Exam 8: Foreign Currency Derivatives and Swaps

A firm with variable-rate debt that expects interest rates to rise may engage in a swap agreement to

Your firm is faced with paying a variable rate debt obligation with the expectation that interest rates are likely to go up.Identify two strategies using interest rate futures and interest rate swaps that could reduce the risk to the firm.

Instruction 8.1: For the following problem(s), consider these debt strategies being considered by a corporate borrower. Each is intended to provide $1,000,000 in financing for a three-year period. ∙ Strategy #1: Borrow $1,000,000 for three years at a fixed rate of interest of 7%. ∙ Strategy #2: Borrow $1,000,000 for three years at a floating rate of LIBOR + 2%, to be reset annually. The current LIBOR rate is 3.50% ∙ Strategy #3: Borrow $1,000,000 for one year at a fixed rate, and then renew the credit annually. The current one-year rate is 5%. -Refer to Instruction 8.1.After the fact,under which set of circumstances would you prefer strategy #2? (Assume your firm is borrowing money.)

An option whose exercise price is equal to the spot rate is said to be ________.

Instruction 8.1: For the following problem(s), consider these debt strategies being considered by a corporate borrower. Each is intended to provide $1,000,000 in financing for a three-year period. ∙ Strategy #1: Borrow $1,000,000 for three years at a fixed rate of interest of 7%. ∙ Strategy #2: Borrow $1,000,000 for three years at a floating rate of LIBOR + 2%, to be reset annually. The current LIBOR rate is 3.50% ∙ Strategy #3: Borrow $1,000,000 for one year at a fixed rate, and then renew the credit annually. The current one-year rate is 5%. -Refer to Instruction 8.1.Choosing strategy #1 will