IBOR to Alternative Reference Rates
As of 29 November 2021, we stopped using Interbank Offered Rates in our financing rate calculation and instead now use Alternative Reference Rates.
What are IBOR rates?
Interbank offered rates (IBORs) are interest rate benchmarks used for a broad range of financial products and contracts.
The majority of IBOR rates ceased to exist by the end of 2021. This means all benchmarks falling under the IBOR umbrella, including the prominent London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), were phased out and replaced by alternative rates.
What is LIBOR?
Since the 1980s, LIBOR was viewed as the benchmark interbank lending rate used to calculate the rate at which banks would offer short-term loans to each other. Until the 2008 financial crisis, LIBOR was seen as the gold standard for measuring the health of the entire global financial system.
Why did the rates change?
IBOR users switched to Alternative Reference Rates (ARRs). ARRs are based on actual overnight interest rates in liquid wholesale cash and derivative markets. This makes ARRs more robust and less volatile than IBORs.
Since ARRs are risk-free rates, they don’t incorporate the credit risk that is inherent in the calculation of IBORs, which are based on interbank lending over longer time periods.
How did this change affect me?
IBOR users were switched to Alternative Reference Rates (ARRs). ARRs are based on actual overnight interest rates in liquid wholesale cash and derivative markets. This makes ARRs more robust and less volatile than IBORs.
Since ARRs are risk-free rates, they don’t incorporate the credit risk that is inherent in the calculation of IBORs, which are based on interbank lending over longer time periods.
The table below shows the former and current basis of the funding rate for each index product.
| Index | Old Interbank funding rate | Alternative Reference Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Australia 200 | Australia Bank Bill - 3 months | AONIA |
| China A50 | USD LIBOR - 1 month | SOFR |
| Germany 30 | EURIBOR - 3 months | ESTR |
| Europe 50 | EURIBOR - 3 months | ESTR |
| France 40 | EURIBOR - 1 month | ESTR |
| Hong Kong 33 | HKD HIBOR - 1 month | HONIA |
| Japan 225 | USD LIBOR - 3 month | SOFR |
| US Nas 100 | USD LIBOR - 3 month | SOFR |
| Netherlands 25 | EURIBOR - 1 month | ESTR |
| Singapore 30 | SGD SIBOR - 1 month | SORA |
| US SPX 500 | USD LIBOR - 3 month | SOFR |
| Taiwan Index | USD LIBOR - 1 month | SOFR |
| UK 100 | GBP LIBOR - 3 month | SONIA |
| US Russell 2000 | USD LIBOR - 3 month | SOFR |
| US Wall St 30 | USD LIBOR - 3 month | SOFR |
*where value of position = size of position x price at the end of the trading day (5pm ET).
**For long indices positions, applicable funding rates are admin fee of 2.5% plus relevant alternative rate, annualised. Represented by a negative rate, and hence a charge.
For short indices positions, when the relevant alternative rate is greater than our 2.5% admin fee, the rate used will be the difference between the two, annualised. This is represented by a positive rate, and therefore a credit.
When the relevant alternative rate is lower than our 2.5% admin fee, the rate used will be the difference between the two, annualised. This is represented by a negative rate, and therefore a charge See our financing costs page to know more about our applicable funding rates.