Greatest Duration of Bonds

A

If bonds are identical except for maturity and coupon, the one with the longest maturity and lowest coupon will have the greatest duration. The rationale for this is similar to that for price volatility. Duration is approximately equal to the point in years where the investor receives half of the present value of the bond's cash flows.

Therefore, the later the cash flows are received, the greater the duration.

The relationship of maturity to duration is direct - the longer the time to maturity, the greater the duration. A longer-term bond pays its cash flows later than a shorter-term bond, increasing the duration. Here, one of the 15-year bonds will have the greatest duration.

The relationship of coupon to duration is indirect - the lower the coupon rate, the greater the duration. A lower coupon bond pays lower annual cash flows than a higher-coupon bond and thus has less influence on duration. Here, the 15-year bond with the lowest coupon (8.00%) will have the greatest duration.