Suppose you want to provide a quote for a Treasury bond that matures in 2 years and pays semi-annual coupons of 3%. The next coupon payment are in 6,12,16 and 24 months. Assume that prices of US treasury bills and US treasury bonds are given by:
Maturity (years) | Coupon | Cash Price
0.25 | na | $99.46
0.5 | na |$98.82
1.0 | 2.25 | $99.65
1.5| 2.25 | $99.26
2| 2.5| $99.11
a) deduce the spot curve (zero rates) assume spot rates are semi annually compounded
b) compute the price of the required Treasury bond
c) provide the quote with the required convention