Deck 2: Mechanics of Futures Markets

Question 1

For a futures contract trading in April 2012,the open interest for a June 2012 contract,when compared to the open interest for Sept 2012 contracts,is usually

A)Higher
B)Lower
C)The same
D)Equally likely to be higher or lower

Answer 1

A
The contracts which are close to maturity tend to have the highest open interest.However,during the maturity month itself the open interest declines.

Question 2

In the corn futures contract a number of different types of corn can be delivered (with price adjustments specified by the exchange)and there are a number of different delivery locations.Which of the following is true

A)This flexibility tends increase the futures price.
B)This flexibility tends decrease the futures price.
C)This flexibility may increase and may decrease the futures price.
D)This flexibility has no effect on the futures price

Answer 2

B
The party with the short position chooses between the alternatives.The alternatives therefore make the futures contract more attractive to the party with the short position.The lower the futures price the less attractive it is to the party with the short position.The benefit of the alternatives available to the party with the short position is therefore compensated for by the futures price being lower than it would otherwise be.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT true

A)Futures contracts nearly always last longer than forward contracts
B)Futures contracts are standardized; forward contracts are not.
C)Delivery or final cash settlement usually takes place with forward contracts; the same is not true of futures contracts.
D)Forward contracts usually have one specified delivery date; futures contract often have a range of delivery dates.

Answer 3

A
Forward contracts often last longer than futures contracts.B,C,and D are true

Question 4

Margin accounts have the effect of

A)Reducing the risk of one party regretting the deal and backing out
B)Ensuring funds are available to pay traders when they make a profit
C)Reducing systemic risk due to collapse of futures markets
D)All of the above

Question 5

A company enters into a short futures contract to sell 50,000 units of a commodity for 70 cents per unit.The initial margin is $4,000 and the maintenance margin is $3,000.What is the futures price per unit above which there will be a margin call?

A)78 cents
B)76 cents
C)74 cents
D)72 cents

Question 6

Clearing houses are

A)Never used in futures markets and sometimes used in OTC markets
B)Used in OTC markets, but not in futures markets
C)Always used in futures markets and sometimes used in OTC markets
D)Always used in both futures markets and OTC markets

Question 7

With bilateral clearing,the number of agreements between four dealers,who trade with each other, is

A)12
B)1
C)6
D)2

Question 8

A limit order

A)Is an order to trade up to a certain number of futures contracts at a certain price
B)Is an order that can be executed at a specified price or one more favorable to the investor
C)Is an order that must be executed within a specified period of time
D)None of the above

Question 9

Which of the following are cash settled

A)All futures contracts
B)All option contracts
C)Futures on commodities
D)Futures on stock indices

Question 10

The frequency with which futures margin accounts are adjusted for gains and losses is

A)Daily
B)Weekly
C)Monthly
D)Quarterly

Question 11

One futures contract is traded where both the long and short parties are closing out existing positions.What is the resultant change in the open interest?

A)No change
B)Decrease by one
C)Decrease by two
D)Increase by one

Question 12

You sell one December futures contracts when the futures price is $1,010 per unit.Each contract is on 100 units and the initial margin per contract that you provide is $2,000.The maintenance margin per contract is $1,500.During the next day the futures price rises to $1,012 per unit.What is the balance of your margin account at the end of the day?

A)$1,800
B)$3,300
C)$2,200
D)$3,700

Question 13

A hedger takes a long position in a futures contract on a commodity on November 1,2012 to hedge an exposure on March 1,2013.The initial futures price is $60.On December 31,2012 the futures price is $61.On March 1,2013 it is $64.The contract is closed out on March 1,2013.What gain is recognized in the accounting year January 1 to December 31,2013? Each contract is on 1000 units of the commodity.

A)$0
B)$1,000
C)$3,000
D)$4,000

Question 14

A company enters into a long futures contract to buy 1,000 units of a commodity for $60 per unit.The initial margin is $6,000 and the maintenance margin is $4,000.What futures price will allow $2,000 to be withdrawn from the margin account? ?

A)$58
B)$62
C)$64
D) $66

Question 15

Which of the following is true

A)Both forward and futures contracts are traded on exchanges.
B)Forward contracts are traded on exchanges, but futures contracts are not.
C)Futures contracts are traded on exchanges, but forward contracts are not.
D)Neither futures contracts nor forward contracts are traded on exchanges.

Question 16

A speculator takes a long position in a futures contract on a commodity on November 1,2012 to hedge an exposure on March 1,2013.The initial futures price is $60.On December 31,2012 the futures price is $61.On March 1,2013 it is $64.The contract is closed out on March 1,2013.What gain is recognized in the accounting year January 1 to December 31,2013? Each contract is on 1000 units of the commodity.
A) $0

A)$3,000
B) $1,000
B)$4,000

Question 17

Which of the following best describes central clearing parties

A)Help market participants to value derivative transactions
B)Must be used for all OTC derivative transactions
C)Are used for futures transactions
D)Perform a similar function to exchange clearing houses

Question 18

Which entity in the United States takes primary responsibility for regulating futures market?

A)Federal Reserve Board
B)Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
C)Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)
D)US Treasury

Question 19

A haircut of 20% means that

A)A bond with a market value of $100 is considered to be worth $80 when used to satisfy a collateral request
B)A bond with a face value of $100 is considered to be worth $80 when used to satisfy a collateral request
C)A bond with a market value of $100 is considered to be worth $83.3 when used to satisfy a collateral request
D)A bond with a face value of $100 is considered to be worth $83.3 when used to satisfy a collateral request

Question 20

Who initiates delivery in a corn futures contract

A)The party with the long position
B)The party with the short position
C)Either party
D)The exchange