Forward RatesFrom the yield curve we can extrapolate the theoretical spot rates. In addition, we can extrapolate the market’s consensus of future interest rates.To see the importance of knowing the market’s consensus for future interest rates, consider the following two investment alternatives for an investor who has a one-year investment horizon.Alternative 1: Buy a one-year instrument.Alternative 2: Buy a six-month instrument and when it matures in six months, buy another six-month instrument.With alternative 1, the investor will realize the one-year spot rate and that rate is known with certainty but with alternative 2, the investor will realize the 6-month spot rate, but the 6-month rate 6 months from now is unknown. Therefore, for alternative 2, the rate that will be earned over one year is not known with certainty. This is illustrated in Exhibit 5-8 (see Overhead 5-34)