Introduction To Foreign Exchange

1. Introduction To Foreign Exchange Ashish Shah

2. Introduction • We present a brief introduction to the foreign exchange market • What are the major currencies? • How are they quoted? • What is relative liquidity of different currency pairs? • Brief description on how FX options are quoted.

3. Major Currencies • Double counting given FX transactions involve two currencies – base/terms quote • G10 (official name and “trading” name) • EUR (37%) - euro, GBP (15%) – sterling/British pound, AUD (6.7%) – Australian dollar - Aussie, NZD (1.9%) – New Zealand dollar - Kiwi, USD (86.3%) – US dollar - dollar, CAD (4.2%) – Canadian dollar – cad (loonie), CHF (6.8%) – Swiss franc - Swiss, NOK (2.2%) – Norwegian krone - Nokkie, SEK (2.8%) – Swedish krona - Stokkie, JPY (16.5%) Japanese yen • Written in quotation order • Eg. EUR always first, JPY always last • Correct quotations EUR/GBP, AUD/NZD, CHF/JPY etc. • Generally USD crosses traded more (except EUR/scandis) • EUR/USD (27%), USD/JPY (13%), GBP/USD (12%), AUD/USD (6%), USD/CHF (5%), USD/CAD (4%), USD/SEK (2%), USD/other (19%) • EUR/JPY (2%), EUR/GBP (2%), EUR/CHF (4%), EUR/other (4%) • Other crosses (4%) – eg. AUD/NZD, NOK/SEK • Can trade any cross indirectly if direct equivalent not traded eg. CHF/SEK = EUR/CHF and EUR/SEK

4. Emerging Market Currencies Double counting given FX transactions involve two currencies Usually traded against USD (except CEE) Most Asian and Latam currencies are traded as NDF – non-deliverable forwards settled in USD Many currencies in EM are pegged or are managed currencies that trade within a band that central bank supports Common “trading” name also given

5. Terminology • Investors can trade FX leveraged • E.g put on a margin of $10mm USD to cover losses and trade $20mm USD notional • Greater leverage is more risky • Long/short • Going long EUR/USD • Borrow USD which is sold, and used to buy EUR • Due to arbitrageurs cross rates consistent at nearly all time levels (eg. EUR/JPY = EUR/USD rate * USD/JPY) • aaa/bbb = 1 / aaa/bbb • aaa/bbb = aaa/ccc * ccc/bbb

6. Liquidity Liquidity concentrated during London hours Most liquidity between 12 – 16 LDN (London and NY open) Dependent on local markets (eg. Scandis illiquid during Asian time, similarly EM Asian currencies illiquid during NY time) Illiquidity reduces sizes that can be traded and increases spreads Major USD crosses such as EUR/USD are liquid all the time Market opens approx 2200 LDN Sunday evening in Sydney and continues trading till 5pm NY on Friday evening Amount that can be executed depends on time of day and currency cross $100mm USD in EUR/USD is not big amount, but in USD/NOK it is a big amount Recent market turmoil has reduced liquidity

7. Who trades FX markets? • Not everyone is an FX speculator • Corporations repatriating profits • Investors buying assets in foreign countries • Foreign equities and bonds, businesses • Tourists visiting other countries • Governments • Central banks • Intervening in market to strengthen/weaken currency • Mostly EM countries • However, some G10 countries have intervened in the past • Recently Russia has intervened to try and support RUB (sell USD reserves and buying RUB) • UK unsuccessfully tried to defend GBP in 1992 • Also diversify currency reserves • Speculators trying to predict future exchange rate (also help liquidity) • Hedge funds • Retail investors • Banks

8. Market Makers • Market makers provide liquidity • Commercial and investment banks – DB, UBS, Barcap, Citi, RBS, JPMorgan, HSBC, LEH/NOM, GS, MS (order of liquidity) • FX mostly traded over-the-counter • Some futures are traded on exchanges (eg. at CME) • G10 FX spot bid/ask spreads are very small in most liquid crosses • EUR/USD 1 or 2 pips • G10 FX spot is high volume, low margin business (compared to many other assets) • In EM, volumes are lower, hence spreads are wider given that it is more difficult to hedge out risk • High liquidity is an attraction for investors • Interbank FX brokers • Interbank electronic platforms – EBS & Reuters

9. What influences exchange rates? • Fundamental factors • Interest rates • Higher interest rates attract overseas capital • Carry trade – investors taking advantage of carry differential between two currencies • Economic situation • Current account • GDP • Inflation • Unemployment • Raft of other economic indicators – surveys, new auto sales etc. • Terms of Trade Effects • State of the market • Investor sentiment – during periods of poor investor sentiment (like now) people are not prepared to take as much risks, hits currencies that are considered risky like Turkish Lira

10. What influences exchange rates? • Technical factors • Momentum (trend following) and mean reversion (range trading) • Positioning in currencies • Charting – areas of resistance, support etc. • Market will focus on different aspects at different times, sometimes totally ignoring factors. Need to adapt to changes in the market. • Each trader has a different take – some look at fundamentals, others at technical factors, but most at a mixture of both. There is no “right” way to view the market.