Thanks
D
The trader can close the swap anytime and only has to pay the time he consumed rounded up to the next full hour (iirc).
Also soon (or already) a feature will be introduced, that will automatically close fixed swaps and replace them with cheaper rates for the lender.
So a fixed rate loan is a one way bet for the borrower? If rates fall he can close the swap and take out a cheaper one. If rates rise then he benefits and the lender is locked in? Something seems wrong there.
This wasn't always the case. Before the swap bot (so if it is not active this is still true) the loan will stay active as long as the trader won't cancel it himself manually. Most traders didn't do that.
Whether or not traders actually cancel fixed rate loans, it seems wrong in principle that they can but lenders can't.
It works the same way with your mortgage, car financing or personal loan.
You can get a loan at x% and if rates rise, the lender only has the ability to sell the balance of the loan to another company, otherwise, they must stay locked in. As the borrower, you can pay off the loan at any time. Some (but not all) institutions require an early pay-off fee.
In the UK it is not possible for a borrower to repay a fixed rate mortgage early without payment of a large penalty (which can be as much as 5% of the outstanding loan).