...Foreign Exchange Risk Management Michael Highfill Liberty University BUSI 620 – B05 LUO Dr. Mike Thirtle July 6, 2012 Foreign Exchange Risk Management Introduction Foreign exchange (FX) is a risk factor that must be considered by all firms that wish to enter, grow, and succeed in the global marketplace. Although most U.S. exporters prefer to sell their goods in U.S. dollars, creditworthy foreign buyers are increasingly demanding to pay in their local currencies (“Foreign Exchange Risk Management”, n.d.). Therefore, this currency exchange adds risk to any global trade that must be accounted for and managed, for a firm to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Definitions Foreign Exchange Risk Before we begin our discussion, we must define a working definition of foreign exchange risk. Global commerce is facilitated through foreign exchange markets. These markets affect global commerce in two ways. First, importers exchange their domestic currency for foreign currency, in order to purchase international goods. Second, multinational companies exchange profits earned in foreign currencies for domestic currency to use in their home nation. The foreign currency exchange market is made up of corporations, governments, and private individuals who trade international currencies among themselves (Bofah, n.d.a). The exchange rates for currency pairs such as the United States (U.S.) dollar and the Euro (USD/EUR)...
Words: 2596 - Pages: 11
...Foreign Exchange Risk Management Goldman, Sachs & Co. October 2008 Table of Contents Introduction to the FX Markets I Market Update II FX Hedging III Slide 2 Introduction the FX Markets Statistics FX is the largest / most liquid global market Daily Turnover Bid / Offer Number of securities FX Market 3.2 Trillion 4 bp (0.04%) 150 (40 actively traded) Bond Market 900 Billion 5 bp 2,000,000 Equity Market 400 Billion 15 bp 20,000+ Source: BIS (September, 2007) Slide 3 Market Dynamics Short Term Drivers of the Market Market sentiment Release of new data (economic and political) Equity and bond market performance Positions of market participants Central Bank intervention Options activity Hedging mechanism, and protection from a knockout level are reasons for heavy trading Technical analysis Slide 4 Market Dynamics Long Term Drivers of the Market Supply/demand Current account vs. capital account + reserves “Current account” associated with trade flows “Capital account” associated with investments and speculation “Reserves” associated with central bank activities FX and Interest Rate policies are closely linked Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), e.g. the Economist Magazine’s “Big Mac” index Central Banks Mission is to preserve economic stability, in particular to preserve price stability Interest rates can drive FX markets... “Interest Rate Defense”: Raising interest rates can attract foreign...
Words: 2045 - Pages: 9
...Chapter 17 International Accounting and Financial Management True / False Questions 1. The purpose of all accounting is to provide internal and external decision-makers with the financial data they need to make their decisions. True False 2. There are three points at which operating in a foreign currency raises accounting issues: when transactions are made in foreign currencies, when foreign subsidiaries consolidate their results to the parent company, and when debt is acquired in foreign currencies. True False 3. FASB 52 requires that companies record foreign currency based transactions at the spot rate at the time of the transaction. True False 4. Consolidation is when a company's various results are aggregated into one report. True False 5. The current rate translation method translates current assets at the rate in effect when they were acquired. True False 6. The temporal method of translation translates fixed assets at the rates in effect the day the assets were acquired. True False 7. Whether to use the current or temporal rates depends on the functional currency of the foreign operation. True False 8. Accounting is an objective, fact-based discipline and not influenced by culture. True False 9. Accounting standard convergence is unlikely, given the complexities of the systems, all of which would require harmonization. True False 10. With convergence...
Words: 11686 - Pages: 47
...Executive Summary Aspen has become a public company withmore risk adverse investors who want to invest in the core business of the firm and not assume any foreign exchange risk. Foreign exchange risk is a core risk to Aspen’s business because they have many customers outside of the United States. We believe that transferring this risk to the customers would limit Aspen’s growth on the foreign markets: Aspen should keep its current marketing strategy, which includes credit installment payments and payments in local currencies for Japan, the UK and Germany. The current risk management program hurts the company because it doesnot consider Aspen’s expenses abroad that balance sales exposures to currency fluctuations. We then recommend that Aspen hedge completely its exposure but after “natural hedging”, which we recommend increasing thanks to the larger financial capacities allowed by its IPO. Using options for aggregated positions (by estimating yearly sales per currency),rather than having multiple forwards contracts, seems reasonable becauseit would enable the company to benefit from good moves in the currency exchange rates, to pay less in transaction costs because of the larger amounts and at the same time use its current human resources (limited hedging skills) by avoiding complex, expensive products. Business and Marketing Strategy Aspen Tech’s business strategy and marketing strategy create financing needs due to the position Aspen puts itself in with its customers. Aspen...
