International Finance

April – 2002
60 Marks
Note:
(1) Section I is compulsory.
(2) Attempt any three questions from Section IL
(3) Both the sections be tied together.
(4) Use of simple calculators permitted.
(5) Figures to the right indicate full marks

Section — I
(1) Explain the following concepts (14)

(a) Gold specie standard.

(b) Overall balance.
(c) American quotes.
(d) Yankee bonds.
(e) ADR
(f) Arbitrage.
(g) Crawling peg.

(2) Following are some of the imaginary transactions which would enable you to
form a B.O.P. statement of India. Organize a BOP statement and provide (16)
sufficient information for the related issues.

(All figures are in Rs. and in mns.)

(Conversion rate of INR/DEM = 12, INR/$ 43)
(All transactions are pertaining toa particular year only).
(a) An Indian company of XYZ corporation sells a part of its production to France
for Rs.1,000 million.

(b) Government .of India makes a gift of Rs. 100 million to a neighboring country
and subsequently that country buys medicines, food etc. for the full amount
from India.

(c) Few Indian Companies buy machines for Rs.1,500 million and in the payment
agreement 60 per cent is asked to be paid immediately and the remaining in
three years.

(d) Foreign tourists during the period in question bought handicrafts worth Rs.50
million to carry with them.

(e) The value of transportation and insurance is given as 5% and 25% respectively
of the imports.

(f) An individual exporter exports goods worth Rs.50 million to his US counterpart.
The payment will be effected by crediting the bank account which the Indian
exports holds in a US bank.

(g) A bank in India purchases securities issued by the Government of France

valued at 200 million US $ and pays to them by drawing an account it has with
its correspondent bank in France.

(h) A German charity sends a cheque for DEM 50,000 to Red Cross India as a

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 International Finance
April – 2002
60 Marks
donation.

(i) An America tour operator arranges a tour of group of Americans to India and
sends a cheque of US $ 2,50,000.

(j) A Foreign branch of an Indian company remitted its profit worth Rs.50 mn and
five Indian companies have to pay interest and dividend to the tune of Rs. 75
mn.

(k) Indian Government received funds worth Rs.125 mn for the maintenance
of foreign embassies consulates etc.

(l) Government of India carried out a temporary sale of gold from RBI to the bank
of England to the tune of Rs.150 mn.

(m) Domestically mined gold is sold to RBI to the tune of Rs.120 mm

(n) Retirement of SDRs firm a total allocation of Rs. 100 mn subjected to the rules
of withdrawal.

(o) Cash remittances by Indian nationals abroad to the tune of Rs.100 mn.

(p) Consultancy and other services acquired from abroad for Rs. 150mn and the
same services extended by India for Rs.75mn.

(q) IBM sets up a subsidiary in Bangalore worth Rs. 800 mn. and TATA’s set up a
production unit in Nigeria for Rs.70 mn.

(r) Commercial borrowings and commercial lendings, both long term, are Rs. 300
mn. and Rs.100 mn respectively.

(s) On the basis of the above data illustrate the ‘basic balance’ and the current
account balance.

(t) How is the accounting balance maintained?

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 International Finance
April – 2002
60 Marks

Section — II
(3) Discuss the ‘exposure’ and ‘risk’ occurring due to changes in: (10)
(a) Interest rates
(b) Exchange rates.

(4) Examine the different instruments available with a corporate body in India to raise (10)
funds abroad.

(5) (5)
(a) Examine various aspects of EMU?
(b) The following quotes are obtained in New York: (5)
$/£ 1.5275/85
SFr/$ 1.5530/35
(i) What do you expect for SFr/ £ spot in London.
(ii) If a London Bank quotes 2.3730/40, can you make arbitrage profits? If so, how?

(6)
(a) Briefly discuss the evolution of Euro markets. (5)
(b) The following quotes are available in Amsterdam:
$/DG Spot : 0.5875/85 (5)
1—month : 12/18
2—month : 15/25
3—month : 20/30

(i) Calculate the outright forwards.

(ii) Indicate their spreads.

(7)
(a) Write a note on MICA. (5)

(b) Exchange rates:

Can $ 0.665 per DM (spot) (5)
Can $ 0.670 per DM (3 months)

Interest rates: DM 7 per cent per annum

Can $9 per cent per annum

Calculate the arbitrage gain possible from the above data.

