It is Tuesday afternoon, February 14, 2012. Richard May, Assistant Treasurer atAmerican Digital Graphics (ADG), sits in his office on the thirty-fourth floor of thebuilding that dominates Rockefeller Plazaâs west perimeter. Itâs Valentineâs Day, andRichard and his wife have dinner reservations with another couple at Balthazarat 7:30. I must get this hedging memo done, thinks May, and get out of here. Foreignexchange options? I had better get the story straight before someone in the FinanceCommittee starts asking questions. Letâs see, there are two ways in which I can envisionus using options now. One is to hedge' data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="top" title="Click to view definition...">hedge a dividend due on September 15th fromADG Germany. The other is to hedge our upcoming payment to Matsumerda for theirspring RAM chip statement. With the yen at 78 and increasing Iâm glad we havenâtcovered the payment so far, but now Iâm getting nervous and I would like to protectmy posterior. An option to buy yen on June 10 might be just the thing.
Before we delve any further into Richard Mayâs musings, let us learn a bit aboutADG and about foreign exchange options. American Digital Graphics is a $12 billionsales company engaged in, among other things, the development, manufacture, andmarketing of microprocessor-based equipment. Although 30 percent of the firmâssales are currently abroad, the firm has full-fledged manufacturing facilities in onlythree foreign countries, Germany, Canada, and Brazil. An assembly plant in Singaporeexists primarily to solder Japanese semiconductor chips onto circuit boards and toscrew these into Brazilian-made boxes for shipment to the United States, Canada,and Germany. The German subsidiary' data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="top" title="Click to view definition...">subsidiary has developed half of its sales to France, theNetherlands, and the United Kingdom, billing in euros. ADG Germany has accumulateda cash reserve of â¬900,000, worth $1,178,100 at todayâs exchange rate. Whilethe Hamburg office has automatic permission to repatriate â¬3 million, they have beenurged to seek authorization to convert another â¬1 million by September 15th. Thefirm has an agreement to buy three hundred thousand RAM chips at Â¥8000 eachsemi-annually, and it is this payment that will fall due on June 10th.The conventional means of hedging exchange risk are forward or future contracts.These, however, are fixed and inviolable agreements. In many practical instances thehedger is uncertain whether foreign currency cash inflow or outflow will materialize.In such cases, what is needed is the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell adesignated quantity of a foreign currency at a specified price (exchange rate). This isprecisely what a foreign exchange option provides.
A foreign exchange option gives the holder the right to buy or sell a designatedquantity of a foreign currency at a specified exchange rate up to or at a stipulateddate. The terminal date of the contract is called the expiration date (or maturity date).If the option may be exercised before the expiration date, it is called an Americanoption; if only at the expiration date, a European option.
The party retaining the option is the option buyer; the party giving the option isthe option seller (or writer). The exchange rate at which the option can be exercisedis called the exercise price or strike price. The buyer of the option must pay the sellersome amount, called the option price or the premium, for the rights involved.
The important feature of a foreign exchange option is that the holder of the optionhas the right, but not the obligation, to exercise it. He will only exercise it if the currencymoves in a favorable direction. Thus, once you have paid for an option, you cannotlose, unlike a forward contract, where you are obliged to exchange the currenciesand therefore will lose if the movement is unfavorable.
The disadvantage of an option contract, compared to a forward or futures contractis that you have to pay a price for the option, and this price or premium tends to bequite high for certain options. In general, the optionâs price will be higher the greaterthe risk to the seller (and the greater the value to the buyer because this is a zero-sumgame). The risk of a call option will be greater, and the premium higher, the higherthe forward rate relative to the exercise price; after all, one can always lock in a profitby buying at the exercise price and selling at the forward rate. The chance that theoption will be exercised profitably is also higher, the more volatile is the currency, andthe longer the option has to run before it expires.
Returning to Richard May in his Rockefeller Center office, we find that he has beenprinting spot, forward and currency options, and futures quotations from the companyâsBloomberg terminal.
The option prices are quoted in U.S. cents per euro. Yen are quoted in hundredthsof a cent. Looking at these prices, Richard realizes that he can work out how muchthe euro or yen would have to change to make the option worthwhile. Richard makesa mental note that ADG can typically borrow in the Eurocurrency market at LIBOR +1% and lend at LIBID.
âIâll attach these numbers to my memo,â mutters May, but the truth is he has yetto come to grips with the real question, which is when, if ever, are currency options abetter means of hedging exchange risk for an international firm than traditional forwardexchange contracts or futureâs contracts.
Please assist Mr. May in his analysis of currency hedging for his report to ADGâsFinance Committee. In doing so, you may consult the highlighted market quotes below.
