Chapter 3
International Financial Markets
Lecture Outline
Foreign Exchange Market
History of Foreign Exchange
Foreign Exchange Transactions
Foreign Exchange Quotations
Interpreting Foreign Exchange Quotations
Currency Derivatives
International Money Market
Origins and Development
Money Market Interest Rates Among Countries
International Credit Market
Regulations in the Credit Market
Syndicated Loans in the Credit Market
Impact of the Credit Crisis on the Credit Market
International Bond Market
Eurobond Market
Development of Other Bond Markets
Global Integration of Bond Yields
Risk of International Bonds
Impact of the Greece Crisis on Bonds
International Stock Markets
Issuance of Stock in Foreign Markets
How Financial Markets Serve MNCs
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Chapter Theme
This chapter identifies and discusses the various international financial markets used by MNCs. These
markets facilitate day-to-day operations of MNCs, including foreign exchange transactions, investing in
foreign markets, and borrowing in foreign markets.
Topics to Stimulate Class Discussion
1. Why do international financial markets exist?
2. How do banks serve international financial markets?
3. Which international financial markets are most important to a firm that consistently needs short-term
funds? Which international markets enable MNCs to obtain long-term funding?
POINT/COUNTER-POINT:
Should Firms That Go Public Engage in International Offerings?
POINT: Yes. When a U.S. firm issues stock to the public for the first time in an initial public offering
(IPO), it is naturally concerned about whether it can place all of its shares at a reasonable price. It will be
able to issue its stock at a higher price by attracting more investors. It will increase its demand by
spreading the stock across countries. The higher the price at which it can issue stock, the lower is its cost
of using equity capital. It can also establish a global name by spreading stock across countries.
COUNTER-POINT: No. If a U.S. firm spreads its stock across different countries at the time of the IPO,
there will be less publicly-traded stock in the U.S. Thus, it will not have as much liquidity in the
secondary market. Investors desire stocks that they can easily sell in the secondary market, which means
that they require that the stocks have liquidity. To the extent that a firm reduces its liquidity in the U.S. by
spreading its stock across countries, it may not attract sufficient U.S. demand for the stock in the U.S.
Thus, its efforts to create global name recognition may reduce its name recognition in the U.S.
WHO IS CORRECT? Use the Internet to learn more about this issue. Which argument do you support?
Offer your own opinion on this issue.
ANSWER: The key is that students recognize the tradeoff involved. A firm that engages in a relatively
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Answers to End of Chapter Questions
1. Motives for Investing in Foreign Money Markets. Explain why an MNC may invest funds in a
financial market outside its own country.
2. Motives for Providing Credit in Foreign Markets. Explain why some financial institutions prefer
to provide credit in financial markets outside their own country.
3. Exchange Rate Effects on Investing. Explain how the appreciation of the Australian dollar against
the U.S. dollar would affect the return to a U.S. firm that invested in an Australian money market
security.
4. Exchange Rate Effects on Borrowing. Explain how the appreciation of the Japanese yen against the
U.S. dollar would affect the return to a U.S. firm that borrowed Japanese yen and used the proceeds
for a U.S. project.
5. Bank Services. List some of the important characteristics of bank foreign exchange services that
MNCs should consider.
6. Bid/ask Spread. Utah Bank’s bid price for Canadian dollars is $.7938 and its ask price is $.81. What
is the bid/ask percentage spread?
7. Bid/ask Spread. Compute the bid/ask percentage spread for Mexican peso retail transactions in
8. Forward Contract. The Wolfpack Corporation is a U.S. exporter that invoices its exports to the
United Kingdom in British pounds. If it expects that the pound will appreciate against the dollar in
the future, should it hedge its exports with a forward contract? Explain.
9. Euro. Explain the foreign exchange situation for countries that use the euro when they engage in
international trade among themselves.
10. Indirect Exchange Rate. If the direct exchange rate of the euro is $1.25, what is the euro’s indirect
exchange rate? That is, what is the value of a dollar in euros?
11. Cross Exchange Rate. Assume Poland’s currency (the zloty) is worth $.17 and the Japanese yen is
worth $.008. What is the cross rate of the zloty with respect to yen? That is, how many yen equal a
zloty?
12. Syndicated Loans. Explain how syndicated loans are used in international markets.
13. Loan Rates. Explain the process used by banks in the Eurocredit market to determine the rate to
charge on loans.
14. International Markets. What is the function of the international money market? Briefly describe the
reasons for the development and growth of the European money market. Explain how the
international money, credit, and bond markets differ from one another.
