Reading 28 - Pricing and Valuation of Forward Commitments Flashcards
Explain what the no-arbitrage principle is…..
That there should not be a riskless profit to be gained by a combination of a forward contract position with positions in other assets.
In simple terms,describe what a forward contract is….
An agreement between two parties in which one party, the buyer, agrees to buy from the other party, the seller, an underlying asset or other derivative, at a future date at a price established at the start of the contract.
What is the general formula for how to calculate the forward contract price?
***Critical Concept****

What are the 3 assumptions of the no-arbitrage principle?
- Transaction costs are zero
- There are no restrictions on short sales or on the use of short sale proceeds
- Both borrowing and lending can be done in unlimited amounts at the risk-free rate of interest.
Consider a 3-month forward contract on a zero-coupon bond with a face value of $1,000 is currently quoted at $500, and the risk free annual interest rate of 6%. Determine the price of the forward contract under the no-abitrage principle……

In a cash and carry arbitrage, what should be done if the FRA is overpriced?
***Critical Concept*****
- Short (sell) the forward
- Long (buy) spot asset
- Borrow money
In a cash and carry arbitrage, what should be done if the FRA is underpriced?
****Critical Concept*****
- long (buy) the forward
- short (sell) the spot asset
- invest (lend) money
What is the value of a forward contract calculated at its initiation???
****Critical Concept******
Value at initiation = 0. The contract is priced to prevent arbitrage.
How is the Long value of a forward contract calculated during the life of the contract???
****Critical Concept*****
simplified formula?

How is the Short value of a forward contract calculated during the life of the contract ???
***Critical Concept****

How is the value of a forward contract calculated at maturity for a long position ?
How is the value of a forward contract calculated at maturity for a short position???
What adjustment may we need to account for to calculate the price of an equity forward contract?
Since a stock, portfolio or equity index may have expected dividend payments over the life of the contract we have to account for these flows in one of two ways.
What formula is used to price an equity forward contract?
Explain in words
What is an alternative formula to calculate equity forward contract that does not include the PVD?
In words..
How do you calculate the value of a long position in a forward contract on a dividend-paying stock? What is the valuation dependent on?
***Critical Concept****
Explain words.
The valuation is dependent on the price of the underlying.

How do you calculate the price of an equity index forward contract whose dividends are paid continuously?
***Critical Concept****
in words…

The value of the S&P 500 index is 1,140. The continuously compounded risk-free rate is 4.6% and the continuous dividend yield is 2.1%. Calculate the no-arbitrage price of a 140 day forward contract on the index…..

The value of the S&P 500 index is 1,140. The continuously compunded risk-free rate is 4.6% and the continuous dividend yield is 2.1%. Calculate the no-arbitrage price of a 140 day forward contract on the index…..
Now, after 95 days, the value of the index is 1,025. Calculate the value to the long position of the forward contract……

How do you calculate the value of the forward contract on an equity index that is continuously compounded?
***Critical Concept****

What adjustment do we need to make to calculate the price of a forward contract on a fixed income security?
Similar to the adjustment we make for dividends in equity contracts, we must do the same for coupon payments by adusted be either:
- PV of expected coupon payments (PVC)
- Future value of coupon payments (FVC)
How do you calculate the forward price of a fixed income security prior to expiration?
Include alternative
How do you c_alculate the value of the forward contract_ of a fixed income security prior to expiration?

Calculate the price of a 250 day forward contract on a 7% US Treasury bond with a spot price of $1,050 (including accrued interest) that has just paid a coupon and will make another coupon payment in 182 days. The annual risk free rate is 6%.






