2014 CFA Level 3 Mock Exam Afternoon
2014 CFA Level 3 Mock Exam Afternoon
Kim Tang, CFA, is a consultant reviewing a hedge fund, CleanTech Research Fund. CleanTech
invests in high-risk and volatile "clean technology" companies. CleanTech has adopted the CFA
Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Tang examines the various forms of advertising used by CleanTech to attract new clients. In one
of its advertising messages, CleanTech states, "We have a very experienced research team and
are proud they are all CFA's. Several of our managers serve as volunteers for CFA Institute. CFA
Institute recognizes their expertise, and as a result, you can rely on our team for superior
performance results."
Statement 1: The share prices of companies in the clean technology sector have increased
recently because of the growing awareness of climate change issues and the rising cost of
energy. There are many risks in this sector, some of which include new technology that is
unproven. Also, the addition or removal of government incentives can make markets
dysfunctional. Nevertheless, it is our opinion that returns in this area will continue to be above
average for several years. In fact, our proprietary investment analytics software has determined
that investments in green transportation companies are likely to double in value in the next six
months based on a multiple factor regression analysis. Key risks associated with analytics
software include the fact that they rely on historical data and that a set of unknown factors
could interfere with the anticipated results. We will earn a 200% return over the next year on
one of our solar power company investments based on sales projections we prepared, assuming
that last year's generous tax incentives stay in place.
Statement 2: The CleanTech fund invests in publicly traded and highly liquid companies and is
recommended only for investors who are able to assume a high level of risk. Last month, we
invested in EnergyAlgae, a "green energy" company that partnered with a global energy firm
early last year to create oil from algae. EnergyAlgae's market capitalization quadrupled shortly
after the partnership was formed. Recently, EnergyAlgae also patented a waste plastic-to-oil
process that produces oil at less than $30 a barrel. One of the founders of CleanTech is on the
board of EnergyAlgae, and information he gave us on the company's patent process led us to
purchase additional stock in EnergyAlgae before the patent became widely publicized with the
release of the company's semiannual financial report.* (*Information supporting the statements
made in this communication is available upon request.)
When Tang asks CleanTech's founders for supporting documents related to their investment in
EnergyAlgae, she is told that this information is based on third-party research from Slar
Brokerage (Slar), who maintains all necessary records. Tang completes a due diligence exercise
on this research and learns that Slar has used sound assumptions and rigor in its analysis of
EnergyAlgae. In particular, Tang learned that Slar used, at a minimum, the following attributes
to form the basis of the recommendation: the company's past three years of operational
history, current stage of the industry's business cycle, an annual research update, a historical
financial analysis, and a one-year earnings forecast.
Tang also learns that the founders of CleanTech are majority shareholders of Slar, which
underwrote the public offering of EnergyAlgae. Additionally, CleanTech's analysts inform Tang
that they did not need to look at the quality of Slar's research because one of their former
colleagues recently left CleanTech and established the research department at the brokerage
firm.
In researching EnergyAlgae, Tang finds that potential customers and suppliers of EnergyAlgae
are highly skeptical of the claims made regarding the companies' respective products. She also
contacts several energy companies and is unable to locate anyone who has even heard of
EnergyAlgae. When Tang reviews CleanTech's trading activity in EnergyAlgae shares, she finds
that CleanTech liquidated its position in EnergyAlgae soon after CleanTech's portfolio managers
presented positive views on EnergyAlgae in a number of media interviews. In addition, many of
CleanTech's employees also sold their shares in EnergyAlgae immediately after CleanTech sold
its shares of the company. The share price of EnergyAlgae dropped dramatically after the stock
sales made by CleanTech and its employees.
1.) CleanTech's advertising is least likely in violation of the CFA Institute Standards of
Professional Conduct with respect to:
2.) In Statement 1, CleanTech management most likely violated the CFA Institute Standards
of Professional Conduct with regard to their comments on:
3.) In Statement 2, CleanTech most likely violated which of the following Standards of
Professional Conduct?
A. Earnings projections
B. Operational analysis
C. Annual research update
5.) Tang's most appropriate course of action concerning the relationship between
CleanTech and Slar is to recommend that CleanTech:
6.) The EnergyAlgae trades are least likely to have violated the CFA Institute Standards of
Professional Conduct with regard to:
Vision 2020 Capital Partners (V2020) has operated for the last 10 years originating and brokering
corporate finance deals through private placements in emerging and frontier markets. Because
of slow economic growth globally, investment-banking deals have declined, and V2020 has
struggled to generate enough fees to sustain its business. The board of directors of V2020,
composed of corporate finance experts, has identified opportunities to generate a new revenue
stream.
