1. Chapter 4. Interest Rates - Term Structure Risks
A. Hedging interest rate exposure - more complicated
than hedging exposure to the price of wheat.
1. Need entire term structure of interest rates to
provide full description of level of interest rates.
2. Definition of term structure (or yield curve):
The relation among interest rates on securities
alike in every respect except term to maturity.
a. For example, plot gov't securities
with maturities from 1 month to 20 years.
b. To hedge interest rate exposure, must decide:
i. maturity of interest rate exposure,
ii. maturity of hedge you require.

2. B. Types of Rates.
1. Treasury Rates – paid on debt issued by government.
Assume governments won’t default (can print money).
Taxes & Regulations mean Treasury issues have artificial demand.
Treasury Rates are not truly “riskfree” - they are too low.
2. LIBOR – London Interbank Offer Rate.
Rate that large international banks fund activities; Used as “riskfree rate.”
Rate that one int’l bank lends / borrows at with another (default risk ≈ 0).
3. Overnight Rate – Rate on overnight deposits between banks.
Banks must maintain Required Reserves.
One bank has excess Reserves; Second bank is short Reserves (has TBills).
Second bank deposits TBills with First bank; receives cash (Reserves);
Promises to repurchase TBills tomorrow future by returning cash (Reserves).
Difference between cash received tomorrow & paid later is interest paid:
Fed Funds Rate, Fed Funds Mkt, managed by Federal Reserve.

3. B. Types of Rates. 4. Repo Rate – rate on repurchase agreement.
One institution needs short term cash (not nec. Reserves), another has it;
First institution deposits Treasury Securities with other, receives cash;
Promises to repurchase securities in near future.
Difference between cash received now & paid later determines Repo Rate.
(default risk ≈ 0): If first defaults, second keeps Treasury Securities;
If second defaults, first keeps cash.
Popular vehicle for short term borrowing / lending.
5. SWAP Rate – London Interbank Offer Rate.
Rate that large international banks fund activities; Used as “riskfree rate.”
Repo Rate that one int’l bank lends / borrows at with another (risk ≈ 0).
6. Overnight Indexed SWAP Rate – OIS Rate on ON SWAP.
SWAP where fixed rate for a period (e.g., 1 month) is exchanged for the
Geometric Avg of the Overnight Rates (see 3. Fed Funds Rate, in US …).
Allows ON borrowing/lending for a period to be swapped for a Fixed Rate.

4. B. Types of Rates.
7. Riskfree Rate – rate on riskfree asset (loan, investmt).
Important! To value derivatives, want to set up riskfree portfolio – arb.
Might use Treasury Bill Rate as riskfree rate.
No; too low; in U.S., Treasury Bills are given favorable treatment.
Banks must hold them for reserves,
Interest earned on Treasuries is not taxed at local level.
Prior to the credit crisis of 2007, LIBOR Rates were used as riskfree rates.
BUT in crisis, some banks got in trouble; LIBOR not considered riskfree.
Since 2007, OIS Rate on SWAP is now used as “Riskfree Rate.” (safer)
Note: OIS Rate is a continually refreshed one-day Rate, for a SWAP
where fixed rate for a period (e.g., 1 month) is exchanged for the
Geometric Avg of the Overnight Rates (see 3. Fed Funds Rate, in US …).
Allows ON borrowing/lending for a period to be swapped for a Fixed Rate.

5. C. Measuring Interest Rates
Continuous Compounding & Discounting.
1. Amount A invested for n years at R per annum.
a. compounded once/year, get A(1+R)n .
b. compounded m times/year, get A(1+R/m)mn .
c. Example: for n = 1 year, A = $100, R = 10%;
m=1: get $100 x 1.10 = $110.
m=2: get $100 x = $ ($5 x .10 x ½ year)
m=4: get $100 x = $110.38
m: get AeRn = $100e.10 = $110.52
2. Continuous compounding, AeRn ; eRn  (1+R)n ;
Continuous discounting, Ae-Rn ; e-Rn  1 / (1+R)n .

