In: Finance
US interest rates are currently 5.9% on one year T-bills. Assume that the American dollar is quoted at 1 USD for $1.37 CDN and Canadian one year T-bills are 4.85%. If the forward spot rate is $1.42 what would the arbitrage be in Canadian dollar terms?
Risk free intrest rate in usa = 5.9%
Risk free interest rate in Canada =4.85%
Spot rate =1.37cnd/usd
If forword rate =1.42cnd /usd
Is there arbitrage opportunity ?
Theoretical forward rate for a/b
=F/s=1+ia/1+ib
F/1.37=1+.0485/1+.059
F= 1.37*(1.0485)/1.059
=1.356
So forword rate should be 1.356 cnd /$ but
Actually it is 1.42cnd/$ .so yes there is arbitrage opportunity exists.
Theoretically us doller should be at discount but actually it is at primium so we should borrow in canada and invest in usa
Arbitrage process
Today I borrow 137000cnd @4.85%
Convert it to $ @1.37cnd /$(us) so I will get 100000us$
Now deposit 100000usd in us @ 5.9%
After a year I will get 100000+ 5900$ (interest)
Sell 105900 $ @ 1.42 cnd/$ I will get (105900)= 150378 cnd
Initially I borrow 137000 cnd @4.85 % so interest on that amount becomes 6644.5cnd
Total payable to bank =137000+6644.5
=143644.5cnd
Arbitrage gain =150378-143644.5cnd
Net arbitrage gain =6733.5 cnd