Chapter 5 Flashcards
What do we assume the par value of a bond is for exam purposes?
£100
What is the coupon on a bond?
This is the income from the bondH
How do we calculate the bond coupon?
It is given as an annual % of face value
What does it mean that a bond trades above par?
It means that the bond is trading above its par value
What does it mean that a bond trades at a premium?
It means that the bond is trading above its par value
What does it mean that a bond trades below par?
It means that the bond is trading below its par value
What does it mean that a bond trades at a discount?
It means that the bond is trading below its par value
What is the CGT treatment of bonds?
It does not have CGT.
The exemption from capital gains tax extends to options and other contracts to buy or sell gilts.
What can we say about the bond price if its coupon rate is higher than its yield?
We then know that it is trading at a premium
What can we say about the bond price if its coupon rate is lower than its yield?
We then know that it is trading at a discount
What is the budget deficit also known as?
Public sector net cash requirement (PSNCR)
How is the public sector net cash requirement funded?
It is funded through raising bonds (debt)
Who issues gilts?
The Debt Management Office (DMO)
Who is responsible for the DMO?
The treasury
What are the main sources of public sector net cash requirement funding?
Gilts, treasury bills, and NS&I products
For index linked gilts, what is the par value linked to?
The RPI
For index linked gilts, what measurement will it change to in 2030?
It will change to CPIH
When it comes to index linked gilts, how is the coupon payment calculated?
We take the par value, multiply it by the relevant RPI, and then use the normal coupon rate on the inflated par value. This will give us the coupon payment
If inflation is above the break even inflation rate what bonds are preferred?
Index linked bonds
If inflation is below the break even inflation rate, what bonds are preferred?
vanilla bonds
What does the UK MBA sell?
THey sell municipal bonds on the capital markets
What is the UK MBA?
The UKA MBA is the UK Municipal Bonds Agency and they raise debt to fund local activities
Who guarantees UK Municipal Bonds Agency Bonds?
No one
What are the three lending programmes of the UK MBA?
- Pooled loans of at least 1 million for maturities exceeding more than 1 year (not guaranteen by the local municipality)
- Stand alone loans to a single local authority for at least £250m, for maturities exceeding one year (guaranteed by municipality)
- Short-term pooled loans with maturity of less than 1 year (no guarantees)W
What is a bullet when it comes to government bonds?
This is when a bond has a specified redemption rate
What is special about double dated bonds?
These are bonds where the government can choose to redeem the gilts on any day between the first and final maturity date
What is the notice for redemption on double dated bonds?
At least 3 months
What are undated bonds?
These are bonds that are irredeemable or perpetual
What is a sinking fund provision?
This is a provision for the repayment of the capital outstanding (reduces default risk).
How does a sinking fund provision work?
It works in two different ways,
- A counterpart can be established where the issuer of the bonds puts down collateral each year in readiness for redemption
- The issuer may repay a set proportion of the bond at set intervals.
What is the formula for settlement price?
Settlement price = Clean price + accrued interest
What is the formula for the dirty price of a bond?
Settlement price = Clean price + accrued interest
What is the formula for the flat yield?
(Gross annual coupon/market clean price) * 100
What is the formula for the income yield?
(Gross annual coupon/market clean price) * 100
What is the formula for the running yield?
(Gross annual coupon/market clean price) * 100
What is the assumptions of the flat yield?
Ignored reinvestment of coupons, and ignores capital gains or loss
For whom is the flat yield useful for?
For an investor seeking income and not expecting to hold the bond until maturity
What is the main assumption of the gross redemption yield?
Coupons are reinvested at the yield of our calculations
What is the main assumption of the yield to maturity?
Coupons are reinvested at the yield of our calculations
What two parts do we add together to get the gross redemption yield?
We take the flat yield and add on the redemption yield
What is the formula for the gross redemption yield?
Income yield = (Coupon payment / “current trading price”) * 100
Gain at redemption = nominal value - market value
annualised gain = ((“gain at redemption”)/”Years to maturity”)/(“current trading price”)) * 100
Gross redemption yield = Income yield + annualised gain
What’s more tax efficient, a low coupon bond issued at a discount or a high coupon bond issued at a premium?
The former
When calculating the net redemption yield, what element do we apply tax to?
We apply this to the flat yield by multiplying it by 0.8
(20% income tax taken at source)
What are the three main theories explaining the yield curve?
THe liquidity preference theory, pure expectations theory, and market segmentation theory (or preferred habitat)
What does the liquidity preference theory explain?
It explain the upward sloping yield curve.
Investors expect a premium for longer-dated investments due to increased risk
What does the pure expectations theory explain?
It explains that long-term yields are the geometric average of expected short term rates.
This curve reflects market expectations of interest (this is hwere the inverted yield curve comes from)
What does the Market segmentation theory explain?
THat the yield curve is affected by suypply and demand forces in particular segments
What can quantitative easing lead to?
Hyperinflation
What makes a government bond tax efficient?
When it has a low coupon and has more gain to maturity
What is anomaly switching with bonds?
This is switching between two bonds with similar characteristics, where there is a mispricing creating arbitrage.
What is policy switching with bonds?
Switching between two bonds with dissimilar characteristics where we expect something in the market is going to change the orice of one bond relative to another.
What is the relationship between bond prices and yields?
Inverse
What does the “Pull to redemption” refer to?
It talks about how bonds converge at the par value as it moves towards redemption.
What is the characteristic of a bond with a high sensitivity?
Bonds with low coupon
What is the characteristic of a bond with a low sensitivity?
A high coupon bond
Which bond has the highest duration sensitivity?
Zero Coupon Bonds
What is the Macaulay duration?
It is the weighted average of the timing of the bonds cash flow using the present values of those cash flows as weights.
Said differently, it is the point in the where price risk and reinvestment risk balance
What is the modified duration?
It is the approximate percentage change in a bonds price for a 1% change in yield
What is the macauley duration of a zero coupon bond?
It is the same as its maturity