One such opportunity is the creation of a division to manage an Emerging and Frontier Market
Balanced Fund (the Fund). The board has had several inquiries from clients asking for such a
product. The board believes the Fund is an ideal business line to meet client demand and create
monthly asset management fees. The board thinks the Fund should also be required to act as a
buyer of last resort for all its corporate finance client's private placements. The board believes
this arrangement would act as a major incentive for private businesses to use their corporate
finance services, thereby increasing revenues from their primary business activity.
Because none of the V2020 board members or senior managers are experienced in asset
management, the board hires Lauren Akinyi, CFA, an independent consultant who works with
various clients in the asset management industry. She is asked to undertake a study on an
appropriate structure for the Fund to meet both corporate finance and fund client needs. She is
also asked to help V2020 set up policies and procedures for the new fund to make certain all
capital market regulations have been followed.
The board informs Akinyi that the policies and procedures should also ensure compliance with
the CFA Institute Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct (Asset Manager Code).
Recommendation 4: To ensure timely and efficient trades in each of the markets in which the
Fund invests, only one stockbroker in each market should be used. The board should also
consider buying an equity stake in each of the appointed brokers as an added profit opportunity.
After the Fund completes its first year of operations, V2020 receives a letter from its regulator.
The notification imposes heavy fines for poor disclosures to its fund clients and mandates the
replacement of the senior fund manager as a condition for the renewal of V2020's asset
management license. The board challenges the ruling in court, stating that the Fund made the
necessary full disclosures. After six months, not wanting to incur further expensive legal fees or
waste more precious time, the board, without admitting or denying fault, settles out of court,
paying a smaller fine. Subsequently, the senior fund manager is terminated but receives a
multimillion-dollar bonus upon leaving. After the replacement of the senior fund manager, the
license is renewed for a further year. The regulatory body, however, gives a warning that if the
Fund has any future violations, their license will be permanently revoked. Subsequently, the
Fund discloses to its clients that the regulator has renewed its license for one year after the
termination of the senior fund manager, a condition of the renewal. They also disclose the out-
of-court settlement and the fine paid.
1.) Given the board's intended purpose for starting the Fund, which of the following
principles of conduct under the Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct is least
likely violated?
2.) Which of the principles in Akinyi's Recommendation 1 is least likely sufficient to meet
the principles of the Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct?
A. Principle 3
B. Principle 2
C. Principle 1
3.) Which of Akinyi's policies in Recommendation 2 would least likely comply with the Asset
Manager Code of Professional Conduct and its general principles if implemented?
A. Policy 1
B. Policy 2
C. Policy 3
4.) Which of the following would be most effective to prevent any violation of the Asset
Manager Code of Professional Conduct as reflected in Akinyi's Recommendation 3?
5.) If Recommendation 4 was implemented, which aspect of the Asset Manager Code of
Professional Conduct would most likely be violated?
A. Priority of transactions
B. Fair dealing
C. Best execution
6.) Does the Fund's disclosure to its clients regarding the renewal of the license most likely
comply with the Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct?
The Ptolemy Foundation was established to provide financial assistance for education in the
field of astronomy. Tom Fiske, the foundation’s chief investment officer, and his staff of three
analysts use a top-down process that begins with an economic forecast, assignment of asset
class weights, and selection of appropriate index funds. The team meets once a week to discuss
a variety of topics ranging from economic modeling, economic outlook, portfolio performance,
and investment opportunities, including those in emerging markets.
At the start of the meeting, Fiske asks the analysts, Len Tuoc, Kim Spenser, and Pier Poulsen, to
describe The Ptolemy Foundation was established to provide financial assistance for education
in the field of astronomy. Tom Fiske, the foundation’s chief investment officer, and his staff of
three analysts use a top-down process that begins with an economic forecast, assignment of
asset class weights, and selection of appropriate index funds. The team meets once a week to
discuss a variety of topics ranging from economic modeling, economic outlook, portfolio
performance, and investment opportunities, including those in emerging markets.
At the start of the meeting, Fiske asks the analysts, Len Tuoc, Kim Spenser, and Pier Poulsen, to
describe and justify their different approaches to economic forecasting. They reply as follows.
Tuoc: I prefer econometric modeling. Robust models built with detailed regression
analysis can help predict recessions well because the established relationships among
the variables seldom change.
Spenser: I like the economic indicators approach. For example, the composite of leading
economic indicators is based on an analysis of its forecasting usefulness in past cycles.
