Buyer’s Credit Buyer’s Credits are a form of Eurocurrency loans designed to finance a specific transaction involving import of goods and services. Under this arrangement, lending bank(s) pay the exporter on presentation of shipping documents. The importer works out a deferred payment arrangement with the lending bank, which the bank treats as a loan. Large loans are club loans or syndicated loans. Many provisions in the loan agreement are quite similar to a general purpose syndicated credit. However, a number of formalities have to be completed before the exporter can draw funds. The interest rate of the loan is linked to a market index such as LIBOR. In some cases, a state Export Credit Agency from the exporter’s country may pay a subsidy to the banks so that an attractive funding cost can be offered to the importer. Another aspect is the Line of Credit. Lines of Credit are like Continue reading
International Trade Finance
Syndicated Euro Credits
History of Syndicated Euro Credits Syndicated Euro Credits are in existence since the late 1960s. The first syndicate was organized by Bankers Trust in an effort to arrange a large credit for Austria. During the early seventies, Euromarkets saw the demand for Euro credits increasing from non-traditional and hitherto untested borrowers. The period after first oil crisis was marked by a boom phase. To cope with the increasing demand for funds, lenders expanded their business without undertaking due credit appraisal of their clients or the countries thus financed. Further, the European banks had short-term deposits while bulk of borrowers required long-term deposits. These landings were at fixed rates thus exposing these banks to interest rate risks. The banks evolved the concept of lending funds for medium longterm i.e. 7-15 years on a variable interest rate basis linked to the Interbank Rate (LIBOR). Revision of rates would take place every 3-6 Continue reading
Forex Operational Risk Management through Marketing Management
Operating risk in foreign exchange operations can be negotiated ably through marketing management strategies as well. These are: market selection, product strategy, pricing strategy and promotion strategy. Market Selection: Impact of exchange rate fluctuations on operating profit can be dealt through right mix of markets. Major strategic operations for an exporter are the markets in which to sell and the relative marketing support to devote to each market. Marketing management must take into account its economic risk and selectivity, adjust the marketing support, on a nation-by-nation basis, to maximize long-term profit. From the perspective of non-US companies, the strong U.S. dollar is a golden opportunity to gain market share at the expense of their U.S rivals. It is also necessary-to consider the issue of market segmentation within individual countries. A firm that sells differentiated products to more affluent customers may not be harmed as much by foreign currency devaluation. On Continue reading
Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs)
Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs) are transferable securities to be listed on Indian stock exchanges in the form of depository receipts created by a Domestic Depository in India against the underlying equity shares of the issuing company which is incorporated outside India. As per the definition given in the Companies (Issue of Indian Depository Receipts) Rules, 2004, Indian Depository Receipt is an instrument in the form of a Depository Receipt created by the Indian depository in India against the underlying equity shares of the issuing company. In an IDR, foreign companies would issue shares, to an Indian Depository (say National Security Depository Limited — NSDL), which would in turn issue depository receipts to investors in India. The actual shares underlying the IDRs would be held by an Overseas Custodian, which shall authorize the Indian Depository to issue the IDRs. The Indian Depository Receipts would have following features: Overseas Custodian: Foreign bank Continue reading
Difference Between Euro Note Market and Euro Commercial Paper Market
The Euromarkets are the single most important source of commercial loan funds for the developing countries. The development and operation of Eurocurrency markets have played a very significant role in the post war international financial system. Indeed the explosive growth in international banking and bank lending could not have come about but for the Eurocurrency markets. Simply stated, the term Eurocurrency refers to a currency deposited in a bank outside the home country of that currency. Therefore, Eurocurrencies and Eurocurrency markets are outside the regulatory framework of any monetary authority-the monetary authority of the place where the deposit is made is not concerned with non-residents depositing or borrowing foreign currencies, which does not affect the domestic money supply. It is also outside the control of the monetary authority of the home country of the currency concerned because the transaction takes place outside the country. Inter-Bank Markets Apart from customer transactions, Continue reading
Managing Foreign Exchange Risk with Forex Market Hedge
A firm may be able to reduce or eliminate currency exposure by means of Forex market hedging. Important Forex market hedging tools used for managing Forex risk are : 1. Hedging Through Options Market: Buying a Call option in Forex can be used by an importer or borrower to hedge his payables against exchange rate fluctuations. This is done only if is felt that the foreign currency is in an appreciation mode. Buying a Put option can be used by an exporter or lender to hedge receivables. This is done only when the foreign currency is in a depreciating mode. Buying a Call. Illustration: It is now August. Suppose a US importer has to pay in November 62.5 million yen to a Japanese supplier. The current $/Yen = $0.007739. A December call option in yen is available at a strike of $0.0078, per yen. The premium is $ 0.000108/yen. The Continue reading