Assume an investor purchases a stock for $50. One year later, the stock is worth $60. After one more year, the stock price has fallen to the original price of $50. Calculate the continuously compounded return for year 1 and year 2.
Given a holding period return of R, the continuously compounded rate of return is: ln(1 + R) = ln(Price1/Price0). Here, if the stock price increases to $60, r = ln(60/50) = 0.18232, or 18.23%.
Note: Calculator keystrokes are as follows. First, obtain the result of 60/50, or 1. On the TI BA II Plus, enter 1.20 and then click on LN. On the HP12C, 1.2 [ENTER] g [LN] (the LN appears in blue on the %T key). The return for year 2 is ln(50/60), or ln(0.833) = negative 18.23%. |