They are intuitive, simple to construct, require only a limited number of variables, and
third-party versions are also available.
The team then discusses what the long-term growth path for US GDP should be in the aftermath
of exogenous shocks because of the financial crisis that began in 2008. They examine several
reports from outside sources and develop a forecast for aggregate trend growth using the
simple labor-based approach and appropriate data chosen from the items in Exhibit 1.
The analysts think that adding to US Treasuries would fit portfolio objectives, but they are
concerned that the US Federal Reserve Board is likely to raise the fed funds rate soon. They
assemble the data in Exhibit 3 in order to use the Taylor rule (giving equal weights to inflation
and output gaps) to help predict the Fed’s next move with respect to interest rates.
Additional information
Risk-free rate: 2.5% Illiquidity premium: 60 bps
Exhibit 5: Relationship of Current Economic Data to Historical Trends: Selected European Countries
Ireland Spain Hungary
Production Above trend, declining Well above trend Below trend, rising
1.) Regarding the approaches to economic forecasting, the statement by which analyst is
most accurate?
A. Poulsen
B. Tuoc
C. Spenser
2.) Using the data in Exhibit 1 and the labor-based method chosen by the team, the most
likely estimate for the 10-year annual GDP growth is:
A. 3.5%.
B. 3.6%.
C. 3.0%.
3.) Using the data in Exhibit 2 and Fiske's preferred approach, the estimated expected
annual return for US large-cap equities over the next 10 years is closest to:
A. 7.9%.
B. 7.6%.
C. 7.4%.
4.) Using the data in Exhibit 3 and the investment team's approach to predict the Fed's next
move, the new fed funds rate will most likely be:
A. 2.9%.
B. 2.1%.
C. 2.6%.
5.) Using the data in Exhibit 4 and Fiske's suggested approach, the forecast of the expected
return for small-cap emerging market equities is closest to:
A. 9.5%.
B. 8.9%.
C. 9.9%.
6.) Among the three countries examined by the investment team, which is in the most
attractive phase of the business cycle for equity returns?
A. Hungary
B. Ireland
C. Spain
Rogers
Ted Rogers is the director of a research team that analyzes traditional and non-traditional
sources of energy for investment purposes. For traditional energy sources, a number of high-
frequency historical data series are available. For non-traditional energy sources, the data are
generally quarterly and tend to hide a great deal of the volatility that Rogers knows to exist
because appraised values are used instead of market values. To supplement the quarterly data,
Rogers's team uses an index of the top 30 firms in new and experimental technologies, called
the "NEXT Index." Although not all of the firms in the NEXT are energy firms, the index is
available as a weekly series. However, the NEXT does change its composite mix of firms
frequently as firms in the index fail or are sold to larger firms that are not in the index.
To determine the correlation matrix within the different energy sectors, Rogers's team relies on
a weighted average of correlations derived from multifactor models and historical correlations.
Although the combined experience within the team favors emphasizing the correlations derived
from the multifactor models, historical correlations are given a greater weight within the
weighted average calculations to reduce the future expected performance estimates of different
investment models being considered. This practice of purposefully understating the expected
future performance of these investment models is viewed as a safety measure by the team and
as a way to manage client expectations.
In a recent meeting, the team discussed how using the last two years of historical data for oil-
related industries generated relationships between factors that had not existed in the past. One
member of the team, Steve Phillips, stated: "The relationships reflect the fact that hurricane
activity in the last two years has affected oil concerns worldwide. There is no reason to believe
that such relationships will continue in the future."
Most of the team agreed with Phillips but conceded that a number of clients specifically
requested an analysis of the previous two years of data with an expectation that new trends
were emerging within the industry. The team decided to add more variables to the analysis in
order to show that the relationships the team believed to be significant actually outweighed the
importance of these recently found relationships. After adding several additional variables, the
team found that the model did not improve in predictive ability, but the recently found
relationships were indeed no longer significant.
1.) The quarterly data available for non-traditional energy sources are best described as
data with a:
A. time-period bias.
B. smoothing bias.
C. survivorship bias.
A. volatility clustering.
B. transcription errors.
C. survivorship bias.
3.) The approach taken by Rogers's team to calculate the correlation matrix is best
described as which type of estimator?
A. Historical
B. Shrinkage
C. Time series
4.) Which of the following psychological traps best describes the Rogers's team's decision to
give historical correlation more weight in the correlation matrix?
A. Prudence trap
B. Anchoring trap
C. Overconfidence trap
5.) Which of the following types of biases best describes Steve Phillips's statement about
oil-related industry data?
