A currency forward is a binding contract in the foreign exchange market that locks in the exchange rate for the purchase or sale of a currency on a future date. A currency forward is essentially a customizable hedging tool that does not involve an upfront margin payment.
The other major benefit of a currency forward is that its terms are not standardized and can be tailored to a particular amount and for any maturity or delivery period, unlike exchange-traded currency futures.
Key Takeaways
Currency forwards are OTC contracts traded in forex markets that lock in an exchange rate for a currency pair.
They are generally used for hedging, and can have customized terms, such as a particular notional amount or delivery period.
Unlike listed currency futures and options contracts, currency forwards do not require up-front payments when used by large corporations and banks.
Determining a currency forward rate depends on interest rate differentials for the currency pair in question.
Unlike other hedging mechanisms such as currency futures and options contracts—which require an upfront payment for margin requirements and premium payments, respectively—currency forwards typically do not require an upfront payment when used by large corporations and banks.
However, a currency forward has little flexibility and represents a binding obligation, which means that the contract buyer or seller cannot walk away if the “locked-in” rate eventually proves to be adverse. Therefore, to compensate for the risk of non-delivery or non-settlement, financial institutions that deal in currency forwards may require a deposit from retail investors or smaller firms with whom they do not have a business relationship.
Currency forward settlement can either be on a cash or a delivery basis, provided that the option is mutually acceptable and has been specified beforehand in the contract. Currency forwards are over-the-counter (OTC) instruments, as they do not trade on a centralized exchange, and are also known as “outright forwards.”
Importers and exporters generally use currency forwards to hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates.
The mechanism for computing a currency forward rate is straightforward, and depends on interest rate differentials for the currency pair (assuming both currencies are freely traded on the forex market).
For example, assume a current spot rate for the Canadian dollar of US$1 = C$1.0500, a one-year interest rate for Canadian dollars of 3 percent, and the one-year interest rate for US dollars of 1.5 percent.
After one year, based on interest rate parity, US$1 plus interest at 1.5 percent would be equivalent to C$1.0500 plus interest at 3 percent, meaning:
$1 (1 + 0.015) = C$1.0500 x (1 + 0.03)
US$1.015 = C$1.0815, or US$1 = C$1.0655
The one-year forward rate in this instance is thus US$ = C$1.0655. Note that because the Canadian dollar has a higher interest rate than the US dollar, it trades at a forward discount to the greenback. As well, the actual spot rate of the Canadian dollar one year from now has no correlation on the one-year forward rate at present.
The currency forward rate is merely based on interest rate differentials and does not incorporate investors’ expectations of where the actual exchange rate may be in the future.
Currency Forwards and Hedging
How does a currency forward work as a hedging mechanism? Assume a Canadian export company is selling US$1 million worth of goods to a U.S. company and expects to receive the export proceeds a year from now. The exporter is concerned that the Canadian dollar may have strengthened from its current rate (of 1.0500) a year from now, which means that it would receive fewer Canadian dollars per US dollar. The Canadian exporter, therefore, enters into a forward contract to sell $1 million a year from now at the forward rate of US$1 = C$1.0655.
If a year from now, the spot rate is US$1 = C$1.0300—which means that the C$ has appreciated as the exporter had anticipated – by locking in the forward rate, the exporter has benefited to the tune of C$35,500 (by selling the US$1 million at C$1.0655, rather than at the spot rate of C$1.0300). On the other hand, if the spot rate a year from now is C$1.0800 (i.e. the Canadian dollar weakened contrary to the exporter’s expectations), the exporter has a notional loss of C$14,500.
What Is the Difference Between Currency Forwards and Currency Futures?
Currency forwards and futures are very similar. The main difference is that currency futures have standardized terms and are traded on exchanges such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), whereas forwards have customizable terms and are traded over-the-counter (OTC).
Why Are Currency Forwards Used?
Currency forwards are used to lock in an exchange rate for a certain period of time. This is often used to hedge foreign currency exposure
Which Currencies Can Currency Forwards Be Written on?
