Definition Formula Example and How It Works

What Is the Macaulay Duration?

The Macaulay period is the weighted reasonable time frame to maturity of the cash flows from a bond. The weight of each and every cash waft is made up our minds by the use of dividing the existing value of the cash waft by the use of the associated fee. Macaulay period is ceaselessly used by portfolio managers who use an immunization method.

Macaulay period may also be calculated as follows:


Macaulay Duration = ∑ t = 1 n t × C ( 1 + y ) t + n × M ( 1 + y ) n Provide Bond Value where: t = Respective time period C = Periodic coupon charge y = Periodic yield n = General amount of categories M = Maturity value

get started{aligned}&text{Macaulay Duration} = frac{ sum_{t = 1} ^ {n} frac{ t cases C }{ (1 + y) ^ t } + frac{ n cases M }{ (1 + y) ^ n } }{ text{Provide Bond Value} } &textbf{where:} &t = text{Respective time period} &C = text{Periodic coupon charge} &y = text{Periodic yield} &n = text{General choice of categories} &M = text{Maturity value} end{aligned} ​Macaulay Duration=Provide Bond Value∑t=1n​(1+y)tt×C​+(1+y)nn×M​​where:t=Respective time periodC=Periodic coupon chargey=Periodic yieldn=General amount of categoriesM=Maturity value​

Understanding the Macaulay Duration

The metric is referred to as after its creator, Frederick Macaulay. Macaulay period may also be observed as the industrial steadiness degree of a group of cash flows. Differently to interpret the statistic is that it is the weighted reasonable choice of years that an investor must take care of a spot throughout the bond until the existing value of the bond’s cash flows equals the volume paid for the bond.

Parts Affecting Duration

A bond’s cost, maturity, coupon and yield to maturity all factor into the calculation of period. All else being an identical, period will build up as maturity will build up. As a bond’s coupon will build up, its period decreases. As interest rates building up, period decreases and the bond’s sensitivity to further interest rate will build up is happening. Moreover, a sinking fund in place, a scheduled prepayment previous than maturity, and speak to provisions all lower a bond’s period.

Calculation Example

The calculation of Macaulay period is simple. Let’s think {{that a}} $1,000 face-value bond can pay a 6% coupon and matures in 3 years. Interest rates are 6% in line with annum, with semiannual compounding. The bond can pay the coupon two occasions a 12 months and can pay crucial on the final charge. Given this, the following cash flows are expected over the next 3 years:


Length 1 : $ 30 Length 2 : $ 30 Length 3 : $ 30 Length 4 : $ 30 Length 5 : $ 30 Length 6 : $ 1 , 030

get started{aligned} &text{Length 1}: $30 &text{Length 2}: $30 &text{Length 3}: $30 &text{Length 4}: $30 &text{Length 5}: $30 &text{Length 6}: $1,030 end{aligned} ​Length 1:$30Length 2:$30Length 3:$30Length 4:$30Length 5:$30Length 6:$1,030​

With the categories and the cash flows recognized, a discount factor must be calculated for each and every period. This is calculated as 1 ÷ (1 + r)n, where r is the interest rate and n is the period amount in question. The interest rate, r, compounded semiannually is 6% ÷ 2 = 3%. Therefore, the cut price elements may well be:


Length 1 Bargain Factor : 1 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 1 = 0.9709 Length 2 Bargain Factor : 1 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 2 = 0.9426 Length 3 Bargain Factor : 1 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 3 = 0.9151 Length 4 Bargain Factor : 1 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 4 = 0.8885 Length 5 Bargain Factor : 1 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 5 = 0.8626 Length 6 Bargain Factor : 1 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 6 = 0.8375

