1. International Financial Markets And The Firmament Definition

International Financial Markets.1.International Financial Markets 3 Chapter South-Western/Thomson Learning © 2003.To describe the background and corporate use of the following international financial markets: foreign exchange market, Eurocurrency market, Eurocredit market, Eurobond market, and international stock markets. Chapter Objectives.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.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. 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. 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. Motives for Using International Financial Markets.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.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%.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.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.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. 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 Foreign Exchange Transactions.Banks provide foreign exchange services for a fee: the bank’s 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 = (1.60–1.52)/1.60 = 5% 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. Foreign Exchange Transactions.Interpreting Foreign Exchange Quotations Exchange rate quotations for widely traded currencies are frequently listed in the news media on a daily basis.

International Financial Markets And The Firmament Definition

Forward rates may be quoted too. The quotations normally reflect the ask prices for large transactions.Direct quotations represent the value of a foreign currency in dollars, while indirect quotations represent the number of units of a foreign currency per dollar. Note that exchange rate quotations sometimes include IMF’s special drawing rights (SDRs). The same currency may also be used by more than one country. 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 $ Interpreting Foreign Exchange Quotations.Check out these foreign exchange sites: Online Application.Currency Futures and Options Market 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.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. $.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. $.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. 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. Eurocurrency Market $.Learn more about the Single European Act at. Details about the 1988 Basel Accord can be found at.

Check out the new Basel Capital Accord (2001) at too. Online Application.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. Eurocurrency Market $.Eurocredit Market Loans of one year or longer are extended by Eurobanks to MNCs or government agencies in the Eurocredit market.

These loans are known as Eurocredit loans. Floating rates are commonly used, since the banks’ asset and liability maturities may not match - Eurobanks accept short-term deposits but sometimes provide longer term loans. LOANS.Eurobond 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.

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Bonds that are sold in countries other than the country represented by the currency denominating them are called Eurobonds. BONDS.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. Eurobond Market 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. BONDS.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. In the secondary market, the market makers are often the same underwriters who sell the primary issues. Eurobond Market BONDS.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 the MNC’s cost of financing. The interest rate for a specific currency is determined by the demand for and supply of funds in that currency. Dollar Interest Rates Differ from Brazilian Real Interest Rates The curves are further to the right for the dollar because the U.S.

Economy is larger. The curves are higher for the Brazilian Real because of the higher inflation in Brazil.

Quantity of $ Interest Rate for $ S D Quantity of Real Interest Rate for Real S D.Comparing Interest Rates Among Currencies As the demand and supply schedules change over time for a specific currency, the equilibrium interest rate for that currency will also change. Note that the freedom to transfer funds across countries causes the demand and supply conditions for funds to be somewhat integrated, such that interest rate movements become integrated too.International Stock Markets In addition to issuing stock locally, MNCs can also obtain funds by issuing stock in international markets. This will enhance the firm’s 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.Stock issued in the U.S. Firms or governments are called Yankee stock offerings. Many of such recent stock offerings resulted from privatization programs in Latin America and Europe.

Firms may also issue American depository receipts (ADRs), which are certificates representing bundles of stock. ADRs are less strictly regulated.

International Stock Markets.Check out the performance of ADRs at. Online Application.The locations of the MNC’s 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. International Stock Markets.For a summary of the performance of various stock markets, refer to Visit the stock exchanges at: Online Application.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. International Stock Markets.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.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.