Quick Approximation of Price Value of a Basis Point (PVBP)

We know that the Price Value of a Basis Point is the change in the value of a bond due to a 1 basis point change in the interest rates.

You can use a spreadsheet to calculate the PVBP.

However, if you want a quick approximation of the same, you can use your financial calculator, or the PV formula in excel and perform the following steps:

Assume that you want to calculate the PVBP of a $1 million, 10 year bond, with a coupon of 6%.

N = 10

r = 6%

PMT = 60,000

FV = 1,000,000

We will now calculate the PV of the bond, using r as 6% and 6.01%.

The PV at 6% is 1,000,000, and the PV at 6.01% is 999,264.34.

The BPV, therefore, is the difference between the two.

PVBP = 735.66