The Brazilian economy in 2001 and 2002 had gone up and down. The Brazilian "real" (R$) had also been declining since 1999 (when it was floated). Investors wished to diversify internationally - into U.S. dollars for the most part - to protect themselves against the domestic economy and currency. A large private investor had, in April 2002, invested Brazilian "reais" (plural) R$ 500,000 in Standard & Poor's 500 Indexes [Standard & Poor's Depository Receipts or SPiDeRs] which are traded on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX: SPY). The beginning and ending index prices and exchange rates between the Brazilian "real" and the US dollar were as follows: 

                               April 10, 2002     April 10, 2003

                               Purchase       Sale

1. What was the % return on the index fund for the year to a US-based investor? (USD$220,264.32 - USD$171,164.55) / USD220,264.32 = 22.3% The U.S investors had a capital loss = 22.3%
2. What was the % return to the Brazilian investor for the one-year holding period?  If the Brazilian investor could have invested locally in Brazil in a 10% interest-bearing account, would that have been better than his/her American investment diversification strategy?