This Exam FM sample reference tests Coupon Bond Anchored by a Zero Price. The zero price fixes the n-period discount factor at 0.60. Coupons at half the yield contribute one-half of the discounted interest margin. The second price is therefore 0.80F, so F = 750 and choice B.
These notes identify the calculation error associated with each wrong letter when that error is reproducible.
AChoice A omits the coupon annuity and scales face only by the zero-bond price ratio.
CChoice C uses an effective coupon multiplier above one-half of the yield.
DChoice D treats the coupon rate as the full yield, which would make the second bond a par bond.
EChoice E applies the one-half multiplier to the redemption component as well as the coupon component.
Original practice · fully worked
Original variant: infer the coupon-rate multiplier
A 1,000 face-value zero-coupon bond sells for 700. A second bond has the same maturity and yield, a face value of 875, and the same 700 price. Its annual coupon rate is alpha times the yield. Determine alpha.
A 20.0%
B 25.0%
C 33.3%
D 40.0%
E 50.0%
Variant answer in brief
The maturity discount is 0.70. The second price equation is 700 = 875[0.70 + alpha(0.30)], giving alpha = one-third, choice C.
Setup
Setup
The zero price fixes the common maturity discount factor.
vn=700/1,000=0.70
Model
Model
Price the second bond using coupon alpha times 875i.
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