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G345 Topic 3
The Risk Structure of Interest Rates
16
Business
Undergraduate 2
09/11/2012

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Cards

Term
What 3 factors changes bonds interest rates?
Definition
Default risk
Liquidity
Tax considerations
Term
Default Risk/Credit Risk
Definition
probability that the issuer of the bond is unable or unwilling to make interest payments or pay off the face value
Term
Why are US bonds credit risk free?
Definition
Because they can raise taxes whenever they want
Term
Risk Premium
Definition
the spread (difference in yield) between the interest rate on a bond with default risk (and liquidity risk) and the interest rate on a (same maturity) on-the-run Treasury security (the benchmark).
Term
Price or Interest risk
Definition
If the bond is not held at maturity and rates rise, it can only be sold for a loss
Term
Investment risk
Definition
If rates decrease then coupon payments can only be reinvested at lower yield.
Term
Flight to quality
Definition
When savers decide to decrease their holding of risky assets and increase their holding of low-risk assets
Term
What happened when the US began to invest in the emerging markets?
Definition
Demand increased and prices rose so interest rates fell
Term
What are the dimensions of liquidity risk?
Definition
Length of time to convert asset into money
Transaction cost involved
Certainty of price realized
Term
How does one measure liquidity?
Definition
Bid-ask spread

Size of bond issue

On-The-Run vs. Off-The-Run securities
Term
What happens if there is bad news about liquidity? (tax on financial transactions)
Definition
liquidity risk will go up
Term
What does the risk structure of interest rates summarize?
Definition
effects of differences in default risk, liquidity, and taxation on yields for a given maturity.
Term
Bond Rating
Definition
A single statistic summarizing the rating company’s view of the issuer’s likely ability to meet its debt obligations
Term
What are the only types of tax free bonds?
Definition
Municipal bonds (city, state)
Term
Why do saver often prefer capital gains to interest payments?
Definition
because capital gains are only taxed when they are realized, which lowers the present value of the tax.
Term
What do increases in risk premiums often lead to?
Definition
a recession
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