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 International Finance
April – 2003
60 Marks
Note:
(1) Section 1 is compulsory.
(2) Attempt any three questions from Section II.
(3) Figures to the right indicate full marks to questions/sub-questions.
(4) Use of simple calculators permitted.
(5) Both the sections be tied together.

Section — I
(1) Explain the following concepts (14)

(a) Translation Exposure.

(b) Dirty Float
(c) Put Option.
(d) Foreign Aid.
(e) Samurai Bond.
(f) Direct Quote.
(g) Balance of Visible Trade.

(2) Case Study:

How much is enough and is economic growth being sacrificed for the (16)
“comfort” of accumulating foreign exchange reserves? A sharply defined debate on
these two questions facing the forex managers was kicked off here on Friday by
Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Shri. Yaga Venugopal Reddy, with opinion
divided among economists on whether the central bank should continue to
accumulate reserves or use them to stimulate growth.

Defining “comfort” in a variety of ways, Dr. Reddy zeroed in on “the stability of

financial markets” and the assurance of external confidence as the driving
elements defining the country’s forex management. In a world of liberal flows and
globalization of financial markets, it is no longer import cover that defines forex
adequacy but the insurance against risk, the assurance of stability, the management
of “lumpiness” in the demand and supply of currency, geopolitical and strategic
factors and so on which define the “adequacy” of reserves, he asserted.

Several economists who participated in the debate argued that the

government and RBI should worry less about accumulating reserves and utilize
them to generate higher growth. Chairing the meeting, former finance minister Shri
P. Chidambaram said RBI had initiated an important debate which must be joined
by experts and policymakers.

When the level of forex reserves crossed the $50 billion mark earlier this
year, several economists criticized the RBI for continuing to stock forex and not
casing up fast enough on capital account and trade liberalization. Use the money to
stimulate growth said Professor Deepak Lal, estimating that India may have lost

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 International Finance
April – 2003
60 Marks
anything between 3 to 5 percentage points of growth during the second half of the
1990s with the policy of reserve build up.

In the face of such damning numbers, Dr. Reddy was not at all defensive.
Yes, he conceded, there are political and institutional factors at play which prevent
the RBI from being more pro-active in letting reserves be drawn down. After all, the
RBI does not any longer look at only the import cover that reserves afford. More
importantly, forex reserves are not maintained for the sake of the cash alone,
though there is a precautionary motive in maintaining adequate reserves. Nor are
they maintained to earn revenues, though there is some income that accrues from
such reserves. But they are also maintained, and increasingly so, to impart stability
to markets and boost investor confidence as well as general confidence in
the sovereign.

Given the fact that Brazil saw its whopping $80 bn reserve dwindle down in
days and several other countries have had to fight rearguard battles to defend their
currencies and reserves, an economy like India, with its political, institutional
and infrastructural rigidities, can ill-afford to run the risk of letting reserves be
whittled down by the play of speculative market forces in the forex market. Hence,
a bit of considered management is a good option and Dr. Reddy seemed to
receive the endorsement of most of his New Delhi audience as well as the many
experienced policy makers who turned up to hear him.

Giving his view, the ex-Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, said, ‘There is

no reason to believe that these flows will reverse themselves’. As long as we adopt
sensible and forward-looking economic policies, there is no reason to believe that
our reserves will decline or will not be sufficient to meet normal demands. Those
who think otherwise must be congenital pessimists or believe that a particularly
cruel hand of fate lies over India.

All indications are that India will continue to liberalize the trade sector. We
will continue to export more goods and services. True, we will also import more, but
the exchange rate mechanism (and tariffs) will act as a restraining factor. All
indicators point to a more liberal regime for foreign direct investment. So long as the
rate of inflation is under control and there is an interest differential, private
remittances will continue to flow into the country. Our corporate have shown a
remarkable capacity to access foreign capital. It is a sign of their
growing competitiveness and efficiency, and there is reason to believe that more
companies will be able to raise both debt and equity abroad. That leaves tourism.
Even with muddled policies and meddling governments, 2.3 million tourists arrive
in India. If we can get our act together, this number can be easily raised to, first, 5
million and then to 10 million. Given these objective conditions, I believe that
India’s foreign
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 International Finance
April – 2003
60 Marks
exchange reserves will continue to grow.

A debate has started on the adequacy of our foreign exchange reserves. I

recall a seminar on July 5, 1991 when economists of every shade urged Dr.
Manmohan Singh to concentrate on building reserves. It is most gratifying that 11
years later some economists are asking the questions “When is enough, enough?”

