Duration–Based Hedging with Treasury Bond Futures

Abstract

A survey of derivatives textbooks and other documents shows at east four different treatments of duration-based hedging with Treasury bond futures. Most hedging methods also employ an incorrect definition of futures duration, and, in some cases, apply the accrued interest pricing method incorrectly This article develops an alternative model that is mathematically identical to the most frequently advocated hedging formula and helps to reconcile the various approaches to hedging. It also demonstrates a potential maturity mismatch problem that can represent 10% or more of a typical hedging quantity.