Page 36 - FINAL CFA I SLIDES JUNE 2019 DAY 6
P. 36
Session Unit 5:
20. Currency Exchange Rates
LOS 20.h: Calculate and interpret the forward rate consistent with the spot rate and the interest rate in each
currency, p.162
Example: Calculating the arbitrage-free forward exchange rate: Consider So = ABE/DUB =
4.5671, the 1-year riskless ABE rate is 5%, and the 1-year riskless DUB rate is 3%. What is the
1-year forward exchange rate that will prevent arbitrage profits?
Note that the forward rate is greater than the spot
rate by 1.94% (=4.6558 / 4.5671 – 1)
This is approximately equal to the interest rate differential of 5% – 3% = 2%.
The currency with the higher interest rate should depreciate over time by approximately the
amount of the interest rate differential.