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Section 1256 and Foreign Currency Derivatives
Section 1256 and Foreign Currency Derivatives Viva Hammer1 Mark-to-market taxation was considered “a fundamental departure from the concept of income realization in the U.S. tax law”2 when it was introduced in 1981. Congress was only game to propose the concept because of rampant “straddle” shelters that were undermining the U.S. tax system and commodities derivatives markets. Early in tax history, the Supreme Court articulated the realization principle as a Constitutional limitation on Congress’ taxing power. But in 1981, lawmakers makers felt confident imposing mark-to-market on exchange traded futures contracts because of the exchanges’ system of variation margin. However, when in 1982 non-exchange foreign currency traders asked to come within the ambit of mark-to-market taxation, Congress acceded to their demands even though this market had no equivalent to variation margin. This opportunistic rather than policy-driven history has spawned a great debate amongst tax practitioners as to the scope of the mark-to-market rule governing foreign currency contracts. Several recent cases have added fuel to the debate. The Straddle Shelters of the 1970s Straddle shelters were developed to exploit several structural flaws in the U.S. tax system: (1) the vast gulf between ordinary income tax rate (maximum 70%) and long term capital gain rate (28%), (2) the arbitrary distinction between capital gain and ordinary income, making it relatively easy to convert one to the other, and (3) the non- economic tax treatment of derivative contracts. Straddle shelters were so pervasive that in 1978 it was estimated that more than 75% of the open interest in silver futures were entered into to accommodate tax straddles and demand for U.S. -
Faqs on Straddle Contracts – Currency Derivatives
FAQs on Straddle Contracts FAQs on Straddle Contracts – Currency Derivatives 1. What is meant by a Straddle Contract? Straddle contracts are specialised two-legged option contracts that allow a trader to take positions on two different option contracts belonging to the same product, at the same strike price and having the same expiry. 2. What are the components of a Straddle contract? A straddle contract comprises of two individual legs, the first being the call option leg and the second being the put option leg, having same strike price and expiry. 3. In which segment will Straddle contracts be offered? To start with, straddle contracts will be offered in the Currency Derivatives segment. 4. What will be the market lot of the straddle contract? Market lot of a straddle contract will be the same as that of its corresponding individual legs i.e. the market lot of the call option leg and the put option leg. 5. What will be the tick size of the straddle contract? Tick size of a straddle contract will be the same as that of its corresponding individual legs i.e. the tick size of the call option leg and the put option leg. 6. For which expiries will straddle contracts be made available? Straddle contracts will be made available on all existing individual option contracts - current, near, & far monthly as well as quarterly and half yearly option contracts. 7. How many in-the-money, at-the-money and out-of-the-money contracts will be available? Minimum two In-the-Money, two Out-of-the-Money and one At-the-Money straddle contracts will be made available. -
Buying Options on Futures Contracts. a Guide to Uses
NATIONAL FUTURES ASSOCIATION Buying Options on Futures Contracts A Guide to Uses and Risks Table of Contents 4 Introduction 6 Part One: The Vocabulary of Options Trading 10 Part Two: The Arithmetic of Option Premiums 10 Intrinsic Value 10 Time Value 12 Part Three: The Mechanics of Buying and Writing Options 12 Commission Charges 13 Leverage 13 The First Step: Calculate the Break-Even Price 15 Factors Affecting the Choice of an Option 18 After You Buy an Option: What Then? 21 Who Writes Options and Why 22 Risk Caution 23 Part Four: A Pre-Investment Checklist 25 NFA Information and Resources Buying Options on Futures Contracts: A Guide to Uses and Risks National Futures Association is a Congressionally authorized self- regulatory organization of the United States futures industry. Its mission is to provide innovative regulatory pro- grams and services that ensure futures industry integrity, protect market par- ticipants and help NFA Members meet their regulatory responsibilities. This booklet has been prepared as a part of NFA’s continuing public educa- tion efforts to provide information about the futures industry to potential investors. Disclaimer: This brochure only discusses the most common type of commodity options traded in the U.S.—options on futures contracts traded on a regulated exchange and exercisable at any time before they expire. If you are considering trading options on the underlying commodity itself or options that can only be exercised at or near their expiration date, ask your broker for more information. 3 Introduction Although futures contracts have been traded on U.S. exchanges since 1865, options on futures contracts were not introduced until 1982. -
307439 Ferdig Master Thesis
