This Exam FM sample reference tests Immunization and Asset-Liability Management. Matching duration 3 with one- and four-year zeros requires the four-year present value to be twice the one-year present value. The face amounts then imply the annual accumulation factor cubed is 1.25. Matching present values and accumulating to year 3 gives liability 69623.83, choice C.
These notes identify the calculation error associated with each wrong letter when that error is reproducible.
AChoice A (40,000) does not satisfy the three-year duration match and present-value equality of the two-zero asset portfolio; no distinct standard one-step error is identifiable.
BChoice B (55,699) does not satisfy the three-year duration match and present-value equality of the two-zero asset portfolio; no distinct standard one-step error is identifiable.
DChoice D (73,333) does not satisfy the three-year duration match and present-value equality of the two-zero asset portfolio; no distinct standard one-step error is identifiable.
EChoice E (97,500) does not satisfy the three-year duration match and present-value equality of the two-zero asset portfolio; no distinct standard one-step error is identifiable.
Original practice · fully worked
Original variant: flat yield required for a target duration with fixed zero faces
A one-year zero-coupon bond has face 20,000 and a five-year zero has face 60,000. Under a flat annual yield, the two-bond portfolio must have Macaulay duration 3 years. Calculate the annual effective yield.
A 25.29%
B 26.87%
C 28.45%
D 30.03%
E 31.61%
Variant answer in brief
Duration 3 requires equal present values in the one- and five-year positions. Equating their discounted faces gives the fourth power of 1 + i equal to 3, so yield 31.61%, choice E.
Setup
Setup
A duration midway between years 1 and 5 requires equal market-value weights.
P1+P5P1+5P5=3
P1=P5
Model
Model
Equate the discounted face amounts under the flat yield.
1+i20000=(1+i)560000
Compute
Compute
Thus the fourth power of 1 + i is 3, giving yield 31.607401%.
(1+i)4=3
i=0.3160740130
Answer
Answer
The annual effective yield is 31.61%, selecting choice E.
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