Question

Assume that you have a subsidiary in Australia. The subsidiary sells mobile homes to local consumers in Australia, who buy the homes using mostly borrowed funds from local banks. Your subsidiary purchases all of its materials from Hong Kong and pays Hong Kong dollar. The Hong Kong dollar is tied to the U.S. dollar. Your subsidiary borrowed funds from the U.S. parent, and must pay the parent $100,000 in interest each month. Australia has just raised its interest rate in order to boost the value of its currency (Australian dollar). The subsidiary’s cost of purchasing materials measured in Australian dollar will ____________. A. increase B. decrease C. not change

Answer 1

Answer:

B. decrease

Explanation:

The subsidiary's cost of purchasing materials measured in Australian dollar will decrease. The subsidiary in Australia sells mobile homes. It borrows funds from local bank and purchases material from Hong Kong and pays Hong Kong in HK$ which is tied to US dollar. So when Australian dollar appreciates against the Hong Kong dollar, it will appreciate against US dollar as the Hong Kong dollar is tied to US dollar. The subsidiary will pay decreased cost of purchasing material due to appreciations of A$ by increasing interest rate in Australia.