Seeing is believing!

Before you order, simply sign up for a free user account and in seconds you'll be experiencing the best in CFA exam preparation.

Basic Question 9 of 14

What is the option cost imbedded in the Z spread?

A. It is the difference between the spread earned in a constant interest rate environment and the nominal spread.
B. It is the difference between the spread earned in a constant interest rate environment and that earned with a volatility assumption regarding interest rates.
C. It is higher when interest rates are low, or when the spot rates are relatively flat.

User Contributed Comments 8

User Comment
REITboy Can someone pls explain? Thx!
chris54321 No
joywind you can regard option cost as value of option which increase when volatility increases. e.g. when volatility = 0, the int. rate is certain, then the option lose its value.
johntan1979 Explanation is in the notes. Read them yourself.
davcer ytm is fixed, term structure is variable that is about
robbiecow "The reason that the option cost is measured in this way is as follows. In an environment in which interest rates are assumed not to change, the investor would earn the Z-spread. When future interest rates are uncertain, the spread is different because of the embedded option(s); the OAS reflects the spread after adjusting for this option. Therefore, the option cost is the difference between the spread that would be earned in a static interest rate environment (the Z-spread, or equivalently, the zero-volatility OAS) and the spread after adjusting for the option (the OAS)."
ashish100 suck on this note johntan1979 you ()
ashish100 Sorry I was stressing out didn't mean it
You need to log in first to add your comment.
You have a wonderful website and definitely should take some credit for your members' outstanding grades.
Colin Sampaleanu

Colin Sampaleanu

Learning Outcome Statements

compare, calculate, and interpret yield and yield spread measures for fixed-rate bonds

CFA® 2024 Level I Curriculum, Volume 4, Module 7.