What is a Swap?

A swap is a type of financial derivative that enables two parties to trade assets or cash flows for a predetermined amount of time. It is an over-the-counter (OTC) agreement, which means that it is negotiated directly between the parties and is not traded on a centralized exchange.

The most popular kind of swap is an interest rate swap, which enables two parties to trade the cash flows related to interest payments on a fictitious principal sum. In an interest rate swap, one party promises to pay the notional amount at a fixed rate of interest while the other party agrees to pay the notional amount at a variable rate of interest. An interest rate swap enables one party to protect themselves against the risk of rising interest rates, Company A enters into an interest rate swap agreement with Company B. Under the agreement, Company A agrees to pay a fixed interest rate to Company B while receiving a variable interest rate in return. If interest rates rise, Company A's debt payments will increase, but it will receive a higher payment from Company B under the swap agreement, offsetting the increase in debt payments.

Equity swaps, on the other hand, allow two parties to exchange the cash flows associated with the returns on a stock or a stock index. In an equity swap, one party agrees to pay the return on a stock or stock index to the other party, while the other party agrees to pay a fixed or variable rate of interest on a notional principal amount. Equity swaps are commonly used to gain exposure to foreign stock markets or to hedge against the risk of fluctuations in stock prices.

Currency swaps allow two parties to exchange the cash flows associated with interest payments and principal amounts denominated in different currencies. In a currency swap, one party agrees to pay a fixed or variable interest rate on a notional principal amount denominated in one currency, while the other party agrees to pay a fixed or variable interest rate on a notional principal amount denominated in another currency. Currency swaps are commonly used to hedge against currency risk or to finance projects in a foreign currency.

Commodity swaps allow two parties to exchange the cash flows associated with the price of a commodity. In a commodity swap, one party agrees to pay the return on a commodity to the other party, while the other party agrees to pay a fixed or variable rate of interest on a notional principal amount. Commodity swaps are commonly used by companies that produce or consume commodities to hedge against the risk of fluctuations in commodity prices.

Credit swaps allow two parties to exchange the cash flows associated with the credit risk of a particular entity or financial instrument. In a credit swap, one party agrees to pay a fixed or variable rate of interest on a notional principal amount in exchange for protection against default by the entity or financial instrument in question. Credit swaps are commonly used by investors to hedge against the risk of default by a particular entity or financial instrument, or to gain exposure to the credit risk of a particular entity or financial instrument.

A swap is a financial derivative that allows two parties to exchange cash flows or assets for a specified period of time. Swaps are commonly used as a hedging strategy against various types of financial risks, such as interest rate risk, currency risk, commodity price risk, and credit risk. The most common type of swap is the interest rate swap, but there are many other types of swaps available, each with its own unique features and applications.

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What is an FX Swap?
What is a Rate Swap?

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