Question

Your firm (an Australian firm) makes a sale to a Japanese customer.  The sale price is 200 million Japanese Yen payable in exactly three months from today.  The current exchange rate is AUD/JPY = 90 (i.e., 1 Australian Dollar (AUD) is worth 90 Japanese Yen (JPY)). The current interest rates in Australia and Japan are 3% p.a. and 0.5% p.a., respectively.Given this information, please answer the following questions. Please label your answers according to parts.(a) Given that Australian Dollar is the domestic currency, what is the direct quote of the exchange rate between Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen ? Please round the final answer to five decimal places.(b) What is the theoretical current forward exchange rate quoted directly in terms of Australian Dollar (i.e. JPY/AUD) for delivery three months from today ? Show your input to the formula to arrive at the final answer. Please round the final answer to five decimal places.(c) How can the firm take advantage of any decreases in the exchange rate and also ensure that it receives at least Australian $2 million ? (Hint: Which derivative instrument can be used to achieve this objective?(d) Ignoring the cost of the derivative instrument to be used in part (c), what would be the outcome from hedging if the spot exchange rate in 3 month’s time is (i) AUD/JPY=150 and (ii) AUD/JPY = 50?

Answer 1

Answer:

An Australian Firm Selling to a Japanese Customer

a) Direct Quote of the Exchange Rate between Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen:

A$ 1 = ¥90

Meaning 1 Australian Dollar = 90 Japanese Yen.

Therefore, the price of the goods would be A$ 2,222,222.22222 (¥200 million)/ ¥90

b)Theoretical Current Forward Exchange Rate, quoted in terms of JPY/AUD for delivery in three months:

= Spot Rate x (1 + Japanese Interest Rate) / (1 + Australian Interest Rate) x 360/90

= ¥90 x (1 +0.005) / (1 +0.03) x 360/90 = ¥90 x 1.005/1.03 x 360/90

= ¥351.26214 =A$1

c) The Australian firm can take advantage of any decreases in the exchange rate and also ensure that it receives at least Australian $2 million by entering into a Currency Forwards Contract.

d) If the spot exchange rate in 3 month's time is:

(i) AUD/JPY=150, the outcome of the hedging with a Currency Forwards Contract to get at least A$ 2 million would be the gain of:

Forward Exchange outcome in Australian Dollars = ¥200 million/ ¥150 =

A$ 1,333,333.33333

Hedging outcome minus Forward Exchange outcome

A$2 million - A$ 1,333,333.33333 = A$666,666.66667

(ii) AUD/JPY = 50, the outcome of the hedging with a Currency Forwards Contract to get at least A$ 2 million would be the loss of:

Forward  Exchange outcome =  in Australian Dollars = ¥200 million/ ¥50 =

A$4 million

Hedging outcome minus Forward Exchange outcome

A$2 million - $4 million = -A$2million

Explanation:

a) Currency forwards contracts and future contracts are used to hedge the currency risk. For example, a company expecting to receive  ¥200 million in 90 days, can enter into a forward contract to deliver the  ¥200 million and receive equivalent Australian dollars in 90 days at an exchange rate specified today.

b) If A$ 1 = ¥90

Therefore, the price of the goods would be A$ 2,222,222.22222 (¥200 million)/ ¥90 in Australian Dollars.