The two-month interest rates in Switzerland and the United States are 2% and 5% per annum, respectively, with continuous compounding. The spot price of the Swiss franc is $0.8000. The futures price for a contract deliverable in two months is $0.8100. What arbitrage opportunities does this create?

Question

Bradley Moody

Business

2 August, 18:45

The two-month interest rates in Switzerland and the United States are 2% and 5% per annum, respectively, with continuous compounding. The spot price of the Swiss franc is $0.8000. The futures price for a contract deliverable in two months is $0.8100. What arbitrage opportunities does this create?

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Answers (1)

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Miya · Answer 1

The opportunity which is created by arbitrage is to buy the Swiss

Explanation:

The future price in a theoretical manner is as:

= Future Price for contract e^ (Interest rate of Switzerland - Interest rate of US) * 2 month / 12 month

where

Future Price for contract is $0.8100

Interest rate of Switzerland is 2%

Interest rate of United States is 5%

It is for 2 month so 2 / 12 month

Putting the values above:

= $0.8100e^ (5% - 2%) * 2/12

= $0.8100e^ (0.05-0.02) * 2/12

= $0.8040

From the above analysis, it is stated that the actual future price is too high, which suggest that the arbitrageur should bought the short Swiss francs futures and the Swiss francs.