A funds manager forecasts that it will need to invest $100 million in approximately 90 days. The manager wishes to receive a return as close as possible to the medium-term interest rates currently available, but expects that rates will have fallen by the time the funds are available for investment.

a) Outline what the manager would do today in the financial futures market in order to secure a return that is close to current medium-term market rates.

b) Calculate the price of a three-year Treasury bond futures contract quoted at 96.50.

c) Outline how the funds manager would close out the futures market position.

d) Outline and explain the factors that will determine how successful this strategy will be in securing an effective return that is close to today’s market rates.