A. Time-period
B. Data-mining
C. Survivorship
6.) The decision to add variables to the oil-related industry analysis will most likely lead to
a(n):
A. regime-switching bias.
B. data-mining bias.
C. appraisal bias.
Rioja
Andres Rioja is the treasurer of Empresas Crianza. His duties have recently been expanded to
include oversight of the firm’s pension fund. Given his limited experience in overseeing
investments, he is relying on an outside consultant. Rioja prepares a number of questions for his
first meeting with the consultant, Manolo Priorat of Consulta Jerez.
Priorat starts the meeting by summarizing for Rioja the status of the defined benefit pension
plan and makes the following statement:
The pension liability has a duration of 14 years and a present value of $4 billion. The
liabilities are discounted using the spot rate on high-quality long-term corporate bonds.
Presently, the asset portfolio covers 87.5% of these liabilities and is invested entirely in
fixed-income assets. The plan assets have fallen short of the pension liabilities over the
past five years because their durations are not properly matched. I am concerned that
Crianza has selected the wrong benchmark for the pension plan. The current benchmark
is a weighted average of the benchmarks for the various strategies used in the
investment of pension assets. I believe the appropriate benchmark should be the
liability itself.
Priorat and Rioja review the fixed-income funds in which the pension assets are currently
invested. Portfolio managers have been given the mandate to meet or exceed their respective
benchmarks based on their investment styles. Details of the various portfolios are provided in
Exhibit 1.
Rioja updates Priorat on Crianza’s current plans for the pension plan. Rioja states: “Crianza will
make a $500 million contribution to fully fund the plan and invest the funds in Treasury STRIPs.
In addition, we would like to completely reallocate pension investments away from the fund
that presents the greatest contingent claim risk and into the long corporate bond fund.”
Rioja then asks Priorat, “I would like to understand the risk profile of each index benchmark we
have assigned to the portfolio managers. What measures are available to do this?” Priorat
responds,
There are several key measures that come to mind. Effective duration measures the
sensitivity of the index’s price to a relatively small parallel shift in interest rates. For
large non-parallel changes in interest rates, a convexity adjustment is used to improve
the accuracy of the index’s estimated price change. Key rate duration measures the
effect of shifts in key points along the yield curve. Key rate durations are particularly
useful for determining the relative attractiveness of various portfolio strategies, such as
bullet strategies versus barbell strategies. Spread duration describes how a non-
Treasury security’s price will change as a result of the widening or narrowing of the
spread contribution.
Rioja then asks about the rationale for active managers to do secondary market trades. Priorat
responds,
Finally, Priorat offers further explanation of how active managers can add value. He notes,
1.) Is Priorat's statement with regard to selecting a benchmark for the pension plan most
likely correct?
A. No, because Crianza should select a high-quality long-term corporate bond index as
the benchmark
B. Yes
C. No, because the current benchmark is appropriate to measure each strategy's
performance
2.) For which portfolio in Exhibit 1 is a sampling approach most likely to be used in an
attempt to match the primary index risk factors?
A. Treasury STRIPs
B. Emerging market bond fund
C. Mortgage-backed securities fund
3.) If Rioja rebalances the portfolio as he proposes in his statement to Priorat, the dollar
duration of the assets relative to the dollar duration of the liabilities is most likely to:
4.) In Priorat’s response to Rioja regarding the explanation of key measures of an index’s
profile, he is most likely correct regarding:
5.) With regard to evaluating secondary market trades, Priorat is least likely correct with
respect to:
A. credit-upside trades.
B. yield/spread pickup trades.
C. curve-adjustment trades.
6.) Priorat is most likely correct with regard to which structural trade?
A. Putables
B. Bullets
C. Callables
Sonera
William Gatchell, CFA, is an investment analyst with the Sonera Endowment Fund. Sonera is
considering hiring a new equity investment manager. In preparation, Gatchell meets with Anjou
Lafite, another analyst at the fund, to review a relevant part of the endowment’s investment
policy statement:
Funds will be invested in the most efficient vehicle that meets the investment objective.
Each manager must demonstrate the efficiency with which the tracking error they use
delivers active return. In addition, each manager must consistently adhere to his or her
stated style.
Gatchell is given the task of reviewing three investment managers and selecting a manager that
is most likely to adhere to Sonera’s investment policy statement. Information about the
investment managers is shown in Exhibit 1.
Gatchell is reviewing the fee structures proposed by the three investment managers. He finds
the following reference in Sonera’s investment policy statement:
The fee structure must be easy to understand and avoid undue complexity wherever
possible. Also, the fee structure must be predictable, so Sonera can reasonably forecast
these costs on a yearly basis as an input to the annual budgeting process.
