Basis swap interest rates
A basis swap is a floating-floating interest rate swap. A simple example is a swap of 1-month USD Libor for 6-month USD Libor. This might be used to customize exposures to specific points on the yield curve. More common are basis swaps between two floating indexes from different segments of the money market. Generally, the two parties in an interest rate swap are trading a fixed-rate and variable-interest rate. For example, one company may have a bond that pays the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), while the other party holds a bond that provides a fixed payment of 5%. An interest rate swap is a financial derivative contract in which two parties agree to exchange their interest rate cash flows. The interest rate swap generally involves exchanges between