What is the Swap Rate?
The swap rate is the fixed rate of a swapSwapA swap is a derivative contract between two parties that involves the exchange of pre-agreed cash flows of two financial instruments. The cash flows are usually determined using the notional principal amount (a predetermined nominal value). determined by the parties involved in the contract The swap rate is demanded by a receiver (i.e., the party that receives the fixed rate) from a payer (i.e., the party that pays the fixed rate) to be compensated for the uncertainty regarding fluctuations in the floating rate utilized in a swap. The swap rate can be found in either interest rate swapsInterest Rate SwapAn interest rate swap is a derivative contract through which two counterparties agree to exchange one stream of future interest payments for another or currency swaps. It also referred to as the reference rate, and is typically based on LIBORLIBORLIBOR, which is an acronym of London Interbank Offer Rate, refers to the interest rate that UK banks charge other financial institutions for for interest rate swaps.
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Swap Rate in Interest Rate Swaps
The most commonly encountered design of interest rate swaps involves the exchange of a fixed interest rate for the floating interest rateFloating Interest RateA floating interest rate refers to a variable interest rate that changes over the duration of the debt obligation. It is the opposite of a fixed rate.. The floating interest rate is typically expressed as a value of a variable index such as LIBORLIBORLIBOR, which is an acronym of London Interbank Offer Rate, refers to the interest rate that UK banks charge other financial institutions for plus or minus a spread. In such a case, the fixed interest rate is referred to as the swap/reference rate.
In interest rate swaps, the swap/reference rate is used to determine the total value of the swap’s fixed leg, which must be equal to the total value of the floating leg of the swap. After the swap becomes effective, the fixed rate remains the same until the swap’s maturity while the floating interest rate is reset periodically at predetermined dates, based on the fluctuations of the index to which the rate is attached.
Swap Rate in Currency Swaps
Similar to interest rate swaps, currency swaps are a popular type of swap. Currency swaps may come in several forms. One of them is the fixed vs. floating rate currency swaps. In currency swaps, the swap/reference rate is referred to as the exchange rateFixed vs. Pegged Exchange RatesForeign currency exchange rates measure one currency's strength relative to another. The strength of a currency depends on a number of factors such as its inflation rate, prevailing interest rates in its home country, or the stability of the government, to name a few. associated with the fixed leg of a currency swap.
In currency swaps, the swap rate is primarily used as the exchange rate to convert the principal notional amounts set in different currencies. The principal notional amounts are specified prior to the start of the swap’s agreement. Like interest rate swaps, in currency swaps, the reference rate remains unchanged until the swap’s maturity.
Related Readings
CFI is the official provider of the global Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)™Become a Certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® certification program, designed to help anyone become a world-class financial analyst. To keep advancing your career, the additional CFI resources below will be useful:
- Credit Default SwapCredit Default SwapA credit default swap (CDS) is a type of credit derivative that provides the buyer with protection against default and other risks. The buyer of a CDS makes periodic payments to the seller until the credit maturity date. In the agreement, the seller commits that, if the debt issuer defaults, the seller will pay the buyer all premiums and interest
- Hedging ArrangementHedging ArrangementHedging arrangement refers to an investment whose aim is to reduce the level of future risks in the event of an adverse price movement of an asset. Hedging provides a sort of insurance cover to protect against losses from an investment.
- Interest Rate RiskInterest Rate RiskInterest rate risk is the probability of a decline in the value of an asset resulting from unexpected fluctuations in interest rates. Interest rate risk is mostly associated with fixed-income assets (e.g., bonds) rather than with equity investments.
- Swap SpreadSwap SpreadSwap spread is the difference between the swap rate (the rate of the fixed leg of a swap) and the yield on the government bond with a similar maturity. Since government bonds (e.g., US Treasury securities) are considered risk-free securities, swap spreads typically reflect the risk levels perceived by the parties involved in a swap agreement.
