Final answer:
Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), the expected rate of return for the project is approximately 8.30%, calculated by adding the risk-free rate to the product of the beta and the market risk premium.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the project's expected rate of return, we can use the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), which is a model that describes the relationship between systematic risk and expected return for assets, particularly stocks. Here’s the formula for CAPM:
Expected Rate of Return = Risk-Free Rate + (Beta × Market Risk Premium)
The values provided in the question are:
Beta = 0.83
Risk-Free Rate = 2.9%
Market Risk Premium = 6.5%
Plugging these into the formula gives:
Expected Rate of Return = 2.9% + (0.83 × 6.5%)
Expected Rate of Return = 2.9% + 5.395%
Expected Rate of Return = 8.295%
Therefore, the project's expected rate of return is approximately 8.30%.