Foreign Exchange Quiz What is foreign exchange? (Trading nations’ moneys.) What is the exchange rate? (The price of one nation’s money in terms of another nation’s money.)
Foreign Exchange Quiz What is the spot exchange rate? (The price for “immediate” exchange) What is the forward exchange rate? (The price that will take place sometime in the future.)
Currency Trading, Wall Street Journal Wednesday, November 7, 2001 Wednesday, November 7, 2001 EXCHANGE RATES EXCHANGE RATES The New York foreign exchange mid-range rates below apply to trading among banks in amounts of $1 million and more, as quoted at 4 p.m. Eastern time by Reuters and other sources. Retail transactions provide fewer units of foreign currency per dollar. Rates for the 12 Euro currency countries are derived from the latest dollar-euro rate using the exchange ratios set 1/1/99. The New York foreign exchange mid-range rates below apply to trading among banks in amounts of $1 million and more, as quoted at 4 p.m. Eastern time by Reuters and other sources. Retail transactions provide fewer units of foreign currency per dollar. Rates for the 12 Euro currency countries are derived from the latest dollar-euro rate using the exchange ratios set 1/1/99. U.S. S EQUIV. CURRENCY PER U,S, $ U.S. S EQUIV. CURRENCY PER U,S, $ CountryWedTueWed Tea Argentina (Peso) i Aestmlia (Dollar) China (Renminhi) ,2767 CountryWedTueWed Tea Argentina (Peso) i Aestmlia (Dollar) China (Renminhi) ,2767 Colombia (Peso) ' Czech. Rep. (Koruna).... Commercial rate Denmark (Krone) , Colombia (Peso) ' Czech. Rep. (Koruna).... Commercial rate Denmark (Krone) , Ecuador (US Dollar)-e Ecuador (US Dollar)-e Finland (Markka) France (Franc) month forward months for~*ard months forward Germany (Mark) month forward 4586, months forward months fcnvard Greece (Drachma) Hang Kong (Dollar) Israel (Shekel) Italy (Lim) Japan (Yen) month forward months forward Finland (Markka) France (Franc) month forward months for~*ard months forward Germany (Mark) month forward 4586, months forward months fcnvard Greece (Drachma) Hang Kong (Dollar) Israel (Shekel) Italy (Lim) Japan (Yen) month forward months forward U.S. $ EQUIV. CURRENCY PER U.S. $ U.S. $ EQUIV. CURRENCY PER U.S. $ CountryWedTueWed,Tun Kuwait (Dinar) Lebanon (Pound) f5i~.50 CountryWedTueWed,Tun Kuwait (Dinar) Lebanon (Pound) f5i~.50 Malaysia (Ringgit)-b , ~9e0 Malta (Lira) 2,23862, ,.¢479 Mexico (Peso) Malaysia (Ringgit)-b , ~9e0 Malta (Lira) 2,23862, ,.¢479 Mexico (Peso) Floating rate 1085, Netherlands (Guilder) New Zealand (Dollar) Norway (Krone) 1133, Pakistan (Rupee) J~0 Peru (new Sol) " Philippines (Peso) Poland (Zlety)-d , Podugal (Escudo) Russia (Ruble)-a ~7 :1= month forward §1 3-months forward : months forward ,64~ Taiwaa (Dailar) Thailand (Baht) i114.6~5 Turkey (Lira)-f United Arab (Dirham) Uruguay (New Peso)..... Financial t4.040 Venezuela (Bolivar) SDR :'.2837 Eurn 8981, Floating rate 1085, Netherlands (Guilder) New Zealand (Dollar) Norway (Krone) 1133, Pakistan (Rupee) J~0 Peru (new Sol) " Philippines (Peso) Poland (Zlety)-d , Podugal (Escudo) Russia (Ruble)-a ~7 :1= month forward §1 3-months forward : months forward ,64~ Taiwaa (Dailar) Thailand (Baht) i114.6~5 Turkey (Lira)-f United Arab (Dirham) Uruguay (New Peso)..... Financial t4.040 Venezuela (Bolivar) SDR :'.2837 Eurn 8981, Special Drawing Rights (SDR) are based on exchange rates for the U.S., German, British, French, and Japanese c~rrerf-cies. Source= International Monetary Fund. a-Russian Central Bank rate. b-Government rate. d-Floating rate; trading band suspended on 4/1 1/OO. e-Adopted U,.9. dollar as of 9/1 i/OO. f-Floating rate, eft. Feb. 22., 1 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) are based on exchange rates for the U.S., German, British, French, and Japanese c~rrerf-cies. Source= International Monetary Fund. a-Russian Central Bank rate. b-Government rate. d-Floating rate; trading band suspended on 4/1 1/OO. e-Adopted U,.9. dollar as of 9/1 i/OO. f-Floating rate, eft. Feb. 22., 1
Foreign Exchange, Banks and Demand Where does most foreign exchange occur? Where does most foreign exchange occur? (In banks located in London, New York and Tokyo.) Who trades most of the money on international exchanges? Who trades most of the money on international exchanges? (Banks again.)
