In: Finance
The one-year futures price of gold is $1,213 per oz. (i.e., the futures price on a contract that expires in one year). The spot price is $1,152 per oz. and the continuous risk-free rate is 2.17% per annum. The storage costs for gold are $2 per oz. payable in arrears and we assume gold provides no income. What is the arbitrage profit per 100 oz. of gold? Ignore transactions costs.
Theoretical Futures Price = Spot Price*e^[risk free rate*t]+Storage Cost Payable in Arrears
Where e = constant (2.71828), t = years to expiry
Applying the above formula,
Spot Price = 1152, Risk Free Rate = 0.0217, t = 1
Therefore, Theoretical Futures Price(according to cost & carry) = 1152*e^0.0217 = 1152*1.0219(from table) = $1177.23+2 = $1179.23
Actual Futures Price is $1213 i.e Greater than Theoretical Futures Price
Therefore, Future is Overvalued.
Therefore, to make an Arbitrage Gain, Buy Spot & Sell under Futures Contract i.e (Cash and Carry).
Steps to Arbitrage:
Now,
(1) Borrow 1152*100 = $115200 for 1 year @ Risk Free Rate
(2) Buy 100 oz of gold @ current price i.e. $1152
(3) Sell Futures contacts for 100 oz, expiring in 1 year
After 1 year,
(4) Sell 100 ounces of gold under Futures Contract and receive 1213*100 = $121300
(5) Repay loan with interest 115200*1.0219(value from table, same as above) = $117722.88
(6) Pay Storage Costs = 100*2 = $200
Arbitrage Gain = Realized from sale-Repaid the loan-Storage Costs = 121300-117722.88-200 = $3377.12