A bank has assets with an average duration of 3 years and liabilities with an average duration of 1.5 years. Should it be an interest-rate swap buyer (and make fixed-rate payments) or seller (and make variable-rate payments)? Explain.
THE DURATION GAP = AVERAGE DUARTION OF ASSETS - AVERAGE DUARTION OF LIABILITIES
THE DURATION GAP = 3 YEARS - 1.5 YEARS = 1.5 YEARS
DURATION GAP IS POSITIVE. SO WHEN RATE OF INTEREST INCREASES, IT BENEFITS BANK & VICE VERSA
So Bank with a positive GAP makes a floating-interest payments in exchange for a fixed-rate receipt, that is, bank is interest rate swap seller. This is because if rate falls, they will get at fixed rate but now they will pay at lower rate.
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