The treasurer of a middle market, import-export Company has approached you for advice on how to best invest some of the firm’s short-term cash balances. The company, which has been a client of the bank that employs you for a few years, has $250,000 that is able to commit for a one year holding period. The treasurer is currently considering two alternatives: (1) invest all the funds in a one year U.S treasury bill offering a bond equivalent yield of 4.25%, and (2) invest all the funds in a Swiss government security over the same horizon, locking in the spot and forward currency exchanges in the FX market. A quick call to the bank’s FX desk gives you the following two currency exchange quotes. Swiss francs U.S Dollar per per U.S Dollar Swiss Franc (CHF) Spot 1.5035 0.6651 1-year CHF futures - 0.6586
1. Calculate the one year bond equivalent yield for the Swiss government security that would support the interest rate parity condition.
2. Assuming the actual yield on a one year Swiss government bond is 5.50%, which strategy would leave the treasurer with the greatest return after one year?
3. Describe the transactions that an arbitrageur could use to take advantage of this apparent mispricing, and calculate what profit would be for a $250, 000 transactions