Interest Rate Risk is the risk of a decline in a bond’s price due to an increase in interest rates. Price sensitivity to
interest rates is greater (1) the longer the maturity and (2) the smaller the coupon payment. Thus, if two bonds have
the same coupon, the bond with the longer maturity will have more interest rate sensitivity, and if two bonds have
m. What is interest rate (or price) risk? Which bond has more interest rate risk, an annual payment 1-year bond or a
10-year bond? Why?
l. What is a bond spread and how is it related to the default risk premium? How are bond ratings related to default
As the interst rate goes from 5% to 15%, the price changes are bigger for the 10-year bond.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T
Years to Mat: 10 Rate Price Rate Price Rate Price
Coupon rate: 10% $966.65 $946.77 $991.88
Annual Pmt: $100.00 5.0% 1,216.47 5.0% $1,386.09 5.0% $1,047.62
Current price: $946.77 7.0% 1,123.01 7.0% $1,210.71 7.0% $1,028.04
Par value = FV: $1,000.00 10.0% 1,000.00 10.0% $1,000.00 10.0% $1,000.00
YTM = 10.9% 13.0% 894.48 13.0% $837.21 13.0% $973.45
15.0% 832.39 15.0% $749.06 15.0% $956.52
Years to Mat: 1Scratch sheet for Your Choice
Coupon rate: 10% Years to Mat: 5
Annual Pmt: $100.00 Coupon rate: 10%
Current price: $991.88 Annual Pmt: $100.00
Par value = FV: $1,000.00
the same maturity, the one with the smaller coupon payment will have more interest rate sensitivity.
h. Suppose a 10-year, 10 percent, semiannual coupon bond with a par value of $1,000 is currently selling for
$1,135.90, producing a nominal yield to maturity of 8 percent. However, the bond can be called after 5 years for a
price of $1,050.
(1.) What is the bond‘s nominal yield to call (YTC)?
(2.) If you bought this bond, do you think you would be more likely to earn the YTM or the YTC? Why?
k. Describe a way to estimate the inflation premium (IP) for a T-Year bond. Answer: See Chapter 5 Mini Case Show.
The yield to call is the rate of return investors will receive if their bonds are called. If the issuer has the right to call
the bonds, and if interest rates fall, then it would be logical for the issuer to call the bonds and replace them with
new bonds that carry a lower coupon. The yield to call (YTC) is found similarly to the YTM. The same formula is
used, but years to maturity is replaced with years to call, and the maturity value is replaced with the call price.
i. Write a general expression for the yield on any debt security (rd) and define these terms: real risk-free rate of
interest (r*), inflation premium (IP), default risk premium (DRP), liquidity premium (LP), and maturity risk premium
(MRP). Answer: See Chapter 5 Mini Case Show.
j. Define the nominal risk-free rate (rRF). What security can be used as an estimate of rRF? Answer: See Chapter 5
Mini Case Show.
$1,300.00
$1,400.00
$1,500.00
10 Yr. versus 1 Yr.
Your Choice
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Use the Rate function to solve the problem.
Number of semiannual periods to call: 10
Seminannual coupon rate: 5% Semiannual Rate = I = YTC = 3.77%
Seminannual Pmt: $50.00 Annual nominal rate = 7.53%
Current price: $1,135.90
Call price = FV $1,050.00
Par value $1,000.00