1
$\begingroup$

An American company $A$ has sold a manufactured product to a German company $B$, and they agree for the payment of 100,000 EUR in 1 year.

  1. What type of exposure does $B$ have?
  2. What type of exposure does $A$ have?
  3. What is the potential problem for $A$ if it decides not to hedge (i.e. not to cover)?
  4. Repeat the exercise in case the payment is performed in USD.

Let $K_T$ be the exchange rate (EUR/USD) at time $t=T$ (1 year from now), and let $K_0$ be the exchange rate at time $t=0$ (i.e. now).

  1. Since EUR is the domestic currency of $B$, it will take no risk in the transaction.
  2. If $A$ buys a Forward contract (at time $T$ the firm $A$ will sell 100.000 EUR at a fixed rate $K_F$) but $K_f < K_T$, then it will face an indirect loss of 100,000*($K_T - K_F$) USD. If $A$ buys a Put option which gives it the right to sell 100.000 EUR at the rate $K_P$, it will exercise the option only if $K_P > K_T$, otherwise it will not exercise and will sell 100.000 EUR at the rate $K_T$.
  3. If $A$ decides not to hedge, the potential problem is in the case $K_T < K_0$, because in this case $A$ will face an indirect loss of 100,000*($K_0 - K_T$) USD.
  4. Since USD is the domestic currency of $A$, it will take no risk in the transaction. On the other hand, $B$ should buy a Call option, because it gives $B$ the right to buy 100,000 USD at time $T$ at a fixed rate $K_C$: $B$ will exercise the option if $K_C > K_T$, otherwise it will not exercise and will buy 100,000 USD at the rate $K_T$.

Is the reasoning correct?

$\endgroup$

0

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.