He understands there are many different fee structures, and he wants to make sure he chooses
the most appropriate one for the Sonera. Gatchell prepares a recommendation for the
investment policy committee regarding the most appropriate fee structure.
Sonera has followed an active investment style for many years. Gatchell would like to
recommend to the investment policy committee that a portion of the funds be invested using a
passive investment style. His research shows there are a number of methods used to weight the
stocks in an index, each having its own characteristics. The one key feature he believes is
important is that the method chosen not be biased toward small-capitalization stocks.
Gatchell is also examining different ways to establish passive equity exposure. He states to
Lafite:
There are a number of ways to get passive equity exposure; we can invest in an equity
index mutual fund, a stock index futures contract, or a total return equity swap. Stock
index futures and equity swaps are low-cost alternatives to equity index mutual funds;
however, a drawback of stock index futures is that they have to be rolled over
periodically. One advantage of investing in equity mutual funds is that shares can be
redeemed at any point during the trading day.
Gatchell is reviewing the performance of another investment manager, Far North, which uses a
value-oriented approach and specializes in the Canadian market. Gatchell would like to
recommend to the investment policy committee that the fund diversify geographically. The
information for Far North and the related returns are shown in Exhibit 2.
The investment policy committee reviews the information in Exhibit 2 and is not familiar with
the terms “true active return” and “misfit active return.” Gatchell responds with the following
statement:
The true active return is the return Far North made above its normal benchmark return. The
misfit active return is the return Far North made above the investor’s benchmark return. The
term “investor’s benchmark” refers to the benchmark the investor uses to evaluate
performance for a given portfolio or asset class.
1.) Based on Exhibit 1, which investment manager most likely meets the criteria established
in the endowment's investment policy statement?
A. Manager B
B. Manager C
C. Manager A
2.) Based on Exhibit 1, is there sufficient information for Gatchell to create and interpret
the results of a style box?
4.) If the investment policy committee decides to accept Gatchell's recommendation to also
use passive investing, the index structure that least likely meets Gatchell's requirement
is:
A. a price-weighted index.
B. an equal-weighted index.
C. a value-weighted index.
5.) In his statement to Lafite, Gatchell is least likely correct with respect to:
A. periodic rollover.
B. redemption.
C. cost.
6.) Is Gatchell's statement regarding true active return and misfit active return correct?
A. Yes
B. No, he is incorrect about misfit active return
C. No, he is incorrect about true active return
Whitney
Mark Whitney, CFA, is the chief investment officer of Granite State Partners, a fixed-income
investment boutique serving institutional pension funds. Paula Norris, a partner at consulting
firm Franconia Notch Associates, is conducting due diligence of Granite’s capabilities. At a
meeting, they go over a presentation Whitney has prepared.
The first page of the presentation addresses Granite’s investment style for managing portfolios.
It states:
“Granite adjusts the portfolio’s duration slightly from the benchmark and attempts to increase
relative return by tilting the portfolios in terms of sector weights, varying the quality of issues,
and anticipating changes in term structure. The mismatches are expected to provide additional
returns to cover administrative and management costs.”
Norris asks Whitney about Granite’s ability to successfully reflect, in its portfolios, its views on
the market and the direction of interest rates. Whitney makes the following statements:
Statement 1: Granite uses effective duration to measure the sensitivity of the portfolio’s price
to a relatively small parallel shift in interest rates. For large parallel changes in
interest rates, we make a convexity adjustment to improve the accuracy of the
estimated price change. We believe that parallel shifts in the yield curve are
relatively rare; thus duration by itself is inadequate to capture the full effect of
changes in interest rates.
Statement 2: We address yield curve risk by using key rate durations. When using this
method, we stress the spot rates for all points along the yield curve
simultaneously. By changing the spot rates across maturities, we are able to
measure a portfolio’s sensitivity to those changes.
Statement 3: We also measure spread duration contribution. This analysis is not related to
interest rate risk. This measure describes how securities, such as corporate
bonds or mortgages, will change in price as a result of the widening or
narrowing of the spread to Treasuries.
Norris provides information on three clients she might refer to Whitney for portfolio
management services and asks him to design a dedication strategy for each. Whitney makes the
following recommendations:
Client 1: This bank has sold a five-year guaranteed investment contract that guarantees an
interest rate of 5.00% per year. I would purchase a bond with a target yield of
5.00% maturing in five years. Regardless of the direction of rates, the
guaranteed value is achieved.
