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CFA L1 > Fixed Income Valuations > Flashcards

Fixed Income Valuations Flashcards

Chapters 54, 55, 56, 57

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1
Q

Yield-To-Maturity

A

The market discount rate appropriate for discounting a bond’s cash flows is called the bond’s yield to maturity (YTM).

It represents a single discount rate that sets the PV of cash flows of the bond equal to its market price.

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2
Q

If coupon rate > marker rate, coupon will trade at (Discount/Par/Premium)?

A

Premium

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3
Q

If coupon rate < market rate, coupon will trade at (Discount/Par/Premium)?

A

Discount

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4
Q

If coupon rate = market rate, coupon will trade at (Discount/Par/Premium)?

A

Par

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5
Q

Accrued Interest

A

If bonds are sold between the coupon dates, bond pricing has to account for the fact that the next coupon will be paid to the buyer, but a portion of it, which is the accrued interest, will be owed to the seller.

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6
Q

Why are bond prices quoted without accrued interest? Bond’s quoted price is also called…

A

This is because, holding yield constant, including accrued interest would make a bond’s price appear to increase on each day of a coupon period and drop suddenly on the coupon payment date. A bond’s quoted price is known as its f lat price (or clean price).

Flat Price = Full Price - Accrued Interest

Flat Price =/= PV of Bond at coupon date

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7
Q

What is a bond’s full price?

A

A bond’s full price (also known as its invoice price or dirty price) is the sum of its flat price and the accrued interest. However, we cannot simply calculate a f lat price and add accrued interest to it.

Full Price = PV on last coupon date x (1 + YTM/periods per year)^days since last coupon/days in coupon period

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8
Q

A decrease in YTM = (Increase/Decrease) in Bond Price

A

Increase (Inverse relationship between YTM & Bond Price)

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9
Q

The price of a bond with a lower coupon rate is (more/less) sensitive to a change in yield than is the price of a bond with a higher coupon rate.

A

More

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10
Q

The price of a bond with a longer maturity is (more/less) sensitive to a change in yield than is the price of a bond with a shorter maturity.

A

More

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11
Q

The percentage decrease in value when the YTM increases by a given amount is (smaller/greater) than the increase in value when the YTM decreases by the same amount

A

smaller (Price-Yield relationship is convex)

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12
Q

Relationship between Price & Maturity

A

Before maturity, a bond can be selling at a signif icant discount or premium to par value. However, regardless of its required yield, the price will converge to par value as maturity approaches.

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13
Q

Matrix Pricing

A

Matrix pricing is a method of estimating the required YTM (or price) of bonds that are currently not traded, or infrequently traded. The procedure is to use the YTMs of traded bonds that have credit quality very close to that of a non-traded or infrequently traded bond and are similar in maturity and coupon, to estimate the required YTM.

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14
Q

Periodicity of a Bond

A

Number of times a coupon is paid per year

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15
Q

Street Convention

A

Bond yields calculated using the stated coupon payment dates are referred to as following the street convention.

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16
Q

True Yield

A

When coupon dates fall on weekends and holidays, coupon payments will actually be made the next business day. The yield calculated using these actual coupon payment dates is referred to as the true yield. Because coupon payments will be made later when holidays and weekends are taken into account, true yields are usually slightly lower than street convention yields, if only by a few basis points.

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17
Q

Current Yield

A

AKA Income Yield, Running Yield

looks at just one source of return, which is a bond’s annual interest income—it does not consider capital gains or losses or reinvestment income.

= Annual Cash Coupon/Flat Price

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18
Q

Simple Yield

A

Takes into account amortized value of discount and premium into the yield calc

Simple yield = (annual cash coupon + Annual amortized discount or - annual amortized premium) / Flat Price

*straight line amortisation

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19
Q

yield-to-call

A

For a callable bond, an investor’s yield will depend on whether and when the bond is called. The yield to call can be calculated for each possible call date and price.

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20
Q

yield-to-worst

A

The lowest of YTM and the various yields to call is termed the yield-to-worst.