Our reserves are “adequate” if they give us the confidence to leverage that
strength. Our reserves will be useless if we continue to treat them as hoard and
believe they will always be inadequate.

Answer the following questions:

(a) What are the sources of forex reserves in India?
(b) What are the motives behind holding ‘adequate’ forex reserves?
(c) What according to you can RBI do, with such large forex reserves?
(d) What is full convertibility of Rupee? Can we go for it now?

Section — II
(3) Give a detailed outline of the Balance of Payment Statement?
(10)
(4) Explain various channels through which Capital flows from rich to poor countries?
(10)
(5)
(a) “Is it possible to hedge the foreign exchange risk fully?” Discuss. (5)
(b) Consider the following quotes (5)

Spot (Euro/Pound) = 1.6543/ 1.6557

Spot (Pound /NZ$) = 0.2786/0.2800

(i) Calculate the % spread on the Euro/Pound Rate.

(ii) Calculate the % spread on the Pound/NZ$ Rate.
(iii) The maximum possible % spread on the cross rate between the Euro and the
NZ$.

(6) (5)
(a) How far SDR have been able to solve the problem of International Liquidity?
(b) The following quotes are available: (5)
Spot ($/Euro) 0.8385/0.8391
3 months forward 20/30
Spot ($/Pound) 1.4548/1.4554
3-months forward 35/25

Find the 3 month (Euro/Pound) outright forward rates.

(7) Write Short Notes:

(a) IBRD. (10)
(b) Portfolio Investment.

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 International Finance
April – 2004
60 Marks
Note:
(1) Section 1 is compulsory.
(2) Attempt any three questions from Section II.
(3) Figures to the right indicate marks.
(4) Both the sections be tied together.
(5) Use of simple calculators permitted.

Section — I
(1) Explain the following concepts (14)

(a) Vehicle currency.

(b) Inflation Risk.
(c) Bill of Lading.
(d) Bulls and bears in foreign exchange market.
(e) Fiat money
(f) Devaluation and Revaluation of currency.
(g) Treatment of goodwill in BOP

(2) Various types of TRANSACTIONS between US and UK residents are shown below.
(16)
Show how each TRANSACTION is recorded in each of the two countries’ balance
of payments. Name the type of TRANSACTION. The exchange rate for all the
transaction is assumed to be $ 1.60/£1

(a) The US makes a gift of £1 million of goods to a UK charitable organization

(b) The US pays interest, profit, and dividends to UK investors of $80 million by
debiting US bank accounts, which are then credited to UK residents bank
account held in US.
(c) A US investor decides to buy £ 500 of UK Treasury bills and to pay for them by
debiting his US bank account and crediting to the account of the UK treasury held
in New York.
(d) The US exports $ 1000 of goods to the UK in exchange for
$ 1000 for services.

Section — II
(3) (a) Differentiate between ADR and GDR. (5)
(b) Differentiate between Translation and transaction exposure. (5)
(4) Examine the Transformation of European Union from a political and economic union
to a monetary union. (10)

(5) (a) Explain in detail LERMS. (5)

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 International Finance
April – 2004
60 Marks

(5) (b) Your import customer asked you to retire an import bill for US $ 100,000 (5)
received on collection basis and debits the cost to his account, assuming US
dollars were quoted in the inter bank markets:

SPOT US $ 1 = Rs. 39.7200 - 39.7650

One month forward Rs.0.1050 - 0.1150.
(i) You require an exchange margin of 0.150%
(ii) Your corresponding bank charges US $50.00.

Calculate exchange rate applicable for retirement of the bill and rupee amount
recoverable from the customer.

N.B. (a) Exchange rate quoted to the customer four decimal places with last two
digits in multiple of 25. (b) Rupee equivalent should be nearest to whole rupee.

(6) (a) Explain in detail purchasing power parity (5)

(b) From the following data calculate the possibilities of a gain/ loss in arbitrage.
(5)
Spots rate FFR 6.00 = US $ 1.
6 months forward rate FFR 6.0020 = $1.
Annualized interest rate on 6 months US $ = 5%.
Annualized interest rate 6 months Fr = 8%

(7) A foreign exchange trader gives the following quotes for the Belgian Franc Spot, (10)
one month, three months, and six months to US based treasurer.
1$ =0.02478/80 4/6, 9/8, 14/11

(a) Calculate the outright quotes for one, three six months forward.
(b) If the treasurer wished to buy Belgian Franc three months forward, how much
would he pay in US Dollars?
(c) If he wished to purchase US Dollars one month forward, how much he has to
pay in Belgian Francs?
(d) Assuming that Belgian francs are being bought, what is the premium or
discount, for the one, three and six month forward rates in annual percentage
terms?
(e) What do the above quotations imply in respect of the term structure of interest
rates in the USA and the Belgium?

