Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Sunday, Nov 10, 2002

Investment World
Features
Stocks
Port Info
Archives

Group Sites

Investment World - Derivatives Markets


Futures guide

Spot Index Value (SIV): Represents the closing value of the index on which the futures are based. In this case, this represents the closing value of the Nifty and the Sensex respectively.

Fair Value: Fair Value is the theoretical futures price. This is calculated based on the spot index value. The latter is multiplied by a compounding factor. The factor used is the rate on the 91-day treasury bill rate (proxy for risk-free rate). The compounding period is linked to maturity period of the contracts.

B-1 and B-2 : B-1 refers to the difference between the fair value and the spot index value. B-2 refers to the difference between the actual futures price and the spot index value.

Actual Value: The observed closing price of the futures contract for the period is the actual value

Inference (B2-B1): A positive difference indicates that the futures are overpriced and it may be a good time to sell futures contracts. A negative difference indicates that the futures are underpriced indicating that contracts can be purchased.

Open interest: Open Interest is the number of open contracts in a given maturity contract. A full open interest consists of a long position in combination with short position. It becomes an open contract when it is not closed by a counter position or when it has not expired. One unit of open interest represents always two parties, one buyer (long) and one seller (short).

Contract Value: In the case of Nifty contracts, the value of the contract is equal to the index value multiplied by 200, which is the minimum number of contracts that must be traded. In the case of the Sensex futures, the value of the contract is equal to the index value multiplied by 50, which is the minimum number of contracts that must be traded.

Expiration: The expiration date for all contracts is the last Thursday of the respective month.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Comment on this article to BLFeedback@thehindu.co.in

Stories in this Section
Do's and don'ts for investors


Old private sector banks — Bent but not broken
Learning new survival ways
Thinning spreads, bulging NPAs
Bankable bets
Now you can have forex accounts
Sundaram Gilt Fund: Sell/Avoid fresh exposure
Franklin India Bluechip Fund: Invest
Kotak Mahindra K-30: Switch
HDFC Growth: Hold/Avoid fresh exposures
Variable Investment Scheme — New index-linked plan from UTI
Distorting cash component of IT funds
ONGC: Hold
M&M: Hold
Madras Cements: Book profits and re-enter at lower levels
Berger Paints: Buy
Apollo Tyres: Hold/Buy on declines
ACC: Possibility of open offer
Airfares to move skywards
NRI property sale made easier
Housing scheme for PF subscribers
Signalling Theory and market efficiency
EPF rates to stay
Bourses witness lacklustre bout
Book profit in Infosys
Pare exposure in ICICI Bank
Nasdaq: Bleak outlook
Syngenta gains 37 pc
Bonds likely to trade in tight range
Trading in index futures
Options guide
Futures guide
Sundaram Home Finance: Home safe
`Paints are acquiring FMCG overtones' — Mr H. M. Bharuka, MD, Goodlass Nerolac
Kelkar tax proposals — Set to hit salaried class hard
Axing the tax incentive
Kelkar's tax proposals — What's in it for shareholders?
The case against index funds
How they actually fared
Will SEBI bite, at least now?
It Adds Up!


The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription
Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line