Quote from gkishot:
But what does it mean that the further out fed contracts have a higher price than near term contracts. Does it mean that the market expects the rates will go down let's say 6 months from now?
It means the fed funds are pricing in a higher percentage chance of a rate cut the further out you go. I cannot get into my account right now to get prices. So I am going to the cbot sight and using their charts. I hope this link takes you to the 30 day fed funds daily charts.
http://www.cbot.com/cbot/pub/page/0...study2=&study3=&bartype=CANDLE&bardensity=LOW
I will use 94.75 to correspond to a 5.25% fed funds rate. And 95.00 to correspond to a 5.5% fed fund discount rate. And to simplify the following I will not using a prorated impact of a 25 bps move based on the day of the month the fed fund cut or raise would come. So this generic formula will mean there are 25 bps points for each 1/4 point fed move. So each point equals 4% and each 1/2 point equals 2% chance of a move.
Aug closed at 94.775 which without taking the date of a move means the fed funds are pricing in a 10% chance of a rate cut. A cut on Aug 7th would have a prorated impact of 19.4. In mid Jun aug went down to 94.745 which was pricing in a 2% chance of a rate hike. Then it again moved up and was pricing in a cut. Then in Jul it came down to 94.750 which meant it was not pricing in a cut or raise.
Sep closed at 94.815 which equals a 26% chance of a cut. A Sep 18th cut would have a 10 point prorated impact. In Jun it also moved down to 94.745 which was pricing in a 2% chance of a hike.
Oct closed at 94.865 which equals a 46% chance of a cut. The decision for Oct is the 31st and that would have a 0 impact for Oct. Oct also moved down to 94.745 pricing in a 2% chance of a hike.
Nov closed at94.96 which equals an 84% chance of a cut. There is no fed meeting scheduled for Nov.
Dec closed at 95.045. That is pricing in a 100% chance of a cut plus an 18% chance of a total of .50 in cuts. Possibly a 1/2 point cut or one 1/4 point cut and an 18% chance of a second 1/4 point cut. The fed meeting for Dec is the 11th which would have a prorated impact of 16.1 points. Dec moved down to 94.73 which was pricing in an 8% chance of a hike in Jun.
Jan closed at 95.095 which equals a 100% chance of at least a 1/4 point cut plus a 38% chance of an additional 1/4 point cut. Fri it hit a high of 95.135 which would equal a 100% chance of a 1/4 point cut plus a 54% chance of a second 1/4 point cut.