Time Value of Money

Time value of money is a fundamental concept in the treasury markets and refers to the principle that the value of money changes over time due to inflation, interest rates, and other economic factors. In other words, a dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future because of the potential to earn interest on that dollar.

The concept of time value of money is important in many financial decisions, including investment, borrowing, and lending. In the case of investment, the concept is used to determine the present value of future cash flows. The present value of future cash flows is the amount of money today that is equal in value to a future amount of money, given a certain interest rate.

In the case of borrowing, the concept of time value of money is used to determine the future value of the loan, which includes the principal amount borrowed plus the interest charged on the loan over time. This allows borrowers to calculate the total cost of the loan and make informed decisions about whether to borrow and at what interest rate.

In the case of lending, the concept of time value of money is used to determine the interest rate that should be charged on a loan to compensate the lender for the time value of the money lent.

Overall, understanding the concept of time value of money is essential in the treasury markets as it helps investors, borrowers, and lenders make informed decisions about the value of their investments, loans, and other financial transactions.

Money has time value. A rupee today is more valuable than a rupee a year hence i.e., money received today is different in its worth from the money receivable at some other time in future. This preference for current money as against future money is known as Time Value of Money.

There following are some of the reasons for this preference for current money: