When a bank uses futures contracts on a well-capitalized exchange to hedge its market risk exposure, it can still be exposed to liquidity risks due to several reasons:
I: The bank may not be able to unwind the futures contracts before expiration: This can happen if there is a lack of market participants willing to take the opposite position, making it difficult to close out the position.
II: Prices may move such that a loss results on the hedge: Although this is a risk related to the performance of the hedge, it is not directly related to liquidity risk but more to market risk.
III: Since futures require margins which are settled every day, the bank could find itself scrambling for funds:
Futures contracts require daily settlement of gains and losses (mark-to-market), which means the bank must have sufficient liquidity to cover margin calls, potentially causing liquidity strain if large movements in the futures prices occur.
IV: Exchange margin requirements could change unexpectedly: If the exchange increases margin requirements, the bank would need to post additional collateral, which could strain its liquidity if it does not have sufficient liquid assets readily available.
References: The verified details are aligned with the context given in "How Finance Works" regarding the liquidity risks associated with futures contracts.