Words: 1796 - Pages: 8
...Managing Risk at Commercial Bank 1. Interest Rate Risk Interest Rate Risk (IRR) is the impact on interest income of the Bank due to possible changes in market interest rates as compared to current level. IRR constitutes the most significant component of market risk exposure of the Banking Book. Hence, the Bank monitors IRR on an ongoing basis giving due consideration to re-pricing characteristics of all assets and liabilities. Rate shocks of different magnitudes are applied to all assets and liabilities at regular intervals and the impact is monitored to ensure that the Bank’s earnings are within internally set parameters. Decisions to exceed such parameters taken at 2. Foreign Exchange Risk Foreign Exchange Risk is the possible impact on earnings and capital due to fluctuations in exchange rates. This may arise as a result of existing maturity mismatches of foreign currency positions. The Bank is exposed to foreign exchange risk, whenever it undertakes transactions in any currency other than Bank’s base currency, i.e. Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Risk tolerance limits for FX exposures set by the Bank, which are more stringent compared to the regulatory limits of Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) parameters, ensure that the Bank maintains the un-hedged FX positions at an acceptable level to prevent potential losses from adverse fluctuations in FX rates. The Bank is also exposed to FX Risk due to both FX transaction...
Words: 1410 - Pages: 6
...last thing is the access to capital which is the capability of the MNE to access to affordable capital in order to finance the investments. The international financial management requires an understanding of cultural, historical, the institutional differences such as those affecting corporate governance, the FX risk, the political risk, and the financial instruments. It is good to go global because it generates significant benefits for all shareholders. The theory of comparative advantage provides a basis for explaining and justifying why it is good to go global. Going global can make everybody better off. 2. A corporation has many masters to serve. Who owns the Business? Contrast the two wealth maximization models and how it played into the Porsche/VW saga? Companies are created by individuals or small set of partners. The ownership of a company can go from a 100 percent privately own to 100 percent publicly traded and in between a mixer of privately and publicly held. The Anglo-American wealth maximization model is based on the fact that firm should strive to maximize the return to shares holders as measured by the sum of gain and dividends, for a given level of risk. On the other hand, the non-Anglo-American philosophy view is also to maximize the shareholders long term return to equity. However, in this case, the firm is...
Words: 1988 - Pages: 8
...wholesale foreign exchange (FX) market plays a vital role in the global economy by providing an efficient means for exchanging currencies. It is used to pay for imports, to allow exporters to be paid in other currencies and to process cross-currency flow of funds. While it causes FX risk due to the randomness of movements in exchange rates currencies the forward FX market and other derivative contracts and strategies can be used to hedge FX risk. FX risk exposures FX risk is the possibility of loss due to an unexpected movement in an exchange rate. It is faced when a party decides to exchange currencies and exists for the period between this decision and when the trade is made in the FX market. Foreign currency assets, for example an investment in US stocks by AMP, are exposed to the risk of an appreciation of the AUD whereas holders of foreign currency liabilities (such as an Australian bank that has issued securities in a foreign currency) face the risk of a depreciation of the domestic currency since such a movement would increase the domestic currency’s value of the liabilities. Importers have to pay in the foreign currency and so face the risk of a depreciation in the AUD, since this increases the AUD cost of the foreign currency in which the imported items are sold. Whereas exporters face the risk an appreciation in the AUD since this would reduce the AUD value of the foreign currency earnings. Hedging with forward contracts A forward FX contract is an agreement...
