Some of the sharpest movements in the major swap markets take place during days of US economic data releases. These yield movements induce spikes in volatilities during those days. Swaption prices adjust to reflect the spikes=the volatilities implied by these prices tend to fall once the...

Interest rate volatility, as implied by swaptions prices, rose in all major economic areas between 2001 and early 2004. The increase was particularly sharp for US rates and was more sizeable for short-term rates and swaptions with short expiration. Since the spring of 2004, US dollar...