Today, the gross price of a 10-year bond with $1,000 principal amount is 116.277. At the same moment, the price of the 10-year futures contract, which expires in two months, is 98.03. Its nominal amount is $100,000, and the deposit margin is $1,000. One month later, the price of the bond is 120.815 as the futures price is 102.24.

i) (2 marks) What is the leverage effect on this futures contract?

ii) An investor anticipates that rates will decrease in a short-term period. His cash at disposal is $100,000.

(a) (5 marks) What is the position he can take on the market using the bond? What is his absolute gain after one month? What is the return rate of his investment?

(b) (7 marks) Same question as the previous one using the futures contract.

(c) (1 mark) Conclude.