A reference rate is a rate that determines pay-offs in a financial contract and that is outside the control of the parties to the contract. It is often some form of LIBOR rate, but it can take many forms, such as a consumer price index, a house price index or an unemployment rate. The reference rate is normally determined by a third party. It must be independent, to avoid a conflict of interest - if one party has the ability to influence the rate, it is safe to assume that they will do so in their favour.

Examples of use

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The most common use of reference rates is that of short term interest rates such as LIBOR in floating rate notes, loans, swaps, short term interest rate futures contracts, etc. The rates are calculated by an independent organisation, such as the British Bankers Association (BBA) as the average of the rates quoted by a large panel of banks, to ensure independence.

Another example is that of swap reference rates for constant maturity swaps. The rate that is used is calculated daily by an independent organisation, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, from quotes from a large panel of banks.

In the credit derivative market a similar concept to reference rates is used. Pay offs are not determined by a rate, but by possible events. In this case, the reference event has to be a very precisely defined credit event, to make sure there can be no disagreement on whether the event has occurred or not.

Reference rates for short term interest rates

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Examples of reference rates for short term interest rates are:

• Euribor - Euro Interbank Offered Rate
• LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate
• SIBOR - Singapore Interbank Offered Rate

Interest rates