Chapter

15
International Financial Markets

South-Western/Thomson Learning 2003

 Chapter Objectives

To describe the background and corporate

use of the following international financial
markets:
foreign exchange market,
Eurocurrency market,
International bond market, and
international stock markets.

A3 - 2
 Motives for Using
International Financial Markets
The markets for real or financial assets are
prevented from complete integration by
barriers such as tax differentials, tariffs,
quotas, labor immobility, communication
costs, cultural differences, and financial
reporting differences.
Yet, these barriers can also create unique
opportunities for specific geographic
markets that will attract foreign investors.
A3 - 3
 Motives for Using
International Financial Markets
Investors invest in foreign markets:
to take advantage of favorable economic
conditions;
when they expect foreign currencies to
appreciate against their own; and
to reap the benefits of international
diversification.

A3 - 4
 Motives for Using
International Financial Markets
Creditors provide credit in foreign
markets:
to capitalize on higher foreign interest
rates;
when they expect foreign currencies to
appreciate against their own; and
to reap the benefits of international
diversification.

A3 - 5
 Motives for Using
International Financial Markets
Borrowers borrow in foreign markets:
to capitalize on lower foreign interest rates;
and
when they expect foreign currencies to
depreciate against their own.

A3 - 6
 Foreign Exchange Market

The foreign exchange market allows

currencies to be exchanged in order to
facilitate international trade or financial
transactions.
The system for establishing exchange
rates has evolved over time.
From 1876 to 1913, each currency was
convertible into gold at a specified rate, as
dictated by the gold standard.
A3 - 7
Foreign Exchange Market

This was followed by a period of instability,

as World War I began and the Great
Depression followed.
The 1944 Bretton Woods Agreement called
for fixed currency exchange rates.
By 1971, the U.S. dollar appeared to be
overvalued. The Smithsonian Agreement
devalued the U.S. dollar and widened the
boundaries for exchange rate fluctuations
from 1% to 2.25%.
A3 - 8
Foreign Exchange Market

Even then, governments still had difficulties

maintaining exchange rates within the
stated boundaries. In 1973, the official
boundaries for the more widely traded
currencies were eliminated and the floating
exchange rate system came into effect.

A3 - 9
 Foreign Exchange
Transactions
There is no specific building or location
where traders exchange currencies.
Trading also occurs around the clock.
The market for immediate exchange is
known as the spot market.
The forward market enables an MNC to
lock in the exchange rate at which it will
buy or sell a certain quantity of currency
on a specified future date.
A3 - 10
 Foreign Exchange
Transactions
Hundreds of banks facilitate foreign
exchange transactions, though the top 20
handle about 50% of the transactions.
At any point in time, arbitrage ensures that
exchange rates are similar across banks.
Trading between banks occurs in the
interbank market. Within this market,
foreign exchange brokerage firms
sometimes act as middlemen.
A3 - 11
 Foreign Exchange
Transactions
The following attributes of banks are
important to foreign exchange customers:
competitiveness of quote
special relationship between the bank and
its customer
speed of execution
advice about current market conditions
forecasting advice

A3 - 12
 Foreign Exchange
Transactions
Banks provide foreign exchange services
for a fee: the banks bid (buy) quote for a
foreign currency will be less than its ask
(sell) quote. This is the bid/ask spread.
bid/ask % spread = ask rate bid rate
ask rate
Example: Suppose bid price for = $1.52,
ask price = $1.60.
bid/ask % spread = (1.601.52)/1.60 = 5%
A3 - 13
 Foreign Exchange
Transactions
The bid/ask spread is normally larger for
those currencies that are less frequently
traded.
The spread is also larger for retail
transactions than for wholesale
transactions between banks or large
corporations.

A3 - 14
 Interpreting
Foreign Exchange Quotations
Exchange rate quotations for widely
traded currencies are frequently listed in
the news media on a daily basis. Forward
rates may be quoted too.
The quotations normally reflect the ask
prices for large transactions.

