F I L E (Use Excel) The m onthly closing stock prices (rounded to th e nearest dollar) for Starbucks Corp. and Panera Bread Co. for th e first six m o n th s o f 2 0 1 0 are rep o rted in th e fo llo w in g ta b le. The data are also availab le o n t h e tex t w ebsite, labeled M o n th ly Stock Prices.

M onth Starbucks Corp. Panera Bread Co.
January 2010 $22 $71 February 2010 23 73 March 2010 24 76 April 2010 26 78 May 2010 26 81 June 2010 24 75 Source: w w w .fin an ce.y ah o o .co m .

a. State th e null and th e alternative h y p o th e se s in order to d e t e r m in e if t h e va r ia n ce o f price differs for t h e t w o firms.

b. W hat a ssu m p tio n regarding th e pop u la tio n is n ecessary to im p lem en t this step?

c. U se Excel's F.TEST fu n c tio n t o c a lc u la te t h e p -value.

d. At α = 0.05 w h a t is your conclusion? P-399