Hedging Long-Dated Interest Rate Derivatives for Australian Pension Funds and Life Insurers

Abstract

Many pension funds and life insurers seek to hedge their exposure to low interest rates using long-dated interest rate derivatives. This paper extends an approach of Platen and Heath 2006 to price and hedge long-dated interest rate derivatives using a combination of Australian cash, bonds and equities and under a variety of market models. The results show the models under which the lowest cost hedge is achieved.

Keywords: growth optimal portfolio, benchmark approach, long-dated zero coupon bonds, minimal market model