EXHIBIT 8.13 Spot Exchange Rates Currency Group 02/14/12 Key Cross Currency Rates – Majors Rate: Spot Monitor: Last Price Source: BGN Bloomberg BGN(NY) USD EUR JPY GBP CHF CAD AUD NZD HKD NOK SEK SEK 6.7062 8.7768 .08545 10.500 7.2701 6.6934 7.1352 5.5546 .86496 1.1662 NOK 5.7505 7.5260 .07327 9.0038 6.2341 5.7396 6.1184 4.7631 .74170 .85749 HKD 7.7531 10.147 .09879 12.139 8.4052 7.7384 8.2492 6.4218 1.3483 1.1561 1.5801 .01538 1.2301 .01198 1.8903 1.4716 1.3113 .01277 1.5687 1.0862 .18003 .14015 NZD 1.2073 .93987 1.3088 1.2050 1.2846 15572 .20995 AUD 1.0189 .93809 .77848 .12122 .16344 CAD 1.0019 1.0660 82986 .12923 .17423 .14940 CHF .92243 1.2072 .01175 1.4443 .92068 .98144 76403 .11897 .16041 .13755 .09524 GBP JPY 78.479 102.71 EUR USD .63868 .83588 .00814 .69239 .63746 .67954 .52901 .08238 .11106 122.88 85.078 78.330 83.500 65.003 10.122 13.647 11.702 1.1963 1.5657 .82834 1.0841 76408 .00974 .76263 .99810 1.0640 .82829 .81296 .63288 .09855 .13287 .12898 .17390 .11394 .14912 1.3088 01274 EXHIBIT 8.14 Forward Exchange Rates Currency Group Key Cross Currency Rates - Majors 02/14/12 Rate: 4 Month Monitor: Outrights Source: BGN Bloomberg BGN(NY) USD EUR JPY GBP CHF CAD AUD NZD HKD NOK SEK SEK 6.7042 8.7760 .08542 10.497 7.2692 6.6924 7.1355 5.5526 .86471 1.1661 NOK 5.7494 7.5262 .07326 9.0022 6.2339 5.7393 6.1193 4.7618 .74156 .85758 1.1565 HKD 7.7531 10.149 .09879 12.140 8.4065 7.7395 8.2520 6.4214 1.3485 NZD 1.2074 1.5805 .01538 1.8905 1.3091 1.2053 1.2851 .15573 .21000 .18010 16342 .17424 AUD .93955 1.0018 1.2299 .01197 1.4711 1.3113 .01276 1.5685 1.0187 1.0862 .93790 .77816 .12118 .12921 .14014 .14942 CAD 1.0662 .82969 CHF GBP JPY 78.482 102.74 .92228 1.2073 .01175 .63867 1.4441 .92066 .98162 .76386 .69249 .63754 .67976 .52896 .08237 .11896 .16041 .11108 .13757 .83604 .00814 .09526 122.88 85.096 78.344 83.532 65.001 1.1961 13.650 .82830 .76258 .81307 .63270 .09853 .13287 10.123 11.706 .11395 1.3090 01274 1.5658 1.0843 99824 1.0643 82823 .12898 .17393 .14916 EUR .76392 .00973 USD Currency Group Key Cross Currency Rates - Majors 02/14/12 Rate: 7 Month Monitor: Outrights Source: BGN Bloomberg BGN(NY) USD EUR JPY GBP CHF CAD AUD NZD HKD NOK SEK SEK 6.7045 8.7761 .08543 10.497 7.2694 6.6926 7.1355 5.5528 .86472 1.1661 NOK 5.7495 7.5261 .07326 9.0021 6.2339 5.7394 6.1192 4.7619 .74155 .85757 HKD 7.7534 10.149 .09879 12.139 8.4066 7.7397 8.2518 6.4215 1.3485 1.1564 1.2074 .93959 1.2299 .01197 1.3091 1.0188 .93794 NZD 1.5805 .01538 1.8904 1.2053 1.2850 .15573 .21000 .18009 AUD 1.4711 .77820 .12119 .16342 .14014 CAD CHF 1.0018 .92229 1.3113 .01276 1.5685 1.2073 .01175 1.4440 1.0862 1.0662 .82969 .12920 .17423 .14942 .92066 .98159 .76387 .11895 .13756 .09526 .16041 GBP .63869 .83604 .00814 .69250 .63756 .67975 52898 .08238 .11109 JPY EUR 78.484 102.73 122.88 85.096 78.345 83.529 65.002 10.123 13.650 11.706 .11395 .14915 76394 .00973 1.1961 .82831 .76260 .81306 .63272 .09853 .13287 USD 1.3090 .01274 1.5657 1.0843 .99824 1.0643 .82823 .12898 .17393 EXHIBIT 8.15 Money Market Rates EURO MONEY RATES SECURITY TIME BID ASK CHANGE HIGH LOW PRV CLS DEPOSIT RATES 17:01 13:59 .1500 .2750 2) EUDRIT -0/N 3) EUDR2T -T/N 4) EUDR3T -S/N 5) EUDRIZ -1WK 6) EUDR2Z -2WK 7) EUDR3Z -3WK 8) EUDRA -1 MO 9) EUDRB -2MO 10) EUDRC -3MO 11) EUDRD -4MO 12) EUDRE -5MO 13) EUDRF -6MO 14) EUDRG -7MO 15) EUDRH -8MO 16) EUDRI -9MO 17) EUDRJ -10MO 18) EUDRK -11MO 19) EUDR1 .1000 .3500 +.0750 4500 2800 .1450 .2250 .4000 .4000 .3700 .5000 .5000 .5700 .7200 1.0000 1.1100 .1500 20:00 12:32 +.0250 +.0350 .1500 .3000 .1450 .3000 .2500 .3200 .2500 .3000 4500 .6000 .9500 .3100 .3750 .4100 .4450 5000 20:00 .2200 20:00 .2700 .4000 16:23 -.0600 .7200 .5100 .5700 20:00 19:59 .7100 1.1000 .6550 .9600 .6600 .9750 1.1050 1.0600 1.1800 1.2900 19:59 -.0200 1.1550 1.0650 -.0100 -.0100 -.0100 -.0100 -.0100 19:59 1.2300 1.3500 1.1700 1.2150 1.3250 19:59 19:59 1.3400 1.3700 1.3000 1.3500 1.4200 1.4000 1.4700 1.5300 1.3650 1.4350 1.4600 1.3850 19:59 1.5250 1.4550 1.5150 19:59 1.4800 1.6500 1.4900 19:59 1.5400 1.5900 1.5900 -.0100 1.6400 1.5650 1.5750 19:59 1.6500 -.0100 1.6950 1.5900 1.6300 -1YR 20:00 1.6500 1.7100 -.0100 1.8000 1.6500 1.6900 JAPANESE YEN MONEY RATES SECURITY LAST CHANGE TIME PREVIOUS BID ASK DEPOSITS 2) O/N 3) T/N 4) S/N 5) 1 Week 6) 2 Week 7) 3 Week 1 Month .0010 .0850 6:01 19:59 7:28 .0010 .0850 .0010 .0100 0010 .1600 .0800 .0300 .0300 .0800 .1550 .1550 .2300 19:59 .1050 .1050 .1800 .1800 .1800 .1050 .1050 .1300 19:59 19:58 .1300 .1050 .1300 .1700 .2100 19:59 19:59 19:59 19:59 19:59 .0600 .1000 .1400 .1500 8) 9) 2 Month 3 Month .1050 .1300 .1600 10) 11) 4 Month 12) 5 Month 13) 6 Month 14) 7 Month 15) 8 Month 16) .1700 .2000 2400 .2900 3400 .3900 .2100 .1800 .2300 .2600 .2600 .3100 .3600 19:59 19:59 .3100 .3600 .2800 .3300 .4000 .4500 .4800 19:59 19:59 4000 .3700 .4300 .4800 9 Month 17) 10 Month 18) 11 Month 19) 1 Year 4500 .4800 5000 .4200 4500 19:59 19:59 .5100 .4700 .5000 .5000 .5300 .5600 .5300 19:59 5300 |||||| EXHIBIT 8.15 Money Market Rates (continued) USD MONEY MARKET RATES SECURITY TIME BID ASK CHANGE HIGH LOW PRV CLS Fed Funds 2) FDFD Deposit Rates 4) O/N 5) USD Depo T/N 6) USD Depo S/N 7) USD Depo 1 WK 8) USD Depo 2 WK 9) USD Depo 3 WK 10) USD Depo 1 Mo 11) USD Depo 2 Mo 12) USD Depo 3 Mo 13) USD Depo 4 Mo 14) USD Depo 5 Mo 15) USD Depo 6 Mo 16) USD Depo 7 Mo 17) USD Depo 8 Mo 18) USD Depo 9 Mo 19) USD Depo 10 Mo 20) USD Depo 11 Mo 15:49 .11000 .14000 .23000 .09000 .12000 19:59 14:23 .0800 .1300 .0800 .1000 .1200 1800 2900 .1300 .1350 .1300 .1500 .1690 .1400 .2050 2800 .1300 .2500 2000 .1800 -.0500 .2000 .1300 .1500 .1700 20:00 .1600 19:59 .2000 .2300 20:00 2200 3000 .1300 .1700 2300 .2400 3600 20:00 .2450 .1800 20:00 20:00 3950 .8250 .2050 3300 .3000 20:00 20:00 4600 5700 .5100 6200 .8750 .3700 4850 .5950 .6750 .7550 .7108 .5631 .6500 .7300 7800 .7000 20:00 19:24 .7584 .6203 .4550 .7351 .7800 1.3550 20:03 8300 -.0100 1.6300 1.6300 .7919 .8548 8706 20:00 .8300 .8800 .9116 .8550 -.3750 20:01 20:00 .8800 .9300 1.8300 .9800 1.3550 1.0771 1.7300 .9550 1.0150 20:00 .9900 1.0400 1.1213 .9222 EXHIBIT 8.16 Currency Futures View: Futures EURO FX CURR FUT Chicago Mercantile E Delayed Futures 2) Chart on CCRV Pricing Date: 02/14/12 COMB 1) Edit Columns Contact Table Sort By: Expiration Contracts: 6/6 Ager Volume: 268379 Aggr Open Int: 286579 Ticker Last Change Time Bid Ask Open Int Volume Previous 267388 3) ЕCH2 4) ЕСM2 5) ECU2 6) ECZ2 7) ЕCH3 8) ECM3 20:26 1.3089 1.3090 281213 1.3097 Mar12 1.3090 -.0115 1.3205 Jun 12 Sep 12 Dec 12 1.3096 20:25 1.3095 5261 973 1.3210 1.3217 -.0114 1.3110 s -.0107 -.0103 1.3107 20:10 1.3098 81 12 1.3121 s 1.3132 s 1.3141 s -.0102 20:10 1.1800 16 6. 1.3224 Mar 13 Jun 13 -.0103 20:10 8. 1.3235 20:10 1.3243 View: Futures JPN YEN CURR FUT Chicago Mercantile E Delayed Futures 1) Edit Columns Contact Table 2) Chart on CCRV Pricing Date: 02/14/12 COMB Sort By: Expiration Display: Quoted Val. Aggr Open Int: 162112 Volume Previous Contracts: 6/6 Aggr Volume: 106781 Ticker Change Bid Last Time Ask Open Int 3) JYH2 4 JYM2 5) JYU2 6) JYZ2 7) JYH3 8) JYM3 Mar 12 127.47 -1.39 20:27 127.46 127.47 160202 106024 128.86 Jun 12 Sep 12 Dec 12 127.59 -1.40 20:24 127.59 127.62 1882 753 128.99 127.79 s -1.38 -1.38 20:10 127.53 128.08 18 129.17 128.01 s 20:10 125.30 10 129.39 -1.39 -1.39 Mar 13 128.32 s 128.64 s 20:10 20:10 129.71 Jun 13 130.03 EXHIBIT 8.17 Currency Options XEC Curncy ECU SPOT USD STD Calc Mode 95) Templates f131.08 -80 -.61% 96) Actions HI 131.80 97) Explry Lo 131.80 Strike 5 Impled Vols (OMON) HV 10.21 91) News Center 131.00 Exch NASDAQ OM Calls Puts Ticker Bld Ask Last IVM DM Volm alnt Strike Ticker Bid Ask Last IVM DM Volm Qlnt 16 Jun 12 (123d); CSize 100; R0.12 5 16 Jun 12 (123d): CSize 100; R0.12 11) XEM2C C 4.07 4.33 5.00y 12.03 56 12) XEM2C C 3.79 4.02 13) XEM2C C 3.51 3.74 4.20y 11.83 52 14) XEM2C C 3.25 3.47 15) XEM2C C 2.99 3.22 41) XEM2P C 3.10 3.27 3.10 12.25 -44 10 953 18 346 130 .54 130.5 42) XEM2P C 3.32 3.47 5.18y 12.15 -46 131 11.91 1. 43) XEM2P C 3.55 3.69 3.56 12.06 -48 1 11.73 .49 131.5 44) XEM2P C 3.78 3.92 4.94y 11.95 -.50 135 8. 11.62 .47 45) XEM2P C 4.02 4.16 5.48y 11.85 -53 22 Sep 12 (221d); CSize 100; R 0.12 22 Sep 12 (221d); CSize 100; RO.12 46) XEU2P C 4.03 4.28 47) XEU2P C 48) XEU2P C 49) XEU2P C 50) XEU2P C 5.84 6.06 12.76 .58 16) XEU2C C 6.10 6.44 17) XEU2C C 5.52 5.82 5.88y 12.58 .55 18) XEU2C C 4.97 5.25 19) XEU2C C 4.45 4.73 20) XEU2C C 3.94 4.21 129 12.75 -42 130 131 4.44 4.67 4.69y 12.59 -45 4.89 5.09 5.04y 12.43 -48 5.35 5.56 7.00y 12.26 -51 12.09 -.54 242 12.43 .52 35 132 133 12.31 .49 123 12.11 46 22 Dec 12 (312d); CSize 100; R0.12 22 Dec 12 (312d); CSize 100; R 0.12 21) XEZ2C C 7.07 7.54 12.88 .58 129 51) XEZ2P C 4.95 5.44 12.97 -42 22) XEZ2C C 6.50 6.95 23) XEZ2C C 5.96 6.38 24) XEZ2C C 5.44 5.85 25) XEZ2C C 4.93 5.35 12.74 55 12.62 53 130 131 52) XEZ2P C 5.37 5,82 5.55y 12.81 -45 53) XEZ2P C 54) XEZ2P C 6.28 6.71 8.07y 12.51 -50 55) XEZ2P C 6.76 7.20 10 5.82 6.25 12.66 -47 12.48 50 132 12.35 47 133 12.37 -.53 18 Feb 12 (4d); CSize 100; R 0.12 18 Feb 12 (4d); CSize 100; RO.12 26) XEG2C C 1.94 2.12 2.22 7.38 27) XEG2C C 1.15 1.30 1.33 10.44 .76 56) XEG2P C 57) XEG2P C 25y 14.28 -.15 .21 13.18 -.20 1 98 129 130 10 .20 15 .25 .39 162 LII I XEC Curncy JAPAN V SPOT USD STD 95) Templates 4127.43 -1.48 -1.15% 96) Actions HI 128.20 97) Explry Lo 127.33 Implled Vols (OMON) HV 6.87 91) News Calc Mode Center 127.41 Strike 5 Exch NASDAQ OM Calls Puts Ticker Bld Ask Last IVM DM Volm alnt Strike Ticker Bld Ask Last IVM DM Volm Qlnt 16 Jun 12 (123d); CSize 100; R 0.12 5 16 Jun 12 (123d): CSize 100; R 0.12 1) XNM2C C 3.09 3.40 2) XNM2C C 2.82 3.11 3) XEM2C C 2.57 2.84 4) XEM2C C 2.33 2.57 5) XEM2C C 2.10 2.35 9.31 57 126.5 31) XNM2P C 2.02 2.25 32) XNM2P C 2.25 2.47 127.5 33) XNM2P C 2.48 2.71 34) XNM2P C 2.73 3.00 128.5 35) XNM2P C 3.00 3.28 8.78 -43 127 9.26 .54 9.23 .51 8.77 -46 8.73 -49 1 9.17 48 128 8.75 -.52 9.16 45 8.74 --55 22 Sep 12 (221d); CSize 100; R0.12 36) XNU2P C 2.47 2.85 3.10y 9.65 -.38 37) XNU2P C 2.89 3.26 2.59y 9.61 -42 38) XNU2P C 3.35 3.69 39) XNU2P C 3.85 4.24 40) XNU2P C 4.40 4.80 22 Sep 12 (221d); CSize 100; R 0.12 5. 10.51 .61 6) XNU2C C 5.22 5.74 7) XNU2C C 4.66 5.12 8) XNU2C C 4.14 4.55 9) XNU2C C 3.67 4.02 10) XNU2C C 3.20 3.58 125 10 10.42 .57 10.36 .54 126 127 10 9.54 -46 10.32 .50 128 9.57 -51 10.30 46 129 9.57 -.55 22 Dec 12 (312d); CSize 100; RO.12 22 Dec 12 (312d); CSize 100; R 0.12 41) XNZ2P C 3.30 3.04 42) XNZ2P C 3.74 4,24 11) XNZ2C C 6.29 6.90 12) XNZ2C C 5.73 6.29 13) XNZ2C C 5.21 5.74 14) XNZ2C C 4.74 5.24 15) XNZ2C C 4.28 4.77 11.24 .60 125 10.17 -40 11.17 57 11.09 54 126 10.11 -43 43) XNZ2P C 4.20 4.70 44) XNZ2P C 45) XNZ2P C 127 10.06 -46 11.08 51 128 4.70 5.19 10.01 -50 11.05 48 129 5.23 5.73 9.98 -.53 18 Feb 12 (4d); CSize 100; R0.12 18 Feb 12 (4d); CSize 100; R0.12 16) XNG2C C 2.34 2.60 17) XNG2C C 1.42 1.66 12.79 .92 10.97 .84 125 46) XNG2P C 47) XNG2P C 16 16.92 -14 126 .01 .25 11.02 -.17 IIIL IIIII II II
> How might a MNC use transfer pricing strategies? How do import duties affect transfer pricing policies?
> Discuss the difference between performing the capital budgeting analysis from the parent firm’s perspective as opposed to the subsidiary’s perspective.
> What is the intuition of discounting the various cash flows in the APV model at specific discount rates?
> What is the nature of a concessionary loan and how is it handled in the APV model?
> Discuss the different ways political events in a host country may affect local operations of a MNC.
> A U.S. company needs to raise €50,000,000. It plans to raise this money by issuingdollar-denominated bonds and using a currency swap to convert the dollars toeuros. The company expects interest rates in both the United States and the eurozone to fall. a.
> Give a full definition of arbitrage.
> Once capital markets are integrated, it is difficult for a country to maintain a fixedexchange rate. Explain why this may be so.
