Question

You bought one of Great White Shark Repellant Co.’s 8 percent coupon bonds one year ago for $1,044. These bonds make annual payments and mature 13 years from now. Suppose you decide to sell your bonds today, when the required return on the bonds is 6 percent. The bonds have a par value of $1,000.Required:If the inflation rate was 3.4 percent over the past year, what was your total real return on investment?

Answer 1

Answer:

17.4%

Explanation:

original purchase price 1 year ago = $1,044

current market price:

0.06 = {80 + [(1,000 - MV)/13]} /  [(1,000 + MV)/2]

0.06 x [(1,000 + MV)/2] = 80 + [(1,000 - MV)/13]

0.06 x (500 + 0.5MV) = 80 + 76.92 - 0.0769MV

30 + 0.03MV = 156.92 - 0.0769MV

0.1069MV = 126.92

MV = 126.92 / 0.1069 = $1,187.28

total returns during the year = $80 (coupon) + ($1,187.28 - $1,044) = $223.28

nominal return on investment = $223.28 / $1,044 = 21.387%

real return on investment = [(1 + i) / (1 + inflation)] - 1 = [(1 + 0.21387) / (1 + 0.034)] - 1 = 1.174 - 1 = 0.174 = 17.4%