GLOSSARY OF FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES TERMS

   

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AMORTISING

A description, applicable to a variety of instruments, denoting that the notional principal decreases successively over the life of an instrument, e.g., amortizing swap, index amortizing rate swap, amortizing cap, amortizing collar, amortizing swaption. If the decrease takes place in increments, the instrument may be known as a step-down. Mortgage-style amortization refers to an amortizing swap such that the principal amortization plus interest is the same amount in each interest period.

See also accreting

REVERSE INDEX AMORTISING SWAP

An interest rate swap in which payments are linked to an index (e.g., Libor or constant maturity Treasuries) and increase if that index declines. The swap therefore exhibits positive convexity. Receiving fixed in a reverse index amortizing swap (reverse IAS) provides a hedge for instruments (such as mortgage swaps) that amortize as interest rates decline, although it is important to ensure that the indexes on which the amortization or accreting schedules are based are highly correlated. Unlike a conventional IAS, the fixed receiver of a reverse IAS is buying volatility (sometimes referred to as “optionality”) which offsets the short option position of a mortgage portfolio.

STEP-DOWN SWAP

1. See amortizing swap
2. The opposite of an escalating rate swap; i.e., the fixed rate decreases in increments over the life of the swap




The majority of the glossary and definitions of terms are provided by Risk Magazine. © Incisive Media Ltd. 2008. Click here to download "Risk Magazine Guide to Risk Management glossary of terms 2001" in its entirety as a PDF.