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Foreign Currency Derivatives Chapter5 Foreign Currency Derivatives 7. 1 Currency Derivatives • Currency derivatives are financial instruments (e.g., futures, forwards, and options) prices of which are determined by the underlying value of the currency under consideration. • Currency derivatives therefore make sense only in a flexible/floating exchange rate system where the value of the underlying asset, i.e., the currency keeps changing. 7. 2 Key Objectives To explain how currency (1) forward contracts, (2) futures contracts, and (3) options contracts are used for hedging or speculation based on anticipated exchange rate movements. 7. 3 Forward Market • A forward contract is an agreement between a firm and a commercial bank to exchange a specified amount of a currency at a specified exchange rate (called the forward rate) on a specified date in the future. • Forward contracts are sold in volumes of $1 million or more, and are not normally used by consumers or small firms. 7. 4 Forward Market • When MNCs anticipate a future need (AP) or future receipt (AR) of a foreign currency, they can set up forward contracts with commercial banks to lock in the exchange rate. • The % by which the forward rate (F ) exceeds the spot rate (S ) at a given point in time is called the forward premium (p ). p = F – S S • F exhibits a discount when p < 0. 7. 5 Forward Market Example S = $1.681/£, 90-day F = $1.677/£ × annualized p = F – S 360 S n × = 1.677 – 1.681 360 = –.95% 1.681 90 The forward premium (discount) usually reflects the difference between the home and foreign interest rates, thus preventing arbitrage. 7. 6 Forward Market • A swap transaction involves a spot exchange transaction along with a corresponding forward contract that will reverse the spot transaction. • A non-deliverable forward contract (NDF) does not result in an actual exchange of currencies on settlement date. Instead, one party makes a net payment to the other based on a market exchange rate on the day of settlement. 7. 7 Forward Market • An NDF can effectively hedge future foreign currency payments or receipts: April 1 July 1 Expect need (AP) for 100M Buy 100M Chilean pesos Chilean pesos. from market. Negotiate an NDF to buy ⇒ 100M Chilean pesos on Jul 1. Index = $.0023/peso Reference index (closing receive $30,000 from rate quoted by Chile’s bank due to NDF. central bank) = $.0020/peso. Index = $.0018/peso ⇒ pay $20,000 to bank. 7. 8 Currency Futures Market • Currency futures contracts specify a standard volume of a particular currency to be exchanged on a specific settlement date. • They are used by MNCs to hedge their currency positions, and by speculators who hope to capitalize on their expectations of exchange rate movements. 7. 9 Currency Futures Market • The contracts can be traded by firms or individuals through brokers on the trading floor of an exchange (e.g. Chicago Mercantile Exchange), automated trading systems (e.g. GLOBEX), or the over-the- counter market. • Brokers who fulfill orders to buy or sell futures contracts typically charge a commission. 7. 10 Comparison of the Forward & Futures Markets 7. 11 Comparison of the Forward & Futures Markets 7. 12 Currency Futures Market • Because of potential arbitrage activities, the prices of currency futures are closely related to their corresponding currency forward and future spot rates. • Currency futures contracts are guaranteed by the exchange clearinghouse, which in turn minimizes its own credit risk by imposing margin requirements on market participants. 7. 13 Currency Futures Market • Speculators often sell currency futures when they anticipate the underlying currency to depreciate, and vice versa. April 4 June 17 1. Contract to 2. Buy 500,000 sell 500,000 pesos @ pesos @ $.08/peso $.09/peso ($40,000) from ($45,000) on the spot market. June 17. 3. Sell the pesos to fulfill contract. Gain $5,000. 7. 14 Currency Futures Market • MNCs may purchase currency futures to hedge their foreign currency payables, or sell currency futures to hedge their receivables. April 4 June 17 1. Expect to 2. Receive 500,000 receive 500,000 pesos as pesos. expected. Contract to sell 3. Sell the pesos at 500,000 pesos the locked-in @ $.09/peso on rate. June 17. 7. 15 Currency Futures Market • Change in business plans can cause purchasers of futures contracts to close out their positions by selling futures contracts of the same amount. January 10 February 15 March 19 1. Contract to 2. Contract to 3. Incurs $3000 buy sell loss from A$100,000 A$100,000 offsetting @ $.53/A$ @ $.50/A$ positions in ($53,000) ($50,000) futures on March on March contracts. 19. 19. 7. 16 Currency Options Market • Currency options provide the right to purchase or sell currencies at specified prices. They are classified as calls or puts. • Standardized options are traded on exchanges through brokers. • Customized options offered by brokerage firms and commercial banks are traded in the over-the- counter market. 7. 17 Currency Call Options • Option owners can sell or exercise their options, or let the options expire. • Option premiums will be higher when: • The difference between the current spot price and strike price increases; • the time to expiration date is longer; and • the variability of the currency is great. • Firms may purchase currency call options for hedging payables, project bidding, or target bidding. 7. 18 Currency Put Options • One possible speculative strategy for volatile currencies is to purchase both a put option and a call option at the same exercise price. This is called a straddle. • By purchasing both options, the speculator may exercise the options and gain if the currency moves substantially in either direction, or if it moves in one direction followed by the other. 7. 19 Efficiency of Currency Futures and Options • If foreign exchange markets are efficient, speculation in the currency futures and options markets should not consistently generate abnormally large profits. 7. 20 Contingency Graphs for Currency Options For Buyer of £ Call Option For Seller of £ Call Option Strike price = $1.50 Strike price = $1.50 Premium = $ .02 Premium = $ .02 Net Profit Net Profit per Unit per Unit +$.04 +$.04 Future +$.02 +$.02 Spot Rate 0 0 $1.46 $1.50 $1.54 $1.46 $1.50 $1.54 – $.02 Future – $.02 Spot – $.04 Rate – $.04 7. 21 Contingency Graphs for Currency Options For Buyer of £ Put Option For Seller of £ Put Option Strike price = $1.50 Strike price = $1.50 Premium = $ .03 Premium = $ .03 Net Profit Net Profit per Unit per Unit +$.04 +$.04 Future +$.02 Spot +$.02 Rate 0 0 $1.46 $1.50 $1.54 $1.46 $1.50 $1.54 – $.02 – $.02 Future Spot – $.04 – $.04 Rate 7. 22 Conditional Currency Options • A currency option may be structured such that the premium is conditioned on the actual currency moving beyond a specified rate during the period under consideration. • Suppose a conditional put option on £ has an exercise price of $1.70, and a trigger of $1.74. The premium will have to be paid only if the £’s value exceeds the trigger value. 7. 23 Conditional Currency Options Option Type Exercise Price Trigger Premium basic put $1.70 - $0.02 conditional put $1.70 $1.74 $0.04 $1.78 Basic $1.76 Put $1.74 $1.72 Conditional Conditional Put Put $1.70 $1.68 Net Amount Net Amount Received $1.66 Spot Rate $1.66 $1.70 $1.74 $1.78 $1.82 7. 24 Conditional Currency Options • Similarly, a conditional call option on £ may specify an exercise price of $1.70, and a trigger of $1.67. The premium will have to be paid only if the £’s value falls below the trigger value. • In both cases, the payment of premium is avoided till the trigger price is reached. However, the premium for conditional options is higher than regular call/put options. 7. 25.
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