Your investment bank has an investment of $100 million in the stock of the Swiss Roll Corporation and a short position in the stock of the Frankfurter Sausage Company. Here is the recent price history of the two stocks:

Your investment bank has an investment of $100 million in the stock of the Swiss Roll Corporation and a short position in the stock of the Frankfurter Sausage Company. Here is the recent price history of the two stocks: on the evidence of these six months how large would your short position in Frankfurter sausage needed to be to hedge you as far as possible against movements in the price of swiss Roll

answer : $42003667

Explanation:

$100 million in stocks

According to the data provided in the table attached below, to short the Frankfurt in order to hedge investment in Rolls is calculated below

we have to calculate the total return on both Roll corporation and Frankfurter sausage

for f-sausage

∑ (1 + monthly returns ) / 100

= ( 1 - 0.1 + 1 - 0.1 .... + 1 + 0.1 ) = -0.0297 = -2.97%

for Roll corporation

∑ (1 + monthly returns ) / 100

= ( 1 - 0.1 + 1 - 0.05 .... + 1 + 0.1 ) = -0.012475 = - 1.24%

next we will calculate the total loss inquired when investing in Roll corporation

Total loss = percentage loss * total investment

= 0.012475 * $100 million = - $ 1247500

we will have to offset the loss by shorting investments in F sausage

hence : $1247500 = investment in sausage * total return

1247500 = investment in sausage * 0.0297 ( The total return of F sausage is positive because it was a short position )

hence short investment in F sausage to offset loss incurred in ROLLS INVESTMENT

= 1247500 / 0.0297 = $42003667