What is Interest Rate Risk in Mutual Funds?

Interest rate risk is defined as the possibility of financial losses due to fluctuations in interest rates. It affects fixed-income investments such as bonds, where changes in market interest rates can lead to a decrease in the asset’s value. 
 

Understanding Interest Rate Risk 

Interest rate risk arises from the inverse relationship between interest rates and the price of fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the value of existing bonds falls because new bonds offer higher yields. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of existing bonds increases. 

Example of Interest Rate Risk 

An investor purchases a 5-year government bond with a 3% annual coupon rate. If market interest rates rise to 4%, the bond's value will decrease. This decrease occurs because new bonds issued at the higher rate offer better returns, reducing demand for older bond with the lower yield. 

How Can Interest Rate Risk Be Mitigated? 

Financial institutions and investors employ various strategies to manage interest rate risk: 

• Duration matching: This approach involves aligning the duration of assets and liabilities to minimise sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations. 
• Diversification: Institutions spread investments across various maturities and types of securities to mitigate concentrated risk exposure. 
• Hedging: Using derivative instruments such as interest rate swaps or futures contracts to offset potential losses from adverse rate movements. 
• Floating rate securities: Investing in securities with interest rates that adjust periodically based on market conditions. 

By implementing these strategies, individuals and organisations can better protect their portfolios and financial positions from the impact of interest rate fluctuations. 

Interest rate risk management involves implementing these strategies effectively. While the concept of a risk-free interest rate is theoretical, it's often approximated using government securities. These securities are considered to have minimal risk due to the government's ability to meet its debt obligations. Thus, their interest rates are used as a benchmark for estimating what a truly risk-free rate might be. There are various four types of interest rate risk: price risk, reinvestment risk, yield curve risk and basis risk – highlighting different ways interest rate changes can affect investments.