Glossaire

A Key Risk Indicator or KRI is a measure used in management to assess the degree of risk involved in the different areas of activity of an organisation. KRIs work as indicators of events that might have harmful effects on a company or its activity. KRIs are typically measurable, i.e., they can be quantified in terms of percentages, numbers etc. They are predictable and are often used as early warning signals, while also tracking trends over a period of time. In a certain sense, KRIs could be understood as the antithesis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). While KPIs show how well a company is doing, KRIs are designed to warn management about potential sources of risk.

A knock-in forward is a derivative that offers buyers a more attractive rate than a regular forward and includes a condition that the exchange rate must hit a defined knock-in level during the contract. If the “Knock-in level” is not reached, the transaction will not be made on the maturity date.Due to their complex character, knock-in forwards are not the most suitable products for corporate treasurers wishing to protect their profits from FX risks. There are more efficient alternatives like Dynamic Hedging.A Knock-In Forward includes the following elements:Financial Asset: EUR/USDPosition at Maturity: EUR/USD shortAmount: 1,000,000Spot Rate: 0.9350Forward Rate: 0.9275Knock-in Forward Rate: 0.9150Knock-in Level: 0.9050Tenor: 6 monthsDespite the name ‘forward’, this mechanism is more akin to a speculative options contract*. The buyer aims to secure a more convenient rate than a regular forward but risks “losing” the contract. If the knock-in rate is not attained, the contract will be cancelled and their business will not be protected against currency volatility.

An FX Knock-in Option contract allows the buyer to purchase a foreign currency on a future date, and at a pre-defined rate that’s better than the regular forward rate, on condition that the exchange rate hits the Knock-in level at any time during the contract.Due to their complex character, knock-in options are not the most suitable products for corporate treasurers wishing to protect their profits from FX risks. There are more efficient alternatives like Dynamic Hedging.Knock-in options include the following elements:Financial Asset: EUR/USDPosition at Maturity: EUR/USD shortAmount: 1,000,000Spot Rate: 0.9350Forward Rate: 0.9275Knock-in Option Rate: 0.9150Knock-in Level: 0.9050Tenor: 6 monthsKnock-in options are speculative products, as they do not provide guaranteed protection from currency volatility. If the Knock-in level is not attained, the option will not be activated and the buyer will remain exposed to currency volatility.

A Knock-out Forward is a derivative financial product through which the issuer offers the buyer a more attractive rate for a specific maturity date than a regular forward on condition that the exchange rate does not hit the Knock-out level during the contract. If the Knock-out level is attained, the contract is automatically cancelled and the transaction will not take place.Due to their complex character, knock-out forwards are not the most suitable products for corporate treasurers wishing to protect their profits from FX risks. There are more efficient alternatives like Dynamic Hedging.Knock-out forward contracts include the following elements:Financial Asset: EUR/USDPosition at Maturity: EUR/USD shortAmount: 1,000,000Spot Rate: 0.9350Forward Rate: 0.9275Knock-out Option Rate: 0.9150Knock-out Level: 0.8800Tenor: 6 monthsDespite the name ‘forward’, a knock-out is actually a speculative options contract* and therefore not the most suitable option for a prudent CFO aiming to hedge against currency volatility. If the Knock-outrate is reached, the option will be cancelled and the buyer will remain exposed to currency volatility.

An FX Knock-out Option is a contract through which an issuer commits to sell a foreign currency on a future date at a more attractive pre-defined rate than the standard forward rate, on condition that the exchange rate does not hit the Knock-out Level at any time during the contract.Due to their complex character, knock-out options are not the most suitable products for corporate treasurers wishing to protect their profits from FX risks. There are more efficient alternatives like Dynamic Hedging.

Knock-out options include the following elements:

Financial Asset:  EUR/USD

Position at Maturity:  EUR/USD short

Amount:  1,000,000Spot Rate:  0.9350

Forward Rate:  0.9275

Knock-out Option Rate:  0.9150

Knock-out Level:  0.8800

Tenor: 6 months

Knock out options are speculative products that do not guarantee to hedge against FX risk. If the exchange rate hits the Knock-out level, the option will be cancelled and the buyer will remain exposed to currency volatility.

A layered hedging strategy is an FX hedging program designed for firms that require continuity on pricing period after period, i.e. firms that need to keep prices constant—even on the back of an adverse intra-period currency movement known as a ‘cliff’. Firms in this scenario need to achieve a smooth hedge rate over time. In order to achieve a smooth hedge rate, successive layers of hedges are applied as time passes (for example, 1/12 of the exposure is hedged every month). The resulting commonality in hedge rates creates a ‘smooth hedge’. Depending on the goals of the firm, on the reliability of its forecasts, and on the forward points situation, layered hedging programs can be adjusted and combined with programs that hedge firm commitments (sales/purchase orders) and balance sheet items (accounts receivable/payable). These programs and combinations of programs can be very demanding in terms of calculations and/or currency trading, a real challenge for treasury teams relying on manual procedures. Their proper implementation and management requires, therefore, the application of Currency Management Automation solutions.

A Leveraged Forward contract is an over-the-counter derivative product that allows holders to lock-in more favourable exchange rates than an outright forward for part of their exposure as well as to benefit from favourable market movements using leverage. The leverage defines the amount of risk the hedger is willing to assume. Due to their complex character, leveraged forwards are not the most suitable products for corporate treasurers wishing to protect their profits from FX risks. Leveraged forwards can have a negative market value and may involve costs if holders want to close out the position prior to contract expiration.

In FX trading, leverage trading refers to the use of credit —extended by the dealer or trading platform— aimed at magnifying the notional value of a position. If a trader has a given amount of margin in deposit, he or she is allowed to speculate on a notional amount that can be many times as large. Some retail forex brokers allow traders to open accounts and, upon depositing a margin amount, they can trade in a large multiple of the margin amount. For instance, 5:1, 10:1 or 50:1. This is why leveraged trading is like a double sword: both gains and losses are amplified by the effect of leverage. Leveraged trading is a popular, but highly speculative activity that has nothing to do with FX hedging.

A limit order, in the context of foregin exchange risk management, is an order to buy or sell a currency forward at a specific exchange rate or better. This exchange rate is determined by the treasury team. A buy limit order can only be executed at the limit exchange rate or lower; a sell limit order can only be executed at the limit exchange rate or higher. Limit orders are the most common type of conditional orders. Other conditional orders, used in Currency Management Automation solutions like Dynamic Hedging, are stop-loss orders and take-profit orders. For example, a British company that pays a China-based supplier USD 1 million every 3 months must exchange GBP to USD in order to complete the transactions. If the current exchange rate is GBP-USD 1.30, the company may impose a limit order to buy USD at an exchange rate no lower than GBP-USD 1.28. If USD appreciates to GBP/USD1.25, the company will have stemmed the FX losses through its limit order at 1.28.