Currency Risk

Filed Under »
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Currency Risk'

A form of risk that arises from the change in price of one currency against another. Whenever investors or companies have assets or business operations across national borders, they face currency risk if their positions are not hedged.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Currency Risk'

For example, if you are a U.S. investor and you have stocks in Canada, the return that you will realize is affected by both the change in the price of the stocks and the change in the value of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. So, if you realize a 15% return in your Canadian stocks but the Canadian dollar depreciates 15% against the U.S. dollar, this will amount to no gain at all.

Academic studies of currency risk suggest - although without absolute certainty - that investors bearing currency risk are not compensated with higher potential returns, meaning it is essentially a needless risk to bear.

Sign Up For Term of the Day!

Try Our Stock Simulator!

Test your trading skills!

Related Definitions

  1. Risk Management

    The process of ...
  2. Exchange Rate

    The price of one ...
  3. Transaction Exposure

    The risk, faced ...
  4. Translation Exposure

    The risk that a ...
  5. Funding Currency

    The currency ...
  6. Funding Currencies

    Monies that can ...
  7. Euro Deposit

    The equivalent ...
  8. Currency Carry Trade

    A strategy in ...
  9. Multicurrency Note Facility

    A credit ...
  10. Commercial Hedger

    A corporation ...

Articles Of Interest

  1. Currency Exchange: Floating Rate Vs. Fixed Rate

    Baffled by exchange rates? Wonder why some currencies fluctuate while others are pegged? This article has the answers.
  2. Corporate Currency Risks Explained

    Transaction, translation and economic risks can affect a company's balance sheet.
  3. Exploring Non-Dollar Currencies For Forex Trading

    Learn how investments in foreign currencies can diversify your portfolio.
  4. Hedge Against Exchange Rate Risk With Currency ETFs

    Currency moves are unpredictable and can have an adverse effect on portfolio returns. Find out how to protect yourself.
  5. Protect Your Foreign Investments From Currency Risk

    Hedging against currency risk can add a level of safety to your offshore investments.
  6. ADR Basics: Risks

    Look beyond company performance to value your ADR.
  7. How Companies Use Derivatives To Hedge Risk

    Derivatives can reduce the risks associated with changes in foreign exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices.
  8. Finding Fortune In Foreign-Stock ETFs

    Think beyond your borders to reduce the impact of local market downturns.
  9. The Ins And Outs Of Corporate Eurobonds

    Corporate eurobonds simplify expansion for MNCs, though there are a few more hoops to jump through.
  10. A Primer On The Forex Market

    Moving from equities to currencies requires you to adjust how you interpret quotes, margin, spreads and rollovers.

comments powered by Disqus
Recommended
Loading, please wait...
Trading Center