The Following Information Relates to Questions 1-10
Samuel & Sons

question 16

Multiple Choice

The following information relates to Questions 1-10
Samuel & Sons is a fixed-income specialty firm that offers advisory services to investment management companies. on 1 october 20X0, Steele ferguson, a senior analyst at Samuel, is reviewing three fixed-rate bonds issued by a local firm, Pro Star, inc. The three bonds, whose characteristics are given in Exhibit 1, carry the highest credit rating.
EXHiBiT 1 fixed-Rate Bonds issued by Pro Star, inc.
$\begin{array}{lcll}\text { Bond } & \text { Maturity } & \text { Coupon } &{\text { Type of Bond }} \\\hline \text { Bond 1 } & 1 \text { October 20X3 } & 4.40 \% \text { annual } & \text { Option-free } \\\\\text { Bond 2 } & 1 \text { October 20X3 } & 4.40 \% \text { annual } & \text { Callable at par on 1 October 20X1 } \\&&&\text { and on 1 October 20X2 } \begin{array}{l}\\\end{array} \\\text { Bond 3 } & \text { 1 October 20X3 } & 4.40 \% \text { annual } & \text { Putable at par on 1 October 20X1 } \\ &&&\text { and on 1 October 20X2 }\end{array}$
The one-year, two-year, and three-year par rates are 2.250%, 2.750%, and 3.100%, re-spectively. Based on an estimated interest rate volatility of 10%, ferguson constructs the bino-mial interest rate tree shown in Exhibit 2.
EXHiBiT 2 Binomial interest Rate Tree
on 19 october 20X0, ferguson analyzes the convertible bond issued by Pro Star given in Exhibit 3. That day, the option-free value of Pro Star's convertible bond is $1,060 and Pro Star's stock price is $37.50.
EXHiBiT 3 Convertible Bond issued by Pro Star, inc.
$\begin{array} { l c } \text { Issue Date: } & 6 \text { December 20X0 } \\\hline \text { Maturity Date: } & 6 \text { December 20X4 } \\\text { Coupon Rate: } & 2 \% \\\text { Issue Price: } & \$ 1,000 \\\text { Conversion Ratio: } & 31\\\hline\end{array}$
-The bond that would most likely protect investors against a significant increase in interest rates is:

• A) Bond 1.
• B) Bond 2.
• C) Bond 3.

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Definitions:

Basket of Goods

A set of products or commodities compiled for the purpose of monitoring price changes in the market over time.

Nominal Interest Rate

The stated interest rate on a loan or financial product, not adjusted for inflation, reflecting the actual rate charged or paid.

Real Interest Rate

The interest rate adjusted for inflation, reflecting the true cost of borrowing or the true return on savings.

Real Interest Rate

The interest rate that accounts for inflation, indicating the actual cost of borrowing and the genuine return for lenders or investors.