Question

Bond A is a $1,000, 6% quarterly coupon bond with 5 years to maturity.

(a) If you bought Bond A today at a yield (APR) of 8%, what is your purchase price? Is this a premium or discount bond? Why?

(b) One year later, Bond A's YTM (APR) has gone down to 6% and you sell it immediately after receiving the coupon.

(i) What is the current yield?

(ii) What is the capital gains yield?

(iii) What is the one-year total rate of return (in APR) if the coupons are reinvested at 2% per quarter during the holding period?

(iv) Can Bond A’s one-year total rate of return be determined correctly by simply adding up the current yield and the capital gains yield? Explain your answer without calculations.

(c) Consider two other bonds: Bond B and Bond C. Bond B: A $1,000, 7% quarterly coupon bond with 4 years to maturity Bond C: A $1,000 zero coupon bond with 2 years to maturity

(i) Without calculation, briefly explain which bond in the following pairs has higher interest rate risk.

1) Bond A vs. Bond B

2) Bond B vs. Bond C

(ii) Suppose you are holding a bond portfolio made up of Bonds A and B for long-term investment purpose. If you are predicting the general interest rate to decrease in the next year (i.e., the coming quarters), what should you do to your portfolio to maximize your return?

Answer 1

(a)

(b)