Iampossible
New member
- Apr 2, 2015
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Negative Duration gap => Duration of Assets < Duration of Liabilities
=> Liabilities are more sensitive than Assets to a given interest rate change
=> If Interest Rates fall, Liabilities gain more value than Assets
=> Reduces the value of the firm’s equity
=> Hence firm is likely to settle/refinance some of its debt while interest rates are low
e.g.: Let’s say Company A (Borrower) issues a 5 year fixed coupoun bond to Investor B (Lender)
If the bond is callable and Interest rates fall in 2-yrs time, it is possible that the borrower may choose to call the bond, repay any remaining interest and principal to the investor, and refinance with a new bond issued at the lower interest rate. This exposes the investor (lender) to the risk of not being able to reinvest remaining coupons at the same higher rate that was prevalent for the first 2-yrs of the bond.
P.S>: I feel there may be a better/smarter way to answer this question; But these are my initial thoughts
=> Liabilities are more sensitive than Assets to a given interest rate change
=> If Interest Rates fall, Liabilities gain more value than Assets
=> Reduces the value of the firm’s equity
=> Hence firm is likely to settle/refinance some of its debt while interest rates are low
e.g.: Let’s say Company A (Borrower) issues a 5 year fixed coupoun bond to Investor B (Lender)
If the bond is callable and Interest rates fall in 2-yrs time, it is possible that the borrower may choose to call the bond, repay any remaining interest and principal to the investor, and refinance with a new bond issued at the lower interest rate. This exposes the investor (lender) to the risk of not being able to reinvest remaining coupons at the same higher rate that was prevalent for the first 2-yrs of the bond.
P.S>: I feel there may be a better/smarter way to answer this question; But these are my initial thoughts