swap contracts. swaps swap: an agreement between two parties (“counterparties) to exchange a...
TRANSCRIPT
SwapContracts
Swaps
• Swap: An agreement between two parties (“counterparties) to exchange a series of cash flows in the future– Essentially a series of forwards– Settle at each swap maturity date (often netted out)– Payments generally determined so swap initially has
zero market value• Common are
– Interest rate swaps– Currency swaps
Swaps vs. Futures
• Futures– Standardized
– Exchange-traded
– Short horizons
• Swaps– Custom tailored between counterparties
– Less regulation; potential for privacy
– Term flexibility
Interest Rate Swaps
• One party pays a fixed interest rate and receives a floating rate
• The other party pays a floating rate and receives a fixed rate
• Floating rates involve greater exposure to interest rate risk
• “Notional principal” is amount on which the interest payments are determined
Interest Rate Swaps (cont.)
• Principal is not actually exchanged -- only interest payments
• Often, only net interest payments are transacted– Avoids unnecessary transactions– Helps credit risk
• At each “settlement date,” a net payment is made, based on the difference between the two interest rates (applied to the notional principal)
Types of Swaps
• Swap curve– Swap rates for different maturities– Analogous to yield curve
• Deferred swap– Begins in future
• Amortizing swap– Covers loan with declining balance
• Accreting swap– Covers loan with increasing balance
Q: Swaps – Fixed rate Calculation(From Exam FM Fin Econ Sample Questions)
Q: Swaps – Cash Flow Calculation(From Exam FM Fin Econ Sample Questions)
Q: Swaps – Cash Flow Calculation(From Exam FM Fin Econ Sample Questions)