Master's Thesis Using Derivatives And Structured Products To Enhance Investment Performance In A Low-Yielding Environment - COPENHAGEN BUSINESS SCHOOL - MSc Finance And Investments Maria Gjelsvik Berg P˚al-AndreasIversen Supervisor: Søren Plesner Date Of Submission: 28.04.2017 Characters (Ink. Space): 189.349 Pages: 114 ABSTRACT This paper provides an investigation of retail investors' possibility to enhance their investment performance in a low-yielding environment by using derivatives. The current low-yielding financial market makes safe investments in traditional vehicles, such as money market funds and safe bonds, close to zero- or even negative-yielding. Some retail investors are therefore in need of alternative investment vehicles that can enhance their performance. By conducting Monte Carlo simulations and difference in mean testing, we test for enhancement in performance for investors using option strategies, relative to investors investing in the S&P 500 index. This paper contributes to previous papers by emphasizing the downside risk and asymmetry in return distributions to a larger extent. We find several option strategies to outperform the benchmark, implying that performance enhancement is achievable by trading derivatives. The result is however strongly dependent on the investors' ability to choose the right option strategy, both in terms of correctly anticipated market movements and the net premium received or paid to enter the strategy. 1 Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction4 Problem Statement................................6 Methodology...................................7 Limitations....................................7 Literature Review.................................8 Structure..................................... 12 Chapter 2 - Theory 14 Low-Yielding Environment............................ 14 How Are People Affected By A Low-Yield Environment?........ 16 Low-Yield Environment's Impact On The Stock Market........ -
Tax Treatment of Derivatives
United States Viva Hammer* Tax Treatment of Derivatives 1. Introduction instruments, as well as principles of general applicability. Often, the nature of the derivative instrument will dictate The US federal income taxation of derivative instruments whether it is taxed as a capital asset or an ordinary asset is determined under numerous tax rules set forth in the US (see discussion of section 1256 contracts, below). In other tax code, the regulations thereunder (and supplemented instances, the nature of the taxpayer will dictate whether it by various forms of published and unpublished guidance is taxed as a capital asset or an ordinary asset (see discus- from the US tax authorities and by the case law).1 These tax sion of dealers versus traders, below). rules dictate the US federal income taxation of derivative instruments without regard to applicable accounting rules. Generally, the starting point will be to determine whether the instrument is a “capital asset” or an “ordinary asset” The tax rules applicable to derivative instruments have in the hands of the taxpayer. Section 1221 defines “capital developed over time in piecemeal fashion. There are no assets” by exclusion – unless an asset falls within one of general principles governing the taxation of derivatives eight enumerated exceptions, it is viewed as a capital asset. in the United States. Every transaction must be examined Exceptions to capital asset treatment relevant to taxpayers in light of these piecemeal rules. Key considerations for transacting in derivative instruments include the excep- issuers and holders of derivative instruments under US tions for (1) hedging transactions3 and (2) “commodities tax principles will include the character of income, gain, derivative financial instruments” held by a “commodities loss and deduction related to the instrument (ordinary derivatives dealer”.4 vs. -
Sales Representatives Manual 2020
Sales Representatives Manual Volume 4 2020 Volume 4 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Overview of Derivatives Transactions ………… 1 Chapter 2 Products of Derivatives Transactions ……………99 Derivatives Transactions and Chapter 3 Articles of Association and ……………… 165 Various Rules of the Association Exercise (Class-1 Examination) ……………………………………… 173 Chapter 1 Overview of Derivatives Transactions Introduction ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 3 Section 1. Fundamentals of Derivatives Transactions ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 10 1.1 What Are Derivatives Transactions? ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 10 Section 2. Futures Transactions ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 10 2.1 What Are Futures Transactions? ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 10 2.2 Futures Price Formation ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 14 2.3 How to Use Futures Transactions ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 17 Section 3. Forward Transactions ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 24 3.1 What Are Forward Transactions? ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 24 Section 4. Option Transactions ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 25 4.1 What Are Options Transactions? ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 25 4.2 Options’ Price Formation ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 32 4.3 Characteristics of Options Premiums ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 36 4.4 Sensitivity of Premiums to the Respective Factors ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 38 4.5 How to Use Options ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 46 4.6 Option Pricing Theory ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 57 Section 5. Swap Transactions ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 63 5.1 What Are Swap Transactions? ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 63 Section 6. Risks in Derivatives Transactions ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 72 Conclusion ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 82 Introduction Introduction 1. History of Derivatives Transactions Chapter 1 The term “derivatives” is used for financial instruments that “derive” from financial assets, meaning those that have securities such as shares or bonds as their underlying assets or financial transactions that use a reference indicator such as interest rates or exchange rates. Today the term “derivative” is used widely throughout society and not just on the financial markets. Although there has been criticism that they amplify financial risks and have a harmful impact on the Chapter 2 economy, derivatives are an indispensable requirement in supporting finance in the present age, and have become accepted as the leading edge of financial innovation. -
A Glossary of Securities and Financial Terms
A Glossary of Securities and Financial Terms (English to Traditional Chinese) 9-times Restriction Rule 九倍限制規則 24-spread rule 24 個價位規則 1 A AAAC see Academic and Accreditation Advisory Committee【SFC】 ABS see asset-backed securities ACCA see Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, The ACG see Asia-Pacific Central Securities Depository Group ACIHK see ACI-The Financial Markets of Hong Kong ADB see Asian Development Bank ADR see American depositary receipt AFTA see ASEAN Free Trade Area AGM see annual general meeting AIB see Audit Investigation Board AIM see Alternative Investment Market【UK】 AIMR see Association for Investment Management and Research AMCHAM see American Chamber of Commerce AMEX see American Stock Exchange AMS see Automatic Order Matching and Execution System AMS/2 see Automatic Order Matching and Execution System / Second Generation AMS/3 see Automatic Order Matching and Execution System / Third Generation ANNA see Association of National Numbering Agencies AOI see All Ordinaries Index AOSEF see Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation APEC see Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation API see Application Programming Interface APRC see Asia Pacific Regional Committee of IOSCO ARM see adjustable rate mortgage ASAC see Asian Securities' Analysts Council ASC see Accounting Society of China 2 ASEAN see Association of South-East Asian Nations ASIC see Australian Securities and Investments Commission AST system see automated screen trading system ASX see Australian Stock Exchange ATI see Account Transfer Instruction ABF Hong -
Straddles and Strangles to Help Manage Stock Events
Webinar Presentation Using Straddles and Strangles to Help Manage Stock Events Presented by Trading Strategy Desk 1 Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC ("FBS"), Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917 690099.3.0 Disclosures Options’ trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options, and call 800-544- 5115 to be approved for options trading. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request. Examples in this presentation do not include transaction costs (commissions, margin interest, fees) or tax implications, but they should be considered prior to entering into any transactions. The information in this presentation, including examples using actual securities and price data, is strictly for illustrative and educational purposes only and is not to be construed as an endorsement, or recommendation. 2 Disclosures (cont.) Greeks are mathematical calculations used to determine the effect of various factors on options. Active Trader Pro PlatformsSM is available to customers trading 36 times or more in a rolling 12-month period; customers who trade 120 times or more have access to Recognia anticipated events and Elliott Wave analysis. Technical analysis focuses on market action — specifically, volume and price. Technical analysis is only one approach to analyzing stocks. When considering which stocks to buy or sell, you should use the approach that you're most comfortable with. As with all your investments, you must make your own determination as to whether an investment in any particular security or securities is right for you based on your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation. -
Options Strategy Guide for Metals Products As the World’S Largest and Most Diverse Derivatives Marketplace, CME Group Is Where the World Comes to Manage Risk
metals products Options Strategy Guide for Metals Products As the world’s largest and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group is where the world comes to manage risk. CME Group exchanges – CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX – offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather and real estate. CME Group brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex electronic trading platform and its trading facilities in New York and Chicago. CME Group also operates CME Clearing, one of the largest central counterparty clearing services in the world, which provides clearing and settlement services for exchange-traded contracts, as well as for over-the-counter derivatives transactions through CME ClearPort. These products and services ensure that businesses everywhere can substantially mitigate counterparty credit risk in both listed and over-the-counter derivatives markets. Options Strategy Guide for Metals Products The Metals Risk Management Marketplace Because metals markets are highly responsive to overarching global economic The hypothetical trades that follow look at market position, market objective, and geopolitical influences, they present a unique risk management tool profit/loss potential, deltas and other information associated with the 12 for commercial and institutional firms as well as a unique, exciting and strategies. The trading examples use our Gold, Silver -
