Glossary · Fundamentals & economics

Carry trade

Buying a high-interest currency against a low-interest one to earn the positive swap. It is vulnerable to sharp reversals when markets turn risk-off.

In practice

Buying a high-yielding currency against the Japanese yen can earn a positive swap each night. That works until a risk-off move sends the yen sharply higher.

Common mistake

Ignoring price risk for the sake of swap. A single bad week can erase months of interest.

Related terms