6. C. Measuring Interest Rates
3. Graph y 
Defn: e = lim (1 + 1/m)m │ ex
m │
e │
│ .
eR = lim (1 + R/m)m │ .
m │ .
│ .
Observe: ln(1)= 0; │ │ ln(x)
ln(e)= 1; │ │
e0 = 1; │
e1 = e │ │
__________________________ │ _____________________________________ x
│ e
Discounting: ex < 1 if x < │ │
Compounding: ex > 1 if x > │

7. C. Measuring Interest Rates
4. Used to working with rates measured with annual,
semiannual, or some other compounding frequency?
Get used to continuous compounding / discounting!
a. Can convert a continuously compounded rate
to an equivalent rate compounded m times per annum:
Let Rc = interest rate with continuous compounding;
Rm = equivalent rate compounded m times p.a.
Then Ae(Rc)n = A(1 + Rm / m)mn
or eRc = (1 + Rm / m)m
This means: Rc = m ln(1 + Rm / m)
and Rm = m ( e Rc / m - 1)
These equations convert a continuously compounded rate
to an equivalent rate compounded m times p.a., & vice versa.

8. D. Zero Rates (or Spot Rates)
1. n-year Zero Rate: interest rate on n-year investmt.
a. Assume no intermediate payments;
all principle & interest paid after n years.
b. Also called “n-year zero coupon rate.”
2. Zero Rates are determined by bootstrapping,
using market prices on Treasury Securities
with different maturities.
Result is Zero-Coupon Yield Curve ;
Could be Zero-Coupon Treasury Yield Curve,
or Zero-LIBOR or OIS SWAP rate Yield Curves.
See below and example in Hull.

9. E. Bond Pricing
1. Most bonds pay periodic coupons + face value at maturity.
2. Bond Price (PB = NPV of cash flows discounted at proper zero rates)
Example: Face Value = F = $100;
C / F = 6%; Coupon paid semi-annually, c = $3;
Zero Rates: Maturity Zero rate %
(discount
rates)
PB = 3e -.05 x e x e x e x 2.0 = $98.39
3. Bond Yield: single discount rate that equates cash flows to mkt value.
Same Example: Let mkt value = PB = $98.39; Bond Yield (y) is solution to:
$ = 3e -y x e -y x e -y x e -y x 2.0 ; Here, y = 6.76% .
Trades at Discount; PB < F if y > C/F (6.76 > 6). [At Premium; PB > F if y < C/F.]
($98.39 < $100) (Bond yield)

10. F. Bootstrapping Method to Determine Zero Rates
Sample Data: Bond Time to Annual Bond
Principal Maturity Coupon Price .
Bond Price = $ $0 $97.5
Market Price on $ $0 $94.9
Treasury Securities $ $0 $90.0
of different maturities $ $8 (paid semiannually) $96.0
$ $12 $101.6
1. An amount $2.5 can be earned on $97.5 during 3 months.
The 3-mo rate = Rm = 4 x ($2.5 / $97.5) = % with qtrly compounding.
This is Rc = % with continuous compounding. (See formula for Rc on page 1-5.)
4. Similarly, the 6-month & 1-year rates = Rc = % & %,
with continuous compounding.
5. To calculate the 1.5-year rate, we solve the following :
$96 = 4 e x e x e -Rc x 1.5
to get Rc = or % .
6. Similarly the two-year rate is computed to be % . Can now plot…

11. F. Bootstrapping Method
Zero Rate Yield Curve Calculated from Example
Zero Rate (%)
10.808
10.681
10.469
10.536
10.127
Maturity
(years)

12. F. Bootstrapping Method
7. Application to OIS Rates
Can use similar bootstrap approach to determine:
OIS Zero Rates the riskfree rates used
to discount cash flows
and value derivative securities.
Recall: OIS Rate is a continually refreshed 1-Day Rate
on an Overnight SWAP,
where fixed rate for a period (e.g., 1 month) is exchanged for
Geometric Avg of ON Rates (see 3. Fed Funds Rate, in US …).
Allows ON borrowing / lending for a period
to be swapped for a Fixed Rate.

