Diference between Spot and Forward rate

  1. the AUD/HKD spot rate one year from now.
  2. the AUD/HKD forward rate one year from now.

Whats the difference between these two statement?

The spot rate means the exchange rate for immediate delivery; a forward rate (not _ the _ forward rate; there are infinitely many of them) means the exchange rate for delivery in the future: one year later, two years later, six months later, whatever.

So why both the statements are different?

Today’s 4/23/18.

One year from today is 4/23/19.

On 4/23/19 the spot rate would be for delivery on 4/23/19 (well, technically, 4/26/19, but you get the idea). On 4/23/19, the one-year forward rate would be for delivery on 4/23/20.