Forward Rates and Forward Rate Curves

Fixed Income Analytics · 7:59

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When you look at bonds today with prices that you see
There's hidden information about future rates to be
The market tells a story of what interest might become
Forward rates are waiting there for those who do the sum

[Chorus]
Forward rates show future's face
Implied by bonds in the marketplace
From spot to forward we can trace
The path that interest rates will chase
Lock it in, project ahead
Forward curves show where we're led

[Verse 2]
Take two bonds with different terms, compare their yields today
The longer bond must compensate for risk along the way
If one year pays three percent and two years pays four
The second year forward rate is higher than before

[Chorus]
Forward rates show future's face
Implied by bonds in the marketplace
From spot to forward we can trace
The path that interest rates will chase
Lock it in, project ahead
Forward curves show where we're led

[Bridge]
One plus spot rate to the power of time
Equals products of forwards that perfectly rhyme
If rates go up the curve is steep
If rates go down the slope falls deep

[Verse 3]
Plot these forwards on a graph from short term to long
You'll see the forward rate curve telling market's song
Upward sloping means rates rise, downward means they fall
Flat curve says they'll stay the same through it all

[Chorus]
Forward rates show future's face
Implied by bonds in the marketplace
From spot to forward we can trace
The path that interest rates will chase
Lock it in, project ahead
Forward curves show where we're led

[Outro]
Future rates implied today
Forward curves light up the way
Spot and forward hand in hand
Help us understand

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