Inverse floating-rate securities are a special kind of floater. Their coupon rates increase when general market rates decrease. For example, the coupon may be 8 percent minus the three-month LIBOR. These securities often appeal to investors when the yield curve is very steep, as the coupon formula will give a coupon rate often well above short term financing costs. However, an increase in LIBOR can cause the interest rate on this type of security to drop very low and possibly to zero. If the security has a long maturity, it can lose significant.