> Assume that the Japanese yen is trading at a spot price of 92.04 cents per 100 yen.Further assume that the premium of an American call (put) option with a strikingprice of 93 is 2.10 (2.20) cents. Calculate the intrinsic value and the time value ofthe ca
> Relate the concept of lost sales to the definition of incremental cash flows.
> Discuss the nature of the equation sequence, Equations 18.2a to 18.2f. In Equation (18.2a) s In Equation (18.2f) CF, = (R, – OC, – D, - 1)(1 - 7) + D, + IĶ(1 – 7) %3D = OCF(1 - 7) + TD, = nominal after-tax incremental cash flow for year t
> What is the intuition behind the NPV capital budgeting framework?
> Discuss the regulatory and macroeconomic factors that contributed to the creditcrunch of 2007–2008.
> Suppose that one year after the inception of the currency swap betweenCentralia and the Spanish MNC, the U.S. dollar fixed rate has fallen from8 to 6 percent and the euro zone fixed rate for euros has fallen from 6 to5.5 percent. In both dollars and euro
> Why is capital budgeting analysis so important to the firm?
> Discuss the conditions under which the capital expenditure of a foreign subsidiary might have a positive NPV in local currency terms but be unprofitable from the parent firm’s perspective.
> You plan to visit Geneva, Switzerland, in three months to attend an internationalbusiness conference. You expect to incur a total cost of SF5,000 for lodging,meals, and transportation during your stay. As of today, the spot exchange rateis $0.60/SF and t
> The current spot exchange rate is HUF250/$1.00. Long-run inflation in Hungaryis estimated at 10 percent annually and 3 percent in the United States. If PPP isexpected to hold between the two countries, what spot exchange rate should oneforecast five year
> The Beta Corporation has an optimal debt ratio of 40 percent. Its cost of equitycapital is 12 percent and its before-tax borrowing rate is 8 percent. Given a marginaltax rate of 35 percent, calculate (a) the weighted-average cost of capital, and (b) the
> Explain and compare forward versus backward internalization.
> Under what conditions will the foreign subsidiary’s financial structure become relevant?
> What methods do taxing authorities use to eliminate or mitigate the evil of double taxation?
> Derive and explain the monetary approach to exchange rate determination.
> Suppose that in the case application in the chapter the APV for Centralia had been2$60,000. How large would the after-tax terminal value of the project need to bebefore the APV would be positive and Centralia would accept the project?
> In an integrated world financial market, a financial crisis in a country can bequickly transmitted to other countries, causing a global crisis. What kind of measureswould you propose to prevent the recurrence of an Asia-type crisis?
> Discuss how the advent of the euro would affect international diversification strategies.
> Delta Company, a U.S. MNC, is contemplating making a foreign capital expenditurein South Africa. The initial cost of the project is ZAR10,000. The annual cashflows over the five-year economic life of the project in ZAR are estimated to be3,000, 4,000, 5,
> IBM purchased computer chips from NEC, a Japanese electronics concern, andwas billed ¥250 million payable in three months. Currently, the spot exchangerate is ¥105/$ and the three-month forward rate is ¥100/$. The three-month moneymarket interest rate is
> Zeda, Inc., a U.S. MNC, is considering making a fixed direct investment in Denmark. The Danish government has offered Zeda a concessionary loan of DKK 15,000,000 at a rate of 4 percent per annum. The normal borrowing rate for Zeda is 6 percent in dollars
> The Alpha Company plans to establish a subsidiary in Hungary to manufactureand sell fashion wristwatches. Alpha has total assets of $70 million, of which$45 million is equity financed. The remainder is financed with debt. Alpha consideredits current capi
> With regard to the Centralia case application in the chapter, how would the APV change if: a. The forecast of (dand/or (f are incorrect? b. Deprecation cash flows are discounted at Kudinstead of id? c. The host country did not provide the concessionary l
> The Eastern Trading Company of Singapore ships prepackaged spices to Hong Kong,the United Kingdom, and the United States, where they are resold by sales affiliates.Eastern Trading is concerned with what might happen in Hong Kong now thatcontrol has been
> Discuss the criteria for a “good” international monetary system.
> The Strik-it-Rich Gold Mining Company is contemplating expanding its operations.To do so it will need to purchase land that its geologists believe is rich in gold. Strikit-Rich’s management believes that the expansion will allow it to mine and sell anadd
> How would you incorporate political risk into the capital budgeting process of foreign investment projects?
> Answer problems 1, 2, and 3 based on the stock market data given by the following table. The above table provides the correlations among Telmex, a telephone/communicationcompany located in Mexico, the Mexico stock market index, and the world marketinde
> How is international financial management different from domestic financialmanagement?
> Dorchester, Ltd. is an old-line confectioner specializing in high-quality chocolates.Through its facilities in the United Kingdom, Dorchester manufactures candies thatit sells throughout Western Europe and North America (United States and Canada).With it
> Airbus sold an A400 aircraft to Delta Airlines, a U.S. company, and billed $30 millionpayable in six months. Airbus is concerned about the euro proceeds from internationalsales and would like to control exchange risk. The current spot exchange rateis $1.