13. G. Forward Rates
Rates implied by current spot rates for periods in the future.
1. Calculation of Forward Rates (Assume all rates are continuously compounded.)
Spot Rate for Forward Rate
Year n-year investmt for nth year
(n) (% per annum) (% per annum).
% for 1yr  $100e = $ in 1yr.
% for 2yr  $100e.105 x 2 = $ in 2yr.
Forward rate for year 2 is rate implied by spot rates
for future period between end of yr 1 & end of yr 2.
2. How do you get Forward rate for year 2 = r2 = 11.0?
a. Suppose you have $100 available for 2 years. Two choices:
i. Can invest 2 years at 2-yr spot rate (10.5); Will earn 100 e .105 x = $123.37
ii. Can invest 1 year at 1-yr spot rate (10.0),
& reinvest yr 2 at future 1-yr spot rate (r1,2 ); Will earn 100 e .10 e r1,2 = 100e(.10 + r1,2)
b. Problem: Today don't know future 1-yr spot rate (r1,2).
Forward rate for yr 2 (r2) is future 1-yr spot rate that would give same total result as i :
100 e (.10 + r2) = 100 e .105 x 2 if (.10 + r2 ) = x 2 or r2 = .11
(Intuition: To get 10.5% for 2 years, must get 11% the 2nd year.)

14. G. Forward Rates
Spot Rate for Forward Rate
Year n-year investmt for nth year
(n) (% per annum) (% per annum) .
Forward rate for year 3 = r3
is rate implied by spot rates
for future period between
end of year 2 & end of year 3.
3. How do you get r3 ? Suppose you have $ available for 3 years. Two choices:
i. Can invest for 3 years at 3-yr spot rate (10.8); Will earn 100e .108 x 3
ii. Can invest for 2 years at 2-yr spot rate (10.5),
& reinvest for yr 3 at future 1-yr spot rate (r1,3) ; Will earn 100 e .105 x 2 e r1,3
= 100 e (.105 x 2 + r1,3)
Forward rate for yr 3 (r3) is future 1-yr spot rate that would give the same result as i.
100 e (.105 x 2 + r3) = 100e .108 x 3 if x 2 + r3 = x or r3 = .114
(To get 10.8% for 3 years, must get 11.4% 3rd yr.) [ r3 = ] [ = ]

15. G. Forward Rates Spot Rate for Forward Rate
Year n-year investmt for nth year
(n) (% per annum) (% per annum) .
General Formula:
Let r = spot rate for T years;
r* = spot rate for T* years;
where T* > T.
4. General formula for the forward rate between periods T and T* :
╔═══════════════════╗
║ r = (r*T* - rT) / (T* - T) ║
╚═══════════════════╝
Example: 1-year forward rate for year 4 ( r4 );
T = 3, T* = 4, r = .108, r* = .11,
r4 = (.11 x x 3) / (4 - 3) = = .116

16. G. Forward Rates
5. Assuming you can borrow or invest at any spot rate,
you can lock in forward rate for borrowing or lending in any future period.
Calculation of Forward Rates
Spot Rate for Forward Rate
Year n-year investmt for nth year
(n) (% per annum) (% per annum) .
 Example: i. Borrow 11% for 4 years;
ii. Invest this money at 10.8% for 3 years;
iii. Result: inflow at end of yr 3 = 100 e .108 x 3 = $138.26
outflow at end of yr 4 = 100 e .11 x 4 = $155.27
iv. Since = e .116 ,
money is effectively being borrowed for the fourth year at 11.6%.

