CFA Level 1 Bond Effective Duration Calculator

Bond Effective Duration

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Question

Kelly Clark, CFA, is a fixed income analyst for Convex Capital. She is evaluating a 15-year bond with a 6.0% coupon. At the current interest rate of 5.5%, the bond is priced at $1,050.62. Clark calculates that a 25 basis point drop in interest rates increases the bond's price to $1,077.20, while a 25 basis point increase in interest rates reduces the bond's price to $1,024.90. Based on the information provided, calculate the bond's effective duration.

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A. B. C.

C

To calculate the bond's effective duration, we need to use the formula:

Effective Duration = (-1) * (ΔP / P) / ΔY,

where: ΔP is the change in bond price, P is the initial bond price, ΔY is the change in yield (interest rate).

Given the information in the question, let's calculate the effective duration step by step.

Step 1: Calculate the change in bond price (ΔP) for a 25 basis point drop in interest rates.

ΔP = $1,077.20 - $1,050.62 = $26.58

Step 2: Calculate the change in bond price (ΔP) for a 25 basis point increase in interest rates.

ΔP = $1,024.90 - $1,050.62 = -$25.72

Note that the change in price for an increase in interest rates is negative.

Step 3: Calculate the change in yield (ΔY).

ΔY = (25 basis points) / 100 = 0.25%

Step 4: Calculate the effective duration.

Effective Duration = (-1) * [(ΔP / P) / ΔY]

For a 25 basis point drop in interest rates: Effective Duration = (-1) * [($26.58 / $1,050.62) / 0.0025] ≈ (-1) * (0.0253205 / 0.0025) ≈ (-1) * 10.1282 ≈ -10.13

For a 25 basis point increase in interest rates: Effective Duration = (-1) * [(-$25.72 / $1,050.62) / 0.0025] ≈ (-1) * (-0.0244635 / 0.0025) ≈ (-1) * 9.7854 ≈ -9.79

Step 5: Average the two effective durations to find the bond's effective duration.

Average Effective Duration = (|-10.13| + |-9.79|) / 2 ≈ 19.92 / 2 ≈ 9.96

Therefore, the bond's effective duration is approximately 9.96.

The correct answer is C. 9.96.