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Transitioning from LIBOR: Explaining the cash fallback rates
14-09-2021 | treasuryXL | Refinitiv | Jacob Rank-Broadley
The LIBOR transition: We explain what fallback rates for the USD cash markets are and provide practical insights on how these rates can be used.
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During my previous blog on fallbacks in April 2021, I outlined the importance of introducing robust fallback rates into the USD cash markets.
There is a substantial exposure of cash instruments that have no effective means to easily transition away from LIBOR upon its cessation. New LIBOR legislation signed into State of New York law reduces the adverse economic outcomes associated with the instruments by requiring them to use the Alternative Reference Rates Committee’s (ARRC) recommended fallback language.
In March, the ARRC announced Refinitiv as publisher of its fallback rates for cash products. Since then, Refinitiv has been working with the Federal Reserve and the ARRC to finalise the design of the USD IBOR Cash Fallbacks.
Refinitiv is committed to supporting you through the LIBOR transition with LIBOR Transition and Replacement Rate solutions
Fallback rate economically equivalent to USD LIBOR
The Refinitiv USD IBOR Cash Fallbacks provide the rates described in the ARRC’s recommended fallback language.
These are composed of two components: the adjusted Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) part measures the average SOFR rate for the relevant tenor. Added to this is a spread adjustment, which measures the difference between the USD LIBOR for each tenor and SOFR compounded in arrears for that tenor.
Adding these two components together gives an all-in fallback rate that is economically equivalent to USD LIBOR.
There are two version of the Refinitiv USD IBOR Cash Fallbacks: those for consumer products and those for institutional products. Both are published to five decimal places and include the adjusted SOFR rate, the spread adjustment and the all-in rate.
Watch: Refinitiv Perspectives LIVE – The LIBOR Transition: Risk-Free Term Rates
Consumer cash fallbacks
Refinitiv USD IBOR Consumer Cash Fallbacks are designed to ensure existing USD LIBOR referencing consumer cash products such as mortgages and student loans can continue to operate post-USD LIBOR cessation.
These rates are based upon compound SOFR in advance, which means the rate is known at the start of the interest period, plus the spread adjustment.
Prior to 1 July 2023, the spread adjustment will be calculated as the median difference between USD LIBOR and SOFR compound in arrears for the previous 10 working days, resulting in the spread adjustment changing on a daily basis.
This is an indicative rate, and while it should not be used as a reference rate in financial products, it is designed to aid familiarity with the USD IBOR Consumer Cash Fallbacks prior to adoption in July 2023.
Following 30 June 2024, the spread adjustment will be calculated as the median of the historical differences between USD LIBOR for each tenor and the compounded in arrears SOFR for that tenor over a five-year period prior to 5 March 2021.
For the period between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, the spread adjustment will be calculated as the linear interpolation between the two rates outlined above.
A floored version of the consumer cash fallbacks is also available, meaning that if the average SOFR across all days in the tenor is below zero, then the all-in published fallback rate will be solely the corresponding spread adjustment.
Refinitiv USD IBOR Consumer Cash Fallbacks will be published in 1-month, 3-month and 6-month tenors.
Institutional cash fallbacks
Refinitiv USD IBOR Institutional Cash Fallbacks are designed to ensure existing USD LIBOR referencing commercial cash products such as bilateral business loans, floating rate notes, securitisations and syndicated loans can continue to operate post USD LIBOR cessation.
In order to account for different conventions in different markets, there are a number of different versions of the Refinitiv USD IBOR Institutional Cash Fallbacks. There are three different ways of capturing the average SOFR rate: SOFR compound in arrears, Simple SOFR in arrears and SOFR compound in advance.
Added to this is the spread adjustment, which is calculated as the median of the historical differences between USD LIBOR for each tenor and the compounded in arrears SOFR for that tenor over a five-year period prior to 5 March 2021.
Unlike Refinitiv USD IBOR Consumer Cash Fallbacks, there is no transition period. This means that the spread adjustment remains fixed for perpetuity.
Each of the SOFR compound in arrears and Daily Simple SOFR rates will be available in up to seven tenors in a variety of different forms in order to conform to convention in different markets.
The 3-, 5- and 10-day lookback without observation shift versions give counterparties more notice by applying the SOFR rate from three, five and ten business days prior to the rate publication date.
The 2-, 3- and 5-days lookback with an observation shift versions also give counterparties more notice by applying the SOFR rate from two, three and five business days prior to the publication date, but in contrast to a lookback without observation shift, it applies that rate for the number of calendar days associated with the rate two, three and five business days prior.
The 2- and 3-day lockout versions fix the SOFR rate for the last two and three days prior to publication.
The plain version has no lookback, observation shift, or lockout.
The SOFR compound in advance rates for institutional products will be available in 1-month, 3-month and 6-month tenors.
What’s the next step?
Initially, market participants can use the prototype USD IBOR Cash Fallbacks to become more familiar with the rates and test technical connectivity.
Following the ARRC’s recent endorsement of Term SOFR, Refinitiv plans to supplement the initial prototype with a forward-looking term rate version in due course.
During the prototype phase, we anticipate changes to the methodology based on user feedback to ensure full alignment with industry standards prior to publication of the production rates.
Production rates for the institutional cash fallbacks should be available from autumn 2021, and for the consumer cash fallbacks they will be available from July 2023.
