Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Business economics - Banking, Stock Exchanges, Insurance, Accounting, grade: 1,0, Reutlingen University (sib - school of international business Reutlingen), course: International Financing, language: English, abstract: Risk management within companies is getting more and more important. The reasons for this development are varied. The most important factor is doubtless the internationalisation of companies. Acting on international markets offers on the one hand numerous chances for an enterprise but on the other hand it also holds an additional risk potential concerning losses. This negative aspect is mainly caused by a lack of information regarding political risk and exchange rate risk. Risk management is also necessary referring to change in interest rates. It is possible to limit, control and organize the interest rate risk as well as other risks of the company. As the financial outcome of a company gains importance risk management concerning interest rates and exchange rates is thus essential. To face these risks and other problems that derive of variations in stock markets, interest markets or exchange markets derivative instruments play a significant role. In April 2003 the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) published a survey of derivatives usage by the world’s 500 largest companies. According to this study 85% of the companies use derivatives to help manage interest rate risk and 78% of them use derivatives to help manage currency risk. Only 8% of the 500 largest companies do not use derivatives. There are many different kinds of financial instruments which are very complex in their function. This paper has its focus on interest rate and currency swaps. By using these instruments it is possible to hedge interest rate risks or currency risks. The first chapter gives an overview about existing derivatives and about the structure and function of swaps. Moreover the different kinds of traders with emphasis on hedging will be described. Afterwards the impact of interest risks on companies as well as OTC instruments that are used for hedging are explained. Subsequently the definition of an interest rate swap follows plus the application of this instrument with regard to hedging. In chapter five the currency risk management and types of exchange rate risks are illustrated. After that it will be explained how to hedge these exchange rate risks. The paper then gives a description of currency swaps and their application. Reasons for swaps in general as well as possible risks will also be pointed out. [...]

The IMF Working Papers series is designed to make IMF staff research available to a wide audience. Almost 300 Working Papers are released each year, covering a wide range of theoretical and analytical topics, including balance of payments, monetary and fiscal issues, global liquidity, and national and international economic developments.

In the end-game of a fixed exchange rate regime, increases in interest rates to defend the currency may lead to an apparently perverse market response: further downward pressure on the exchange rate. This may result if a large proportion of investors` foreign exchange exposure is dynamically hedged. This paper describes the trading operations involved in implementing dynamic hedges and the impact of these operations on central bank policy. The success of an interest rate defense hinges on the size and timing of the funding operations of those who are being squeezed relative to those engaged in dynamic hedging.

Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject Economics - Finance, grade: 1,3, University of Applied Sciences Essen, language: English, abstract: Every action involves risks. This applies to companies operating in the market and also in particular to credit institutions whose raison d'être lies in the assumption of risks. Risk in the literal sense is grounded in a lack of awareness of the possibility of negative deviation from planned corporate goals. To generate income and to be able to survive a company has to take risks. Such risks are different in nature and are therefore to be evaluated differently. Banks generate the majority of their income from interest-bearing business. Companies finance their borrowing requirements next to equity mainly through loans. With regards to borrowing costs it is to be noted that corporate risk also shows a dependency between total capital and interest on debt. This is known as the leverage effect which in a negative scenario may be so large that the resulting losses can no longer be compensated. The change in economic conditions, fluctuations of interest rates (IR) and exchange rates on the capital markets especially due to inflation at the beginning of the 70s and 80s were the trigger for the development of new financial instruments (see Appendix, Figures 7, 8 and 9). The financial industry constantly creates new financial products that make it possible to lower the volatility of interest rates and currencies and the associated potential for currency and interest rate risks to a minimum. One of these capital market tools to minimize risks in the changes shown linked to interest rate are the so called interest rate swaps. The aim of this work is to explain how interest rate risks can be minimized with interest rate swaps. It will focus on the over the counter (OTC) interest rate swaps market. In the first chapters this termpaper examine the historical development, basic model, trading platforms and different meaning for lenders and borrowers of interest rate swaps. Next, it will explain the valuation and calculation of interest rate swaps as well as the specific value drivers and approaches. In summary, it provides an overview of the different types of interest rate swaps while also taking a critical look at these derivatives.

This title provides a forum for the discussion surrounding the use of currency hedging for portfolio managment and examines the arguments for the different hedging techniques. The main arguments are outlined with contributions from both academics and practitioners. The evidence on the performance of various funds is examined in detail.

"The book describes and evaluates all of the major market developments that have taken place in the early nineties, including the expansion of futures exchanges in European markets, the introduction of a vast array of new financial futures products, and an expanding product range in the bank-driven OTC market. The book also provides readers with a thorough grounding in the basic components of generic product elements - whether structured on floors, caps, swaps or other types of instruments - in order to better understand all of the possibilities in the hedging market." "In addition, you'll find a wealth of useful reference information including definitions, formulae with sample calculations of all the appropriate risk and hedging concepts, and realistic case discussions and sample calculations.".