ANSWER: The function of the international money market is to efficiently facilitate the flow of
15. Evolution of Floating Rates. Briefly describe the historical developments that led to floating
exchange rates as of 1973.
16. International Diversification. Explain how the Asian crisis would have affected the returns to a U.S.
firm investing in the Asian stock markets as a means of international diversification. [See the chapter
appendix.]
17. Eurocredit Loans.
a. With regard to Eurocredit loans, who are the borrowers?
b. Why would a bank desire to participate in syndicated Eurocredit loans?
c. What is LIBOR and how is it used in the Eurocredit market?
ANSWER:
18. Foreign Exchange. You just came back from Canada, where the Canadian dollar was worth $.70.
You still have C$200 from your trip and could exchange them for dollars at the airport, but the airport
foreign exchange desk will only buy them for $.60. Next week, you will be going to Mexico and will
need pesos. The airport foreign exchange desk will sell you pesos for $.10 per peso. You met a tourist
at the airport who is from Mexico and is on his way to Canada. He is willing to buy your C$200 for
1,300 pesos. Should you accept the offer or cash the Canadian dollars in at the airport? Explain.
19. Foreign Stock Markets. Explain why firms may issue stock in foreign markets. Why might U.S.
firms issue more stock in Europe since the conversion to the euro in 1999?
20. Financing With Stock. Chapman Co. is a privately owned MNC in the U.S. that plans to engage
in an initial public offering (IPO) of stock, so that it can finance its international expansion. At the
present time, world stock market conditions are very weak but are expected to improve. The U.S.
market tends to be weak in periods when the other stock markets around the world are weak. A
financial manager of Chapman Co. recommends that it wait until the world stock markets recover
before it issues stock. Another manager believes that Chapman Co. could issue its stock now even if
the price would be low, since its stock price should rise later once world stock markets recover. Who
is correct? Explain.
Advanced Questions
21. Effects of September 11. Why do you think the terrorist attack on the U.S. was expected to cause a
decline in U.S. interest rates? Given the expectations for a potential decline in U.S. interest rates and
stock prices, how were capital flows between the U.S. and other countries likely affected?
22. International Financial Markets. Walmart established two retail outlets in the city of Shanzen,
China, which has a population of 3.7 million. These outlets are massive and contain imports in
addition to products purchased locally. As Walmart generates earnings beyond what it needs in
Shanzen, it may remit those earnings back to the United States. Walmart is likely to build additional
outlets in Shanzen or in other Chinese cities in the future.
a. Explain how the Walmart outlets in China would use the spot market in foreign exchange.
b. Explain how Walmart might utilize the international money market when it is establishing other
Walmart stores in Asia.
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ANSWER: Walmart may need to maintain some deposits in the Eurocurrency market that can be
c. Explain how Walmart could use the international bond market to finance the establishment of new
outlets in foreign markets.
23. Interest Rates. Why do interest rates vary among countries? Why are interest rates normally similar
for those European countries that use the euro as their currency? Offer a reason why the government
interest rate of one country could be slightly higher than the government interest rate of another
country, even though the euro is the currency used in both countries.
24. Interpreting Exchange Rate Quotations. Today you notice the following exchange rate
quotations:
*$1 is equal to 3.00 Argentine pesos
*1 Argentine peso = 0.50 Canadian dollars
* You need to purchase 100,000 Canadian dollars with U.S. dollars. How many U.S. dollars will you
need for your purchase?
25. Pricing ADRs. Today, the stock price of Genevo Company (based in Switzerland) is priced at
SF80 per share. The spot rate of the Swiss franc (SF) is $.70. During the next year, you expect that
the stock price of Genevo Company will decline by 3%. You also expect that the Swiss franc will
depreciate against the U.S. dollar by 8% during the next year. You own American depository receipts
(ADRs) that represent Genevo stock. Each share that you own represents one share of the stock traded
on the Swiss stock exchange. What is the estimated value of the ADR per share in one year?
26. Explaining Variation in Bid/Ask Spreads. Go to the currency converter at
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http://finance.yahoo.com/currency and determine the bid/ask spread for the euro. Then determine the
bid/ask spread for a currency in a less developed country. Why do you think is the main reason for the
difference in the bid/ask spreads between these two currencies?
ANSWER: The percentage spread is estimated as:
27. Direct Versus Indirect Exchange Rates. Assume that during this semester, the euro appreciated
against the dollar. Did the direct exchange rate of the euro increase or decrease? Did the indirect
exchange rate of the euro increase or decrease?