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21
Q

Value of Callable Bond

A

= Value of Straight Bond - Call Option Value

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22
Q

Option Adjusted Price

A

= Value of Callable Bond + Value of Call Option

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23
Q

Option Adjusted Yield

A

Represents the yield that the bond would be offering if it were not callable, calculated using option adjusted price

To make it comparable to a straight bond

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24
Q

Yield Spread

A

AKA Benchmark Spread

Difference between yields of a bond and the benchmark security

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25
Q

G-Spread

A

A yield spread of a bond over the government bond (in basis points)

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26
Q

Interpolated Spreads

A

AKA I-Spreads

An alternative to using government bond yields as benchmarks is to use rates for interest rate swaps in the same currency and with the same tenor as a bond. Yield spreads relative to swap rates are known as interpolated spreads or I-spreads and represent the extra return of a bond in excess of the interbank market reference
rates (MRRs) used in swap contracts. I-spreads are frequently stated for bonds denominated in euros.

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27
Q

If yield increases but yield spread remains constant, it most likely indicates….

A

Positive Macroeconomic factors

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28
Q

If yield increases and yield spread also increases, it most likely indicates….

A

Issuer specific factors like deterioration in credit quality

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29
Q

Spot Rates

A

Yields earned by individual cash lows at different maturities are referred to as spot rates.

The single YTM of a coupon-paying bond represents a weighted average of the different spot rates offered by the individual cash f lows of the bond.

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30
Q

Z-Spread

A

AKA Zero Volatility Spread

A method for deriving a bond’s yield spread to a benchmark spot yield curve that accounts for the shape of the yield curve is to add an equal amount to each benchmark spot rate and value the bond with those rates.

When we find an amount which, when added to the benchmark spot rates, produces a value equal to the market price of the bond, we have the appropriate yield curve spread. A yield spread calculated this way is known as a zero-volatility spread or Z-spread.

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31
Q

Option Adjusted Spread (OAS)

A

Difference in yields of a callable bond using its Option adjusted price and the yield of a straight bond for the government spot rate (yield) for the same maturity

OAS = Z-Spread - Option Value

*takes away the option yield from the z-spread

OAS = Z-Spread + Option Value (For Putable Bonds)

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32
Q

Quoted Margin

A

The fixed margin above the MRR actually paid in the coupon is referred to as the quoted margin (QM).

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33
Q

Required Margin

A

AKA Discount Margin

The margin required to price the FRN at par is called the required margin or the discount margin (DM).

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34
Q

QM = DM

A

FRNs are usually issued at par with the QM equal to the DM at issuance. If the credit quality of an FRN remains unchanged after issuance, the QM will remain equal to the DM and the FRN will trade at par on its coupon reset dates.

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35
Q

DM > QM

A

If the credit quality of the issuer decreases after issuance of the FRN, investors will demand a higher DM in compensation for increased credit risk. This will cause the DM to be greater than the f ixed QM, and the FRN will trade at a discount to its par value.

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36
Q

DM < QM

A

If the issuer’s credit quality improves during an FRN’s life, the DM will be less than the f ixed QM, and the FRN will sell at a premium to its par value.

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37
Q

Value of FRN at reset date

A

Use the current MRR plus the QM to estimate the future cash flows for the FRN, and discount these future cash flows at the MRR + DM.

Assuming semi annual
I/Y = (MRR + DM)/2
PMT = FV* (MRR + QM)/2

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38
Q

Quoted Add-on-yield

A

Used for money market securities

= HPY x 365/days to maturity

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39
Q

Quoted Discount Yield v Actual Annualised yield

A

Quoted Discount Yield = Actual Discount on the security x 360/days to maturity

40
Q

Bond Equivalent Yield for a Money Market Security

A

Annualised add-on yield based on a 365 day year

41
Q

Spot Rates

A

discount rates for a single payment to be received in the future are called spot rates and can be observed by calculating the discount rates for zero-coupon bonds (hence, spot rates AKA zero-coupon rates or zero rates or no-arbitrage rate

Usually quoted on a semi annual basis so are comparable to YTMs quoted for Government Bonds

42
Q

Par Yields

A

Par yields ref lect the coupon rate that a hypothetical bond at each maturity would need to have to be priced at par, given a speci fic spot curve. Alternatively, they can be viewed as the YTM of a hypothetical par bond at each maturity.

Par Yields = 1-dL/sum of ds
d = discount factors

43
Q

Forward Rates

A

A forward rate is a borrowing/lending rate for a loan to be made at some future date.

F1y2y - Forward rate one year from now for a 2 year maturity

44
Q

Relation of Spots & Forwards

A

Ex: (1+S3)^3 = (1+S1) x (1 + F1y1y) x (1+ F2y1y)

45
Q

Spot Rate Yield Curve

A

AKA Zero Curve or Strip Curve

Plot of Spot Rates v Maturity

Usually upward-sloping (reflects higher yield for longer maturity) AKA Normal Yield Curve

Downward Sloping (lower yield for longer maturities) AKA Inverted Yield Curve

46
Q

Yield Curve for Coupon Bonds

A

Shows the YTMs for a similar type of actively traded coupon bonds at various maturities (e.g., U.S. Treasury bonds).