How to access the rates
Prototype rates are now available from the Refinitiv website and through Refinitiv products including Refinitiv® Eikon, Refinitiv Real-Time and Refinitiv® DataScope.
For more information on these rates, including the methodology and identifiers (RICs), please visit our Refinitiv USD IBOR Cash Fallbacks page.
Refinitiv is committed to supporting you through the LIBOR transition with LIBOR Transition and Replacement Rate solutions
Our (interim) treasury labour market is extremely international
13-09-2021 | treasuryXL | Pieter de Kiewit Just before starting my vacation I created a small overview of the recent successes of Team Treasurer Search. Next to the fact that we see the speed of placements picking up, I think it is striking how international our treasury labour market is. This is not only for […]
Why might you use a market order?
09-09-2021 | treasuryXL | XE |
If you’re making a payment in a volatile market and aren’t operating under a deadline, you may want to consider a market order for your next money transfer.
If you need to send money overseas, sending it on the spot and crossing your fingers for a good rate isn’t your only option. (Thank goodness!) There are several ways to get the most out of your foreign exchange transfers, whether you’re hoping to get it done by a certain date or get the best possible rate. One of such is the market order, and it’s available to everyone. But what exactly is a market order and how does it work?
What is a market order?
Remember how we described forward contracts as the “buy now, pay later” transfer option? Market orders would be the “buy now, transfer later” option.
When you make a market order, you can specify your target rate at which you’d like to exchange your currencies. The current rate doesn’t matter: the markets are constantly moving, and you’ll never know when your desired rate will be live.
After you’ve placed your market order and set your target rate, your work is done, and now it’s up to the markets. Once your rate is live, your currency will automatically be purchased, allowing you to transfer currency at your ideal rate.
Why use a market order?
The foreign exchange market is volatile and unpredictable. Nonetheless, you can monitor the market and come up with a clear-cut currency strategy that allows you to get the most out of your foreign exchange transactions, without having to constantly check the rates.
With a market order, you can easily set an exchange rate you want for your currency and once your target is met, the transaction is initiated automatically. This gives you the opportunity to get the highest value for your currency regardless of how volatile the market is.
Key things to note about a market order
It allows you to customize your market order by setting the amount, exchange currency, value date, and validity.
You can choose a desired target exchange rate to either stop-loss, make -profit, or get the best of both.
Your market order triggers automatically once your target rate is reached.
Since the process is automated, you’re not required to keep monitoring the market for the best rates.
You can sit back and relax without bothering about the volatile nature of the foreign exchange market!
A market order allows you to get the best out of sending money at your most preferred exchange rate and to prevent the undesirable effects of the unstable foreign exchange market. Once you set a market order, the online money transfer platform such as Xe monitors the foreign exchange rate movement, automates and completes the transfer on your behalf once the set rate is reached.
It’s an opportunity for you to benefit from an automated foreign exchange management system with minimal exchange rate risks.
When should you use a market order?
You can use money order just about any time you want. However, certain situations make a money order the preferred choice for sending money. Here are the most preferred periods to use a money order:
To get the best of higher rates
To save money and time
To make the most of foreign exchange purchase
To create a safety net
To get the most out of your budget
To take advantage of favorable exchange rate
To manage foreign exchange risk
Depending on the currencies you want to transfer and what’s going on in the world at the time, your currencies could be subject to quite a bit of volatility. If you’re contending with frequent market motion, setting up a market order can help you to ensure that you’ll be able to make your transfer at the best possible rate, whenever that may be.
Market orders are also a great option for transfers that aren’t time-sensitive. Some transfers (such as bills or educational payments) need to be made by a certain date, but if your transfer doesn’t come with its own hard deadline, you can take advantage of market orders to make the most of your money in your transfer.
Why should you take note of currency risk management?
Managing the risks associated with the volatile nature of the foreign exchange market is important to get the best rates for your money transfer. This is one of the key reasons why the market order is such a good option. Here are key reasons why you should consider currency risk management using a market order:
All your foreign transfers will be based on strategic decisions.
You’ll be able to forecast your international expenses.
You’ll know precisely what foreign exchange range will be used for your transfer.
You’re not required to keep monitoring the market to get the best rates.
Market order is automated so you aren’t bothered about missing the best rates.
You can use the volatile nature of the market to your advantage.
Is a market order the best option if your transfer is date-focused?
No.
Unlike several other available money transfer methods, a market order isn’t the best option if you intend to transfer your money within a specific date. That’s if your money transfer has a deadline.
For example, some payments such as overseas mortgage, school fee or an emergency medical bill require payment within a specific period. Once you miss such a deadline, you’ll have to deal with the consequences that follow.
In such situations, a market order isn’t the best method for transferring your money. However, if your transfer doesn’t require any deadline or specific dates, a market order could be your best bet. Market orders are mostly suitable for money transfers that aren’t time-sensitive. It provides a perfect opportunity to sit back and wait for the best market rates before your transfer goes through.
How do I create a market order?
Ready to set up a market order? It’s no more complicated than sending any other money transfer. If you don’t have an account, take just a few minutes and sign up for your free account first. If you’re already registered, visit our Money Transfers page to learn more about how you can get started.
Are you curious to know more about XE?
Maurits Houthoff, senior business development manager at XE.com, is always in for a cup of coffee, mail or call to provide you the detailed information.
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