Words: 528 - Pages: 3
...Finance - Risk Management and Reporting, supports Manulife's Treasury Finance Risk Management and Reporting function and will contribute in the preparation of financial and management accounting reports, risk policies compliance, trading and hedging monitoring/reporting. The incumbent will support the review and analysis of Treasury Finance initiatives relating to FX hedging activities, assist in liquidity risk management analytics and actively participate in Treasury projects. The incumbent will be liaising with Treasury Capital Project Management, Corporate Actuarial, Corporate and Investment Controllers, Derivatives Middle Office, Asset Liability Management, Variable Annuity Hedging, Treasury Operations, Corporate Tax, Corporate Law, Investments and Audit. Responsibilities: • Responsible for data gathering, data mining to support liquidity risk management analytics, including liquidity sensitivity analysis, assessment of stress testing scenarios, impact of different asset mix on liquidity, evaluation of collateral funding alternatives • Determine the impact of regulatory reforms on the company's collateral obligations and liquidity (Dodd Frank Act) • Support monthly and quarterly reporting associated with the Liquidity Risk Management Policy and FX Risk Policy • Contribute in the preparation of cash flow forecasts and FX exposure forecasts • Support the maintenance of the FX VaR model and FX model back-testing • Prepare trade requests for FX Forwards...
Words: 1199 - Pages: 5
...DEVELOPMENT OF DERIVATIVE MARKETS IN EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES1 A. Background Derivatives are commonly used for managing various risk exposures, including foreign exchange, interest rate, and credit risks. By allowing investors to unbundle and transfer these risks, derivatives contribute to a more efficient allocation of capital, in many cases reduce market and portfolio volatility, facilitate cross-border capital flows, and create more opportunities for portfolio diversification. Despite rapid growth over the past several years, Emerging Market (EM) derivatives account for only about 10 percent of the total outstanding notional values in global derivatives markets. Compared to mature markets, the ratio of outstanding notional value of derivatives to market capitalization of the underlying asset markets is fairly small in most emerging economies and is mainly focused on sovereign risks. The most common issues that challenge the development of local derivatives markets are (i) relatively underdeveloped markets for the underlying assets; (ii) lack of adequate regulatory, legal and market infrastructure, and (iii) restrictions on the use of derivatives by local and foreign entities.2 The problem of misuse of derivatives is perceived to be more acute in emerging market countries where prudential regulation, credit information infrastructure, and risk management practices are not fully developed and maybe in conflict with reasonable economic, investment or portfolio objectives. This...
Words: 4021 - Pages: 17
...New York market closes on Friday afternoon and before the Sydney market opens on Monday morning (which would be Sunday evening New York time). In the aftermath of the Asian crisis, which curbed and restricted offshore trading in regional currencies, most derivatives markets in Asia are still in their infancy. Financial institutions trying to introduce or transplant products from mature markets to those that are lesser developed are meeting with limited success. The RBI has ushered rupee derivatives trading into the country: it has formally allowed banks and corporate to hedge against interest rate risks through the use of interest rate swaps (IRS) and forward rate agreement (FRA). According to the guidelines issued by RBI there will be no restriction on the tenure and size of the IRS and FRA entered into by banks. The IRS will also allow corporate to hedge their interest rate risks and also to provide an opportunity to swap their old high cost loans with cheaper ones. With the new guidelines in place, commercial banks, primary institutions and financial institutions can now undertake IRS and FRA as a product of their own balance sheet management and market making...
Words: 11166 - Pages: 45
...Best Buy enters India by Francisco Polo Professor Hamid Assar International Finance – FIN535 May 22, 2012 Summary Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada and China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates under both the Best Buy and Future Shop label. Together these operate more than 1,150 stores domestically and internationally. In addition, the company operates over 100 Best Buy Express Automated Retail stores or "ZoomShops", operated by Zoom Systems, in airports and malls around the U.S. The company is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota, United States. On March 9, 2009, Best Buy became the largest electronics retail store (online and bricks and mortar) in the eastern United States, after smaller rival Circuit City went out of business. Fry's Electronics remains a major competitor in the western United States, while Hhgregg remains competitive in the eastern United States. Many locations feature in-store pickup, which can be arranged through the company's website. As of December 28, 2008, the company operated 1,010 Best Buy Stores, 13 Magnolia Audio Video Stores (specializing in high-end electronics), 7 stand-alone Geek Squad stores, 3 Audio Visions Stores, 13 Best Buy Mobile Stores (standalone) and...
