Reference no: EM133674330
Lou Peters is a foreign exchange trader for a bank in New York. He has $1 million (or its
Swiss franc equivalent) for a short-term money market investment and wonders if he should invest in U.S. dollars for three months, or make a covered interest arbitrage investment in the Swiss franc. He faces the following quotes:
Spot exchange rate SF 1.3269/$
Three-month forward rate SF 1.3017/$
U.S. three-month interest rate 5.630 % per annum
Swiss three-month interest rate 4.250 % per annum
1. Calculate forward premium (or discount)? Following the rule of thumb, should Lou invest in U.S. dollars for three months, or make a covered interest arbitrage investment in the Swiss franc.?
2. Where do you recommend Lou invests, and why?
3. What is Lou rate of return, on an annual basis, on this covered interest arbitrage investment?