An interest rate cap is a derivative in which the buyer receives payments at the end of each period in which the interest rate exceeds the agreed strike price. An example of a cap would be an agreement to receive a payment for each month the LIBOR rate exceeds 2.5%.
The interest rate cap can be analyzed as a series of European call options or caplets which exist for each period the cap agreement is in existence.
In mathematical terms, a caplet payoff on a rate L struck at K is
where N is the notional value exchanged and is the day count fraction corresponding to the period to which L applies. For example suppose you own a caplet on the six month USD LIBOR rate with an expiry of 1 February 2007 struck at 2.5% with a notional of 1 million dollars. Then if the USD LIBOR rate sets at 3% on 1 February you receive
Customarily the payment is made at the end of the rate period, in this case on 1 August.
Read more about this topic: Interest Rate Cap And Floor
Famous quotes containing the words interest, rate and/or cap:
“I have an intense personal interest in making the use of American capital in the development of China an instrument for the promotion of the welfare of China, and an increase in her material prosperity without entanglements or creating embarrassment affecting the growth of her independent political power, and the preservation of her territorial integrity.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“You are more than entitled not to know what the word ‘performative’ means. It is a new word and an ugly word, and perhaps it does not mean anything very much. But at any rate there is one thing in its favor, it is not a profound word.”
—J.L. (John Langshaw)
“... everyone developing
A language of his own to write his book in,
And one to cap the climax by combining
All language in a one-man tongue-confusion.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)