What is the difference between a fixed interest rate and floating interest rate?
A fixed interest rate remains constant throughout the loan tenure regardless of the market conditions whereas a floating interest rate can decrease or increase depending on market fluctuations. For instance, it increases when RBI hikes up short term interest rates. Banks usually quote the floating rate loans as their index rate (prime lending rate) plus or minus x%. Banks usually increase or decrease their prime lending rate when the RBI increases or decreases short term interest rates.
