Assume that all interest rates in the economy increase from 9 percent to 10 percent. Which of the following bonds will have the SMALLEST percentage decrease in price?
a. |
3 percent coupon, 3 year maturity |
|
b. |
30 percent coupon, 30 year maturity |
|
c. |
3 percent coupon, 30 year maturity |
|
d. |
30 percent coupon, 3 year maturity |
Answer: d. 30 percent coupon, 3 year maturity
Smallest percent decrease in price would happen for a bond that has smallest duration. Duration is directly proportional to years to maturity of a bond and inversely proportional to the coupon rate. Lower the duration, lower would be a bond's sensitivity to interest rate changes.
So, lowest duration would be for the bond with lowest term to maturity and highest coupon, which is the case for option D in question,
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