1.Speculation: Today is January 24 and you go long 1 real March futures at an opening trade price of $0.6423 per real with an initial margin of $1,500. The settlement prices for January 24, 25 and 26 are $0.6393, $0.6441 and $0.6496 per real respectively. On January 27 you close out your contract at $0.6483 per real.

(a) Calculate your daily account position and

(b) Find the ending account balance on January 27 at liquidation

(size of contract = real 125,000)

2. Futures Hedging: On March 15, a US firm is planning to import Russian vodka worth 5 million rubles due on April 15. Firm decides to hedge its payables position by using June ruble futures traded on CME. The spot rate on March 15 is US $0.0330/ruble and the June futures price on March 15 is at $ 0.0300/ruble. On April 15, the spot rate is $0.0380 / ruble while the June futures is $ 0.0350 / ruble.

(a) Calculate the net gain or loss from the futures?

(b) What is the net cost to the importer?