Lesson 5 of 5 · 12 min

Macaulay duration between coupon dates and the closed-form formula

Between coupon dates every cash flow is closer by the fraction of the period already elapsed, so Macaulay duration simply falls by t/T while the weights stay the same.

In short

  • Between coupon dates, the time to receipt of the first cash flow is 1−t/T1 - t/T, then 2−t/T2 - t/T, and so on.
  • Discount with those fractional times; the sum of the PVs is the full price.
  • The PV weights do not change: every PV is scaled up by the same factor (1+r)t/T(1+r)^{t/T}.
  • So MacDur between coupons = MacDur at the last coupon date − t/Tt/T (in periods). Macaulay duration falls as time passes.
  • A closed-form formula gives the same answer without a table.

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Macaulay duration between coupon dates and the closed-form formula · Interest Rate Risk and Return