Overview Your team works for a renowned FX trading company, Snowy River Ltd The company specialises in trading major currencies such as Australian Dollar (AUD), British Pound (GBP), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), New Zealand Dollar (NZD), Swiss Franc (CHF) and US Dollar (USD) The company also trades various foreign exchange related derivatives for its clients In addition, it provides general advice to other clients who trade for themselves The firms chief trading executive, Pete Fernandes, has requested your teams expertise in trading foreign currencies in order to improve firm's trading strategy and profits You have been asked to prepare a detailed report in this regard In your report you must address the following questions Question 2 Senior management is concerned about the recent developments in the financial markets There is a general belief that market volatility has been relatively high, yet it might climb even higher than expected in the near future due to the current global health crisis You have been asked to conduct a thorough risk assessment of your speculative positions undertaken in question 1 For this purpose, the firms foreign currency analyst has provided you with the 2 month benchmark rates of these major currencies Currency Benchmark Interest Rates 2 Month Benchmark Rates ( ) AUD 2 Month Bank Bill Swap Rates 0 095 GBP 2 Month GBP LIBOR 0 073 CAD 2 Month Treasury Bills 0 150 EUR 2 Month Euro LIBOR 0 495 NZD 2 Month Bank Bill Yields 0 270 CHF 2 Month CHF LIBOR 0 744 JPY 2 Month JPY LIBOR 0 059 USD 2 Month USD LIBOR 0 205 Table 3 Benchmark interest rates on August 22, 2020 Using the interest rates above, calculate the implied forward bid, ask and mid rates for the currency pairs in Table 4 (next page) 3 Marks You must then calculate the value of your FX portfolio at the end of October using the calculated bid ask rates Report the expected value of your position in each currency in the position summary in Table 2 2 Marks Finally, you must calculate expected profit loss (gain or loss over the opening position) on your portfolio in AUD 1 Mark The AUD value of the net expected position must be calculated using the estimated mid rates Comm Terms Bid Ask Mid AUD USD AUD EUR EUR AUD AUD GBP GBP AUD AUD JPY EUR USD GBP USD USD JPY EUR GBP EUR JPY GBP JPY AUD CAD EUR CHF GBP CHF USD CHF USD CAD NZD USD Table 4 Implied forward rates at the end of October 2020 Mid rate (bid rate ask rate) 2 Explain your final portfolio position to the senior manager Given the implied forward rates for October, discuss whether your speculative positions will generate profits for the company You must explain ending positions for each currency ( and its AUD value using mid rates ) in your portfolio Do your portfolio have any exposure to exchange rate risk What recommendations, if any, will you make to the senior management 1 Mark

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Overview Your team works for a renowned FX trading company, Snowy River Ltd. The company specialises in trading major currencies such as Australian Dollar (AUD),

Overview

Your team works for a renowned FX trading company, Snowy River Ltd. The company specialises in trading major currencies such as Australian Dollar (AUD), British Pound (GBP), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), New Zealand Dollar (NZD), Swiss Franc (CHF) and US Dollar (USD). The company also trades various foreign exchange related derivatives for its clients. In addition, it provides general advice to other clients who trade for themselves. The firms chief trading executive, Pete Fernandes, has requested your teams expertise in trading foreign currencies in order to improve firm's trading strategy and profits. You have been asked to prepare a detailed report in this regard. In your report you must address the following questions:

Question 2

Senior management is concerned about the recent developments in the financial markets. There is a general belief that market volatility has been relatively high, yet it might climb even higher than expected in the near future due to the current global health crisis. You have been asked to conduct a thorough risk assessment of your speculative positions undertaken in question 1. For this purpose, the firms foreign currency analyst has provided you with the 2-month benchmark rates of these major currencies:

Currency	Benchmark Interest Rates	2-Month Benchmark Rates (%)
AUD	2-Month Bank Bill Swap Rates	0.095
GBP	2-Month GBP LIBOR	0.073
CAD	2-Month Treasury Bills	0.150
EUR	2-Month Euro LIBOR	-0.495
NZD	2-Month Bank Bill Yields	0.270
CHF	2-Month CHF LIBOR	-0.744
JPY	2-Month JPY LIBOR	-0.059
USD	2-Month USD LIBOR	0.205

Table 3: Benchmark interest rates on August 22, 2020.

Using the interest rates above, calculate the implied forward bid, ask and mid rates for the currency pairs in Table 4 (next page) [3 Marks]. You must then calculate the value of your FX portfolio at the end of October using the calculated bid/ask rates. Report the expected value of your position in each currency in the position summary in Table 2 [2 Marks]. Finally, you must calculate expected profit/loss (gain or loss over the opening position) on your portfolio in AUD [1 Mark]. The AUD value of the net expected position must be calculated using the estimated mid rates.

Comm / Terms	Bid	Ask	Mid
AUD/USD
AUD/EUR
EUR/AUD
AUD/GBP
GBP/AUD
AUD/JPY
EUR/USD
GBP/USD
USD/JPY
EUR/GBP
EUR/JPY
GBP/JPY
AUD/CAD
EUR/CHF
GBP/CHF
USD/CHF
USD/CAD
NZD/USD

Table 4: Implied forward rates at the end of October 2020. Mid rate = (bid rate + ask rate)/2

Explain your final portfolio position to the senior manager. Given the implied forward rates for October, discuss whether your speculative positions will generate profits for the company. You must explain ending positions for each currency (and its AUD value using mid rates) in your portfolio? Do your portfolio have any exposure to exchange rate risk? What recommendations, if any, will you make to the senior management? [1 Mark].