International Financial Management — Foreign exchange market basics. - One Line Questions
1.
If the exchange rate is EUR/USD = 1.10, it means: —
1 Euro can buy 1.10 United States Dollars.
2.
What is a 'forex broker'? —
An individual or firm that acts as an intermediary for clients trading in the forex market, often providing leverage.
3.
What does the term 'currency appreciation' signify in the foreign exchange market? —
An increase in the value of a currency relative to another.
4.
In the context of foreign exchange markets, what is a 'non-deliverable forward' (NDF)? —
A forward contract that is settled in cash based on the difference between the contracted rate and the prevailing market rate, without physical delivery of currencies.
5.
What is the 'Eurocurrency' market? —
A market for currencies deposited in banks outside their country of origin (e.g., USD deposited in a London bank).
6.
What does the term 'devaluation' typically refer to? —
An official downward adjustment of a currency's value under a fixed or managed exchange rate system.
7.
What is a 'managed float' or 'dirty float' exchange rate system? —
A system where the exchange rate is generally determined by market forces, but the central bank intervenes occasionally.
8.
Which of the following is a common reason for a country's currency to depreciate? —
Political instability and economic uncertainty.
9.
Which of the following best describes the 'European Monetary System' (EMS) in relation to exchange rates? —
An earlier system that included the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) to stabilize exchange rates among member currencies before the Euro.
10.
What is a 'currency peg'? —
An arrangement where a country fixes its currency's value to another currency or a basket of currencies.
11.
What is a 'spot transaction' in the foreign exchange market? —
A transaction where currencies are exchanged immediately or within two business days.
12.
A 'forward contract' in forex trading is: —
An agreement to buy or sell a currency at a specific rate on a future date.
13.
What is a 'currency swap'? —
An agreement to exchange principal and interest payments on a loan in one currency for equivalent payments in another currency.
14.
What is a 'currency option'? —
A contract giving the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a currency at a specific price on or before a certain date.
15.
What is a 'carry trade' strategy in forex? —
Borrowing a currency with a low interest rate and investing in a currency with a high interest rate.
16.
What is 'currency speculation'? —
Taking an active net open position in a currency to profit from an anticipated change in its price.
17.
The difference between the ask price and the bid price is known as the: —
Currency spread
18.
Which of the following is a common method to manage transaction exposure? —
Hedging using forward contracts, futures, or options.
19.
Which of the following is a key participant in the foreign exchange market? —
Central banks and commercial banks.
20.
Which entity typically acts as a market maker in the foreign exchange market? —
Commercial banks.
21.
Which of the following is NOT a primary driver of long-term exchange rate movements according to economic theory? —
The daily mood of traders on social media
22.
Which of the following is a characteristic of the interbank foreign exchange market? —
It operates 24 hours a day, five days a week, primarily over-the-counter (OTC).
23.
What is the 'Purchasing Power Parity' (PPP) theory? —
It suggests that exchange rates should adjust so that an identical basket of goods costs the same in different countries.
24.
When a currency is trading at a discount, it means: —
Its value is expected to decrease relative to other currencies.
25.
Which factor significantly influences short-term exchange rate movements? —
Interest rate differentials between countries.
26.
What is the main risk associated with a carry trade? —
Unexpected appreciation of the low-interest-rate currency or depreciation of the high-interest-rate currency.
27.
What is 'arbitrage' in the context of foreign exchange? —
Simultaneously buying and selling a currency in different markets to profit from a price discrepancy.
28.
Which of the following best describes 'currency hedging'? —
Using financial instruments to protect against adverse currency fluctuations.
29.
What is the main difference between a spot transaction and a forward contract? —
Spot transactions involve immediate delivery, while forward contracts are for future delivery.
30.
What does 'fixed exchange rate' mean? —
The government or central bank ties the official exchange rate to another country's currency or a basket of currencies.
31.
A 'floating exchange rate' system implies: —
The rate is determined by market forces of supply and demand.
32.
What is an 'exchange rate'? —
The price of one country's currency expressed in terms of another country's currency.
33.
What does 'bid price' represent in a currency quote? —
The price at which a dealer is willing to buy the base currency.
34.
What does 'ask price' (or offer price) represent in a currency quote? —
The price at which a dealer is willing to sell the base currency.
35.
What is a 'put option' in forex? —
The right to sell a currency.
36.
What is a 'call option' in forex? —
The right to buy a currency.
37.
What is 'transaction exposure' in international finance? —
The risk arising from the impact of exchange rate changes on future foreign exchange transactions.
38.
What is 'economic exposure' (or operating exposure)? —
The risk that exchange rate changes will affect the present value of a company's future cash flows.
39.
What is 'translation exposure' (or accounting exposure)? —
The risk that exchange rate changes will affect the value of a company's consolidated financial statements.
40.
The 'premium' on a currency option represents: —
The cost paid by the option buyer to acquire the right.
41.
What is the primary goal of managing economic exposure? —
To minimize the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the firm's competitive position and long-term profitability.
42.
What is the primary function of the foreign exchange market? —
To facilitate international trade and investment by enabling the conversion of currencies.
43.
What is the primary function of a central bank in the foreign exchange market? —
To manage its country's foreign exchange reserves and influence the exchange rate.
44.
What is the role of a 'clearinghouse' in some organized forex markets (like futures)? —
To act as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, guaranteeing trades and reducing counterparty risk.
45.
What is the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concerning exchange rates? —
To oversee the international monetary system and facilitate exchange rate stability.
46.
What is the primary risk associated with currency options for the buyer? —
The loss of the premium paid if the option expires worthless.
47.
In the notation 'USD/EUR', which currency is the base currency? —
USD (United States Dollar)
48.
When would a company typically use a forward contract to hedge its foreign exchange exposure? —
When it needs to lock in a future exchange rate for a known transaction.
49.
Which of the following is a major global foreign exchange market center? —
All of the above