Quiz Chap 14
Quiz Chap 14
Quiz Chap 14
CHAPTER 14
Swaps and Interest Rate Derivatives
1. A(n) __________ swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange interest payments for a specific
maturity in an agreed upon notional amount.
a) interest rate
b) currency
c) bond
d) currency bond
2. In a _______ swap, two parties exchange floating interest payments based on different reference rates.
a) basis
b) coupon
c) notional
d) forward rate
4. In a _____ swap, one party pays a fixed rate calculated at the time off trade as a spread to a particular
Treasury bond, and the other sides pays a floating rate.
a) currency
b) interest rate
c) coupon
d) basis
5. In a currency swap, the effective interest rate on the money raised is known as the
a) notional principal
b) all-in cost
c) right of offset
d) yield to call
6. Swaps provide a real economic benefit to the counterparties only if a barrier exists to prevent ______ from
functioning fully.
a) hedging
b) factoring
c) arbitrage
d) forfeiting
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8. A currency swap is most similar in economic purpose to a
a. basis swap
b. parent company loan
c. debt-equity swap
d. parallel loan
9. If the world capital market were fully integrated, the incentive to swap would be ____ because ____
arbitrage opportunities would exist.
a) increased; more
b) reduced; fewer
c) increased; fewer
d) reduced; more
Company X, a low-rated firm, desires a fixed-rate, long-term loan. X presently has access to floating interest
rate funds at a margin of 1.25% over LIBOR. Its direct borrowing cost is 11% in the fixed-rate bond market. In
contrast, company Y, which prefers a floating-rate loan, has access to fixed-rate funds in the Eurodollar bond
market at 9% and floating-rate funds at LIBOR + 1/4%. Suppose they split the cost savings.
Solution
Debt Management Company X Company Y Diffential
Fixed Rate 11% 9% =11-9=2%
Floating Rate LIBOR+1.25% Libor +0.25% 1%
QSD Net Diffential 2%-1%= 1%
Axil Corp. has not tapped the Deutsche mark public debt market because of concern about a likely appreciation
of that currency and only wishes to be a floating-rate dollar borrower, which it can be at LIBOR + 1%. Bevel
Corp. strongly prefers fixed-rate DM debt, but it must pay 1.5% more than the 6 1/4% coupon that Axil's DM
notes would carry. Bevel, however, can obtain Eurodollars at LIBOR + ½%.
13. What is the maximum possible cost savings to Bevel from engaging in a currency swap with Axil?
a) 1%
b) 75%
c) 2%
d) 1.25%
14. Suppose a bank charges .8% to arrange the swap and Axil and Bevel split the resulting cost savings. Then
Axil will pay _____ for its floating-rate money and Bevel will pay _____ for its fixed-rate money.
a) LIBOR - .7%; 7.5%
b) LIBOR + .4%; 7.15%
c) LIBOR; 7.45%
d) LIBOR + .5%; 6.75%
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16. Examples of "single-currency interest rate swap" and "cross-currency interest rate swap" are:
A. fixed-for-floating rate interest rate swap, where one counterparty exchanges the interest payments of a
floating- rate debt obligations for fixed-rate interest payments of the other counter party.
B. fixed-for-fixed rate debt service (currency swap), where one counterparty exchanges the debt service
obligations of a bond denominated in one currency for the debt service obligations of the other counter party
denominated in another currency.
C. both a) and b)
D. none of the above
17. The primary reasons for a counterparty to use a currency swap are
A. to hedge and to speculate.
B. to play in the futures and forward markets.
C. to obtain debt financing in the swapped currency at an interest cost reduction brought about through
comparative advantages each counterparty has in its national capital market, and the benefit of hedging long-run
exchange rate exposure.
D. both a) and b)
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20. In the swap market, which position potentially carries greater risks, broker or dealer?
A. Broker
B. Dealer
C. They are the same swaps, therefore the same risks.
22. Company X wants to borrow $10,000,000 floating for 5 years. Company Y wants to borrow $10,000,000
fixed for 5 years. Their external borrowing opportunities are:
Design a mutually beneficial interest only swap for X and Y with a notational principal of $10 million by
having appropriate values for
A. A = 10%; B = 11.75%;
C = LIBOR - .25%; D = LIBOR + 1.5%
B. A = 10%; B = 10%;
C = LIBOR - .25%; D = LIBOR + 1.5%
C. A = LIBOR; B = 10%;
C = LIBOR - .25%; D = 12%
D. A = LIBOR; B = LIBOR;
C = LIBOR - .25%; D = 12%
23. Use the following information to calculate the quality spread differential (QSD):
A. 0.50%
B. 1.00%
C. 1.50%
D. 2.00%
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