Essay Question 5 (worth 9 points) Issuer: Delta Industrial H…

Essay Question 5 (worth 9 points) Issuer: Delta Industrial HoldingsRating: AAA (Fitch)Maturity: 15 years (due September 1, 2039)Coupon: 4.5% fixed, paid semiannuallyYield to Maturity: 5.2%Issue Price: 110.00Call Feature: None (option-free)Put Feature: NoneEmbedded Options: NoneStated Duration: 22 yearsBenchmark Treasury: 3.5% (10-year maturity reference) A bond salesperson tells you the following: Comparable AAA-rated bonds are trading at a spread of 50 basis points over the Treasury benchmark. Identify at least three objective errors or inconsistencies in this bond offering and explain why they would concern a professional investor.

Essay Question 4 (worth 15 points) A client on a review call…

Essay Question 4 (worth 15 points) A client on a review call says: “I don’t understand why you use futures contracts to hedge the portfolio. Options seem way better — for a small premium you can protect me against the downside and still keep all the upside. Why would you ever use futures when options can do that?” Explain to the client the trade-offs between futures and options in portfolio risk management, correct their misconceptions, and describe situations where futures are the more appropriate instrument.