities?
Right to vote
Dividend
Right to surplus on winding up
What is a warrant?
Right to subscribe to new shares from a company at a fixed price on a future date
What is Gordon’s growth model?
Calculates share value based on discounting future dividends
What can impact supply and demand for agriculture?
Land / Weather / Tech / Gov / Transport
Wealth, Population, Taste/Trend
What is the main use and main source for Aluminium?
Aircraft, Packaging, Windows
US, Asia, Europe
What is the main use and main source for Copper?
Electronics / Buildings
Chile, US
What is the main use for Zinc?
Galvanised brass
What is the main use for Nickel?
Stainless steel
What is the main use for Lead?
Batteries, Added to Petrol
What is the main use for Tin?
Packaging
What is the main use for Gold?
Electronics, Jewellery, Investment
What is the main use for Silver?
Industry, Jewellery
Main use and sources for crude oil?
Fuel + Plastics
Brent, Dubai, West Texas
Main use and sources for natural gas?
Fuel + Manufacturing
Worldwide
Types of exotics?
Freight
Weather
Emissions
Crypto
Main products for derivatives?
Bonds
Commodities
Equities
Exoctics
FX
Interest rates
What is the tick size?
Minimum movement of a contract
What is the tick value?
Monetary value of one tick
What is ICE and how does it work?
Energy products, index, bonds and Interest
Electronic
ICE CLEAR
Who does the clearing for LSE?
LCH
What platform are trades done on for Euronext?
Optiq
How are trades cleared for Euronext?
LCH SA or Euro CCP
What is CBOT and how does it work?
Chicago Board of Trade, part of CME
open outcry and electronic
Agriculture, gold, interest
Who does CBOT have a joint trading agreement with?
SGX
What is CBOE?
Chicago Board Options Exchange
Largest US exchange trading
What is CME and how does it work?
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Open outcry and electronic
Equities indices etc.
What does NYMEX trade?
Metal, Energy, oil
What is the role of an exchange?
Marketplace, ensuring a transparent market with reporting and published pricing
What is a principal trade?
Dealing for yourself (or firm)
What is an agency trade?
Firm isn’t taking a position but earns commission on the trade as a broker
What is a cross trade?
Broker can act for 2 clients with opposite matching trades
What is a general clearing member?
Clear for themselves, clients and non clearing members
What is an individual clearing member?
Clear for themselves and their clients
What is the order flow for open outcry system?
Order placement
Booth clerk (info carried across the floor)
Trade execution
Confirmation and matching
Registration
How are screen based orders usually ranked?
Price and then time
What is a market order?
At best order e.g. no price given
What is a limit order?
Specified volume, and no worse than price
What is a market if touched order?
Orders when price hits a certain point
What is an opening order?
Has to be executed during opening procedure
What is a closing order?
Closed during closing procedure
What is a limit or market on close order?
Standard order during the day, but closed out using best price if it reaches closing auction
What is stop order?
Close out the position if the market reaches a certain level
What is a good till cancelled order?
Order valid until expressly cancelled