5. 5: Interest Rates: Using the Yield Curve to Estimate Future Interest Rates You can calculate the yield curve, given inflation and maturity-related risks. Looking at the yield curve, you can use the information embedded in it to estimate the market's expectations regarding future inflation, risk, and short-term interest rates. The pure expectations @ theory states that the shape of the yield curve depends on investors' expectations about future interest rates. The theory assumes that bond traders establish bond prices and interest rates strictly on the basis of expectations for future interest rates and that they are indifferent to maturity because they don't view long-term bonds as being riskier than short-term bonds. For example, assume that you had a 1-year T-bond that yields 1.5% and a 2-year T-bond that yields 2%. From this information you could determine what the yield on a 1-year T- bond one year from now would be. Investors with a 2-year horizon could invest in the 2-year T-bond or they could invest in a 1-year T-bond today and a 1-year T-bond one year from today. Both options should yield the same result if the market is in equilibrium; otherwise, investors would buy and sell securities until the market was in equilibrium. Quantitative Problem: Today, interest rates on 1-year T-bonds yield 1.5%, interest rates on 2-year T-bonds yield 2%, and interest rates on 3-year T-bonds yield 3.4%. a. If the pure expectations theory is correct, what is the yield on 1-year T-bonds one year from now? Be sure to use a geometric average in your calculations. Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to four decimal places. % b. If the pure expectations theory is correct, what is the yield on 2-year T-bonds one year from now? Be sure to use a geometric average in your calculations. Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to four decimal places. % c. If the pure expectations theory is correct, what is the yield on 1-year T-bonds two years from now? Be sure to use a geometric average in your calculations. Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to four decimal places. %