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 International Finance
April – 2005 60 Marks

Note:
(1) Section 1 is compulsory.
(2) Attempt any three questions from Section II.
(3) Figures to the right indicate marks.
(4) Both the sections be tied together.
(5) Use of simple calculators permitted.

Section — I
(1) Explain the following concepts (14)

(a) Bond with option.

(b) Crawling Peg.
(c) Transactions above the line in BOP.
(d) RBl intervention.
(e) European Option.
(f) Un-sponsored Depository Receipts.
(g) Euro — as currency of EU.

(2) Analyze the following case study & answer the questions below:
(16)

The boardroom of Delcoa, an European company, is busy discussing about

their Indian operations, future expansion plans and offshore business. Directors also are
keen to strengthen their treasury department to grab timely arbitrage opportunities in
Forex markets. Stan Chart has quoted Rupees 55.82/56.00 (per Euro) whereas
Francais Bank has quoted Rupees 56.20/56.60 (per Euro). Ill-manned desk of Delcoa
couldn’t spot the opportunity on time.

Indian operations have sent Income statement to HO, for the closing year.
Board members are observing the same with parent statement.
India (Rs.) Europe (Euros)
Sales 11,000 300
Cost of goods sold and Operating Expenses 5,500 260
PBIT 5,500 40
Interest 2,750 92
Profit before Tax 2,750 -52

The accounts department will add Indian Statement to European and present
consolidated Statement in Euros.
Rupee to Euro exchange rate is volatile in the range of Rs. 50/- to Rs.55/-per
Euro. Delcoa is exploring an idea of setting up a project i.e. a power plant in East Timer.
However, project funding is a concern as Stan Chart is rather unwilling to fund a project
in East Timor. Directors are also worried about political risk cover. They are in talks with
multilateral agencies, presently working on poverty reduction programme there.

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April – 2005
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(a) Workout arbitrage opportunities between Stan Chart and Francais Bank, if any. (4)
(b) Prepare consolidated income statement if exchange rate is Rupees 50 per Euro.
(2)
(c) Prepare consolidated income statement if exchange rate is Rupees 55 per Euro. (2)
(d) State the type of exposure, examining (b) and (c) above. (1)
(e) State the type of exposure of Delcoa, in East Tinmor. (1)
(f) Which multilateral institution can help Delcoa in funding its proposed power
(2)
plant? How?
(g) Which institution can cover political risk of project? How? (2)
(h) Which multinational agency is working on poverty reduction? (2)
In what way?

Section — II
(5)
(3) (a) Bring out the arguments in favour of and against hedging.
(b) Discuss the concepts of Reserve Tranche and Credit Tranche with reference to (5)
IMF.

(4) What is meant by Capital Account Convertibility? Discuss the extent to which CAC (10)
has been attained in India.

(5) (a) Differentiate between Foreign Capital and Foreign Aid. (5)
(5) (b) The following Balance of Payments data are available for an economy. (5)
Increase in Forex Reserves 500
Short Term Capital Outflow (Net) 1,000
Merchandise Exports 1,900
Merchandise Imports 1,700
Export of Services 3,100
Import of Services 1,500

Determine long term Capital Account. (Amounts are in Currency units of that economy).

(6) (a) Three different Traders are quoting as follows: (5)

Trader A 1.2040 CAD per USD
Trader B 0.9450 CHF per CAD
Trader C 1.1398 CHF per USD

Workout arbitrage possibilities.

(6) (b) Spot Rate 1.8528 USD per Pound. (5)

6 months Forward 1.8538 USD per Pound.
Interest Rates: USA 4% pa Britain 3% pa.
Workout arbitrage possibilities.

