Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We believe the primary market risk we face is interest rate risk. We seek to mitigate this risk by following established risk management policies, which includes (i) maintaining prudent levels of fixed and floating rate debt; and (ii) extending and sequencing the maturity dates of our debt where practicable. We also periodically use derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swaps with major financial institutions, to manage a portion of this risk. We do not utilize derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The table below summarizes our debt as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:

In order to manage interest rate exposure, we have utilized interest rate swap agreements to protect against unfavorable interest rate changes relating to forecasted debt transactions. These swaps, which are settled upon issuance of the related debt, are designated as cash flow hedges and the gains and/or losses are deferred in other comprehensive income and recognized as an adjustment to interest expense over the same period the hedged interest payments affect earnings. In 2018, we settled five forward interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $400 million, in connection with the issuance of $400 million senior unsecured debt in October 2018, which resulted in a cash receipt of approximately $15.9 million. As of December 31, 2018, we have $300 million of forward interest rate swaps outstanding to reduce the impact of variability in interest rates on a portion of expected debt issuances in 2019.

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we did not have any amounts outstanding under our unsecured credit facility or other short-term borrowings. If interest rates on the variable rate debt listed in the table above would have been 100 basis points higher throughout 2018 and 2017, our annual interest costs would have increased by approximately $1.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

For fixed rate debt, interest rate changes affect the fair market value but do not impact net income attributable to common shareholders or cash flows. Holding other variables constant, if interest rates would have been 100 basis points higher as of December 31, 2018, the fair value of our fixed rate debt would have decreased by approximately $90.4 million.