Yields are calculated for several available maturities, and yields for bonds with maturities between these are estimated by linear interpolation.

Yields are usually expressed on a semiannual bond basis.

47
Q

Par Bond Yield Curve

A

AKA Par Curve

Hypothetical yields of bonds that would trade at par value for a specific maturity

Yields of Par Bonds v Maturity

48
Q

Forward Yield Curve

A

A forward yield curve shows forward rates for bonds or money market securities for annual periods in the future. Typically, the forward curve would show the yields of 1-year securities for each future year, quoted on a semiannual bond basis.

49
Q

Relationship between Forward Yield curve and Spot Curve

A

The spot rate for a given maturity is a geometric average of the forward rates that apply to each period between now and that maturity. When the forward curve is upward sloping, the spot curve is also upward sloping, but less so.

Likewise, when the forward curve is downward sloping, the spot curve will also be downward sloping, but less so.

50
Q

Relationship between Spot Curve and Par Curve

A

a par yield at a certain maturity is a weighted average of the spot rates that apply to the individual cash flows of the bond (most heavily weighted toward the longest-dated spot rate when par payment takes place). Hence, par yields will also be upward sloping, and very close to spot rates (but slightly below them) in a normal (upward-sloping) forward curve environment.

Par yields will also be downward sloping, and close to spot rates (but slightly above them)

51
Q

Flat Yield Curve

A

When forward rates are constant, it means that all future periodic rates are the same. This means that spot rates to all maturities will be the same—and therefore, bond yields will be the same for all maturities. We describe this as a flat yield curve environment.

52
Q

STRIPS

A

Separately traded registered Interest principal only

Value of Coupon bearing bonds = Striped ZCBs

53
Q

relationship between simple, current yield, YTM & Coupon rate

A

If trading at a discount = Simple > Current > YTM > Coupon
If trading at par, all equal
If trading at premium = Simple < Current < YTM < Coupon

54
Q

True or False: The stated rate adjusts for the frequency of compounding.

A

False. The effective rate of interest adjusts for frequency of compounding

55
Q

If YTC < YTM, what rate would you consider in making your purchase decision?

A

YTC - as more conservative

56
Q

A disadvantage of G-spreads and I-spreads is that they are theoretically correct only if the
spot yield curve is:

A

Flat

57
Q

When the company that issues the FRN has less credit risk than the institution where the
MRR was derived, the quoted margin (QM) will be:

A

Less than the MRR.

58
Q

If the discount margin is lower than the quoted margin on a floating rate note, it’s credit quality has…

A

improved

59
Q

As a floating-rate note (FRN) gets closer to maturity, assuming no change in credit quality
since the original issuance, the quoted margin (QM) will:

A

remain the same

60
Q

If the yield curve is downward-sloping, the no-arbitrage value of a bond calculated using
spot rates will be:

A

equal to market value.
The value of a bond calculated using appropriate spot rates is its no-arbitrage value. If no
arbitrage opportunities are present, this value is equal to the market price of a bond.

61
Q

To determine the full price of a corporate bond, a dealer is most likely to calculate accrued
interest based on:

A

30-360 convention
actuals for sovereign

Full price calculated using actuals

62
Q

Quoted Price

A

= Flat Price = Invoice Price

63
Q

The effective annual rate, not the stated rate, adjusts for the frequency of compounding. (T/F)

A

True

64
Q

A disadvantage of G-spreads and I-spreads is that they are theoretically correct only if the
spot yield curve is:

A

flat

65
Q

An interpolated spread (I-spread) for a bond is a yield spread relative to:

A

MRR or swap rates

66
Q

A single yield used to discount all of a bond’s cash flows when calculating its price is most
accurately described as the bond’s:

A

YTM

67
Q

The bonds of Grinder Corp. trade at a G-spread of 150 basis points above comparable
maturity U.S. Treasury securities. The option adjusted spread (OAS) on the Grinder bonds is
75 basis points. Using this information, and assuming that the Treasury yield curve is flat:

A

The option cost is the difference between the zero volatility spread and the OAS, or 150 −
75 = 75 bp. With a flat yield curve, the G-spread and zero volatility spread will be the same.

