The multiplier for a futures contract on a stock market index is $50. The maturity of the contract is one year, the current level of the index is 4,500, and the risk-free interest rate is .5% per month.

The dividend yield on the index is .2% per month. Suppose that after one month, the stock index is at 4,550.

a. Find the cash flow from the mark-to-market proceeds on the contract. Assume that the parity condition always holds exactly.

b. Find the holding-period return if the initial margin on the contract is $10,000. P-636