Continuously compounded nominal and real returns

Let Pt be the price of a security at time t, including any cash dividends or interest, and let Pt − 1 be its price at t − 1. Let RSt be the simple rate of return on the security from t − 1 to t. Then Let Pt be the price of a security at time t, including any cash dividends or interest, and let Pt − 1 be its price at t − 1. Let RSt be the simple rate of return on the security from t − 1 to t. Then The continuously compounded rate of return or instantaneous rate of return RCt obtained during that period is If this instantaneous return is received continuously for one period, then the initial value Pt-1 will grow to P t = P t − 1 ⋅ e R C t {displaystyle P_{t}=P_{t-1}cdot e^{RC_{t}}} during that period. See also continuous compounding. Since this analysis did not adjust for the effects of inflation on the purchasing power of Pt, RS and RC are referred to as nominal rates of return. Let π t {displaystyle pi _{t}} be the purchasing power of a dollar at time t (the number of bundles of consumption that can be purchased for $1). Then π t = 1 / ( P L t ) {displaystyle pi _{t}=1/(PL_{t})} , where PLt is the price level at t (the dollar price of a bundle of consumption goods). The simple inflation rate ISt from t –1 to t is P L t P L t − 1 − 1 {displaystyle { frac {PL_{t}}{PL_{t-1}}}-1} . Thus, continuing the above nominal example, the final value of the investment expressed in real terms is Then the continuously compounded real rate of return R C r e a l {displaystyle RC^{real}} is