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Converting yield volatility into price volatility

Question

For a bond paying annual coupons, show how to turn a volatility quoted for its yield into a volatility for its price.

Short answer

Multiply by modified duration: σP≈Dmod σy\sigma_P\approx D_{mod}\,\sigma_y (or Dmod y σrelD_{mod}\,y\,\sigma_{rel} for a relative yield vol). With P(y)=∑ici(1+y)−tiP(y)=\sum_i c_i(1+y)^{-t_i}, a first-order expansion gives dPP=−Dmod dy\tfrac{dP}{P}=-D_{mod}\,dy where Dmod=1P∑itici(1+y)−ti−1D_{mod}=\tfrac{1}{P}\sum_it_ic_i(1+y)^{-t_i-1}. If yield changes have standard deviation σy\sigma_y, percentage price changes have standard deviation about DmodσyD_{mod}\sigma_y.

Adapted from Joshi, Denson & Downes, Quant Job Interview Questions and Answers, Q4.5, p.148; question and answer rewritten by SelfMadeQuant.com.

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