This excerpt, which discusses dual currency bonds, is taken from the International Capital Market, published in 1989 by the European Investment Bank: The generic name of dual-currency bonds hides many different variations which are difficult to characterize in detail. These variations on the same basic concept have given birth to specific names like Index Currency Op- tion notes (ICON), foreign interest payment bonds (FIPS), forex-linked bonds, heaven and hell bonds, to name but a few. Despite this diversity it is, however, possible to attempt a broad-brush classification of the vari- ous types of dual-currency bonds. The first category covers bond issues denominated in one currency but for which coupon and repayment of the principal are made in another designated currency at an exchange rate fixed at the time of issue. A sec- ond category comprises dual-currency bonds in which coupon payments and redemption proceeds are made in a currency different from the cur- rency of denomination at the spot exchange rate that will prevail at the time of payment. Within this category, one finds the forex-linked bonds, foreign cur- rency bonds and heaven and hell bonds. A final category includes bonds which offer to issuers or the holder the choice of the currency in which payments and/or redemptions are to be made at the future spot exchange rate. ICONS fall into this latter category because there is an implicit op- tion due to the exchange rate revision formula. Usually, these bonds are referred to as option currency bonds. Irrespective of the above-mentioned categories, all dual-currency bonds expose the issuers and the holders to some form of foreign exchange risk.. .. Pricing dual-currency bonds is therefore an application of option pricing, as the bonds can be looked at as a combination of a straight bond and a currency option. The value of the straight bond component is obtained ac- cording to traditional fixed-rate bond valuation models. The pricing of the option component is, ex post, equal to the difference between the dual cur- rency bond price and its straight bond component....

a. Why do all currency bonds "expose the issuers and the holders to some form of foreign exchange risk" regardless of the category of bond?

b. Do you agree that the pricing of all dual-currency bonds is an application of option pricing?

c. Why should the price of the option component be "equal to the difference be- tween the dual currency bond price and its bond component"?

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