S3 Q17 Ms. Elpram manages a bond portfolio valued at $105 million. The bonds in this portfolio have a face value of $100 million. The portfolio has a yield of 8.5% and a duration of 8.6. Ms. Elpram is...

S3 Q17

Ms. Elpram manages a bond portfolio valued at $105 million. The bonds in this portfolio have a face value of $100 million. The portfolio has a yield of 8.5% and a duration of 8.6. Ms. Elpram is worried that interest rates will rise within the next year. She would like to lower the duration of the bond portfolio to six years. She finds a one year bond futures contract and thinks that it would be an appropriate hedge for the portfolio. This futures contract is priced at 107 20/32, an implied yield of 8%, and an implied duration of 7.5 years. The futures contract size is $100,000.

In the given case, since the value of bonds portfolio would fall pursuant to the rise in the interest rates, therefore Ms. Elpram should sell the future to hedge the overall portfolio.

How many contracts should Ms. Elpram use?