> What were the weaknesses of Basel II that became apparent during the globalfinancial crisis that began in mid-2007?
> Explain the random walk model for exchange rate forecasting. Can it be consistentwith technical analysis?
> Explain cross-hedging and discuss the factors determining its effectiveness.
> Using an example, discuss the possible effect of hedging on a firm’s tax obligations.
> There are arguments for and against the alternative exchange rate regimes. a. List the advantages of the flexible exchange rate regime. b. Criticize the flexible exchange rate regime from the viewpoint of the proponentsof the fixed exchange rate regime.
> The public corporation is owned by a multitude of shareholders but run by professionalmanagers. Managers can take self-interested actions at the expense of shareholders.Discuss the conditions under which the so-called agency problem arises.
> What is a collateralized debt obligation and what effect did they have on the credit crunch?
> Suppose your company has purchased a put option on the euro to manageexchange exposure associated with an account receivable denominated in that currency.In this case, your company can be said to have an “insurance” policy on itsreceivable. Explain in wh
> Explain the pricing-to-market phenomenon.
> Ashton Bishop is the debt manager for World Telephone, which needs €3.33 billionEuro financing for its operations. Bishop is considering the choice between issuanceof debt denominated in: • Euros (€), o
> Discuss the pros and cons of a MNC having a centralized cash manager handle allinvestment and borrowing for all affiliates of the MNC versus each affiliate havinga local manager who performs the cash management activities of the affiliate.
> Explain the basic differences between the operation of a currency forward marketand a futures market.
> List the arguments (variables) of which an FX call or put option model price is afunction. How do the call and put premiums change with respect to a change in thearguments?
> What is meant by the terminology that an option is in-, at-, or out-of-the-money?
> Explain purchasing power parity, both the absolute and relative versions. Whatcauses deviations from purchasing power parity?
> What is the major difference in the obligation of one with a long position in afutures (or forward) contract in comparison to an options contract?
> How can the FX futures market be used for price discovery?
> Discuss and compare the costs of hedging by forward contracts and optionscontracts.
> Suppose Morgan Guaranty, Ltd. is quoting swap rates as follows: 7.75–8.10 percentannually against six-month dollar LIBOR for dollars and 11.25–11.65 percentannually against six-month dollar LIBOR for British pound sterling. At what rateswill Morgan Guara
> Discuss different ways that dominant investors may establish and maintain controlof a company with relatively small investments.
> What is the difference between the Euronote market and the Eurocommercialpaper market?
> Why are most futures positions closed out through a reversing trade rather thanheld to delivery?
> If Honda ADRs were trading at $44 when the underlying shares were trading inTokyo at ¥3,945, what could you do to earn a trading profit? Use the informationin problem 1 to help you, and assume that transaction costs are negligible.
> In order for a derivatives market to function most efficiently, two types ofeconomic agents are needed: hedgers and speculators. Explain.
> Explain how special drawing rights (SDRs) are constructed. Also, discuss the circumstancesunder which the SDRs were created.
> Suppose you are interested in investing in shares of Samsung Electronics of Korea,which is a world leader in mobile phones, TVs, and home appliances. But beforeyou make an investment decision, you would like to learn about the company. Visitthe website o
> Use the European option-pricing models developed in the chapter to value the call ofproblem 9 and the put of problem 10. Assume the annualized volatility of the Swissfranc is 14.2 percent. This problem can be solved using the FXOPM.xls spreadsheet.
> Explain the following three concepts of purchasing power parity (PPP): a. The law of one price. b. Absolute PPP. c. Relative PPP.
> How would you define transaction exposure? How is it different from economicexposure?
> Discuss the risks confronting an interest rate and currency swap dealer.
> Suppose that the treasurer of IBM has an extra cash reserve of $100,000,000 toinvest for six months. The six-month interest rate is 8 percent per annum in theUnited States and 7 percent per annum in Germany. Currently, the spot exchangerate is €1.01 per
> When the euro was introduced in January 1999, the United Kingdom was conspicuouslyabsent from the list of European countries adopting the common currency.Although the previous Labour government led by Prime Minister Tony Blair appearedto be in favor of j
> Suppose you conduct currency carry trade by borrowing $1,000,000 at the start ofeach year and investing in the New Zealand dollar for one year. One-year interestrates and the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar ($) and New Zealand dollar(NZ$) are provi
> How does the deposit-loan rate spread in the Eurodollar market compare with thedeposit-loan rate spread in the domestic U.S. banking system? Why?
