Question

"An investor has a portfolio of diversified blue chip stocks with a current market value of $350,000. The portfolio has a computed beta factor of 1.8. The customer wants to protect the portfolio from a declining market with the use of OEX contracts. The OEX closed this day at 350. To hedge with "at the money" contracts, the customer should:"

Answer 1

Answer: Buy 18 contracts

Step-by-step explanation:

Hedging against the risk involved in an investment means the use of market strategies or financial instruments to offset risk.

When there is a drop in the market value, any loss that is incurred on the portfolio will have to be offset by the long puts gain. This implies that 10 put contracts will have to be required for hedging. This is calculated as:

= $350,000/(350 × 100)

= $350,000/35,000

= 10 contracts

Since the portfolio has a computed beta factor of 1.8, we then multiply 10 by 1.8. This will be:

= 10 × 1.8

= 18 contracts.