In: Finance
Hakan Yorulmaz speculates on the currencies in the foreign
currency exchange market. Currently the spot price for the Danish
krona is Dk159.87/$ and the 3-month forward rate is Dk 158.53/$.
Hakan thinks the Danish krona will move to Dk 158.00/$ in the next
three months.
What should Hakan do? If Hakan has $100.000. explain how much he
can earn as profit? Show calculations. Specify the transaction such
as buy sell at forward' spot expected future spot rate. (15
pts)
Spot rate = Dk159.87/$
3 month forward rate = Dk158.53/$
3 month expected spot rate = Dk158/$
Amount available = $100,000
Strategy 1: Sell the forward for $
a. Sell the forward contract for $100,000 at the rate of DK 158.53/$
b. At the end of 3 months, he will sell $100,000 at the forward rate of DK 158.53/$ for DK 15,853,000 ($100,000*DK 158.53/$)
c. He will again buy $ by converting DK 15,853,000 at the expected 3 month spot rate of DK158/$ to get $100.335.44 (DK 15,853,000/158)
d. Thus, the profit made is $335.44 ($100,335.44-$100,000)
Strategy 2: Sell $ at the spot rate and buy $ at the expected spot rate after 3 months
a. Sell the $100,000 at the spot rate of DK 159.87/$ to get DK 15,987,000
b. At the end of 3 months, he will sell DK 15,987,000 to buy $ at the expected spot rate of DK 158/$ for $ 101,183.54 (DK 15,987,000/DK 158/$)
c. Thus, the profit made is $1,183.54 ($101,183.54-$100,000)
Strategy 3: Sell $ at the spot rate and buy $ at the forward rate after 3 months
a. Sell the $100,000 at the spot rate of DK 159.87/$ to get DK 15,987,000
b. Buy future contract to buy USD at forward rate of DK158.53/$
c. After 3 months, buy USD by converting DK 15,987,000 at DK158.53/$ for $100,845.27 (DK 15,987,000/DK158.53/$)
d. Thus, the profit made is $845.27 ($100,845.27-$100,000)
Of the 3 strategies, strategy 2 provides the highest profit. Hence he should sell the $ at current spot rate and buy back the $ at the spot rate expected after 3 months.
Note:
a. Assumed buy and sell rates are same
b. Impact of interest on holding the currency not considered