You work at a hedge fund, and your Arbitrage-Finder computer program has identified an opportunity involving MBC plc stock and its 1 yr forward contract. The stock trades currently at £94.95 and the 1 yr forward price is £96.58. The 1 yr spot rate is 5.4%. Assume markets are frictionless (no transaction costs, bid-ask spreads, etc.) and that you believe the stock will not pay any dividends.
Calculate the theoretical forward price and comment on how arbitrage IS possible assuming that you could alternately invest in the bank at the 1 year spot rate?
Forward price (Theoretical) = Spot Price * (1 + Spot rate)^n
= £94.95*(1 + 5.4%)
= £100.08
Since the 1 year forward price is 1 yr forward price is £96.58, clearly there is arbitrage.
To take advantage of the same, we can short the stock and invest the proceeds in the bank at the 1 year spot rate which will yield £100.08 with a net profit of £3.50 (considering 1 yr forward price of 1 yr forward price is £96.58)
You work at a hedge fund, and your Arbitrage-Finder computer program has identified an opportunity involving...