Question:

You have been appointed as the treasurer of Manchester International, an electronic firm with many subsidiaries abroad. The management of Manchester International is relatively non-finance people and as one of your task, you are expected to advise management of the potential currency exposure the firm might face and on the management of currency risk.

a) Explain management the different types of exchange rate risk, using appropriate numerical examples.

b) One of the directors has heard that transaction exposure can equally be managed externally by a forward hedge or internally by a money market hedge. He is very confused about these. Explain to him how these two hedging strategies differ and make an evaluation of both methods for him.

c) He also wants to know more about the pricing of a forward contract. Derive and explain how a forward is price for both a currency and a share.

d) Explain the use of forward-forward and forward spot swaps in managing risks.