Final answer:
The yield to maturity (YTM) of a zero-coupon bond with a face value of $1000, current price of $510, and 8 years to maturity is approximately 11.54%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the yield to maturity (YTM) of a zero-coupon bond, which does not make periodic interest payments, we use the formula that relates the current price of the bond, its face value (also known as par value), and the time to maturity. The formula for YTM in terms of these variables is:
YTM = [(Face Value / Present Value)^(1/n)] - 1
Where the face value is the amount the bond will be worth at maturity, the present value is the current price of the bond, and n is the number of years until the bond matures.
Using the provided information: Face Value = $1,000, Present Value = $510, and n = 8 years, we can substitute these values into the formula to find the YTM:
YTM = [($1,000 / $510)^(1/8)] - 1
Calculating this gives us:
YTM = [(1.9608)^(0.125)] - 1 ≈ 0.1154 or 11.54%
Therefore, the yield to maturity of the bond is approximately 11.54%.