Time Zones & FX Trading Trends

Time Zones & FX Trading Trends (Video): Discover how time zones impact global foreign exchange (FX) market trading, volume, and liquidity. This video is a preview of FX Initiative’s FX Market Overview course as part of Learning Objective #2.

To learn more, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

Features of FX Forward Contracts

Features of FX Forward Contracts (Video): Find out the distinctive features of foreign exchange (FX) forward contracts and discover how they can be used to hedge FX risk. This video is a preview of FX Initiative’s FX Spot & Derivatives course as part of Learning Objective #1.

To learn more, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

CPE Webinar Invite: Balance Sheet Hedging

Program Overview

FX Initiative cordially invites you to attend our webinar on Balance Sheet Hedging on Thursday, March 11th 2021 at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern. Join us and learn how to hedge FX receivables & payables and mitigate FX gains & losses. This Balance Sheet Hedging webinar will teach you how to hedge foreign exchange (FX) receivables and payables to mitigate FX gains and losses on the Income Statement. We will begin by defining the concept of a balance sheet hedge, and explore why is it often viewed as the foundation of many corporate FX risk management programs. We will break down the impact of how FX receivables and payables, which are known as underlying positions, produce FX gains and losses on the financial statements from mark-to-market accounting treatment. We will then explore how to offset those underlying FX gains and losses on the Income Statement by hedging with forward contracts to reduce periodic earnings volatility. Finally, we examine best practices for optimizing balance sheet hedges by considering details such as accounting booking rates, netting of exposures, and adjusting hedges as balances change from cash inflows and outflows.

Learning Objectives

1. Discover the concept of a foreign exchange (FX) balance sheet hedge program.
2. Recognize how FX receivables and payables impact the financial statements.
3. Explore how forward contracts can be used to mitigate FX gains and losses.
4. Identify best practices for optimizing and adjusting balance sheet hedges.

Who Should Attend?

New and seasoned finance, accounting, treasury, and related professionals (CPA, CIA, CRMA, CFE, etc.) interested in international business.

CPE Webinar Invite: FX Forward Contracts

Program Overview

FX Initiative cordially invites you to attend webinar titled "FX Forward Contracts" on Thursday, February 25th, 2021 at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern. Join us and learn what forward contracts are and why they are the most used derivative. This FX Forward Contracts webinar will explain what forward contracts are and why they are the most used foreign exchange (FX) derivative among multinational corporations. We begin with a basic understanding of over-the-counter (OTC) foreign currency derivatives that are sold by commercial banks as part of their international treasury and risk management products. We will then delve into the fundamentals of forward contracts, including long and short positions and forward point premiums and discounts. Additionally, we will examine the payoff profile of a forward contract and review the economic cash flow and financial reporting implications. To conclude, we will look at the overwhelming popularity of forward contracts using the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) FX data as well as highlights from the annual reports (10-K) of several multinational corporations that deploy forward contracts to hedge currency risk.

Learning Objectives

1. Discover the concept of over-the-counter (OTC) foreign currency derivatives.
2. Identify what forward contracts are and how forward points are calculated.
3. Recognize the payoff profile, economics and accounting of forward contracts.
4. Explore why forward contracts are the most used FX derivative by corporations.

Who Should Attend?

New and seasoned finance, accounting, treasury, and related professionals (CPA, CIA, CRMA, CFE, etc.) interested in international business.

2021 Program: Currency Risk Management Training

FX Initiative is pleased to present our 2021 program on currency risk management training to our global audience of finance, accounting, and treasury professionals. Download the PDF brochure and discover our foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE) training videos, software tools, and webinar topics at FXCPE.com.

Our mission is to help global businesses and sales professionals communicate FX risk management best practices efficiently and effectively. FX Initiative is a member of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) National Registry of CPE Sponsors, and approved for self-study, internet-based, and in-person programs.

Download the PDF

Since 2010, FX Initiative works with Fortune 500 companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and FX product & service providers on understanding, identifying, assessing, and mitigating currency risk. FX Initiative is an unparalleled resource for foreign exchange risk management and continuing professional education.

Managing currency risk remains a high priority for global organizations in 2021. To optimize your firm's international operations, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

Webinar Series: Balance Sheet Hedging

Program Overview

FX Initiative cordially invites you to attend our webinar series. Join us and learn how to hedge FX receivables & payables and mitigate FX gains & losses. This Balance Sheet Hedging webinar will teach you how to hedge foreign exchange (FX) receivables and payables to mitigate FX gains and losses on the Income Statement. We will begin by defining the concept of a balance sheet hedge, and explore why is it often viewed as the foundation of many corporate FX risk management programs. We will break down the impact of how FX receivables and payables, which are known as underlying positions, produce FX gains and losses on the financial statements from mark-to-market accounting treatment. We will then explore how to offset those underlying FX gains and losses on the Income Statement by hedging with forward contracts to reduce periodic earnings volatility. Finally, we examine best practices for optimizing balance sheet hedges by considering details such as accounting booking rates, netting of exposures, and adjusting hedges as balances change from cash inflows and outflows.

Learning Objectives

1. Discover the concept of a foreign exchange (FX) balance sheet hedge program.
2. Recognize how FX receivables and payables impact the financial statements.
3. Explore how forward contracts can be used to mitigate FX gains and losses.
4. Identify best practices for optimizing and adjusting balance sheet hedges.

Who Should Attend?

New and seasoned finance, accounting, treasury, and related professionals (CPA, CIA, CRMA, CFE, etc.) interested in international business.

