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COMMpractitionerconcept

Convenience Yield

The non-cash benefit of holding physical inventory.

Reviewed 2026-08-10TheQuantBateman ResearchReading note
01Intuition

Build the mental model first.

A physical unit can keep a refinery running or meet an unexpected order; that operational value behaves like a yield.

ONE-LINE DEFINITION

The non-cash benefit of holding physical inventory.

02Mathematics

Now make it exact.

y=r+u1Tln(F0,T/S0)y=r+u-\frac{1}{T}\ln(F_{0,T}/S_0)
Notation and units

Decimal rates and volatilities, year-fraction time and continuous compounding unless stated otherwise.

03Assumptions

Every model has a price.

01

Educational conventions are stated explicitly and may simplify market quotation or settlement details.

02

Rates are continuously compounded unless the section says otherwise.

03

Inputs are deterministic in the base model.

“An unstated convention is a future reconciliation break.”— THEQUANTBATEMAN
04Market use

Why a quant cares.

Explains basis behaviour and embeds scarcity in carry models.

IntuitionMathematicsImplementationDesk risk
05Desk view
FRONT OFFICE VIEW

The hedge has opinions.

Start with the quote convention, then ask which COMM risk survives the hedge. A number without its convention is merely well-dressed ambiguity.

Ask Bateman about this model
06Related

Continue through the graph.