You are attempting to formulate an investment strategy. On the one hand, you think there is great upward potential in the stock market and would like to participate in the upward move if it materializes. However, you are not able to afford substantial stock market losses and so cannot run the risk of a stock market collapse, which you recognize is also possible. Your investment adviser suggests a protective put position: Buy shares in a market-index stock fund and put options on those shares with three months until expiration and exercise price of $1,560. The stock index is currently at $1,800. However, your uncle suggests you instead buy a three-month call option on the index fund with exercise price $1,680 and buy three-month T-bills with face value $1,680.

a. On the same graph, draw the payoffs to each of these strategies as a function of the stock fund value in three months.

b. Which portfolio must require a greater initial outlay to establish?

c. Suppose the market prices of the securities are as follows:

Stock fund .................................. $1,800

T-bill (face value $1,680) .................. 1,620

Call (exercise price $1,680) .................. 240

Put (exercise price $1,560) .................... 12

Make a table of profits realized for each portfolio for the following values of the stock price in three months: ST = $0, $1,400, $1,600, $1,800, and $1,920. Graph the profits to each portfolio as a function of ST on a single graph.

d. Which strategy is riskier? Which should have a higher beta?