Chapter 19 Flashcards
What is a Multinational Corporation?
- A corporation that operates in two or more countries
- Decision making within the corporation may be centralized in the home country, or may be decentralized across the countries in which the corporation does business
Why do firms expand into other countries?
- To seek production efficiency
- To avoid political and regulatory hurdles
- To seek new markets
- To seek raw materials and new technology
- To protect processes and products
- To diversify
- To retain customers
Multinational Financial Management vs. Domestic Financial Management
- Different currency denominations
- Political risk
- Economic and legal ramifications
- Role of governments
- Language and cultural differences
Direct Quotations
Expressed in US dollars
Indirect Quotations
Represents the number of units of a foreign currency needed to purchase one U.S. dollar
What is a cross rate?
The exchange rate between any two currencies. Cross rates are actually calculated on the basis of various currencies relative to the U.S. dollar
What is exchange rate risk?
The risk that the value of a cash flow in one currency translated to another currency will decline due to a change in exchange rates
International Money System
- The framework within which exchange rates are determined
- The blueprint for international trade and capital flows
- Exchange rate terminology
Exchange rate terminology
- Spot vs. forward exchange rate
- Fixed vs. floating exchange rate
- Devaluation and revaluation
- Depreciation and appreciation
Spot Exchange Rate
The quoted price for a unit of foreign currency to be delivered “on the spot” or within a very short period of time
Forward Exchange Rate
The quoted price for a unit of foreign currency to be delivered at a specified date in the future
Fixed Exchange Rate
Set by the government and is allowed to fluctuate only slightly (if at all) around the desired rate, which is called the par value
Floating or Flexible Exchange Rate
Not regulated by the government, so the supply and demand in the market determine the currency’s value
Devaluation and Revaluation of a Currency
- Refers to a decrease or increase in the stated par value of a currency whose value is fixed
- This decision is usually made by the government without warning
Depreciation and Appreciation of a Currency
- Refers to a decrease or increase, respectively, in the foreign exchange value of a floating currency
- This change is caused by market forces rather than by a government