Midterm #2 Flashcards
- Kalons, Inc. is a U.S.-based MNC that frequently imports raw materials from Canada. Kalons is typically invoiced for these goods in Canadian dollars and is concerned that the Canadian dollar will appreciate in the near future. Which of the following is not an appropriate hedging technique under these circumstances?
a. purchase Canadian dollars forward.
b. purchase Canadian dollar futures contracts.
c. purchase Canadian dollar put options.
d. purchase Canadian dollar call options.
purchase Canadian dollar put options.
- Graylon, Inc., based in Washington, exports products to a German firm and will receive payment of €200,000 in three months. On June 1, the spot rate of the euro was $1.12, and the 3-month forward rate was $1.10. On June 1, Graylon negotiated a forward contract with a bank to sell €200,000 forward in three months. The spot rate of the euro on September 1 is $1.15. Graylon will receive $____ for the euros.
a. 224,000
b. 220,000
c. 200,000
d. 230,000
B. 220,000
SOLUTION: €200,000 × $1.10 = $220,000
- Thornton, Inc. needs to invest five million Nepalese rupees in its Nepalese subsidiary to support local operations. Thornton would like its subsidiary to repay the rupees in one year. Thornton would like to engage in a swap transaction. Thus, Thornton would:
a. convert the rupees to dollars in the spot market today and convert rupees to dollars in one year at today’s forward rate.
b. convert the dollars to rupees in the spot market today and convert dollars to rupees in one year at the prevailing spot rate.
c. convert the dollars to rupees in the spot market today and convert rupees to dollars in one year at today’s forward rate.
d. convert the dollars to rupees in the spot market today and convert rupees to dollars in one year at the prevailing spot rate.
c. convert the dollars to rupees in the spot market today and convert rupees to dollars in one year at today’s forward rate.
- In the U.S., the typical currency futures contract is based on a currency value in terms of:
a. euros.
b. U.S. dollars.
c. British pounds.
d. Canadian dollars.
b. U.S. dollars.
Currency futures contracts sold on an exchange:
a. contain a commitment to the owner, and are standardized.
b. contain a commitment to the owner, and can be tailored to the desire of the owner.
c. contain a right but not a commitment to the owner, and can be tailored to the desire of the owner.
d. contain a right but not a commitment to the owner, and are standardized.
a. contain a commitment to the owner, and are standardized.
Due to ____, market forces should realign the cross exchange rate between two foreign currencies based on the spot exchange rates of the two currencies against the U.S. dollar.
a. forward realignment arbitrage
b. triangular arbitrage
c. covered interest arbitrage
d. locational arbitrage
b. triangular arbitrage
Due to ____, market forces should realign the spot rate of a currency among banks.
a. forward realignment arbitrage
b. triangular arbitrage
c. covered interest arbitrage
d. locational arbitrage
d. locational arbitrage
Due to ____, market forces should realign the relationship between the interest rate differential of two currencies and the forward premium (or discount) on the forward exchange rate between the two currencies.
a. forward realignment arbitrage
b. triangular arbitrage
c. covered interest arbitrage
d. locational arbitrage
c. covered interest arbitrage
Which of the following is an appropriate form of indirect intervention?
a. To strengthen the dollar, the Fed increases the money supply to lower interest rates.
b. To weaken the dollar, the Fed reduces the money supply to increase interest rates.
c. To strengthen the dollar in the long run, the Fed attempts to reduce U.S. inflation.
d. To weaken the dollar in the long run, the Fed attempts to reduce U.S. inflation.
c. To strengthen the dollar in the long run, the Fed attempts to reduce U.S. inflation.
Assume that the dollar has been consistently appreciating over a long period. The Fed decides to counteract this movement by intervening in the foreign exchange market using nonsterilized intervention. The Fed would
a. buy dollars with foreign currency and simultaneously sell Treasury securities for dollars.
b. buy dollars with foreign currency and simultaneously buy Treasury securities with dollars.
c. sell dollars for foreign currency and simultaneously sell Treasury securities for dollars.
d. sell dollars for foreign currency and simultaneously buy Treasury securities with dollars.
e. none of the above
e. none of the above
Assume that the dollar has been consistently depreciating over a long period. The Fed decides to counteract this movement by intervening in the foreign exchange market using sterilized intervention. The Fed would
a. buy dollars with foreign currency and simultaneously sell Treasury securities for dollars.
b. buy dollars with foreign currency and simultaneously buy Treasury securities with dollars.
c. sell dollars for foreign currency and simultaneously sell Treasury securities for dollars.
d. sell dollars for foreign currency and simultaneously buy Treasury securities with dollars.
e. none of the above
b. buy dollars with foreign currency and simultaneously buy Treasury securities with dollars.
