Financial Risk Management

Module 4 Derivatives
Question 1
Which of the following statements best describes when a market is said to be in contango?
a. The forward price is lower than the current spot price.
b. The current spot price exceeds the forward price.
c. The forward price exceeds the current spot price.
d. The current spot price equals the forward price.
Question 2
You are the corporate treasurer of an Australian-based gold producer. You believe that the price of gold is going
to rise and you would like to benefit from any increase in price, but would also like to hedge against a lower gold
price should the market fall. Which of the following hedge instruments would achieve this result?
a. Sell gold forward.
b. Sell gold futures.
c. Sell a gold call option.
d. Buy a gold put option.
Question 3
You are the corporate treasurer at OzCo Ltd (OzCo) and you have just purchased an AUD put/USD call currency
option from BigBank. Which one of the following statements is most correct?
a. The option gives OzCo the right, but not the obligation, to buy AUD and sell USD.
b. The option gives BigBank the right, but not the obligation, to buy AUD and sell USD.
c. The option requires BigBank to buy USD and sell AUD if OzCo exercises the option.
d. The option gives OzCo the right, but not the obligation, to buy USD and sell AUD.
Question 4
OzGold is considering purchasing a gold put option to hedge its exposure to falls in gold price. Which of the
following factors is/are likely to cause the price of the gold put option to increase?
I. An increase in the gold price.
II. An increase in the strike price of the option.
III. An increase in the volatility of the gold price.
IV. An increase in the time to expiry of the option.
a. I only.
b. II and III only.
c. I, II and IV only.
d. II, III and IV only.
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Question 5
An Australian aluminium producer has purchased an aluminium put/AUD call with a strike price of AUD
2800/tonne. Ifthe spot price on the expiry date and time of the option was at AUD 2750/tonne, how should the
aluminium producer respond?
a. Exercise the option and buy aluminium at AUD 2800/tonne.
b. Allow the option to lapse without exercising it.
c. Exercise the option and sell aluminium at AUD 2800/tonne.
d. Exercise the option and sell aluminium at AUD 2750/tonne.
Question 6
Which of the following statements are correct with respect to options?
I. For an option buyer, the maximum loss is the premium.
II. Downside risk is transferred from the buyer of the option to the seller.
III. The use of options is appropriate when hedging uncertain cash flows.
a. I and II only.
b. I and III only.
c. II and III only.
d. I, II and III.
Question 7
With respect to options, who has the credit risk?
a. The option seller.
b. The option buyer.
c. Both the seller and the buyer.
d. Neither the seller nor the buyer as contracts are optional.
Question 8
Which one of the following is not a factor in determining the price of an AUD/USD forward exchange contract?
a. The expected movement in spot exchange rate.
b. The current spot rate.
c. The Australian domestic interest rate.
d. The US interest rate.
Question 9
Assume that you have bought an oil call option at a strike price of USD 90.00 per barrel. You have paid a
premium of USD 2.50 per barrel. What is the net price per barrel that you would pay if the spot price of oil at
option expiration is USD 100.00 per barrel?

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a. USD 90.00.
b. USD 92.50.
c. USD 100.00.
d. USD 102.50.
Question 10
OzCo Ltd (OzCo) has entered into an interest rate swap (IRS) with a bank to receive floating-rate payments and
pay a fixed rate of 6.50 per cent, based on a principal of AUD 10 000 000. If there were 91 days in the current
interest period, the fixed-rate amount would be AUD 162 054.79 and the floating-rate amount AUD 124 657.53.
What is the cash flow between OzCo and the bank?
a. OzCo pays the bank AUD 162 054.79.
b. The bank pays OzCo AUD 124 657.53.
c. The bank pays OzCo AUD 37 397.26.
d. OzCo pays the bank AUD 37 397.26.
Question 11
An Australian company is exporting goods to Germany and receiving payment in euro (EUR).
You are given the following information.
I The AUD/EUR spot rate is 0.8000.
I AUD interest rate is 4.5 per cent per annum.
I EUR interest rate is 1.5 per cent per annum.