Webinar Series: FX Forward Contracts

Program Overview

FX Initiative cordially invites you to attend our webinar series. Join us and learn what forward contracts are and why they are the most used derivative. This FX Forward Contracts webinar will explain what forward contracts are and why they are the most used foreign exchange (FX) derivative among multinational corporations. We begin with a basic understanding of over-the-counter (OTC) foreign currency derivatives that are sold by commercial banks as part of their international treasury and risk management products. We will then delve into the fundamentals of forward contracts, including long and short positions and forward point premiums and discounts. Additionally, we will examine the payoff profile of a forward contract and review the economic cash flow and financial reporting implications. To conclude, we will look at the overwhelming popularity of forward contracts using the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) FX data as well as highlights from the annual reports (10-K) of several multinational corporations that deploy forward contracts to hedge currency risk.

Learning Objectives

1. Discover the concept of over-the-counter (OTC) foreign currency derivatives.
2. Identify what forward contracts are and how forward points are calculated.
3. Recognize the payoff profile, economics and accounting of forward contracts.
4. Explore why forward contracts are the most used FX derivative by corporations.

Who Should Attend?

New and seasoned finance, accounting, treasury, and related professionals (CPA, CIA, CRMA, CFE, etc.) interested in international business.

Structuring Summer CPE Sessions

Summer is an ideal season to structure learning and earning opportunities. From sharpening skills to sharing insights, our continuing professional education (CPE) sessions are designed to serve your organization’s professional development needs. Through live webinar training, we provide internal and external marketing opportunities to capitalize on recent events impacting the foreign exchange market, as well as to coincide with quarterly or annual planning processes.

Whether you are interested in a timely session related to current events such as COVID-19 or would like a formal way to start goal setting for a new calendar or fiscal year, our live webinar sessions are fully customizable and capable of addressing your group training needs. Each live webinar is eligible for CPE credit, and offers the ability to collaborate on content, engage the audience with real time poling and survey questions, and participate in question and answer segments.

Our CPE programs help organizations around the world stay current on the latest regulations, developments, and trends in finance, accounting, and related business industries while earning CPE credits to maintain professional credentials. As a member of the NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors, we cover a broad range of knowledge, skills, and abilities that enhance competence and increase confidence in participants’ ability to improve performance and profitability.

Leading organizations that prioritize professional development realize greater return on investment (ROI). Quality training that directly relates to job responsibilities benefits both the employee and the bottom line. Not only are employees more knowledgeable and capable after completing our training, but they are able to apply their knowledge for the benefit of their customers and the firm. To learn more about CPE opportunities, please contact support@fxinitiative.com.

FX Strategy Simulation - Option Contracts

FX Strategy Simulation - Option Contracts: To illustrate the concept of option contracts, this FX strategy simulation uses the Foreign Exchange Derivative Speculator to model the economic and accounting aspects of a put and a call option. These examples demonstrate the economics and accounting of option contracts, and show how variables such as the option strike rate and implied volatility impact the premium or cost of the option at inception.

Additionally, the asymmetrical payoff profile of an option is highlighted using the economic chart, and the accounting is clarified using journal entries and t-accounts. From a cash flow perspective, emphasis is placed on the fact that options can finish "in the money" where a cash payment is received at maturity, or "out of the money" with a zero fair value where no further payment is required to settle the contract.

Overall, the three key distinguishing characteristics of vanilla option contracts, compared to forwards and option combinations, are (1) that a premium is paid upfront, (2) there is an asymmetrical payoff profile relative to the spot foreign exchange rate, and (3) there is no obligation to make a payment at maturity. For additional information and examples, explore our on-demand self-study CPE course titled FX Spot & Derivatives.

To learn more, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

4 Step FX Risk Management Policy

A Foreign Exchange (FX) Risk Management Policy is a formal written document that serves as a framework for mitigating and optimizing a company’s FX risk profile. In practice, FX risk management policies can vary widely across organizations depending on their size and structure. Getting started or improving already existing policies can be a challenge without knowing best practices and seeing examples. Therefore, this FX Risk Policy Drafter was designed to help you create a comprehensive Foreign Exchange Risk Management Policy in 4 simple steps.

1. Enter the company name, home country, functional currency, effective date, and review period.
2. Establish internal controls by appointing at least three personnel to the segregated duties of trading, accounting and record keeping.
3. Define materiality thresholds by specifying minimum transaction amounts and hedge coverage levels.
4. Specify the derivative hedging instruments authorized for use and minimum acceptable counterparty credit ratings.

Upon completing these 4 steps, 9 sections of the Foreign Exchange Risk Management Policy are drafted and include (1) Function, (2) Definitions, (3) Policy Guidelines, (4) Roles and Responsibilities, (5) Reporting (6) Internal Controls (7) Counterparty Guidelines (8) Policy Review and (9) Policy Approval. Upon reviewing these 9 sections, you will clearly see how the inputs in Steps 1 through 4 are used, and how the program as a whole serves to mitigate currency risk exposures inherent in a company’s business model by specifying how the company’s currency risk management goals will be carried out.

You can use this tool to improve or enhance your already existing policy or to lay out a new formal Foreign Exchange Risk Management Policy with clear parameters and guidelines for managing currency risk across the enterprise. Not only does this tool offer a well written policy you can use to tailor your own policy after, it also provides the level of detail to make implementation feasible. Take advantage of this Foreign Exchange Risk Policy Drafter as your own writing tool to help create an optimal foreign exchange risk management policy for your organization.

To learn more about about corporate currency risk management best practices, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.