The Correlation Between Changes in Price of a Spot Asset

question 17

Multiple Choice

The correlation between changes in price of a spot asset and futures asset is 99%. The standard deviation of changes in spot prices is $2, and that of futures prices is $3. What is the standard deviation of a position that is long 5 units of the spot asset and is optimally (i.e., minimum-variance) hedged by using futures?

• A) 1.41
• B) 1.99
• C) 2.52
• D) 3.11

---

Definitions:

Unbiased Estimator

A statistical estimator whose expected value exactly equals the parameter it estimates.

Intercept

The value of the dependent variable when all independent variables in a regression model are set to zero, representing the model’s starting point.

Least-squares Regression Line

A straight line that best fits the data points in a scatter plot, minimizing the sum of the squares of the vertical distances of the points from the line.

PGA Tour

A professional golf circuit in the United States, featuring the world's top male golfers competing in various tournaments throughout the year.