intelligencer said:
Swaps are a zero sum game in terms of good and bad.
What turns out a good swap for you is a bad one for the other party, and bad for you is good for other.
On average in the long term you'll make as many good as bad.
So really there is no point to swapping in net terms.
That's assuming everybody values something exactly the same.
For example I may place more value on pandas than ASE even though the $$$ value is the same. The other person may place more value on ASEs (only one guy on this forum...but still!). Both of us come out 'feeling ahead'.
Also, something may be a bad swap for now but the stuff in question may appreciate in value in the future and come out ahead.
So no, I don't agree that swaps are a zero sum game, unlike FOREX.