Suppose we are in 2022. An insurer has to make a guaranteed payment to a policyholder in five years (2027) of $1,469, a lump-sum policy payout on retirement, equivalent to investing $1,000 at an annually compounded rate of 8 percent over five years. To protect itself, the insurer has bought a six-year maturity bond paying 8% annual coupons with an 8% YTM that has a duration of 4.993 or approximately 5 years. The face value of this bond is $1000. If the interest rates fall to 7%. At the end of fifth year, which of the following statements is FALSE?A.The insurer receives the proceeds from selling the bond at the end of fifth year of $1,009B.The insurer receives an reinvestment income of $60.C.The insurer has matched the maturity of its liabilties with that of its assets. D.The insurer receives coupons of $400.E.The insurer is immunized from interest rate risk.
Question
Suppose we are in 2022. An insurer has to make a guaranteed payment to a policyholder in five years (2027) of 1,000 at an annually compounded rate of 8 percent over five years. To protect itself, the insurer has bought a six-year maturity bond paying 8% annual coupons with an 8% YTM that has a duration of 4.993 or approximately 5 years. The face value of this bond is 1,009B.The insurer receives an reinvestment income of 400.E.The insurer is immunized from interest rate risk.
Solution
The correct answer is C. The insurer has matched the maturity of its liabilities with that of its assets.
Here's why:
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The insurer has a liability that matures in five years (the guaranteed payment to the policyholder), but it has bought a bond that matures in six years. Therefore, the maturities of its assets and liabilities are not matched.
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Matching the maturities of assets and liabilities is a common strategy used by financial institutions to manage interest rate risk. However, in this case, the insurer has not followed this strategy.
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Therefore, statement C is false. The insurer has not matched the maturity of its liabilities with that of its assets.
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