68
Q

_____ is added to each spot rate on the government yield curve that will cause the
present value of the bond’s cash flows to equal its market price.

A

Z Spread

69
Q

A yield curve for coupon bonds is composed of yields on bonds with similar:

A

credit quality/issuer

70
Q

The Treasury spot rate yield curve is closest to which of the following curves?

A

zero coupon bond yields

71
Q

Price appreciation creates all of the zero-coupon bond’s return. (T/F)

A

T

72
Q

An investor buys a bond that has a Macaulay duration of 3.0 and a yield to maturity of 4.5%.
The investor plans to sell the bond after three years. If the yield curve has a parallel downward shift of 100 basis points immediately after the investor buys the bond, her annualized horizon return is most likely to be:

A

approx 4.5

as at MD price risk & reinvestment risk offset each other

&

73
Q

All else being equal, which of the following bond characteristics most likely results in less
reinvestment risk?

A

A shorter maturity.

A lower Macaulay duration may reflect more or less reinvestment risk, depending on what
causes Macaulay duration to be lower. A lower Macaulay duration could result from a
shorter maturity (which reduces reinvestment risk) or a higher coupon (which increases
reinvestment risk).

74
Q

Sarah Metz buys a 10-year bond at a price below par. Three years later, she sells the bond.
Her capital gain or loss is measured by comparing the price she received for the bond to its:

A

carrying value

75
Q

An investor is concerned about rising interest rates and associated price risks. If her
investment horizon is 5.25 years, the Macaulay duration on her bond investment is likely
(higher/lower) than her horizon

A

higher

76
Q

Price risk will dominate reinvestment risk when the investor’s duration gap is (positive or negative)?

A

positive

77
Q

Interest rate risk (or price volatility) increases at (longer/shorter) maturities and with (higher/lower) coupons.

A

longer, lower

78
Q

The higher the yield on a bond the lower/higher the price volatility (duration) will be.

A

lower

79
Q

Inclusion of a call feature will increase/decrease the duration of a fixed income security.

A

decrease

80
Q

Compared to a bond’s Macaulay duration, its modified duration:

A

is lower

ModD = MacD/(1+YTM)

81
Q

A fixed-income portfolio manager is estimating portfolio duration based on the weighted
average of the durations of each bond in the portfolio. The manager should calculate
duration using:

A

parallel shifts of the benchmark yield curve.

82
Q

Portfolio duration
only considers a linear approximation of the actual price-yield function for the portfolio. (T/F)

A

T

83
Q

As interest rates fall, the bond prices….

A

increase at a decreasing rate

84
Q

Key rate duration is best described as a measure of price sensitivity to a:

A

change in yield at a single maturity

85
Q

Compared to general obligation (GO) bonds, revenue bonds typically (higher/lower) yields

A

higher

86
Q

Total cash flows to investors in an ABS issue are (less than/greater than/equal to) the total interest and principal payments from the underlying asset
pool.

A

less than as fees are paid to the servicer

87
Q

A collateralized debt obligation (CDO) in which the collateral is a pool of residential
mortgage-backed securities is most accurately described as a:

A

structures Finance CDO

88
Q

With respect to auto-loan backed ABS (all/some/none) have some sort of credit enhancement.

A

all

89
Q

An agency RMBS pool with a prepayment speed of 50 PSA will have a weighted average life
that is less than its weighted average maturity.

A

Weighted average life of a mortgage pool is less than its WAM if there are any
prepayments. “50 PSA” means the prepayment speed is assumed to be 50% of the Public
Securities Association prepayment benchmark.

90
Q

The pool of loans backing a commercial mortgage-backed security consists of:

A

non recourse loans only

91
Q

A renegotiable mortgage has a fixed interest rate that:

A

changes to a different fixed rate during its life.

92
Q

An annualized measure of the prepayments experienced by a pool of mortgages is its:

A

conditional prepayment rate.

93
Q

single monthly mortality rate.

A

The single monthly mortality rate is the percentage by which prepayments have reduced the month-end principal balance.

94
Q

PSA prepayment benchmark.

A

The PSA prepayment benchmark is a monthly series of CPRs to which a mortgage pool’s CPR may be compared.

95
Q

Support Tranche is a Planned Ammortization Class Bond

A

In a planned amortization class (PAC) CMO, the support tranches have more extension risk
and more contraction risk than the PAC tranches. Because of these higher risks, the
support tranches offer a higher interest rate than the PAC tranches.

CFA L1 (16 decks)

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