New methods for savings and loans to hedge interest rate risk

Increased interest rate volatility in recent years has led to a greater volatility in profits at savings and loan associations. To help stabilize their profits, some S&L's are implementing interest rate hedging programs. These programs use financial instruments such as interest rate swaps, financial futures and options on financial futures. Because hedging programs introduce their own risks, S&L's should thoroughly examine all aspects of the programs before employing them.