What is the definition of 'interest rate risk'?

Interest rate risk refers to the potential for the value of a security, particularly fixed-income securities like bonds, to decline due to changes in interest rates. When interest rates rise, existing bonds with lower rates become less attractive to investors, causing their market prices to fall. Conversely, if interest rates fall, existing bonds become more attractive, which can lead to an increase in their market prices. This inherent relationship between interest rates and bond prices is critical for investors to understand, as it affects the overall return on their investments.

The other options reflect different risks. Increased market volatility relates to overall market conditions rather than directly to interest rates, inflation risk pertains to the erosion of purchasing power over time, and credit risk involves the possibility of borrowers defaulting on their obligations, none of which specifically define interest rate risk.