The ABCD of Interest Rate Basis Spreads
20 Pages Posted: 30 Nov 2015 Last revised: 13 Jul 2016
Date Written: November 30, 2015
Abstract
We show that forward rates can be modeled as ABCD parametric tenor basis spreads over the underlying overnight rate curve. This is possible for both continuously and simply compounded forward rates, with a simple approximation for converting between the corresponding basis. Increasing interest-rate tenor dominance, as empirically observed, is recovered and can be structurally enforced using a robust methodology improvement based on relative basis between the most liquid tenors. The smoothness requirement is moved from forward rate curves to tenor basis curves, properly dealing with the market evidence of jumps in forward rates. In the case of continuously compounded tenor basis, pseudo-discount factors are also available. An implementation of this methodology is available in the QuantLib open-source project.
Keywords: forward rates, basis, multi-curve, multi-curve modelling, tenor basis spread, ABCD, pseudo-discount factors, Libor, Euribor, Eonia, yield curve, discount curve, bootstrapping, Deposit, FRA, Future, Swap, IRS, OIS, Basis Swap, turn of year, QuantLib
JEL Classification: E43, G12, G13
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation