Research Discussion

Research Discussion #8

This is an individual Research Discussion (RD).  

Please  upload a Short PowerPoint Video presentation of your Group Research  Discussion (Group) along with the actually written group RD. You can use  Zoom, Jing, Youtube, etc to record your PPT presentation. Please upload  it as a folder with written group RD and the presentation link.

An interest rate derivative is a financial instrument with  a value that is linked to the movements of an interest rate or rates.  These may include futures, options, or swaps contracts. Interest rate  derivatives are often used as hedges by  institutional investors, banks, companies, and individuals to protect  themselves against changes in market interest rates, but they can also  be used to increase or refine the holder's risk profile or to speculate  on rate moves.

Interest  rate derivatives are most often used to hedge against interest rate  risk, or else to speculate on the direction of future interest rate  moves. Interest rate risk exists  in an interest-bearing asset, such as a loan or a bond, due to the  possibility of a change in the asset's value resulting from the variability of interest rate risk. Interest rate risk management has become very important, and assorted instruments have been developed to deal with interest rate risk.
 

Describe some examples of interest rate derivatives. How are they used in risk management?