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 International Finance
April – 2005
60 Marks

(7) Mid rate for Citibank is Rs. 43.5050 per dollar. Desired Spread is Rs.0.0200 (per (10)
one dollar Transaction). Forward premium/ discount for 1 month is 100/80 and for 2
months it is 150/120. Italian Bank quotes 1.4402/1.4490 Euros per Pound. StanChart
quotes 2.4751/2.4792 Australian Dollars per pound.
(a) Calculate Bid and Ask rate for Citibank.
(b) Write forward quotes of Citibank in outright form.
(c) Calculate percentage Spread (Bid Ask Spread) for Italian Bank.
(d) Calculate Cross rate for Australian Dollar per Euro using Italian and
StanChart banks.
(e) Is Rupee weakening against Dollar? Explain.
 International Finance
April – 2006
60 Marks
Note:
(1) Section 1 is compulsory.
(2) Attempt any three questions from Section II.
(3) Figures to the right indicate full marks to the question.
(4) Both the sections should be tied together.
(5) Use of simple calculator is permitted.

Section — I
(1) Explain the following concepts (14)

(a) Strike Price.

(b) Hedging.
(c) Floating Exchange Rate.
(d) Euro as a Currency.
(e) Vehicle Currency.
(f) Value Date.
(g) Hot Money.

(2)
(a) Following are the data for India’s B. O. P. year 2004-2005: (8)

Cr. Dr.
Rs. Mn Rs. Mn
(i) Merchandise 362,661 533,778
(ii) Invisibles 347,098 204,477
(iii) Capital Account 494,918 351,393
(iv) Errors & Omissions 1878 -

Calculate:
(i) Balance of Trade.
(ii) Current Account Balance.
(iii) Balance of Capital Account
(iv) Overall Balance.

(b) Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is right in advocating a phased movement
to full convertibility, starting with Special Economic Zones (SEZs). We need to move
along the Convertibility highway, even if slowly. Our Economy is in take off stage
and needs timely infusions of Fixed and Working Capital. Since India is now an
enterprise driven economy like most others, the Rupee needs to become more
convertible to reduce transaction costs. Fears of a Recurrence of the 1991 crisis,
when our reserves were insufficient to finance 3 weeks imports are perhaps
exaggerated. The currency has been ruling at below 47 to a Dollar for the last six
months. Investors and rating agencies are convinced that the India’s growth story is
here to stay. Their views determine flows of FDI and FPI in a big way.
Current

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 International Finance
April – 2006
60 Marks
Account transactions no longer influence a country’s BOP profile to the extent they
did a couples of decades ago. Despite a ballooning trade deficit, our reserves have
steadily increased over the years to 144 Billion Dollars.

(i) “Current Account Transactions no longer influence a Country’s B.O.P.” Discuss. (2)
(ii) What is Capital Account Convertibility? (2)
(iii) What are the Risks in Capital Account Convertibility in Indian Context?
(2)
(iv) What is the Present Status of Capital Account Convertibility in India? (2)

Section — II
(3) What was Brettonwoods system? Why did it fail? What were the efforts to retain (10)
and defend Brettonwood system?

(5)
(4) (a) Compare F.D.I. with F.P.I.
(5)
(4) (b) Japanese bank quotes as follows:
Spot 143 ¥/€
6 Month Forward 141 1/€
Interest Rate in Japan is 1%
And in Europe it is 3%.
Calculate Arbitrage Gain, if any

(5) (a) A New York bank is quoting (5)

USD/GBP: 1.7540/45 and CMF/USD: 1.5700/05
The CMF/GBP quote given by a London Bank is 2.7385/90
Can you make arbitrage gains? How?

(5) (b) What rules have been assigned to IFC and IDA respectively? (5)

(6) (a) Explain the theory of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) with suitable examples. (5)
(6) (b) Explain with examples how options are used to cover exchange risk (5)

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April – 2006
60 Marks

(7)
(a) Indian bank’s spot rate is 54.25 Rs. / €. It offers C at 3% annual forward (2)
discount. Calculate its 6 months forward rate.

(b) Barclays Bank offers Canadian Dollar for £0.5005/0.5050 spot.’ Calculate (2)
percentage spread of the bank.

(c) Bank A quotes 2.63 ¥ = Re. 1 Bank B quotes 0.51. Identify the countries in (2)
which these are direct quotes.

(d) Rs. 54.5050/54.5250 spot 3 months forward 75/50. Write forward rate in outright
(2)
form.

(e) A customer’s profile was scrutinized for forward cover. It was perceived to be
(2)
risky as banker could not establish his confidence in honouring the forward
contract by the customer another corporate customer was also denied a forward
cover by the same bank as the customer was from a country with wear political
stability.
State the types of risks in each cases.

**********

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Question Bank from Management Paradise

All the Important Questions already get covered in the past board papers.
For more questions, refer to
http://www.managementparadise.com/forums/t1690-question-bank-sem-6-
2006-.html