The minimum variance hedge ratio answers the question of how much of the hedge to buy to hedge a given position. It minimizes the combined volatility of the primary and the hedge position. The minimum variance hedge ratio is given by the expression [ σ(x) / σ(y) ] * ρ(x,y)] . Effectively, this is the same as the beta of the primary position with respect to the hedge.

In this case, the hedge ratio is = 10%/9% * 0.9 = 1

In the US, the Federal Reserve sets a limit (eg, 2 x, so that only 50% of the money could be borrowed) as a multiple of capital posted to prevent excessive leverage or gearing in the system.

The other choices are incorrect.

In this case, we need to determine the value today of an FRA where the bank has to pay 4% from year 2 to 3 in exchange for the then prevailing LIBOR. We do this by using the forward rate from year 2 to 3, and comparing it to the fixed rate. The forward rate is determined from the zero rates as =(1.03^3 / 1.025^2) - 1 = 4.0073%. The bank is committed to paying 4%, therefore the value of the FRA at the end of year 3 = (4.0073% - 4%) * $10m = $732.90. But this is the value at the end of year 3, and needs to be discounted to the present using the 3 year zero rate. Therefore the value of the FRA is $732.90/(1.03^3) = $670.70.

Systematic risk refers to market risk that cannot be diversified away. Specific risk relates to the unique risk from the securities selected in the portfolio, and these can be diversified away by adding other securities to the portfolio. Diversifiable risk is risk that can be diversified away, ie the same as specific risk. Portfolio risk is the total risk of the portfolio that includes both specific and systematic risk.

Price quotes for futures where one of the currencies is the US dollar follow the convention of using the number of US dollars one unit of the foreign currency can buy. (For JPY, 100 Yen is used.)

In the forward market, the same convention as is used in the spot market is used.

In the spot market, prices are expressed as the number of units of the foreign currency that 1 USD can buy, except for GBP, EUR, AUD and NZD where it is the other way round (ie, number of USDs that 1 of each of these currencies can buy).

The fair price for the futures contract should be [1000 x ( 1 + (2%-1%)/2)] = 1005. This means the futures contract is 'rich' at 1020. The trader should therefore short the futures contract, and buy the index spot. To buy the spot index, he will incur a borrowing cost of 2%, which will be partly offset by the dividend yield of 1%, and at the end of six months he will owe a net amount of 1005 and hold the index. At the same time the futures contract would expire too, and he would be able to sell at the agreed price of 1020, making a risk free profit of 15.

Forward premium or discount can be easily calculated as {(Forward rate - Spot rate) / Spot rate x 365/number of days]. In this case, it can be calculated as =((1.1652 - 1.1763) / 1.1763 ) * 365/91 = 3.785%, which is a discount as it is a negative number. It can also be interpreted as a discount as the forward price is lower than the spot price.