Which of the following statements are correct?
I. The Australian company needs to buy AUD at a future date.
II. The Australian company needs to buy EUR at a future date.
III. The forward rate would be higher than the current spot rate.
IV. The forward rate would be lower than the current spot rate.
a. I and III only.
b. I and IV only.
c. II and III only.
d. II and IV only.
Question 12
A copper producer buys a copper put option at a strike price of USD6000 per tonne at a premium of USD100
pertonne. On maturity, the spot copper price is USD5800 per tonne.
What is the effective price received by the copper producer?
a. USD5700 per tonne.
b. USD5900 per tonne.
c. USD6000 per tonne.
d. USD6100 per tonne.
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Question 13
ImportCo Ltd is considering whether to accept a 10 per cent discount on buying imported machinery from China
at USD2000 each (after discount price USD1800) or continue to buy them in Australia at AUD2300 each.
Payment is to be made on arrival of the machines in one years time.
Relevant information:
What should ImportCo do?
a. Continue to purchase at AUD2300.
b. Accept the discount, buy at USD1800 and purchase the USD now at AUD/USD0.8000.
c. Accept the discount, buy at USD1800 and purchase the USD in one year at AUD/USD 0.7700.
d. Buy the machines at the undiscounted price of USD2000 and purchase the USD in one year at
AUD/USD0.8000.
Question 14
What is the correct strategy for an aluminium producer who wants to fix the price of its aluminium sales?
a. Buy aluminium forward.
b. Buy aluminium put options.
c. Sell aluminium forward.
d. Sell aluminium call options.
Question 15
Which of the following is correct in relation to futures?
I. They have standardised characteristics such as contract size and maturity date.
II. They are transacted on an exchange and settled through a clearing house.
III. They are subject to margin calls.
IV. They generally carry less counterparty risk compared to a forward contract.
a. I and III only.
b. I, II and III only.
c. II, III and IV only.
d. I, II, III and IV.
Question 16
An Australian aluminium smelter sells 1000 tonnes of aluminium to a customer at USD2000 per tonne.
Thecompany has previously hedged the aluminium price risk via a cash settled forward sale of 1000 tonnes of
aluminium at USD1800 per tonne, and the AUD/USD exchange rate risk by selling USD1 800 000 forward under
an FEC at a rate of AUD/USD1.0500.

Exchange rate (spot) AUD/USD 0.8000

Forward (outright) exchange rate AUD/USD 0.7700
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Assuming the physical sale and both the derivatives settle on the same day, what additional purchase or sale of
USD will the company need to make on that day?
a. Sell USD200 000.
b. Buy USD200 000.
c. No further purchases or sales of USD is necessary.
d. Sell USD1 800 000.
Question 17
A company is submitting a tender to purchase an oil rig. It is concerned that interest rates may rise but does not
want to fix rates in case it does not win the tender and interest rates fall (in which case it will lose money on the
hedge). What type of interest rate derivative transaction would be most suitable for hedging this exposure?
a. Interest rate futures.
b. FRAs.
c. Interest rate swaps.
d. Interest rate options.
Question 18
ExportCo has been offered the following alternatives for a container load of its custom-designed surfboards,
which are to be delivered to, and paid for by, the customer in one year from today.
I AUD1 000 000 paid one year from today.
I USD950 000 paid one year from today.
I The AUD equivalent of USD950 000 converted at the current AUD/USD forward rate, and paid in AUD
one year from today.
I The AUD equivalent of USD960 000 converted at the current AUD/USD spot rate and paid in AUD one
year from today.
Additional information
I The AUD/USD forward rate is 0.9450.
I The AUD/USD spot rate is0.9500.
Which course of action should ExportCo choose if it wants to take no risk and maximise known returns?
a. Accept AUD1 000 000 payable in one year.
b. Accept USD950 000 payable in one year, and enter into a forward exchange contract to hedge the
exchange rate risk.
c. Accept the AUD equivalent of USD950 000 converted at the current AUD/USD forward rate, and paid in
AUD one year from today.
d. Accept the AUD equivalent of USD960 000 converted at the current AUD/USD spot rate and paid in
AUD one year from today.

