QUESTION

You have been appointed as the treasurer of Robin International, an electronic firm with many subsidiaries abroad. The management of Robin International do not have an extensive finance background and one of your tasks, is to advise management of the potential currency exposure the firm might face and the techniques to manage such exposure

a) Using appropriate numerical examples, explain management the different types of exchange rate risk

b) One of the directors has heard that transaction exposure can equally be managed externally by a forward hedge or internally by a money market hedge. He is very confused about these. Explain to him how these two hedging strategies differ and make an evaluation of both methods for him.

c) Explain the use of futures contracts in managing risks. How do they differ from forwards?