Foreign Exchange, Banks and Demand Whence comes the demand for foreign exchange? Whence comes the demand for foreign exchange? (From people, institutions and firms who want to make purchases abroad.)
Foreign Exchange, Banks and Demand What do the following flows produce a demand for? What do the following flows produce a demand for? U.S. exports of goods and services (demand for dollars) U.S. capital outflows (demand for foreign currencies) U.S. capital inflows (a supply of foreign currency and a demand for dollars.)
Foreign Exchange: The Rate What determines the exchange rate then? What determines the exchange rate then? (Supply and demand for foreign exchange.) What kind of market type do we have here? What kind of market type do we have here? (Competitive, because of the immediate market response to price. No product differentiation in foreign exchange markets.)
Foreign Exchange: The Rate What is a floating exchange rate system? What is a floating exchange rate system? (One where markets, rather than bank interventions, determine prices of foreign exchange.)
Traders and Arbitrage How do foreign exchange traders function? How do foreign exchange traders function? (See the case study on p. 404) What is arbitrage? What is arbitrage? (Making two markets, by buying and selling between them, a single market.)
Arbitrage Arbitrage An arbitrager, usually a large bank, may notice that in N.Y. 1 £ = $2.42 and in London, 1 £ = $2.40. An agent will buy pounds in London (for $2.4 billion) and sell them in N.Y. (for $2.42 billion), earning a quick $20 million. The increased demand in London pulls the price up, and the increased supply in New York pushes the price down, equalizing the pound/dollar price.
Interbank Foreign Exchange Trading About 90% of foreign exchange trading is in the Interbank part of the market.
Interbank Foreign Exchange Trading Provides continuous information on the foreign exchange market— Talking with traders at other banks. Talking with traders at other banks. Observing prices (exchange rates) being quoted. Observing prices (exchange rates) being quoted.
Exchange Rate and Risk What is exchange rate risk exposure? What is exchange rate risk exposure? (Earning a lot less than you expected, or paying a lot more than you expected when payment is made in the future at different exchange rates than originally prevailed.) What is hedging? (Reducing or eliminating a net asset or net liability position in foreign currency.)
Exchange Rate and Risk What is speculation? What is speculation? Taking a net asset or “long” position (holding net assets in a foreign currency in excess of one’s anticipated transactions needs), or taking a net liability or “short” position in a currency (owing more in a currency than one owns or holds).
Exchange Rate and Risk If the forward rate of a currency, (the French franc) is lower than the spot rate (4;1, say, rather than 5:1), the market expects the value of the franc to rise against the dollar. There is a premium on forward (usually 90 days) francs and a discount on 90-day forward dollars.
Foreign Exchange and Forward Contracts What is a forward foreign exchange contract? What is a forward foreign exchange contract? (An agreement to exchange one currency for another on some date in the future at a price set now [the forward exchange rate]).
Foreign Exchange and Forward Contracts How can the bank afford to do that? How can the bank afford to do that? (This is a question of balance and offsetting contracts.) (This is a question of balance and offsetting contracts.)
Exchange Contracts under Risk Currency Futures: Traded on organized exchanges -- The contract locks in the price. -- The buyer must put up a margin, which grows if rates keep changing adversely for the seller. -- Profits and Losses Accrue Daily (marking to market)
Exchange Contracts under Risk Currency Options Currency Options: -- Buyer has right, seller has obligation to a future price set today, the “exercise” or “strike” price. -- The buyer pays a fee (“premium“) to exercise the option. -- Size of any loss is limited to premium
Exchange Contracts under Risk Currency Swap -- --A contract to exchange flows during a time period. -- Foreign currency earnings traded for domestic currency. --A set of spot and forward exchange rates in one contract.