Forward Spread: What It Is, How It Works, Example

What Is the Forward Spread?

A forward spread is the price difference between the spot price of a security and the forward price of the same security taken at a specified interval. Another name for the forward spread is forward points.

Understanding the Forward Spread

All spreads are simple equations resulting from the difference in price between two assets or financial products, such as a security and a forward on that security. A spread can also be the price difference between two maturity months, two different option strike prices, or even the difference in price between two different locations. For example, the spread between U.S. Treasury bonds trading in the U.S. futures market and in the London futures market.

For forward spreads, the formula is the price for one asset at the spot price compared to the price of a forward which will be deliverable at a future date. If the forward price is higher than the spot price, then the formula is the forward price minus the spot price. If the spot price is higher than the forward price, then the spread is the spot price minus the forward price.

The forward spread can be based on any time interval, such as one month, six months, one year, and so on. The forward spread between spot and a one-month forward will likely be different than the spread between spot and a six-month forward.

When the spot price and the forward price are the same, this means they are trading at par. Par in this context shouldn't be confused with par in the debt markets, which means the face value of a bond or debt instrument.

Special Considerations

Forward spreads give traders an indication of supply and demand over time. Typically, the wider the spread, the more valuable the underlying asset is in the future and the narrower the spread, the more valuable it is now.

Narrow spreads, or even negative spreads, might result from short-term shortages, either real or perceived, in the underlying asset. With currency forwards, negative spreads (called discount spreads) occur frequently because currencies have interest rates attached to them which will affect their future value.

There is also an element of carrying cost. Owning the asset now suggests that there are costs associated with keeping it. For commodities, that can be storage, insurance, and financing. For financial instruments, it could be financing and the opportunity costs of locking into a future commitment.

Carrying costs may change over time. While storage costs in a warehouse may increase, interest rates to finance the underlying may increase or decrease. In other words, traders must monitor these costs over time to be sure their holdings are priced properly.

Forward Spread Example

Assume that the cash rate for gold is $1,340.40 per ounce. A company needs a forward to lock in a rate on 5,000 ounces of gold to be delivered in 30 days. They could buy multiple 100-ounce futures contracts, or they could enter into a one-month forward contract with a gold supplier.

The gold supplier agrees to provide the 5,000 ounces of gold in 30 days at a rate of $1,342.40. The buyer will provide the supplier with $6,702,000 ($1,342.40 x 5,000) at that time as well. The forward spread is $1,342.40 - $1340.40 = $2.