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Answer: Both bond prices will move down by roughly equal amounts.
## Explanation When the risk-free yield curve moves up by 1 basis point (0.01%), both bond prices will decrease due to the inverse relationship between bond prices and yields. **Key factors:** - Both bonds have the same modified duration of 3 years - Modified duration measures the percentage price change for a given change in yield - The price change can be estimated using: ΔP/P ≈ -Modified Duration × Δy **Calculation:** - For both bonds: ΔP/P ≈ -3 × 0.0001 = -0.0003 or -0.03% **Price changes:** - Bond A (zero-coupon, price $900): ΔP ≈ $900 × (-0.03%) = -$0.27 - Bond B (priced at par, price $1000): ΔP ≈ $1000 × (-0.03%) = -$0.30 **Analysis:** - Both bonds experience approximately the same percentage price decrease (-0.03%) - The absolute dollar losses are slightly different due to different initial prices - However, the question asks about what we "expect" to happen, and given the same modified duration, both bonds should move down by roughly equal amounts in percentage terms **Why not option D?** Option D suggests bond B will lose more than bond A, but with identical modified durations, the percentage price changes should be approximately equal. The slight difference in dollar amounts is due to different initial prices, not different sensitivity to interest rate changes.
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A trading portfolio consists of two bonds, A and B. Both have modified duration of 3 years and face value of USD 1000, but A is a zero-coupon bond and its current price is USD 900, and bond B pays annual coupons and is priced at par. What do you expect will happen to the market prices of A and B if the risk-free yield curve moves up by 1 basis point?
A
Both bond prices will move up by roughly the same amount.
B
Both bond prices will move up, but bond B will gain more than bond A.
C
Both bond prices will move down by roughly equal amounts.
D
Both bond prices will move down, but bond B will lose more than bond A.