SAIM7060 - Artificial transactions in futures and options: what is a ‘guaranteed return�? (this guidance applies to disposals of futures and options before 6 April 2013)

A guaranteed return is like interest

In many cases, for example, in the case of a box spread (see SAIM7030) the exact return from the investment in the future or option will be known at the outset. Other schemes may produce a return that varies only slightly with fluctuations in the value of the underlying subject matter. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp legislation aims to catch cases where the return on the investment is predictable and has more similarity to interest than to the risk expected on a future or option.

ITTOIA05/S560 explains what is meant by producing a guaranteed return from the disposal (or disposals) of futures or options. A guaranteed return as one where the risks from fluctuations in the underlying subject matter are eliminated or reduced so that

  • the amount of the returns is not to any significant extent attributable to any such fluctuations, and
  • is substantially the same as interest.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp elimination or reduction of risk includes those cases where the subject matter is chosen because it will be liable only to minimum fluctuation.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp term ‘to any significant extentâ€� is not defined in the legislation.

Underlying subject matter here means the commodities, currencies, shares, stocks or securities, interest rates, indices or other matter to which the future or option refers.