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Laurel, Inc., and Hardy Corp. both have 9 percent coupon bonds outstanding, with

ID: 2631665 • Letter: L

Question

Laurel, Inc., and Hardy Corp. both have 9 percent coupon bonds outstanding, with semiannual interest payments, and both are priced at par value. The Laurel, Inc., bond has 5 years to maturity, whereas the Hardy Corp. bond has 16 years to maturity. If interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent, the percentage change in the price of Bonds Laurel, Inc., and Hardy Corp. is ___ percent and ___ percent, respectively. (Negative amounts should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not include the percent signs (%). Round your answers to 2 decimal places. (e.g., 32.16))

Explanation / Answer

Laurel, Inc., and Hardy Corp. both have 9 percent coupon bonds outstanding, with semiannual interest payments, and both are priced at par value. The Laurel, Inc., bond has 5 years to maturity, whereas the Hardy Corp. bond has 16 years to maturity. If interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent, the percentage change in the price of Bonds Laurel, Inc., and Hardy Corp. is ___ percent and ___ percent, respectively. (Negative amounts should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not include the percent signs (%). Round your answers to 2 decimal places. (e.g., 32.16))

Laurel, Inc.,

Price after interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent = pv(rate,nper,pmt,fv)

rate = 7%/2 = 3.5%

nper = 5*2 = 10

pmt = 1000*9%*1/2 = 45

fv = 1000

Price after interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent = pv(3.5%,10,45,1000)

Price after interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent = 1083.17

Percentage change in the price of Laurel, Inc = (1083.17-1000)/1000

Percentage change in the price of Laurel, Inc = 8.32%

Hardy Corp.

Price after interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent = pv(rate,nper,pmt,fv)

rate = 7%/2 = 3.5%

nper = 16*2 = 32

pmt = 1000*9%*1/2 = 45

fv = 1000

Price after interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent = pv(3.5%,32,45,1000)

Price after interest rates suddenly fall by 2 percent = 1190.69

Percentage change in the price of Hardy Corp = (1190.69-1000)/1000

Percentage change in the price of Hardy Corp = 19.07%