Because they are customizable and trade OTC, currency forwards can appear on any number of currency pairs. Which ones would be determined by the counterparties involved in the trade.
A currency forward is a customized, written contract between two parties that sets a fixed foreign currency exchange rate for a transaction, set for a specified future date. Currency forward contracts are used to hedge foreign currency exchange risk
foreign currency exchange risk
Foreign exchange risk, also known as exchange rate risk, is the risk of financial impact due to exchange rate fluctuations. In simpler terms, foreign exchange risk is the risk that a business' financial performance or financial position will be impacted by changes in the exchange rates between currencies.
An example of currency hedging would be a U.S. investment bank planning to repatriate some European earnings. In that case, it may hedge some of the predicted profits by using an option to protect itself.
Take the example of an orange farm grower that sells oranges and an orange juice manufacturing company that uses these oranges for their juice product. If there is uncertainty about the future price of oranges, the farmer would want a fixed price on the oranges that will be sold at a future date.
A currency forward is a binding contract in the foreign exchange market that locks in the exchange rate for the purchase or sale of a currency on a future date. A currency forward is essentially a customizable hedging tool that does not involve an upfront margin payment.
To hedge on currency, a company makes a “forward agreement” with an investment dealer to sell a specific amount of a particular currency on a future date—but at today's exchange rate. This forward agreement is carried out through an exchange traded fund (a type of investment).
For example, if the forward rate for EUR/USD is 1.25, but the spot rate is 1.20 and the interest rate differential is 0.5%, an arbitrageur could borrow 1,000 euros at 0.5% interest for one year, convert it to 1,200 US dollars at the spot rate, invest it at 1% interest for one year, buy a forward contract to sell 1,212 ...
For example, if you buy homeowner's insurance, you are hedging yourself against fires, break-ins, or other unforeseen disasters. Portfolio managers, individual investors, and corporations use hedging techniques to reduce their exposure to various risks.
Hedging provides the flexibility to reverse a market position because of changes in crop growing conditions, changes in the condition of stored grain, or changes in price outlook. Once a forward cash contract commitment is made, it may be difficult to cancel or to alter.
Purchasing insurance against property losses, using derivatives such as options or futures to offset losses in underlying investment assets, or opening new foreign exchange positions to limit losses from fluctuations in existing currency holdings while retaining some upside potential are all examples of hedging.
Many funds and ETFs also hedge currency risk using forward contracts. A currency forward contract, or currency forward, allows the purchaser to lock in the price they pay for a currency. In other words, the exchange rate is set in place for a specific period of time.
Set the amount of currency needed and settlement date, typically up to two years in the future, at the current exchange rate, plus forward points. All you pay at the time of booking is a small deposit, which is then applied to the balance of the forward contract when the forward is due on the settlement date.
For example, a coffee company depends on a regular, predictable supply of coffee beans. To protect itself against a possible increase in coffee bean prices, the company could enter into a futures contract that would allow it to buy beans at a specific price on a particular date. That contract is a hedge.
Hedging strategies are designed to reduce the impact of short-term corrections in asset prices. For example, if you wanted to hedge a long stock position, you could buy a put option or establish a collar on that stock.
The hedging meaning in finance refers to holding two or more open positions when trading. If there are any losses from your first investment position, you'll be able to offset these with gains from the second. This helps protect your overall portfolio from the impact of unexpected risk.
Currency risk can be reduced by hedging, which offsets currency fluctuations. If a U.S. investor holds stocks in Canada, for example, the realized return is affected by both the change in stock prices and the change in the value of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar.
Under the contract, a specified asset is agreed to be traded at a later date at a specified price. For example, you enter into a contract to sell 100 units of a computer to another party after 2 months at Rs.50,000 per unit. You enter into a forward contract.
Many funds and ETFs also hedge currency risk using forward contracts. A currency forward contract, or currency forward, allows the purchaser to lock in the price they pay for a currency. In other words, the exchange rate is set in place for a specific period of time.
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