8006 Exam Dumps : Exam I: Finance Theory Financial Instruments Financial Markets - 2015 Edition

A portfolio loses its delta neutrality if the delta of the portfolio changes but the underlying hedge is unchanged. The portfolio that will require the most rebalancing will be one whose delta changes by larger amounts in response to a given change in the price of the underlying. The sensitivity of the changes in delta in response to changes in the price of the underlying is measured by gamma. The higher the gamma, the more the portfolio will go out of delta neutrality given a change in the price of the underlying. Therefore Choice 'b' is the correct answer.

A portfolio with a low gamma will maintain its delta over a larger price range for the underlying, and is therefore likely to require less frequent rebalancing. The absolute level of the delta itself does not matter, what matters is the gamma. Vega is irrelevant to the delta hedging decision. Therefore the other choices are incorrect.

A covered call is an attempt to earn premium income by selling calls while protecting against the downside by holding long the underlying. In case prices rise, the holder of the covered call can give away the held underlying. In case prices fall or stay below the strike price of the sold call, the holder of the covered call gets to keep the premium.

The holder of the covered call will suffer a loss if the price of the underlying declines due to the long position held in the underlying. However, these losses will be partly offset by the premiums earned on the calls sold.

Choice 'd' does not represent a correct statement as in the event of a rise in the price of the underlying the holder of the covered call will lose any upside, but will not have unlimited losses. In the event of a decline in stock prices, his losses will be equal to the loss on the underlying, minus the premium earned.

Systematic risk refers to market risk that cannot be diversified away. Specific risk relates to the unique risk from the securities selected in the portfolio, and these can be diversified away by adding other securities to the portfolio. Diversifiable risk is risk that can be diversified away, ie the same as specific risk. Portfolio risk is the total risk of the portfolio that includes both specific and systematic risk.