1. Forward Rate Agreements
EDP

2. Forward Rate Agreements
An interbank contract that involves two parties, a buyer and a seller.
The buyer agrees to pay the seller the increased interest cost on a notational amount if interest rates fall below an agreed rate.
The seller agrees to pay the buyer the increased interest cost if interest rates increase above the agreed rate.
A forward rate agreement is basically a forward contract on a loan.
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3. Forward Rate Agreements: Uses
Forward rate agreements can be used to:
Hedge assets that a bank currently owns against interest rate risk.
For example, a bank that has made a three-month Eurodollar loan against an offsetting six-month Eurodollar deposit could protect itself by selling a “three against six” FRA.
Speculate on the future course of interest rates.
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4. Forward Rate Agreements: Example
A three against nine FRA is a 3-month forward contract on a six-month interest rate for a six-month period beginning three months from now. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Agreement period
(3 months)
FRA period (6 months)
Cash Settlement of FRA
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5. Settling a Forward Rate Agreement
At the end of the agreement period, the loser pays the winner an amount equal to the present value of the difference between the settlement rate (SR) and the agreement rate (AR), sized according to the length of the agreement period and the notational amount.
Notational Amount × (SR – AR) ×
days
360
1 + SR ×
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6. Settling a FRA
A €5,000,000, 4%, 3 against 9 FRA entered into January 1, 2014 has the following terms:
1/1/14 1 2
3/1/14 4 5 6 7 8
9/1/14
184 days
Payment
On 3/1/14 if the actual rate is 4% there is no payment.
€5,000,000 × (SR – 0.04) ×
184
360
1 + SR ×
€24, =[ €5,000,000 × (.05 – 0.04) × 184/360] / (1 + (.05 × 184/360))
A common mistake (for my American students at least) is
€47, =[ €5,000,000 × (.05 – 0.04) × 184/360] / (( ) × 184/360) Or
€24, =[ €5,000,000 × (.05 – 0.04) × 184/360] / (( ) ^ (184/360)
If on 3/1/14 the SR = 5%
the seller pays the buyer €24,
If on 3/1/14 the SR = 3% the buyer pays the seller €25,
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7. Forward Rate Agreements
FRAs are designed so the buyer will have the same future value of interest expense (i.e., a perfect hedge at the agreed-up rate) for any value of LIBOR at maturity of the FRA.
Calculate the FV of interest expense
If LIBOR at expiration is 3 percent:
If LIBOR at expiration is 5 percent:
€5,025, x ( x ) = €5m x ( x )
184
360
€5,102, = €5,102,222.22
(€5m - €24,918.74)x( x ) = €5m x ( x )
184
360
€5,102, =€5,102,222.22
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8. CURRENCY MARKETS
EDP

9. CURRENCY MARKETS
Spot Markets : Value date two business days from transaction date. If bank holiday in either settlement centre, push to next business day.
Outright Forwards : Value date three business days and beyond.
Standard forward dates : 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 months. Spot value date plus required calendar months. If holiday, push forward to next eligible business day; but pushing forward must not carry you to next calendar month; then push back
Swaps : A spot plus a forward or two forwards. Buy USD spot vs. INR, sell USD 3 month forward vs.INR. Sell USD 1 month forward, buy USD 3 month forward vs. GBP.

10. CURRENCY MARKETS
A spot GBP/USD deal on Friday December 12: Value date Tuesday December 16
If December 16 holiday in NY/London, value date December 17.
Suppose the deal is between a French and a German bank and December 16 is holiday in Paris but not London or NY. Push forward?
A 2-month forward deal USD/CHF on Monday Dec 22: Value date Feb 24. If holiday in NY/Zurich, Aug 17.
A 3-month forward USD/JPY on Nov 26, Value date Feb 28, If holiday in Tokyo/NY, push forward? NO. Pushing forward must not carry into next calendar month. Push back to Feb 27, Could have pushed forward in a leap year – February 29.
Spot deals in some currency pairs in the same time zone such as US dollar- Canadian dollar, US dollar- Mexican peso settled in one business day