Provide a specific transaction that the bank could implement to immunize its interest rate risk. The transaction may be a new asset funded by a new liability or an asset sale and the simultaneous purchase of another asset. [2 marks]
Solution:
The bank should decrease its duration on the liabilities side, while increase the duration on the assets side.
If the bank funds the acquisition of a new asset with the issuance of a new liability, then it should ensure that the duration of asset purchased exceeds the duration of the new liabilities.
If the bank performs an asset sale and the simultaneous purchase of another asset, then it should ensure that the duration of the asset purchased exceeds that of the one sold.