Bankruptcy Futures: Hedging Against Credit Card Default
CONSUMER LENDING Bankruptcy Futures: Hedging Against Credit Card Default by Russ Ray his article discusses the new bankruptcy futures contract to be launched by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and examines the mechanics and contract specifications of this innovation, illus- trating its hedging potential in the process. ometime during the latter half of 1999 or early Credit-card debt is becoming particularly burden- 2000, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange intends some. The average credit-card balance is approximately to launch an innovative new futures contract that $2,500, with typical households having at least three dif- will offer consumer-lending institutions, particularly ferent bank cards. The average card holder also uses six credit-card issuers, a hedge against the bankruptcies additional cards at service stations, department stores, filed by their borrowers. Bankruptcy futures—contracts specialty stores, and other vendors issuing their own cred- to buy or sell a cash-valued index based upon the cur- it cards. rent number of actual bankruptcies—will enable con- Commensurate with such increases in consumer sumer lenders to transfer default risk to other lenders debt is an ever-growing rise in consumer bankruptcies, and/or speculators holding opposite expectations. which, in turn, represent an ever-increasing proportion Significantly, this new contract also constitutes a proxy of total bankruptcies. In 1998, 96.9% of all bankruptcy variable for banks' confidence in the value and liquidity filings were personal—not business—bankruptcies. (In of their own loan portfolios, just as other proxy vari- terms of dollar volume, however, businesses continue to ables now measure consumer and investor confidence. -
Derivative Securities
2. DERIVATIVE SECURITIES Objectives: After reading this chapter, you will 1. Understand the reason for trading options. 2. Know the basic terminology of options. 2.1 Derivative Securities A derivative security is a financial instrument whose value depends upon the value of another asset. The main types of derivatives are futures, forwards, options, and swaps. An example of a derivative security is a convertible bond. Such a bond, at the discretion of the bondholder, may be converted into a fixed number of shares of the stock of the issuing corporation. The value of a convertible bond depends upon the value of the underlying stock, and thus, it is a derivative security. An investor would like to buy such a bond because he can make money if the stock market rises. The stock price, and hence the bond value, will rise. If the stock market falls, he can still make money by earning interest on the convertible bond. Another derivative security is a forward contract. Suppose you have decided to buy an ounce of gold for investment purposes. The price of gold for immediate delivery is, say, $345 an ounce. You would like to hold this gold for a year and then sell it at the prevailing rates. One possibility is to pay $345 to a seller and get immediate physical possession of the gold, hold it for a year, and then sell it. If the price of gold a year from now is $370 an ounce, you have clearly made a profit of $25. That is not the only way to invest in gold. -
Form 6781 Contracts and Straddles ▶ Go to for the Latest Information
Gains and Losses From Section 1256 OMB No. 1545-0644 Form 6781 Contracts and Straddles ▶ Go to www.irs.gov/Form6781 for the latest information. 2020 Department of the Treasury Attachment Internal Revenue Service ▶ Attach to your tax return. Sequence No. 82 Name(s) shown on tax return Identifying number Check all applicable boxes. A Mixed straddle election C Mixed straddle account election See instructions. B Straddle-by-straddle identification election D Net section 1256 contracts loss election Part I Section 1256 Contracts Marked to Market (a) Identification of account (b) (Loss) (c) Gain 1 2 Add the amounts on line 1 in columns (b) and (c) . 2 ( ) 3 Net gain or (loss). Combine line 2, columns (b) and (c) . 3 4 Form 1099-B adjustments. See instructions and attach statement . 4 5 Combine lines 3 and 4 . 5 Note: If line 5 shows a net gain, skip line 6 and enter the gain on line 7. Partnerships and S corporations, see instructions. 6 If you have a net section 1256 contracts loss and checked box D above, enter the amount of loss to be carried back. Enter the loss as a positive number. If you didn’t check box D, enter -0- . 6 7 Combine lines 5 and 6 . 7 8 Short-term capital gain or (loss). Multiply line 7 by 40% (0.40). Enter here and include on line 4 of Schedule D or on Form 8949. See instructions . 8 9 Long-term capital gain or (loss). Multiply line 7 by 60% (0.60). Enter here and include on line 11 of Schedule D or on Form 8949.