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
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