Differentiate between a shift and movement of the supply curve.
Toytown is a company which distributes and sells a popular toytrain. The company, which is based in Australia, imports trains from theUSA which it packages and sells in New Zealand and larger countries inthe Far East. The company is also considering establishing a subsidiaryin South Africa which would buy products from Toytown and sell withinAfrica. Toytown reports its results in its home currency. The company paysfor its purchases from the USA in US dollars, but receives payment forthe goods which it sells in Australasia and the Far East in localcurrency. All transactions carried out with the subsidiary in SouthAfrica would be in US dollars. The company generally takes 6 weeks topay its supplier in the USA and receives payment from debtors within 3months. Over the last few years the company has found that sales have beenquite predictable and it has been possible to plan sales levels andpurchases of goods in advance. However, there is increasing competitionfrom companies in the Far East, which may make this more difficult inthe future. Required: (3) The company is currentlyconsidering whether the foreign currency exposure could be managed moreefficiently. Describe the following types of foreign currency exposure, giving examples of how they could impact Toytown, now and in the future: Economic risk () Translation risk () Transaction risk (6 marks) (b) Describe the followingapproaches to managing or hedging transaction exposure and thedisadvantages and advantages of each method: @) Leading and lagging ) Matching () Forward exchange contracts (iv) Currency options (6 marks) (c) Identify the factors which Toytown should consider when deciding which approach to take, and giverecommendations on how Toytown should manage its transaction exposure,giving reasons for your recommendations. (8 marks) (d) The company is also looking intothe financing of the establishment of the new subsidiary. The companyestimates that it will need to borrow $2 million US dollars in twomonths time for a period of six months, but is concerned about expectedfluctuation in interest rates and is considering hedging this exposureusing a forward rate agreement. The company is able to buy a 2-8 FRApriced at 5.0 - 4.7.An insurance company operates a unitised with-profit fund. Valuations are carried out at each month end. These valuations are available 3 weeks after each month end and form the basis for the market value adjustment factors used for adjusting surrender values. The appointed actuary is concerned that because of the market volatility there has been adverse selection against the with-profits fund. You have been asked to submit a proposal to update valuations and investment performance on a more frequent basis. In particular you have been asked to be able to provide an update immediately after an adverse market movement. The unitised with-profits fund has been divided into separately managed funds for each asset class as follows: Asset class % of the fund Fixed interest medium term corporate bonds 18% Fixed interest medium term gilts 40% UK equities 45% Non-UK equities 15% Property 15% Cash 270 Commercial Mortgages 1% Outline the investigations you would undertake and set out the points you would make in your reply to the appointed actuary. [11]
