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

question 22

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.
$\begin{array} { l c } \text { Issue Date: } & 6 \text { December 20X0 } \\\hline \text { Maturity Date: } & 6 \text { December 20X4 } \\\text { Coupon Rate: } & 2 \% \\\text { Issue Price: } & \$ 1,000 \\\text { Conversion Ratio: } & 31\\\hline\end{array}$
-A fall in interest rates would most likely result in:

• A) a decrease in the effective duration of Bond 3.
• B) Bond 3 having more upside potential than Bond 2.
• C) a change in the effective convexity of Bond 3 from positive to negative.

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Definitions:

Dissociative Identity

A psychological condition in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

Hallucinations

Experiencing sensations like sight, sound, or touch without any actual external inputs.

Schizophrenia

A mental disorder characterized by disturbances in thought, behavior, and emotions, often manifesting through delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech.

Positive Symptoms

In psychology, these refer to an excess or distortion of normal functions, often seen in schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions.