Semitool Corp. has an expected excess return of 6% for next year. However, for every unexpected 1% change in the market, Semitool's return responds by a factor of 1.2. Suppose it turns out that the economy and the stock market do better than expected by 1.5% and Semitool's products experience more rapid growth than anticipated, pushing up the stock price by another 1%. Based on this information, what was Semitool's actual excess return

8.8%

Explanation:

Given:

Excess return = 6% = 0.06

Return respond factor = 1.2

Expected higher percent = 1.5% = 0.015

Increase growth (stock price) = 1% = 0.01

Actual excess return = ?

Computation of actual excess return:

Actual excess return = Excess return + Increase growth (stock price) + [Expected higher percent × Return respond factor]

= 0.06 + 0.01 + [0.015 × 1.2]

= 0.07 + [0.018]

= 0.088

= 8.8%

what she means is that back then a dollar (or less) could buy a lot more then because of the former state of deflation. since then a price inflation has occured.