Client 2: The defined benefit pension plan for this client has an economic surplus of zero.
In order to meet the liabilities for this plan, I will construct the portfolio duration
to be equal to that of the liabilities. In addition, I will have the portfolio
payments be less dispersed in time than the liabilities.
Client 3: This client’s long-term medical benefits plan has known outflows over 10 years.
Because perfect matching is not possible, I propose a minimum immunization
risk approach, which is superior to the sophisticated linear program model used
in the current cash flow matching strategy.
Norris asks Whitney what steps he takes to reestablish the dollar duration of a portfolio to the
desired level in an asset/liability matching application. Whitney responds: “First, I calculate a
new dollar duration for the portfolio after moving forward in time and shifting the yield curve.
Second, I calculate the rebalancing ratio by dividing the original dollar duration by the new
dollar duration and subtracting one to get a percentage change. Third, I multiply the new market
value of the portfolio by the desired percentage change from step two.”
Norris then asks Whitney, “What sectors are you currently recommending for client portfolios?”
Whitney responds: “I recommend investing 25% of the portfolio in mortgage-backed securities
because they are trading at attractive valuations. I would not, however, buy floating-rate
securities because these do not hedge liabilities appropriately.”
Norris asks how changing market conditions lead to secondary market trading in Granite’s client
portfolios. Whitney responds: “Our research teams run models to assess relative value across
fixed-income sectors, which, combined with our economic outlook, leads to trade ideas. For
example, our macroeconomic team currently is concerned about the situations in several
sovereign nations and the spillover effect to capital markets. These issues range from
geopolitical risks that will likely increase the price of oil to outright sovereign defaults or
restructuring.”
2.) Which of Whitney's statements with regard to implementing its market and interest
rate views is least likely correct?
A. Statement 2
B. Statement 3
C. Statement 1
3.) Which of the following statements regarding Whitney's recommendations for Norris's
three clients is most likely correct?
4.) Is Whitney's approach to rebalancing a portfolio using dollar duration most likely
correct?
A. No, the steps do not provide the amount of cash needed for rebalancing
B. No, there is no need to move forward in time
C. Yes
5.) What are the two risks that Whitney is most likely exposed to, given his
recommendations on sectors?
A. credit-defense trades.
B. sector-rotation trades.
C. structure trades.
Lehigh
Anna Lehigh, CFA, is a portfolio manager for Brown and White Capital Management (B&W), a
US-based institutional investment management firm whose clients include university
endowments.
Packer College is a small liberal arts college whose endowment is managed by B&W. Lehigh is
considering a number of derivative strategies to tactically adjust the Packer portfolio to reflect
specific investment viewpoints discussed at a meeting with Packer’s investment committee. At
the meeting, the committee reviews Packer’s current portfolio, whose characteristics are shown
in Exhibit 1.
Exhibit 1: Packer Portfolio Characteristics
Amount
Investment Risk Measure
($ millions)
Mountain Hawk, Inc. common stock 20 Beta: 1.30
US large-cap stocks 30 Beta: 0.95
US mid-cap stocks 10 Beta: 1.20
Kemal Gulen, a member of the investment committee, asks Lehigh how she manages the risk
exposure of the call options investment. Lehigh responds by stating that she ensures that her
call option positions are delta hedged. She notes, however, that in some instances, at an
option’s expiration, the option gamma is very high and maintaining a delta hedged position
becomes very difficult.
Lehigh intends to synthetically modify the duration of the corporate bond component of the
portfolio to a target of 3.0 in anticipation of rising interest rates. Interest rate swap data are
provided in Exhibit 2.
Lehigh notes the holding of Mountain Hawk common stock. The shares were recently donated
by an alumnus who mandated that they not be sold for three years. Lehigh provides three
potential options strategies to use in order to benefit from changes in Mountain Hawk’s stock
price, which is presently $100.00. Options strategies are provided in Exhibit 3.
Exhibit 3: Options Strategies for Mountain Hawk Stock
Lower Strike Upper Strike
Strategy
(US dollars) (US dollars)
Straddle 95 95
Bull (call) spread 105 110
Bear(put) spread 90 100
Lehigh tells the committee she believes US large-cap stocks will perform well over the next year.
The committee agrees and wants B&W to adjust the beta of the US large-cap part of the
portfolio to a target of 1.10 by purchasing large-cap futures contracts. Lehigh proposes
purchasing 15 contracts. For each contract, the beta is 1.00 and the price is $100,000.
