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Derivative longevity risk solutions, such as bespoke and indexed longevity swaps, allow pension schemes, and annuity providers to swap out longevity risk, but introduce counterparty credit risk, which can be mitigated if not fully eliminated by collateralization. We examine the impact of bilateral default risk and collateral rules on the marking to market of longevity swaps, and show how longevity swap rates must be determined endogenously from the collateral flows associated with the marking-to-market procedure. For typical interest rate and mortality parameters, we find that the impact of collateralization is modest in the presence of symmetric default risk, but more pronounced when default risk and/or collateral rules are asymmetric. Our results suggest that the overall cost of collateralization is comparable with, and often much smaller than, that found in the interest rate swaps market, which may then provide the appropriate reference framework for the credit enhancement of both indemnity-based and indexed longevity risk solutions.

Existing cross-sectional findings on nonfinancial firms’ use of derivatives that are usually interpreted as the result of hedging may alternatively be due to speculation. Panel data examinations can distinguish between derivatives practices that endure over time and are therefore more likely to result from hedging, and those that are more transient, thus more consistent with speculation. Our decomposition results indicate that hedging of interest rate risk is concentrated among high-investment firms, consistent with costly external finance. Simultaneously, firms appear to use interest rate swaps to manage earnings and to speculate when their executive compensation contracts are more performance sensitive.

We propose an efficient approximation of the swaption normal volatility to estimate the mean reversion separately from the other volatility parameters in the Gaussian two-factor model. We compare our two-step approach with a one-step method that calibrates all parameters simultaneously. The comparison is based on the data from interest rate market of Korea and the US. The parameter estimates of our proposed two-step method are more stable than those of the one-step method in that the latter is overly sensitive to market changes whereas the former is not. The proposed approach also eliminates many existing problems in the Gaussian two-factor model.

This paper derives a pricing model for interest rate swaps when the underlying markets and settlement currency can be set arbitrarily. Using the risk-neutral valuation method developed by Musiela and Rutkowski (Martingale methods in financing modelling, 2nd edn, Springer, New York, 2005), the authors generate arbitrage-free prices for a Levy market. The Levy processes are attractive because they support better statistical fits than a Gaussian economy. A closed-form solution for the swap value results from replicating the payment at each settlement date. The results then show that the domestic and foreign term structures are important factors in the pricing model; the swap value contains a correction term that reflects the currency hedging cost for the correlation between interest rates and the exchange rate.

Purpose Using a fiscal sentiment indicator, this study aims to verify whether fiscal sentiment affects the yield curve in Brazil. Since policymakers highlight the coordination between monetary and fiscal policies and the importance of fiscal policy to the expectations formation process in inflation targeting regimes, the authors also explore the transmission mechanism through inflation expectations. Hence, the study also analyzes the effect of fiscal sentiment on interest rate swap spreads through the inflation expectations channel. Design/methodology/approach Based on information obtained from official communiqués about fiscal policies issued by the Central Bank of Brazil and the Brazilian Ministry of Finance, the study builds a fiscal sentiment indicator. The econometric strategy to verify whether fiscal sentiment is related to the short tail of the yield curve is based on time series analysis through ordinary least squares and generalized method of moments estimates. In turn, to estimate the transmission mechanism through inflation expectations, the model uses interaction terms between fiscal sentiment and inflation expectations. Findings The results suggest a more optimistic (pessimistic) fiscal sentiment reduces (increases) swap spreads. The findings reveal that improvements in fiscal credibility and a more optimistic fiscal sentiment are able to reduce the positive marginal effect that inflation expectations variations have on interest rate swap spreads. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature, as, to the best of authors’ knowledge, it is the first to analyze the content of the communiqués related to fiscal policy, and based on this content, it extracts the sentiment related to the fiscal environment and analyzes the effect of this sentiment on the yield curve. Besides, different from existing studies that analyze the effect of fiscal backward-looking aspects (such as public debt, budget balance, taxes and public spending) on the yield curve, this study investigates forward-looking aspects related to fiscal policy (such as fiscal credibility and fiscal sentiment).

Interest rate swap pricing theory traditionally views swaps as a portfolio of forward contracts with net swap payments discounted at LIBOR rates. In practice, the use of marking-to-market and collateralization questions this view as they introduce intermediate cash flows and alter credit characteristics. We provide a swap valuation theory under marking-to-market and costly collateral and examine the theory's empirical implications. We find evidence consistent with costly collateral using two different approaches; the first uses single-factor models and Eurodollar futures prices, and the second uses a formal term structure model and Treasury/swap data.

Swap is a financial contract between two counterparties who agree to exchange one cash flow stream for another, according to some predetermined rules. When the cash flows are fixed rate interest and floating rate interest, the swap is called an interest rate swap. This paper investigates two valuation models of the interest rate swap contracts in the uncertain financial market. The new models are based on belief degrees, and require relatively less historical data compared to the traditional probability models. The first valuation model is designed for a mean-reversion term structure, while the second is designed for a term structure with hump effect. Explicit solutions are developed by using the Yao–Chen formula. Moreover, a numerical method is designed to calculate the value of the interest rate swap alternatively. Finally, two examples are given to show their applications and comparisons.

Two mathematical models under so-called intensity and structure frameworks to pricing a double defaultable interest rate swap are established. The default could happen or jump to a high probability in both fixed and floating parties on the predetermined boundaries. The models lead to a new and interesting mathematical problem. As the intensity approaches infinity in designated regions, the solutions of the intensity models converge to a solution of a structure-type model which is an initial value problem of a partial differential equation coupled with two obstacles problem in their restricted regions. According to the value of the fixed rate, three cases are discussed. The free boundary that determines the swap rate and the free boundaries that determine the earlier termination of the contract (due to counterparty’s default) are analysed.

This article proposes a derivatives pricing model with both cash and a non-cash asset posted as collateral for a derivatives contract. We assume that the participant sources funds from the repo market for the posted non-cash collateral. Our pricing formula is based on the investment of the received collaterals. For the pricing formula, we discount the future derivatives value using a combination of the collateral and repo rates under a risk-neutral measure. Thus, our pricing model constructs a multi-curve framework. We calibrate our pricing model for JPY interest rate derivatives and then show that our model with non-cash collateralization is closer to the real price than the existing pricing formulae (i.e., the cash collateralization and simple short rate models). TOPICS: Derivatives, interest-rate and currency swaps, quantitative methods, statistical methods, risk management, credit risk management Key Findings ▪ A derivatives pricing model when cash and a non-cash asset are posted as collateral is proposed. The non-cash collateral receiver exchanges the posted collateral for cash in the repo market. ▪ Under this framework, the discount rate in the resulting pricing formula is given as the weighted average of the collateral and repo rates weighted with the amount of the cash collateral. ▪ The accuracy of the proposed pricing formula is superior to the pricing formula with the OIS discount that has been common after the financial crisis in 2008.