X t = ln YCRt
- Step 3: Calculate the average of continuously compounded returns (X t) for the time period.
- Step 4: Sum the squared the differences between the individual continuously compounded rates of return and the average calculated in step 3.
= Σ(X t - X average)2
- Step 5: Divide the sum of squared differences by the number of time periods minus 1.
= step 4 value / (n-1)
In the context of statistics, this value represents the yield variance
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Step 6: Take the square root of step 5 to arrive at a periodic (commonly daily) standard deviation (σ daily) for the bond's yield.
This value represents the percentage of the yield's daily standard deviation and not the actual basis point standard deviation.
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Step 7: Annualize daily percentage standard deviation.
σ annual = σ daily × √num. of trading days per year
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The annual standard deviation of a bond's yield is equal to the daily standard deviation multiplied by the square root of the number of trading days in a year.
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The convention is 250 trading days per year.
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This value reflects the percentage standard deviation of the yield, not the basis points standard deviation.
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Step 8: Compute the basis points the standard deviation of the bond's yield.
σ yield = Yield * σ annual
This value will reflect the standard deviation in terms of basis points around the current yield of the bond.
- A bond's yield can be analyzed in conjunction with the standard deviation of the yield in basis point terms from step 8 and z-score distribution to create a confidence interval for the bond's yield.
- Candidates are advised to apply this approach to practice questions in order to completely understand the analysis of yield volatility and be appropriately prepared for the exam.