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Question 19
Megabank has just emailed its clients to say that, while interest rates in the US and Australia are steady at
present, there is almost universal agreement that they will soon become volatile and the exchange rate will also
become unstable.
As a result, Megabank has raised all its forward exchange rate quotes by + 200 basis points to compensate.
What is most likely to happen?
a. Megabank will lose a lot of money.
b. Megabank will gain a lot of money.
c. Nothing.
d. Megabanks share price is likely to increase as it now is a market leader.










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Solutions
Question 1
Correct Answer: c
Contango is the situation where the forward price exceeds the current spot price.
Options A and B are incorrect. When the forward price is lower than the spot price the market is said to be
inbackwardation.
Option D is incorrect. When the spot and forward prices are equal the market is neither in contango nor
backwardation.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Contango and backwardation in
commodity forward markets.
Question 2
Correct Answer: d
If the gold price increases, the producer can let the option expire and sell gold at the favourable current price.
Ifthe gold price falls, the producer can exercise the option and sell gold at the option strike price.
Option A is incorrect. A gold forward would lock in the price of gold and not provide any benefit from an
increased gold price.
Option B is incorrect. Gold futures would also lock in the sale price of gold and not provide any benefit to the
producer from an increased gold price.
Option C is incorrect. Selling a gold call would put a ceiling on the gold price. The producer wishes to put a floor
under the gold selling price.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Hedging using options.
Question 3
Correct Answer: d
As buyer of the option, OzCo has the right but not the obligation to sell (put) AUD and buy (call) USD.
Option A is incorrect. An AUD put/USD call option gives the buyer the right to sell AUD and buy USD.
Option B is incorrect. The seller of an option has the obligation but not the right to buy and sell the
currency/commodity.
Option C is incorrect. BigBank sold an AUD put/USD call, so it has granted the right to sell AUD and buy USD
to OzCo. Accordingly, BigBank has the obligation to buy AUD and sell USD.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options.
Question 4
Correct Answer: d
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I. This item is incorrect. An increase in the gold price would cause the gold put option to become cheaper.
II. This item is correct. An increase in the strike price would make the option more expensive.
III. This item is correct. An increase in volatility would make the option price more expensive.
IV. This item is correct. An increase in the time to expiry of the option would make it more expensive.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options (Key determinants in
option value table).
Question 5
Correct Answer: c
The producer would exercise the option and sell aluminium at AUD 2800/tonne, AUD 50/tonne over the current
market price.
Option A is incorrect. The option gives the producer the right to sell aluminium, not buy it.
Option B is incorrect. The producer would give up revenues of AUD 50/tonne by forgoing the opportunity to
sell at AUD50/tonne over the current market price.
Option D is incorrect. The option would be exercised at the strike price of AUD 2800/tonne, not the current
market price of AUD 2750/tonne.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options.
Question 6
Correct Answer: d
All the statements are correct.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options (Comparison between
options and forwards table).
Question 7
Correct Answer: b
If the buyer exercises the option, the seller must perform its obligation to honour the contract to buy or sell at
the agreed price. The buyer is therefore at risk if the seller fails to honour that obligation.
Options A and C are incorrect as generally the seller is paid the premium up front and the buyer thereby fulfils all
its obligations.
Option D is incorrect as an option contract does involve an obligation on the part of the seller.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options (Other option
terminology).
Question 8
Correct Answer: a
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The forward price of an asset or commodity is sometimes incorrectly regarded as a forecast of the spot price at
the time of settlement. This is a misunderstanding in the case of most financial derivatives, as the forward rate is
derived from other market rates, not forecasts.
Options B, C and D are all inputs to the forward foreign exchange rate formula as described in the study guide.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Foreign exchange forward
contracts.
Question 9
Correct Answer: b
As the spot oil price at option expiry is USD 100.00 per barrel, you would exercise your right to buy at USD 90.00
per barrel. Your net price would therefore be USD 90.00 per barrel purchase price plus USD2.50 per barrel
premium.
With a bought call option the effective cost (if exercised) is: Strike price + Call option premium. The call option
provides the buyer with the right to buy the underlying instrument. By adding the premium, they effectively pay
more than otherwise.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options (Hedging using
options).
Question 10
Correct Answer: d
OzCo would pay the fixed-rate payment of AUD 162 054.79 and receive the floating-rate payment of
AUD124657.53, resulting in a net payment from OzCo to the bank of AUD 37 397.26.
Option A is incorrect. OzCo would pay the bank the fixed-rate payment of AUD162 054.79 but would
simultaneously receive the floating-rate payment of AUD124 657.53, meaning OzCo would pay the net amount
of AUD37 397.26 to the bank.
Option B is incorrect. The bank would pay OzCo the floating-rate payment of AUD124 657.53 but the bank
would simultaneously pay the fixed-rate payment of AUD162 054.79, meaning OzCo would pay the net amount
of AUD37397.26 to the bank.
Option C is incorrect. The net amount of AUD37 397.26 is correct but OzCo would pay the fixed-rate payment of
AUD162054.79 and receive the floating-rate payment of AUD124 657.53, resulting in a payment from OzCo to
the bank of AUD37397.26.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Interest rate swaps.
Question 11
Correct Answer: b
Item I is correct. The Australian exporter would receive EUR and need to sell EUR and buy AUD.
Item IV is correct. The forward is given by the formula
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In this case, the terms currencys (EUR) interest rate in the numerator is less than the base currencys (AUD)
interest rate in the denominator, so the forward rate will be less than the spot rate.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Foreign exchange forward
contracts.
Question 12
Correct Answer: b
The producer would exercise the option and sell (put) the copper at USD6000 per tonne. Net of premium paid
(USD100 per tonne), this results in a net price of USD5900 per tonne.
With a bought put option the effective cost (if exercised) is: Strike price Put option premium. The put option
provides the buyer with the right to sell the underlying instrument. By subtracting the premium, they effectively
receive less than otherwise.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options (Hedging using
options).
Question 13
Correct Answer: a
ImportCo wants to pay the lowest amount of AUD (payable in one year). ImportCo would minimise its cost by
buying the machines in 12 months time at AUD 2300.
If we accept the discount and convert USD into AUD at the spot rate of 0.8000, it will only cost AUD 2250,
which is less than AUD 2300. However, the question assumes that funds are exchanged at the spot rate now,
with payment in a year. We would ideally try to match the currency conversion with the payment date. If we
convert AUD 2250 to USD 1800 now, we will need to invest USD 1800 for 12 months. Transaction costs and FX
exposure would arise when we attempt to convert any interest earned back into AUD. Option B is therefore
incorrect.
Option C is incorrect as USD 1800 @ 0.7700 results in a higher price of AUD 2338.
Option D is incorrect as it uses the spot rate rather than the forward rate to convert and would still be more
expensive.
The following example further explains why Option B is incorrect.
The spot rate is 0.8000 and the forward rate (calculated by the relative differences in interest rates) is 0.7700.
Lets assume that the US interest rate is 6.1 per cent and the Australian interest rate is 10.25 per cent. Note that
this is just an assumption to make the implied forward rate work. That is, (0.8000 1.061)/1.1025 = 0.7700.
So, to obtain USD 1800 in one year, we would need to invest (1800/1.061) = USD 1 696.51. That is, investing
USD1696.51 at an interest rate of 6.1 per cent would give us USD 1800 in one year.
To obtain USD 1696.51 today, we would need to convert (1696.51/0.8000) = AUD 2120.64. That is, converting
AUD 2120.64 today at an exchange rate of 0.8000 would give us USD 1696.51.
Forward rate =
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This looks favourable, because it only costs us AUD 2120.64 to buy the machines. However, to compare like
with like, what if we had invested the AUD 2120.64 at the Australian interest rate of 10.25 per cent for a year?
Inthis case, we would receive (2120.64 1.1025) = AUD 2338.00. This is the same result as Option C,
whichconverts the AUD at the forward exchange rate of 0.7700.
