Module: | MODULE B: RISK MANAGEMENT
Q370: A bank enters into a "6x9" Forward Rate Agreement (FRA) as a fixed-rate payer at exactly 5.00% on a notional principal of ₹ 100 Crore to hedge its future borrowing costs. On the settlement date, the actual 3-month benchmark reference rate surges to 6.00%.
Assuming a 360-day financial year and strictly ignoring present value discounting for simplicity, calculate the approximate settlement cash flow and determine who pays whom.
✅ Correct Answer: C
The correct answer is C. The settlement amount of an FRA is calculated based on the difference between the actual benchmark reference rate and the agreed fixed FRA rate.
Difference = 6.00% - 5.00% = +1.00%. A "6x9" FRA means the contract starts in 6 months and ends in 9 months, implying a contract duration of 3 months (or 90 days). The simplified calculation is: Settlement = Notional Principal * Rate Difference * (Days / 360). Plugging in the numbers: ₹ 100 Crore * 1.00% * (90 / 360) = ₹ 1 Crore * 0.25 = ₹ 0.25 Crore, which is ₹ 25 Lakhs.
Because the bank is the "payer of fixed" and the floating reference rate went up higher than the fixed rate, the bank is in the money.
The counterparty must pay the bank the ₹ 25 Lakhs difference.
Option A represents a loss for the bank, which is factually incorrect.
Difference = 6.00% - 5.00% = +1.00%. A "6x9" FRA means the contract starts in 6 months and ends in 9 months, implying a contract duration of 3 months (or 90 days). The simplified calculation is: Settlement = Notional Principal * Rate Difference * (Days / 360). Plugging in the numbers: ₹ 100 Crore * 1.00% * (90 / 360) = ₹ 1 Crore * 0.25 = ₹ 0.25 Crore, which is ₹ 25 Lakhs.
Because the bank is the "payer of fixed" and the floating reference rate went up higher than the fixed rate, the bank is in the money.
The counterparty must pay the bank the ₹ 25 Lakhs difference.
Option A represents a loss for the bank, which is factually incorrect.