The Price of an S&P 500 Index Futures Contract Is

question 17

Multiple Choice

The price of an S&P 500 Index futures contract is $988.26 when you decide to enter a long position.When the position is closed the futures price is $930.32.If there are no settlement requirements,what is your dollar gain or loss? (Ignore opportunity costs.)

• A) $14,485 loss
• B) $14,485 gain
• C) $57.94 loss
• D) $57.94 gain

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Definitions:

Interest Rates

The percentage of a sum of money charged for its use, typically expressed as an annual percentage rate.

Par Value

The face or nominal value of a bond, stock share, or coupon, as specified by the issuer.

Coupon Rate

Annually, the interest earned on a bond represented as a percentage of its face value.

Premium Bond

Bond prices and interest rates are inversely related; that is, they tend to move in the opposite direction from each other. A fixed-rate bond will sell at par when its coupon interest rate is equal to the going rate of interest, rd. When the going rate of interest is above the coupon rate, a fixed rate bond will sell at a “discount” below its par value. If current interest rates are below the coupon rate, a fixed rate bond will sell at a “premium” above its par value.