17. H. The Zero-Coupon Yield Curve
1. Defn: Relation between yields on zero-coupon bonds and maturity.
Calculation of Forward Rates yield
Spot Rate for Forward Rate │
Year n-year investmt for nth year │
(n) (% per annum) (% per annum) │ │ │ │ │
│________________________________ maturity
2. Zero-Coupon Yield Curve versus Forward Rate Yield Curve.
** a. If zero-coupon yield curve is upward sloping,
zero-coupon yield curve is below forward rate yield curve.
3. Zero-Coupon Yield Curve versus Yield Curve for Coupon-Bearing Bonds.
** a. If zero-coupon yield curve is upward sloping,
zero-coupon yield curve is above yield curve for coupon-bearing bonds.
Yield on coupon-bearing bonds is reduced by fact that investor gets some
payments before maturity, when discount rates are lower than maturity rate.
** b. If yield curve is downward sloping, opposite.
Forward curve
Zero-coupon curve
Coupon-bearing bond curve

18. I. Forward Rate Agreements (FRA’s)
1. OTC agreement that certain interest rate (RK) will apply to certain principal (L)
during specified future period (T1 to T2). Can promise to lend / borrow with FRA.
2. Define: L = principal;
RK = FRA interest earned over T2 - T1 (promised in FRA);
RF = forward LIBOR over T2 - T1 (expected borrowing cost);
R = actual LIBOR over T2 - T1 (actual borrowing cost). Hull calls this RM.
3. Cash Flows for holding FRA (promise to lend in future):
T1: +L ; borrow from bank later, at R (future actual rate);
-L ; deposit (lend) according to FRA agreement.
T2: +L [ RK ( T2 -T1 ) ] earned in FRA agreement;
-L [ R ( T2 -T1 ) ] paid to bank.
Will eventually get to keep: L ( RK - R) ( T2 - T1 ).
Problem: Today we don’t know future actual borrowing rate, R;
But we do know forward LIBOR, RF; Assume this is expected borrowing rate.
Thus, today’s expectation of what we will get to keep: L ( RK - RF ) ( T2 - T1 ).
4. Value of FRA today = L (RK - RF) (T2 -T1) e-R2 T2; where R2 = T2 - pd zero spot rate.
This is NPV of expected future cash flows; Value of promise to lend over T2 -T1.

19. J. Theories of the Term Structure
1. Expectations Theory:
Long term spot rates reflect unbiased expectations of future short term spot rates;
i.e., forward rates = expected future spot rates.
Assumptions:
i. Different maturities are perfect substitutes (investors don’t care - ST vs LT);
ii. Money available for 2 years? – indifferent about investing 1 or 2 years …
Implies: Shape of yield curve reveals expectations about whether rates will ↑ or ↓.
i. If, market expects spot rates to remain stable (at today’s rates).
forward rates = spot rates, & yield curve is flat.
ii. If market expects spot rates to rise in future, % for 2 years vs
forward rates > spot rates, & yield curve slopes upward. 10% 1st yr; 11% 2nd yr.
iii. If market expects spot rates to fall,
forward rates < spot rates, & yield curve slopes downward.
iv. If market expects rates to first rise then fall, yield curve may have “bump."

20. J. Theories of the Term Structure
2. Liquidity Preference Theory:
Investors prefer to invest short term, & will demand a premium for long positions.
Borrowers prefer to borrow long term, & will pay a premium for long positions.
Long term spot rates reflect expectations of future short term spot rates
that are biased upward by a liquidity premium ;
forward rates = expected future spot rates liquidity premium.
i. If market expects spot rates to remain stable,
forward rates > spot rates by liquidity prem, & yield curve slightly upward sloping.
ii. If market expects spot rates to rise,
forward rates > spot rates by more than l.p., & yield curve is steeper than (i).
iii. If market expects spot rates to fall,
forward rates may be <, =, or > spot rates,
depending on size of liquidity premium and how much mkt expects rates to fall.
(Flatter than i., or slopes downward.)
iv. 'Normal' yield curve is upward sloping; Downward sloping yield curve is rare.