The committee is concerned that Europe’s sovereign debt crisis may lead to volatility in
European stock markets and the euro currency. It considers the hedging strategies outlined in
Exhibit 4
Exhibit 4: Hedging Strategies
Strategy Forwards Futures
Sell euro and buy US
1 Buy US stock market
dollars
Sell euro and buy US Sell European stock
2
dollars market
Buy euro and sell US Sell European stock
3
dollars market
Finally, Lehigh discusses B&W’s market view that over the next 24 months, mid-cap stocks will
underperform small-cap stocks and the Libor rate will be less than the percentage increase in
the small-cap index but greater than the percentage change in the mid-cap index. She
recommends executing a swap transaction in order to alter the stock and bond allocation and
thus capture the economic benefit of B&W’s market view. The investment committee considers
the swap strategies outlined in Exhibit 5.
1.) Lehigh's response to Gulen is most likely correct when the option is:
A. out of the money.
B. in the money.
C. at the money.
2.) Based on the data in Exhibit 2, modifying the duration of the fixed-income allocation to
its target will require an interest rate swap that has notional principal closest to:
A. $11,030,000.
B. $17,777,000
C. $9,412,000.
3.) If the price of Mountain Hawk stock declines to $88.00, which options strategy will most
likely have the highest value at expiration?
A. Bull spread
B. Straddle
C. Bear spread
4.) Will Lehigh's purchase of US large-cap futures contracts most likely result in the
committee's beta objective for the US large-cap investment being attained?
5.) Given the committee's view about the sovereign debt crisis, which hedging strategy is
most likely to result in Packer earning the US risk-free rate of return?
A. Strategy 3
B. Strategy 1
C. Strategy 2
6.) Which of the following swaps will least likely capture the greatest economic benefit,
based on the committee's 24-month market view?
A. Swap 1
B. Swap 3
C. Swap 2
Silva
Manuel Silva is a principal at Raintree Partners, a financial advisory firm, and a specialist in
providing advice on risk management and trading strategies using derivatives. Raintree’s clients
include high-net-worth individuals, corporations, banks, hedge funds, and other financial market
participants.
One of Silva’s clients, Iria Sampras, is meeting with Silva to discuss the use of options in her
portfolio. Silva has collected information on S&P 500 Index options, which is shown in Exhibit 1.
At the beginning of the meeting, Sampras states: “My investment in Eagle Corporation stock has
increased considerably in value, and I would like suggestions on options strategies I can use to
protect my gains.” Silva responds:
There are two strategies that you may want to consider: covered calls or protective
puts. Covered calls provide a way to protect your gains in Eagle Corporation stock.
Adding a short call to your long position in Eagle stock will provide protection against
losses on the stock position, but it will also limit upside gains. A protective put also
provides downside protection, but it retains upside potential. Unlike covered calls,
protective puts require an upfront premium payment.
At the end of the meeting, Sampras asks Silva to provide a written analysis of the following
option strategies:
Strategy A: A butterfly spread strategy using the options information provided in Exhibit
1.
Strategy B: A straddle strategy using the options in Exhibit 1 with an exercise price of
$1,125.
Strategy C: A collar strategy using the options information in Exhibit 1.
On 16 March 2012, First Citizen Bank (FCB) approached Silva for advice on a loan commitment.
At that time, FCB had committed to lend $100 million in 30 days (on 15 April 2012), with interest
and principal due on 12 October 2012, or 180 days from the date of the loan. The interest rate
on the loan was 180-day Libor + 50 bps, and FCB was concerned about interest rates declining
between March and April. Silva advised FCB to purchase a $100 million interest rate put on 180-
day Libor with an exercise rate of 5.75% and expiring on 15 April 2012. The put premium was
$25,000. Libor rates on 16 March 2012 and 15 April 2012 were 6% and 4%, respectively. The
option was exercised on 15 April 2012, and the payoff was received on 12 October 2012. FCB
has asked for a written evaluation of the success of the strategy.
On 15 October 2013, another client, Short Hills Corporation (SHC), indicates it expects to take
out a $25 million dollar loan on 15 December 2013. The loan rate is 90-day Libor + 100 bps.
Interest and principal will be paid on 15 March 2014, 90 days after the loan is made on 15
December 2013. SHC is concerned about rising interest rates and has approached Silva for
recommendations on addressing this issue. On Silva’s advice, SHC purchases a $25 million
interest rate call on 90-day Libor with an exercise rate of 3.5%. The option premium is $45,000,
and it expires in 61 days, on 15 December 2013. If the option is exercised on 15 December 2013,
the payoff will be received on 15 March 2014. SHC has asked Silva to provide a report on
possible outcomes relative to potential interest rate scenarios.
