In: Finance
Which of the following is true about duration and modified duration? I. The Macaulay duration calculates the weighted average time before a bondholder would receive the bond's cash flows. | |||||||||
II. Modified duration measures price sensitivity of a bond to changes in YTM by adjusting duration with a factor based on current yield. | |||||||||
III. The value of duration and modified duration are usually very close, but duration is almost always a larger number.A.Duration is important to banks when they try to assess the risk of bond portfolios on their balance sheet. |
A. Only I and II are true. B. All but IV are true. C. Only II and III are true. D. All are true. E. What's duration?
Option D
Modified duration
Let’s say I am a stockist of winter clothes such as sweaters and mufflers. In anticipation of a good winter, I have stocked clothes in excess. My biggest concern is whether I will be able to sell all these before the onset of summer Let’s say if the summer steps in earlier than expected, then what do I do? Naturally to clear the stock I will have to lower its price. Contrary, if for some reason the winter gets more severe and prolonged, then what could happen? In such a situation I will charge a premium for the goods that I have in stock and since I have a large supply, I would therefore make more money.
Thus, the behavior of an external factor seems to be having a major impact on the prices I charge in the market. Now keep this in mind as I attempt to explain “modified duration” for debt products.
Modified Duration by definition expresses the sensitivity of the price of a bond to a change in interest rate.