Question

Brad expects interest rates to increase and purchases a put option on Treasury bond futures with an exercise price of 97-00. The premium paid for the put option is 3-00. Just prior to the expiration date, the price of the Treasury bond futures contract is valued at 89-00. Brad exercises the option and closes out the position by purchasing an identical futures contract. Brad's net gain from this speculative strategy is $____, and his return on his investment is about _______ percent.

Answer 1

Answer: Net Gain $5,000

Return on Investment = 167%

Explanation:

Profits are made on Puts if the spot price (current price) is less than the exercise price. Which is why the equation is such,

Profit equation of put option = Max ( exercise price - spot price, 0) - Premium paid.

The formula shows that there is no profit if the spot price climbs higher than the Exercise price as the option will not be exercised. In other words of the spot price is higher than the Exercise price, the option will not be exercised hence $0 profit. If the Exercise price is higher though then it will be exercised and the gain will be the exercise price minus the spot price.

Using that formula his gain was,

= 97 - 89 - 3

= $5

Treasury bond futures contracts are usually sold at a minimum of 1,000 bonds so assuming Brad got 1 then his gain would be,

= 5 * 1,000

= $5,000

His return on investment would be,

= Net profit / Initial investment

Bear in mind that his Net Investment would be the premium times the number of bonds

= 1,000 * 3

= $3,000

Return on Investment = 5,000/3,000

Return on Investment = 167%