he following three defense stocks are to be combined into a stock index in January 2016 (perhaps a portfolio manager believes these cocks are an appropriate benchmark for his or her performance). Assume the index is scaled by a factor of 10 million; that is, if the tal value of all firms in the market is $5 billion, the index would be quoted as 500. Price Douglas McDonnell Dynamics General International Rockwell Shares (millions) 1/1/16 345 $ 94 450 66 310 95 1/1/17 $ 97 61 84 1/1/18 $109 75 101 a. Calculate the initial value of the index if a value-weighting scheme is used. (Round your answer to 2 decimal places.) Index value b. What is the rate of return on this index for the year ending December 31, 2016? For the year ending December 31, 2017? (A negative value should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answers as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.) 2016 return 2017 return %