Friday, July 15, 2016

NIRP and Discounting

Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby
--Simple Minds

In a world of negative interest rate policy (NIRP), how can investors properly discount security prices--particularly yield-bearing instruments? If an investor 'needs' yield, then what price is too high to pay for yield when 'risk-free' rates are suppressed below zero?

My sense is that many are concluding (rationalizing) that no price is too high.

NIRP, it seems, has broken the discounting mechanism.

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