Words: 3259 - Pages: 14
...Forwards, Futures and Money-Market Hedging/1 Forwards, Futures and Money Market Hedging Prof. Ian Giddy New York University Hedging Transactions Exposure Types of exposure l One-shot exposure l Hedging approaches: l u Open u Forward u Money market u Futures u Options l Ongoing transactions exposure Forwards, Futures and Money-Market Hedging 7 Copyright ©1997 Ian H. Giddy Giddy Forwards, Futures and Money-Market Hedging/2 Tools for Hedging l Petrobras has to pay for equipment from Japan, in Japanese yen, in 3 months u Borrow and pay now? u Use a forward contract/FX swap? u Pay later at spot? Copyright ©1997 Ian H. Giddy Forwards, Futures and Money-Market Hedging 8 Forward Contracts, Futures and Money Market Hedging Money market hedging: match currency of assets and liabilities l Forwards: OTC agreement to exchange currencies at certain exchange rate in the future l FX swap: simultaneous spot sale and forward purchase of a currency l Futures: Exchange-traded contracts for notional future delivery, minimizing default risk via marking-to-market l Copyright ©1997 Ian H. Giddy Forwards, Futures and Money-Market Hedging 9 Giddy Forwards, Futures and Money-Market Hedging/3 Forward Contracts Agreement to exchange currencies at certain exchange rate in the future l Default risk in forward contracts arises because such a contract is a commitment for future performance, and one or other party may be unwilling or unable to honor...
Words: 1332 - Pages: 6
...therefore became the most active trading nation, with a vast empire of colonies. As a result, Britain’s currency, the pound sterling, became a benchmark to which other currencies were compared (and exchanged) for most of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, most currencies are compared to the U.S. Dollar, currently the most active and commercially strong trading nation; many currencies are still “pegged” to the U.S. Dollar for their exchange rate. Because FX risks can be identified, they can be managed. Foreign exchange management requires that governments, companies, and individuals understand the factors that influence the valuation of currency. By identifying these factors, they can enter into transactions that mitigate the risks to acceptable levels. These transactions, or hedge positions, are designed to maximize the economic benefit of foreign exchange receipts, and payments for governments, multinational companies, or individuals 1.1. Foreign Exchange Foreign Exchange (FX) is the conversion of currency of one country to the currency of other country whereas foreign currency is any currency other than the country’s own currency. 1.2. Foreign Exchange Market Foreign Exchange Market is a market where the...
Words: 7675 - Pages: 31
...Treasury Takes Control of Commodity Risk Management Dimitris Papathanasiou, Coca-Cola HBC - 11 Sep 2013 Coca-ColaHellenic Bottling Company standardised its approach to risk management by transferring commodity risk management into treasury, so this central and vital business process could be managed by experts on an integrated basis with other financial risks and overseen by the financial risk management committee. This case study explains how organisational changes, combined with the introduction of risk management technology, enabled the organisation to plan and execute a consistent, cost-effective hedging strategy, with reduced counterparty risk exposure levels, improved transparency and stronger levels of control. Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (Coca-Cola HBC) is the world’s second largest bottler of the Coca-Cola Company’s products and the largest in Europe. Net sales revenue for fiscal 2012 was €6.8bn. Coca-Cola HBC is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the Athens Exchange. It serves approximately 581m people in 28 countries. The company decided to concentrate its commodity market risk management within the treasury department, in response to high levels of profit and loss (P/L) volatility and the relatively high credit risk with its suppliers. The ensuing project involved change management for transfer of the company’s commodity risk hedging to treasury, the selection...
Words: 1961 - Pages: 8
...Part 2 Introduction China’s export growth and penetration have been remarkable. While China was basically a closed economy 30 years ago, it is now the leading exporter to Japan, the second leading exporter to Europe, and the third leading exporter to the US. This surge in exports has been accompanied by growing trade imbalances between China and the rest of the world. China’s global current account surplus equaled 9% of Chinese GDP in 2006 and 11% of GDP in 2007 (Thorbecke & Smith, 2010). These surpluses are primarily with the US and Europe. Due to these factors, the exchange rate policy of China has attracted a great deal of attention in academic, industrial and political arenas. With the emerging China economy as the largest reserve country and the largest “world factory”, the Chinese renminbi (RMB) exchange rate has been the centre of ongoing debate over the source of global current account imbalance, especially with the United States (Sato, Shimizu, Shrestha & Zhang, 2012). Since the direct peg to the dollar was ended in 2005, the RMB has continued its appreciation about 6% per year and enhanced flexibility over the past 7 years. However, appreciation pressure on the RMB remains intense and it is still debatable whether and to what extent the current level of the RMB exchange rate is overvalued or undervalued. Issues Political Influences One of the main reasons for the appreciation pressure on the RMB is the US’ claim that the Chinese government has made the...
Words: 2682 - Pages: 11
