6. The following table shows the prices of a sample of Treasury strips. Each strip makes a single payment at maturity.
Years to Maturity
Price, (% of face value)
1
97.652
%
2
94.151
3
90.344
4
86.280
a. What is the 1-year interest rate? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.)
b. What is the 2-year interest rate? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.)
c. What is the 3-year interest rate? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.)
d. What is the 4-year interest rate? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.)
e. Is the yield curve upward-sloping, downward-sloping, or flat?
f. Is this the usual shape of the yield curve?