Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Chapter 5 study guide

BONDS AND BOND VALUATION

Topical review
  • Always assume bonds pay coupons semi-annually, unless stated otherwise
  • Illustrate the cash flows of a bond
  • Price a bond, given a yield to maturity (interest rate) or find a yield, given the price (need financial calculator to solve)
  • Interpret yield to maturity and its assumptions - set up equation to determine YTM
  • Draw the shape of a price-yield curve for callable bonds and non-callable bonds
  • Distinguish between bonds that sell at a discount, at par, and at a premium
  • Explain the sensitivity of interest rates on bond prices - the effect of maturity (interest rate risk)
  • Discuss the call provision of bonds and the advantages/disadvantages to issuer/investor
  • Set up the equation to determine yield-to-call
  • Show how returns on bonds (returns from coupon income and capital gains) equal YTM in the short term
  • Discuss the tradeoff between interest rate risk and reinvestment risk for bonds of different maturities
  • Explain the impact of default risk on required interest rates
  • Identify the use of bond ratings and their relationship to yields to maturity
  • Explain differences in nominal interest rates - risk-free rate plus risk premia (r*, IP, DRP, LRP, MP)
Definitions
  • Bond features: maturity, face value, coupon rate, sinking fund, callable bond, convertible bond, bond rating, reinvestment risk, interest rate risk
  • Bond types: Treasury bonds, municipal bonds, corporate bonds, floating rate bonds, zero coupon bonds, premium bond, discount bond, investment grade, junk bond
  • Bond valuation: yield-to-maturity, yield-to-call, current yield, price-yield curve, real rate of interest, inflation premium, default risk premium, liquidity risk premium, maturity premium, yield curve/term structure of interest rates
Basic numerical problems from textbook

# 7, 8, 16

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