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Key rate duration

A breakdown of portfolio sensitivity across sections of the curve: how much is lost when the short section moves, and how much when the far one does.

How to read the number

It shows what overall duration hides: a portfolio can be neutral to a parallel shift and still depend heavily on a change in slope.

When the metric lies

The calculation needs a full set of prices along the curve. For rarely traded issues those prices are modelled, and the breakdown is modelled to the same degree.

Also known as: partial duration, bucket duration

Related terms