You are a fund manager for high net-wealth clients. One or your clients expects short-term interest rates to remain low over the coming year and expects equities to offer a signification higher return, The investor wants to shift some funds from cash to equities. The investor currently holds a portfolio of money marital assets.

A) Detail 3 possible solutions available to the client to achieve her aims, along with the advantages 'disadvantages associated with each method!. One of these solutions should be a swap contract.

[4.5 marks]

B) The client -decides to enter into a one-year equity swap where the counter party agrees to pay the investor the total return to the Stock index in exchange for dollar-denominated Libor on a quarterly basis. The Exhibit below summarize the mechanics of the swap assuming that on settlement date the stock index is at 640, dividends are 3.50 index points each quarter, and current 90-day Libor is 3.25% and the national amount of the contract is- $1,000,000, Each quarter contains 91 days.

Swap Data

TIME LIBOR S&P 500

Settlement 3.25% 640

Reset#1 3.20 645

Reset#2 3.10 650

Reset#3 3.25 640

Maturity 3.15 670

Fill in the missing values from the cash flow schedule below

Cash Flow Schedule

Time National Labor Index Dividend Net

#1 1,000,000 8,215 7,812 5,156 4753

#2 5,140

#3 5,125

Maturity 5,109

Total

Incremental return [4 marks]

C). What is the total incremental return for the above swap? [1.5 marks]

D. Swaps can be viewed as an amalgamation of a number of alternate financial instruments. What: type of portfolio of financial instruments is the above swap replicating? What benefits are there from using the swap over the alternatives?

[2 marks]