Assuming that you are buying two different coupon bonds: Alpha and Beta with following conditions:

Alpha:

face value (par value) = $1000

coupon rate= 10%

years to maturity= 5

yields to maturity (interest rate) = 10% the current price of Alpha bond, Pa=?

Beta:

face value (par value)= $1000

coupon rate=10%

years to maturity= 3

yields to maturity (iterest rate)= 10% the current price of Beta bond, Pb=?

a- What are the prices of Alpha and Beta bonds?

b- Now assume that at the beginning of the second year the interest rate in the financial market increases to 20%. What will be the new price of each bond? What would be the prices of these bonds if at the interest rate was the same as 10% ? (Note: Now, the years to maturity for Alpha is 4 years, and for the Beta is 2 years.)

c- What are your conclusions from part b

d- Calculate the rate of return for each bond between the first year (t) and the second year (t +1) when interest rate increases to 20%?

e- What is the rate of capital gain/loss of each bond?

f- If the interest rate declines, which would you rather be holding, the long-term bond (Alpha) or short-term bond (Beta)? Why? Which type of bond has the greater interest-rate risk?