A3 - 15
 Interpreting
Foreign Exchange Quotations
Direct quotations represent the unit value
of a foreign currency in dollars.
For example, in the U.S., a direct quote for the
Canadian dollar would be US$1.002 = C$1.
Conversely, in Canada, a direct quote for U.S.
dollars would be C$0.99 = US$1.
Indirect quotations represent the number of units
of a foreign currency per dollar.
For example, in the U.S., an indirect quote for the
Canadian dollar would be C$0.99 = US$1.
Conversely, in Canada an indirect quote for U.S.
dollars would be US$1.002 = C$1.

A3 - 16
 Interpreting
Foreign Exchange Quotations
Note that exchange rate quotations sometimes
include IMFs special drawing rights (SDRs).
The SDR is an artificial currency, expresses
simply a unit of account. It is an international
reserve asset created by the IMF and allocated
to member countries to supplement currency
reserves.
The same currency may also be used by more
than one country.

A3 - 17
 Interpreting
Foreign Exchange Quotations
A cross exchange rate reflects the amount
of one foreign currency per unit of another
foreign currency.
Value of 1 unit of currency A in units of
currency B = value of currency A in $
value of currency B in $

A3 - 18
 Currency Futures and Options

A currency futures contract specifies a

standard volume of a particular currency
to be exchanged on a specific settlement
date. Unlike forward contracts however,
futures contracts are sold on exchanges.
Currency options contracts give the right
to buy or sell a specific currency at a
specific price within a specific period of
time. They are sold on exchanges too.
A3 - 19
 CURRENCY CALL OPTIONS -Problem
King, a speculator, buys a British pound call option from
Lohan. We have the following information for the
deal.
Call option strike price is $1.50 with Dec. settlement
date. Total units in the contract were 40,000 units (of
).
Current Spot price $1.47.
Premium paid per unit = $.012, but no brokerage fee.
Before the expiration day, the spot rate for is $1.52.
King exercises the call option and immediately sells
the in the market.
Find profit or loss for the contracting parties.

A3 - 20
 Eurocurrency Market $
U.S. dollar deposits placed in banks in
Europe and other continents are called
Eurodollars.
In the 1960s and 70s, the Eurodollar
market, or what is now referred to as the
Eurocurrency market, grew to
accommodate increasing international
business and to bypass stricter U.S.
regulations on banks in the U.S.
A3 - 21
 Eurocurrency Market $
The Eurocurrency market is made up of
several large banks called Eurobanks that
accept deposits and provide loans in
various currencies.
For example, the Eurocurrency market has
historically recycled the oil revenues
(petrodollars) from oil-exporting (OPEC)
countries to other countries.

A3 - 22
 Eurocurrency Market $
Although the Eurocurrency market
focuses on large-volume transactions,
there are times when no single bank is
willing to lend the needed amount.
A syndicate of Eurobanks may then be
composed to underwrite the loans. Front-
end management and commitment fees
are usually charged for such syndicated
Eurocurrency loans.
A3 - 23
 Eurocurrency Market $
The recent standardization of regulations
around the world has promoted the
globalization of the banking industry.
In particular, the Single European Act has
opened up the European banking industry.
The 1988 Basel Accord signed by G-10
central banks outlined common capital
standards, such as the structure of risk
weights, for their banking industries.
A3 - 24
 Eurocurrency Market $
The Eurocurrency market in Asia is
sometimes referred to separately as the
Asian dollar market.
The primary function of banks in the Asian
dollar market is to channel funds from
depositors to borrowers.
Another function is interbank lending and
borrowing.

A3 - 25
 BONDS
International Bond Market

There are two types of international bonds.

Bonds denominated in the currency of the
country where they are placed but issued
by borrowers foreign to the country are
called foreign bonds or parallel bonds.
Bonds that are sold in countries other
than the country represented by the
currency denominating them are called
Eurobonds.
A3 - 26
 BONDS
International bond Market
The emergence of the Eurobond market is
partially due to the 1963 Interest
Equalization Tax imposed in the U.S.
The tax discouraged U.S. investors from
investing in foreign securities, so non-U.S.
borrowers looked elsewhere for funds.
Then in 1984, U.S. corporations were
allowed to issue bearer bonds directly to
non-U.S. investors, and the withholding
tax on bond purchases was abolished.
A3 - 27
 BONDS
Eurobond Market