get started{aligned} &text{Length 1 Bargain Factor}: 1 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 1 = 0.9709 &text{Length 2 Bargain Factor}: 1 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 2 = 0.9426 &text{Length 3 Bargain Factor}: 1 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 3 = 0.9151 &text{Length 4 Bargain Factor}: 1 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 4 = 0.8885 &text{Length 5 Bargain Factor}: 1 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 5 = 0.8626 &text{Length 6 Bargain Factor}: 1 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 6 = 0.8375 end{aligned} ​Length 1 Bargain Factor:1÷(1+.03)1=0.9709Length 2 Bargain Factor:1÷(1+.03)2=0.9426Length 3 Bargain Factor:1÷(1+.03)3=0.9151Length 4 Bargain Factor:1÷(1+.03)4=0.8885Length 5 Bargain Factor:1÷(1+.03)5=0.8626Length 6 Bargain Factor:1÷(1+.03)6=0.8375​

Next, multiply the period’s cash waft by the use of the period amount and by the use of its corresponding discount factor to go looking out the existing value of the cash waft:


Length 1 : 1 × $ 30 × 0.9709 = $ 29.13 Length 2 : 2 × $ 30 × 0.9426 = $ 56.56 Length 3 : 3 × $ 30 × 0.9151 = $ 82.36 Length 4 : 4 × $ 30 × 0.8885 = $ 106.62 Length 5 : 5 × $ 30 × 0.8626 = $ 129.39 Length 6 : 6 × $ 1 , 030 × 0.8375 = $ 5 , 175.65 ∑  Length  = 1 6 = $ 5 , 579.71 = numerator

get started{aligned} &text{Length 1}: 1 cases $30 cases 0.9709 = $29.13 &text{Length 2}: 2 cases $30 cases 0.9426 = $56.56 &text{Length 3}: 3 times $30 cases 0.9151 = $82.36 &text{Length 4}: 4 cases $30 cases 0.8885 = $106.62 &text{Length 5}: 5 cases $30 cases 0.8626 = $129.39 &text{Length 6}: 6 cases $1,030 cases 0.8375 = $5,175.65 &sum_{text{ Length } = 1} ^ {6} = $5,579.71 = text{numerator} end{aligned} ​Length 1:1×$30×0.9709=$29.13Length 2:2×$30×0.9426=$56.56Length 3:3×$30×0.9151=$82.36Length 4:4×$30×0.8885=$106.62Length 5:5×$30×0.8626=$129.39Length 6:6×$1,030×0.8375=$5,175.65 Length =1∑6​=$5,579.71=numerator​


Provide Bond Value = ∑  PV Cash Flows  = 1 6 Provide Bond Value = 30 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 1 + 30 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 2 Provide Bond Value = + ⋯ + 1030 ÷ ( 1 + . 03 ) 6 Provide Bond Value = $ 1 , 000 Provide Bond Value = denominator

get started{aligned} &text{Provide Bond Value} = sum_{text{ PV Cash Flows } = 1} ^ {6} &phantom{ text{Provide Bond Value} } = 30 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 1 + 30 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 2 &phantom{ text{Provide Bond Value} = } + cdots + 1030 div ( 1 + .03 ) ^ 6 &phantom{ text{Provide Bond Value} } = $1,000 &phantom{ text{Provide Bond Value} } = text{denominator} end{aligned} ​Provide Bond Value= PV Cash Flows =1∑6​Provide Bond Value=30÷(1+.03)1+30÷(1+.03)2Provide Bond Value=+⋯+1030÷(1+.03)6Provide Bond Value=$1,000Provide Bond Value=denominator​

(Remember that given that coupon charge and the interest rate are the equivalent, the bond will business at par.)


Macaulay Duration = $ 5 , 579.71 ÷ $ 1 , 000 = 5.58

get started{aligned} &text{Macaulay Duration} = $5,579.71 div $1,000 = 5.58 end{aligned} ​Macaulay Duration=$5,579.71÷$1,000=5.58​

A discount-paying bond will always have its period lower than its time to maturity. Throughout the example above, the period of 5.58 half-years isn’t as much as the time to maturity of six half-years. In several words, 5.58 ÷ 2 = 2.79 years, which isn’t as much as 3 years.

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