The multiplier for a futures contract on the stock-market index is $250. The maturity of the contract is one year, the current level of the index is 2,000, and the risk-free interest rate is .5% per month. The dividend yield on the index is .2% per month. Suppose that after one month, the stock index is at 2,010.
a. Find the cash flow from the mark-to-market proceeds on the contract. Assume that the parity condition always holds exactly.
b. Find the one-month holding-period return if the initial margin on the contract is $10,000.