1.) Is Silva's response to Sampras regarding reducing exposure to Eagle Corporation stock
most likely correct?
2.) Based on the information in Exhibit 1, the maximum profit per contract for Strategy A is
closest to:
A. $9,015.
B. $5,855.
C. $2,545.
3.) Based on the information presented in Exhibit 1, the maximum loss per contract for
Strategy B is closest to:
A. $20,900.
B. $10,350.
C. $12,850.
4.) The expected volatility of the S&P 500, relative to market expectations, is least likely to
be a factor in the decision to implement:
A. Strategy A.
B. Strategy C.
C. Strategy B.
5.) Based on Silva's advice, the effective annual interest rate for First Citizen Bank's loan is
closest to:
A. 5.75%.
B. 4.56%.
C. 6.38%.
6.) Assuming Silva's advice is followed and Libor rates are 5% and 6% on 15 October 2013
and 15 December 2013, respectively, the effective annual interest rate on Short Hills
Corporation's loan is closest to:
A. 3.50%.
B. 5.42%.
C. 4.64%.
Watanbe
Kamiko Watanabe, CFA, is a portfolio adviser at Wakasa Bay Securities. She specializes in the use
of derivatives to alter and manage the exposures of Japanese equity and fixed-income
portfolios. She has meetings today with two clients, Isao Sato and Reiko Kondo.
Sato is the manager of the Tsushima Manufacturing pension fund, which has a target asset
allocation of 60% equity and 40% bonds. The fund has separate equity and fixed-income
portfolios, whose characteristics are provided in Exhibits 1 and 2. Sato expects equity values to
increase in the coming two years and, in order to avoid substantial transaction costs now and in
two years, would like to use derivatives to temporarily rebalance the portfolio. He wants to
maintain the current beta of the equity portfolio and the current duration of the bond portfolio.
In order to rebalance the pension fund to its target allocations to equity and bonds, Watanabe
recommends using Nikkei 225 Index futures contracts, which have a beta of 1.05 and a current
contract price of ¥1,525,000, and Nikko Bond Performance Index futures, which have a duration
of 6.90 and a current contract price of ¥4,830,000. She assumes the cash position has a duration
of 0.25.
Sato wants to know if other derivatives could be used to rebalance the portfolio. In response,
Watanabe describes the characteristics of a pair of swaps that, together, would accomplish the
same rebalancing as the proposed futures contracts strategy.
Kondo manages a fixed-income portfolio for the Akito Trust. The portfolio’s market value is ¥640
million, and its duration is 6.40. Kondo believes interest rates will rise and asks Watanabe to
explain how to use a swap to decrease the portfolio’s duration to 3.50. Watanabe proposes a
strategy that uses a pay-fixed position in a three-year interest rate swap with semi-annual
payments. Kondo decides he wants to use a four-year swap to manage the portfolio’s duration.
After some calculations, Watanabe tells him a pay-fixed position in a four-year interest rate
swap with a duration of –2.875 would require a notional principal of ¥683 million (rounded to
the nearest million yen) to achieve his goals.
Kondo asks Watanabe whether it would be possible to cancel the swap prior to its maturity.
Watanabe responds with three statements:
Statement 1: If you purchase a swaption from the same counterparty as the original
swap, it is common to require the payments of the two swaps be netted
or cash settled if the swaption is exercised.
Statement 2: You could purchase a payer swaption with the same terms as the original
swap. This approach would protect you from falling fixed swap rates but
at the cost of the premium you would pay to the swaption
counterparty.
Statement 3: During the life of the swap, you could enter into a new pay-floating swap
with the same terms as the original swap, except it would have a
maturity equal to the remaining maturity of the original swap. However,
the fixed rate you receive might be lower than the fixed rate you are
paying on the original swap.
1.) The number of Nikko Bond Performance Index futures Sato must sell to rebalance the
Tsushima pension fund to its target allocation is closest to:
A. 743.
B. 149.
C. 1,594.
2.) The number of Nikkei 225 Index futures Sato must buy to rebalance the Tsushima
pension fund to its target allocation is closest to:
A. 4,148.
B. 3,293.
C. 3,950.
3.) Which of these is most likely to be a characteristic of one of the two swaps Watanabe
describes to Sato?
4.) The duration of the swap in Watanabe's first proposal to Kondo is closest to:
A. –1.75.
B. –2.00.
C. –2.75.
5.) Is the notional principal of the swap Watanabe recommends to Kondo most likely
correct?
A. Statement 3
B. Statement 1
C. Statement 2