The end result being that Option A is still preferred.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the sections entitled Key concepts and definitions
and Foreign exchange forward contracts.
Question 14
Correct Answer: c
The producer wishes to sell aluminium and therefore would need to sell a forward, which locks in the price.
Option A is incorrect. Buying aluminium would increase the producers exposure to the aluminium price.
Option B is incorrect. Buying puts, while potentially a valid hedge strategy, would not fix the aluminium price as
the producer would benefit from prices over and above the put option strike price.
Option D is incorrect. Selling calls would not fix the aluminium price. The producer would be exposed to falls in
the aluminium price.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the Hedging an aluminium exposure example and
the Option matrix table.
Question 15
Correct Answer: d
All these statements are true of futures.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Futures.
Question 16
Correct Answer: c
The smelter will receive USD 2 000 000 of sales revenue from the physical sale to the customer: 1000 tonnes
USD 2000 per tonne.
The smelter will pay USD 200 000 to the counterparty under the aluminium forward hedge: 1000 tonnes
(USD1800/tonne forward price USD 2000/tonne spot price).
The resulting USD 1 800 000 inflow has already been sold under the FEC (i.e. USD 1 800 000 convered to AUD
at1.0500), leaving a net zero cash flow on the day.
As such, the Australian company does not need to enter into any further agreements in order to settle the
physical sale to the customer, the aluminium forward, or the foreign exchange forward.
Note that the question asks what additional purchase or sale of USD will be needed. The company does not
need to buy AUD and sell USD 200 000 (i.e. Option A). It will receive an additional USD 200 000 from the sale to
the customer and simply hand this over to the counterparty of the forward.
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You can review this topic area in the study materials under the Hedging an aluminium exposure example.
Question 17
Correct Answer: d
The most correct answer is interest rate options. Interest rate futures, FRAs and interest rate swaps would all
lock the company into a fixed-interest rate. If it did not win the tender, it would be exposed to hedge losses if
interest rates fell. By using options, the maximum downside is limited to the option premium. As a borrower,
thecompany would buy a call option on interest rates (i.e. a cap). If interest rates rise, the company exercises the
call option. If interest rates fall, the company can let the interest rate options expire worthless and simply borrow
at the lower rates.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Options.
Question 18
Correct Answer: d
ExportCo wants to receive the highest amount of AUD (receivable in one year), which is AUD 1 010 526
(i.e.USD 960 000/the spot rate of 0.95000).
Option A equals AUD 1 000 000.
Option B equals AUD 1 005 291 (USD 950 000/the forward rate of 0.9450)
Option C equals AUD 1 005 291 (USD 950 000/the forward rate of 0.9450)
Note that Option D is converted at the current spot rate, but is paid in one years time. As such, the net AUD
receipt is higher than all the other options and there are no further foreign exchange exposures or transaction
costs.
Note that the wording of this question is slightly different to the question in relation to ImportCo Ltd. In this
question, ExportCo is accepting the current spot rate in one years time. This suggests that the counterparty has
offered the current spot rate for conversion in one years time. In the question in relation to ImportCo Ltd,
ifImportCo Ltd buys at the current spot rate, it would need to hold on to USD for the 12-month period.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Forwards.
Question 19
Correct Answer: a
Forward rates are not based on forecasts, so Megabanks reasoning for the rate rise is illogical.
Since its forward rates are now out of line with market rates, other banks will arbitrage them and take profits from
the difference between Megabanks rates and those set by the current interest rates and spot rate. As a result,
Megabank will systematically lose money until it reverts to the correct forward prices.
Option B is incorrect. Where Megabank is overcharging, no one should transact; where it is undercharging
(importers or exporters), the bank will be buying high, selling lowor systematically losing money.
Option C is incorrect; other banks at least will see the arbitrage opportunity and exploit it.
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Option D is incorrect; increased losses do not lead to increasing the value of a company.
You can review this topic area in the study materials under the section entitled Forwards (Example of
pricearbitrage).
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