Dec 2018 question about currency hedging (Nutourne Co)

Dear John,

Could you please explain how the examiner calculates the predicted futures rate without a given spot rate on the transaction date? Do you not always need it to be able to calculate the futures rate by using the basis?

Also, to calculate the total receipt from the futures deal, the examiner just uses the predicted futures rate and translates the CHF into USD by using that rate instead of: translating CHF to USD by using the sport rate of the transaction date +/- profit/loss on the futures deal.
Why a short version? And can we always apply this method?

Thanks,
Margarita