Eurobonds are underwritten by a multi-

national syndicate of investment banks
and simultaneously placed in many
countries through second-stage, and in
many cases, third-stage, underwriters.
Eurobonds are usually issued in bearer
form, pay annual coupons, may be
convertible, may have variable rates, and
typically have few protective covenants.
A3 - 28
 The Underwriting Function

The investment banker purchases the

entire issue from the issuer and resells the
security to the investing public.
The firm charges a commission for
providing this service.
The underwriting organization structure
(Exhibit in the following slide)

A3 - 29
Exhibit

A3 - 30
 BONDS
Eurobond Market

Interest rates for each currency and credit

conditions in the Eurobond market change
constantly, causing the popularity of the
market to vary among currencies.
About 70% of the Eurobonds are
denominated in the U.S. dollar.
In the secondary market, the market
makers are often the same underwriters
who sell the primary issues.
A3 - 31
 Comparing Interest Rates
Among Currencies
Interest rates vary substantially for
different countries, ranging from about 1%
in Japan to about 60% in Russia.
Interest rates are crucial because they
affect cost of financing of the MNCs .
The interest rate for a specific currency is
determined by the demand for and supply
of funds in that currency.

A3 - 32
International Stock Markets

In addition to issuing stock locally, MNCs

can also obtain funds by issuing stock in
international markets.
This will enhance the firms image and
name recognition, and diversify the
shareholder base. The stocks may also be
more easily digested.
Note that market competition should
increase the efficiency of new issues.
A3 - 33
 International Stock Markets
Stock issued in the U.S. by non-U.S. firms or
governments are called Yankee stock
offerings. Some other important stocks of
this type are Samurai (Japan), Bulldog (UK),
Matador (Spain), etc. Many of such recent
stock offerings resulted from privatization
programs in Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Non-U.S. firms may also issue American
depository receipts (ADRs), which are
certificates representing bundles of stock.
ADRs are less strictly regulated.
A3 - 34
International Stock Markets
The locations of the MNCs operations can
influence the decision about where to
place stock, in view of the cash flows
needed to cover dividend payments.
Market characteristics are important too.
Stock markets may differ in size, trading
activity level, regulatory requirements,
taxation rate, and proportion of individual
versus institutional share ownership.

A3 - 35
International Stock Markets

Electronic communications networks

(ECNs) have been created to match orders
between buyers and sellers in recent
years.
As ECNs become more popular over time,
they may ultimately be merged with one
another or with other exchanges to create
a single global stock exchange.

A3 - 36
 Comparison of
International Financial Markets
The foreign cash flow movements of a
typical MNC can be classified into four
corporate functions, all of which generally
require the use of the foreign exchange
markets.
Foreign trade. Exports generate foreign
cash inflows while imports require cash
outflows.

A3 - 37
 Comparison of
International Financial Markets
Direct foreign investment (DFI). Cash
outflows to acquire foreign assets
generate future inflows.
Short-term investment or financing in
foreign securities, usually in the
Eurocurrency market.
Longer-term financing in the Eurocredit,
Eurobond, or international stock markets.

A3 - 38
 Chapter Review

Motives for Using International Financial

Markets
Motives for Investing in Foreign Markets
Motives for Providing Credit in Foreign
Markets
Motives for Borrowing in Foreign Markets

A3 - 39
 Chapter Review

Foreign Exchange Market

History of Foreign Exchange
Foreign Exchange Transactions
Interpreting Foreign Exchange Quotations
Currency Futures and Options Markets

A3 - 40
 Chapter Review

Eurocurrency Market
Development of the Eurocurrency Market
Composition of the Eurocurrency Market
Syndicated Eurocurrency Loans
Standardizing Bank Regulations within the
Eurocurrency Market
Asian Dollar Market
Eurocredit Market

A3 - 41
 Chapter Review

Eurobond Market
Development of the Eurobond Market
Underwriting Process
Features
Comparing Interest Rates Among
Currencies
Global Integration of Interest Rates

A3 - 42
 Chapter Review

International Stock Markets

Issuance of Foreign Stock in the U.S.
Issuance of Stock in Foreign Markets
Comparison of International Financial
Markets
How Financial Markets Affect An MNCs
Value

A3 - 43