Which of the following is true regarding the euro?
a. Exchange rate risk between participating European currencies is completely eliminated, encouraging more trade and capital flows across European borders.
b. It allows for more consistent economic conditions across countries.
c. It prevents each country from conducting its own monetary policy.
d. All of the above are true.
d. All of the above are true.
Which of the following is not true regarding the Mexican peso crisis?
a. Mexico encouraged firms and consumers to buy an excessive amount of imports because the peso was stronger than it should have been.
b. Many speculators based in the U.S. speculated on the potential decline in the peso by investing their funds in Mexico.
c. In December of 1994, the central bank of Mexico allowed the peso to float freely.
d. The central bank of Mexico increased interest rates after the peso declined in value in order to prevent investors from withdrawing their investments in Mexico’s debt securities.
e. All of the above are true.
b. Many speculators based in the U.S. speculated on the potential decline in the peso by investing their funds in Mexico.
The currency of Country X is pegged to the currency of Country Y. Assume that Country Y’s currency appreciates against the currency of Country Z. It is likely that Country X will export ____ to Country Z and import ____ from Country Z.
a. more; more
b. more; less
c. less; less
d. less; more
d. less; more
A strong dollar places ____ pressure on U.S. inflation, which in turn places ____ pressure on U.S. interest rates, which in turn place ____ pressure on U.S. bond prices.
a. downward; upward; upward
b. downward; downward; upward
c. upward; upward; downward
d. upward; downward; upward
b. downward; downward; upward
If a speculator expects that the Fed will intervene by exchanging euros for U.S. dollars, she would most likely ____ to capitalize on this intervention.
a. purchase euro put options
b. purchase euro futures contracts
c. purchase yen call options
d. sell U.S. Treasury bonds
a. purchase euro put options
If a speculator expects that the Fed will intervene by exchanging dollars for Japanese yen, she would most likely ____ to capitalize on this intervention.
a. purchase yen put options
b. sell yen futures contracts
c. purchase yen call options
d. buy U.S. Treasury bonds
c. purchase yen call options
The European Central Bank is located in:
a. London.
b. Denmark.
c. Luxembourg.
d. Frankfurt.
d. Frankfurt.
Which one is not a disadvantage of a freely floating exchange rate system?
a. It can adversely affect a country that has high unemployment.
b. It can adversely affect a country that has high inflation.
c. The government may intervene to change the value of a given currency.
d. The exchange rate risk is high and may be costly to manage.
c. The government may intervene to change the value of a given currency.
Which of the following are true about the Southeast Asian currency crisis?
a. It was preceded by several years of large capital inflows to Asia.
b. It was preceded by a five-year recession in Asia.
c. Asian interest rates declined during the crisis.
d. Asian exchange rates were pegged to the Japanese yen to resolve the crisis.
a. It was preceded by several years of large capital inflows to Asia.
Which of the following countries have not adopted the euro?
a. Germany
b. Italy
c. Switzerland
d. France
c. Switzerland
China’s yuan is presently:
a. allowed to fluctuate freely without any central bank intervention.
b. allowed to fluctuate but with central bank intervention.
c. pegged to the dollar.
d. pegged to the euro.
b. allowed to fluctuate but with central bank intervention.
Which of the following is not true regarding Thailand?
a. Thailand was one of the slowest growing countries before the Asian crisis.
b. High levels of spending and low levels of saving placed upward pressure on prices of real estate, products, and on Thailand’s local interest rate.
c. Thailand’s baht was linked to the dollar prior to July 1997, which made Thailand an attractive site for foreign investors.
d. Thai banks provided many loans that were very risky in their attempt to make use of all of their funds.
e. All of the above are true.
a. Thailand was one of the slowest growing countries before the Asian crisis.
Which of the following countries was probably the least affected (directly or indirectly) by the Asian crisis?
a. Thailand.
b. Indonesia.
c. Russia.
d. China.
e. Malaysia.
d. China.