Opinion
Cancellable forward beats dollar pendulum
Cancellable forward contracts offer corporates a cheap way of protecting against volatile dollar receivables says Anders Kjaer Jensen, FX strategist at Nordea in Copenhagen
Portfolio flows and the dollar’s outlook
The pace of the dollar’s decline appears to have returned to more sustainable levels, says Michael Woolfolk, senior currency strategist at The Bank of New York
Falling rates spell kroner/krona opportunities
The Norwegian kroner is being supported by oil prices and carry-trade liquidation, but these factors will force the Norges Bank to slash rates. This provides the opportunity for short-term tactical trades against the Swedish krona, says Hans-Guenter…
Dual currency forwards to the rescue
Dual currency forwards can offer tangible benefits if used wisely, says Standard Chartered’s Charlie Brown, global head of structuring in London, and Michael Image, structurer for Northeast Asia, in Hong Kong
Rotation in reflation trades
Inflation is driving the UK to raise interest rates while other nations are set to cut rates to drive growth. These rate differentials provide opportunities for return says Monica Fan, head of European FX strategy at RBC Capital Markets in London
Correlation for hedging and speculation
One of the most surprising FX developments in the past year has been the re-emergence of the use of correlation products. Ade Odunsi, a director in Merrill Lynch’s FX risk advisory group in New York, suggests two such solutions for a hedging and a…
Hedging dollar dividends back to euro
A European company seeking to protect dividends received from a US subsidiary can benefit from the current inverted volatility term structure in the FX options market. UBS’s FX Solutions group explains how
Reflationary effects on dollar/yen
Strong cross-border portfolio inflows into Japan are unlikely to falter. Consider either Seagull or reverse knock-in option strategies to protect against further yen strength, say State Street Global Markets’ currency options and currency strategy teams
Time for Asia to flex FX
A week after the Boca Raton G7 communiqué, and the market is flexing its capital muscle, prompting a broad appreciation of Asian currencies, writes Claudio Piron, head of FX strategy at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore
Accrual strategy counters euro/dollar vol
The next phase of dollar weakness is unlikely to be as monotonous as the previous one. Dollar sellers should therefore use an accrual strategy to exploit market volatility, says Bart Wong, senior FX structurer at Barclays Capital in London
End of the line for euro/dollar ascent?
The market may push euro/dollar higher to challenge the European Central Bank’s resolve, but economic fundamentals are stacking up against the euro, says Stephen Jen, currency economist at Morgan Stanley in London
Sterling -- a call for calm
The market has got so excited about sterling it has failed to recognise underlying economic problems in the UK. These problems will see sterling disappoint many in 2004, say David Bloom (left) and Mark Austin, currency strategists at HSBC in London
How to ride out the rising Aussie
The stellar rise of the Aussie doesn’t have to be bad news for Australian exporters. Wes Price, of ANZ Bank’s consultative risk management group in Melbourne, explains why
Using currency as an alpha source
The past three years have been disturbing for investors and managers. This investment climate is perfect for engaging in currency strategies to create alpha, say Paul Lambert, head of currency, and Mark Pursey, UK spokesperson at Deutsche Bank Asset…
Mission impossible
Japanese FX intervention is increasing, but even unlimited funds would fail to stop appreciation, says Simon Derrick (right), head of currency research at the Bank of New York in London
Kiwi ripe to strengthen
The New Zealand dollar’s recent performance is based on more than just US dollar weakness. Sue Trinh, currency strategist at the Bank of New Zealand in Wellington, looks at what will be driving the currency in 2004
Assessing the value of e-FX trading
Predicting future currency movements is not the only problem currency managers face. Finding the best method of dealing is also an issue, explains Neil Record, chairman and chief executive officer of Windsor-based currency overlay manager Record Currency…
The year ahead in Asia
US dollar weakness and regional equity market strength look set to remain the main drivers of Asian FX in 2004, according to Tim Condon, chief economist, Asia for ING Financial Markets in Hong Kong
Hedging a short euro/dollar position
For European exporters needing to hedge exposure to the freefalling US dollar, a six-month forward may be the best solution, suggest Eric Ohayon, European head of FX structuring, and Kai Fisher, European head of FX corporate sales, at Bank of America in…
Zero-cost strategies for European importers
The strengthening euro should be a boon for European importers. Natalie Doyle, director of FX money markets and derivatives sales at ING in Singapore, explains how to make the most of the euro’s strength while hedging risks with zero premiums
The ghost of Bentsen
The lessons of history may help in assessing the dollar’s fortunes in 2004, says Peter Luxton, economic adviser at Informa Global Markets in London
The kick-knock solution for cable
Trevor Carr, manager in FX options at HBOS Treasury Services in London, suggests a creative solution for a UK parent company wanting to hedge against continuing sterling strength
More dollar pain before H2 rebound
The dollar will suffer much more pain in the near term before rebounding in the second half of 2004, says Larry Kantor, global head of economics and market strategy at Barclays Capital in New York
Euro/Swiss franc risk reversals
Simple risk reversals are the best way for Swiss investors to manage low domestic interest rates and a softening Swiss franc versus the euro, says David Durrant, chief currency strategist and senior economist for the Americas at Julius Baer Asset…