Final answer:
The approximate yield to maturity (YTM) for the bond with an annual coupon rate of 6.5% and a current market price of $899.35 can be calculated by dividing the average annual return by the average price, which is equal to 1.74%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate the yield to maturity (YTM) on a bond using the approximation formula, you can follow these steps. First, calculate the annual coupon payment by multiplying the bond's face value by its coupon rate. In this case, for a bond with a 6.5% coupon rate and a face value of $1,000, the annual coupon payment is $1,000 * 0.065 = $65. Next, find the average annual return by adding the bond's face value at maturity to the yearly coupon payment, subtract the current market price, and then divide by the number of years to maturity. Here, it will be ($1,000 + $65 - $899.35) / 10 = $16.565. Finally, calculate the average price by adding the current market price to the face value and dividing by two. For this bond, it will be ($899.35 + $1,000) / 2 = $949.675.
The approximate YTM can be found by dividing the average annual return by the average price: $16.565 / $949.675 = 0.0174 or 1.74%. This rate would need to be compared against the actual YTM calculated with the precise formula or financial calculator, as the approximation may not provide exact results.