Forward Rate
Also called: implied forward rate, forward interest rate
A forward rate is the interest rate for a future period implied by today's curve — what you can lock in now to borrow between years two and three. It follows from no-arbitrage rather than forecasting: if forwards differed from the rate implied by spot rates, you could borrow long and lend short for a riskless profit. Forwards are widely read as market expectations, though a term premium means they are consistently biased predictors.
Formula
(1 + z₂)² = (1 + z₁) × (1 + forward rate)
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