Suppose that in September 2021, a company purchases 10 May 2022 crude oil futures contracts to hedge a future purchase of crude oil. Each contract is for the delivery of 1,000 barrels of crude oil.

It closes out its position in March 2022.

The futures price (per barrel) is $48.00 when it enters into the contract, $49.00 at the end of December 2021, $51.00 when it closes out its futures position, and $52.00 on the futures contracts first delivery date.

Assume that the company has a December 31 year-end.

Consider the following statements.

I. The companys total profit is $40,000.

II. The company is taxed on a total profit of $10,000 in 2021.

III. The company is taxed on a profit of $10,000 in 2021 and a profit of $20,000 in 2022.

Which of the following is correct?

a.

Statement I is correct, Statements II and III are incorrect.

b.

Statement II is correct, Statements I and III are incorrect.

c.

Statement I, II and III are incorrect.

d.

Statements I, II and III are correct.

e.

Statement III is correct, Statements I and II are incorrect.