Practice Question
A company issued bonds for $1,000,000 with a coupon rate of 5% when the market rate was 6%. If the bonds pay interest annually, what will be the bond premium or discount? Calculate the present value of the bond if the market rate is used.
Since the coupon rate (5%) is lower than the market rate (6%), the bond will be issued at a discount.
Step 1: Calculate annual interest payment: $1,000,000 × 5% = $50,000.
Step 2: Use present value formulas to compute total bond value:
- PV of annuity (interest payments) + PV of lump sum (face value at maturity).
Assuming the calculated present value using market rate factors is $940,000, then:
- Bond Discount = $1,000,000 - $940,000 = $60,000.
Understanding how bond pricing works using market rates is critical to properly recording liabilities and interest expense over time.