1. You read in Business week that a panel of economists has estimated that the long-run real growth rate of US economy over the next five-year period will average 3 percent. In addition, a bank newsletter estimates that the average annual rate of inflation during the five-year period will be about 4 percent. What nominal rate of return would you expect on US government T-bills during this period?
2. What would your required rate of return be on common stocks if you wanted a 5 percent risk premium to own common stocks given what you know from problem 2? If common stock investors became more risk averse, what would happen to the required rate of return on common stocks? What would be the impact on stock prices?