> James Clark is a currency trader with Wachovia. He notices the following quotes: Spot exchange rate ……………………………………………….SFr1.2051/$ Six-month forward exchange rate ………………………….SFr1.1922/$ Six-month dollar interest rate ……………………………….2.50% per year Six-mon
> After studying Iris Hamson’s credit analysis, George Davies is consideringwhether he can increase the holding period return on Yucatan Resort’s excess cashholdings (which are held in pesos) by investing those cash holdings in the Mexicanbond market. Alth
> Lured by extremely low labor costs in Bangladesh, many MNCs in the so-calledfast-fashion business, including H&M, Inditex (parent of the popular Zara brand),Marks&Spencer, and Gap, are heavily outsourcing to Bangladesh. As a result,the garment industry h
> Due to the integrated nature of their capital markets, investors in both the UnitedStates and the U.K. require the same real interest rate, 2.5 percent, on their lending.There is a consensus in capital markets that the annual inflation rate is likelyto b
> Suppose that the current spot exchange rate is €1.50/£ and the one-year forwardexchange rate is €1.60/£. The one-year interest rate is 5.4 percent in euros and5.2 percent in pounds. You can borrow at most €1,000,000 or the equivalent poundamount, that is
> Should a firm hedge? Why or why not?
> Explain the arrangements and workings of the European Monetary System (EMS).
> Omni Advisors, an international pension fund manager, uses the concepts of purchasingpower parity (PPP) and the International Fisher Effect (IFE) to forecastspot exchange rates. Omni gathers the financial information as follows: Base price level……………………
> As of November 1, 1999, the exchange rate between the Brazilian real and U.S.dollar was R$1.95/$. The consensus forecast for the U.S. and Brazil inflation ratesfor the next one-year period was 2.6 percent and 20.0 percent, respectively. Whatwould you hav
> Do problem 9 again assuming an American put option instead of a call option. Data from Problem 9: Assume the spot Swiss franc is $0.7000 and the six-month forward rate is $0.6950. What is the minimum price that a six-month American call option with a st
> Following corporate scandals and failures in the United States and abroad, therehas been a growing demand for corporate governance reform. What should bethe key objectives of corporate governance reform? What kinds of obstacles canthwart reform efforts?
> Suppose that the pound is pegged to gold at 6 pounds per ounce, whereas thefranc is pegged to gold at 12 francs per ounce. This, of course, implies that theequilibrium exchange rate should be two francs per pound. If the current marketexchange rate is 2.
> In the October 23, 1999, issue, The Economist reports that the interest rate perannum is 5.93 percent in the United States and 70.0 percent in Turkey. Why doyou think the interest rate is so high in Turkey? On the basis of the reported interestrates, how
> Explain how a country can run an overall balance-of-payments deficit or surplus.
> Discuss the various ways the exporter can receive payment in a foreign tradetransaction after the importer’s bank accepts the exporter’s time draft and itbecomes a banker’s acceptance.
> How does the theory of comparative advantage relate to the currency swap market?
> Suppose that the current spot exchange rate is €0.80/$ and the three-month forwardexchange rate is €0.7813/$. The three-month interest rate is 5.6 percent perannum in the United States and 5.40 percent per annum in France. Assume thatyou can borrow up to
> Explain Vernon’s product life-cycle theory of FDI. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the theory?
> Discuss how a MNC might attempt to repatriate blocked funds from a host country.
> Currently, the spot exchange rate is $1.50/£ and the three-month forward exchangerate is $1.52/£. The three-month interest rate is 8.0 percent per annum in the U.S.and 5.8 percent per annum in the U.K. Assume that you can borrow as much as$1,500,000 or £
> While you were visiting London, you purchased a Jaguar for £35,000, payablein three months. You have enough cash at your bank in New York City, whichpays 0.35 percent interest per month, compounding monthly, to pay for thecar. Currently, the spot exchang
> Veritas Emerging Market Fund specializes in investing in emerging stock markets ofthe world. Mr. Henry Mobaus, an experienced hand in international investment andyour boss, is currently interested in Turkish stock markets. He thinks that Turkey willevent
> It has been shown that foreign companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges are valuedmore than those from the same countries that are not listed in the United States.Explain why U.S.-listed foreign firms are valued more than those that are not. Alsoexplain
> Over the past five years, the exchange rate between the British pound and the U.S.dollar, $/£, has changed from about 1.90 to about 1.45. Would you agree that over thisfive-year period, British goods have become cheaper for buyers in the United States?
> What is meant by a currency trading at a discount or at a premium in the forwardmarket?
> Assume the spot Swiss franc is $0.7000 and the six-month forward rate is $0.6950.What is the minimum price that a six-month American call option with a strikingprice of $0.6800 should sell for in a rational market? Assume the annualized sixmonthEurodolla
> Do problem 1 again assuming you have a long position in the futures contract. Data from Problem 1: Assume today’s settlement price on a CME EUR futures contract is $1.3140/EUR.You have a short position in one contract. Your performance bond account curr