28. Transparency and Stock Trading Activity. Explain the relationship between transparency of
firms and investor participation (or trading activity) among stock markets. Based on this relationship,
how can governments of countries increase the amount of trading activity (and therefore liquidity) of
their stock markets?
29. How Governance Affects Stock Market Liquidity. Identify some of the key factors that can
allow for stronger governance and therefore increase participation and trading activity in a stock
market.
ANSWER: Governance is stronger when:
30. International Impact of the Credit Crisis. Explain how the international integration of financial
markets caused the credit crisis to spread across many countries.
31. Issuing Stock in Foreign Markets. Bloomington Co. is a large U.S.-based MNC with large
subsidiaries in Germany. It has issued stock in Germany in order to establish its business. It could
have issued stock in the U.S. and then used the proceeds in order to support the growth in Europe.
What is a possible advantage of issuing the stock in Germany to finance German operations? Also,
why might the German investors prefer to purchase the stock that was issued in Germany rather than
purchase the stock of Bloomington on a U.S. stock exchange?
32. Interest Rates Among Countries. As of today, the interest rate in Countries X, Y, and Z, are similar.
In the next month, Country X is expected to have a weak economy, while Countries Y and Z are
expected to experience a 6% increase in economic growth. However, conditions this month will also
cause an increase in default risk of borrowers in Country Z in the next month because of political
concerns, while the default risk of Countries X and Y remain unchanged. During the next month,
which country should have the highest interest rate? Which country should have the lowest interest
rate?
Solution to Continuing Case Problem: Blades, Inc.
1. One point of concern for you is that there is a tradeoff between the higher interest rates in Thailand
and the delayed conversion of baht into dollars. Explain what this means.
2. If the net baht received from the Thailand operation are invested in Thailand, how will U.S.
operations be affected? (Assume that Blades is currently paying 10 percent on dollars borrowed, and
needs more financing for its firm.)
ANSWER: If the cash flows generated in Thailand are all used to support U.S. operations, then
3. Construct a spreadsheet that compares the cash flows resulting from two plans. Under the first plan,
net baht-denominated cash flows (received today) will be invested in Thailand at 15 percent for a
one-year period, after which the baht will be converted to dollars. The expected spot rate for the baht
in one year is about $0.022 (Ben Holt’s plan). Under the second plan, net baht-denominated cash
flows are converted to dollars immediately and invested in the U.S. for one year at 8 percent. For this
question, assume that all baht-denominated cash flows are due today. Does Holt’s plan seem superior
in terms of dollar cash flows available after one year? Compare the choice of investing the funds
versus using the funds to provide needed financing to the firm.
ANSWER: (See spreadsheet attached.) If Blades can borrow funds at an interest rate below 8 percent,
Plan 1–Ben Holt’s Plan
Calculation of baht-denominated revenue:
× Pairs of “Speedos”
180,000
Calculation of baht-denominated cost of goods sold:
× Pairs of “Speedos”
72,000
Calculation of dollar receipts due to conversion of baht into dollars:
Net baht-denominated cash flows now (826,920,000 – 206,712,000)
620,208,000
Baht to be converted in one year
713,239,200
= Expected dollar receipts in one year
Plan 2—Immediate Conversion
Calculation of baht-denominated revenue:
× Pairs of “Speedos”
180,000
Calculation of baht-denominated cost of goods sold:
Cost of goods sold per pair of “Speedos”
= Baht-denominated expenses
206,712,000
Calculation of dollar receipts due to conversion of baht into dollars:
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= Dollar receipts now
$ 14,884,992
Plan 1
$ 15,691,262
Dollar difference
Solution to Supplemental Case: Gretz Tool Company
a. Citicorp could facilitate the following financial transactions:
2. Short-Term Financing. Citicorp could provide short-term loans to Gretz in whatever currency is
b. Normally, a subsidiary would prefer to borrow the currency that it uses to invoice its products. Thus,
the future cash inflows would be in the same currency that is needed to pay back the loan, and
Small Business Dilemma
Use of the Foreign Exchange Markets by the Sports Exports Company
1. Explain how the Sports Exports Company could utilize the spot market to facilitate the exchange of
currencies. Be specific.
2. Explain how the Sports Exports Company is exposed to exchange rate risk and how it could use the
forward market to hedge this risk.
ANSWER: The Sports Exports Company is exposed to exchange rate risk, because the value of the