A Survey of Indian Firms
Volume 20, Number 3 Article by Manoj Anand, K P Kaushik September, 2008
Currency Derivatives: A Survey of Indian Firms :
The authors examine management motivations of foreign currency derivatives usage in corporate India and identify significant differences if any in the motivations of firms that either use foreign currency derivatives or have a documented foreign exchange risk management policy firms that do not. The paper also captures the management motivations for foreign currency derivatives usage in a factor analytic framework.
The universe selected for this study consisted of 640 companies with foreign exchange exposure, which are listed in the two most widely used Indian stock market indices S and P CNX 500 and BSE 500 as at the end of March 31,2004. A nationwide questionnaire based survey was conducted to capture the management motivations for foreign currency derivatives usage. Fifty five responses were received leading to a response rate of 8.59%.
Most of the respondent firms have documented foreign exchange risk management plans, policies or programmes. The study found that transaction exposure as a foreign currency risk was most critical for the firms, followed by translation exposure and economic exposure. The major objectives of using derivatives were found to be hedging risk (96.1% responded as rank one objective), arbitrage (55.3% assigned rank two) and price discovery (36.4% assigned rank two and 33.3% assigned rank three). Speculation as an objective of using foreign currency derivatives was the least preferred option (62.1% assigned it rank four).
To reduce volatility in profits after tax and cash flows' and 'to reduce the cost of capital and thus increase firm value' on one side of the pole and 'to reduce risks faced by management' on the other side of the pole were found to be the major motivations of the firms using foreign currency derivatives in India. Firm characteristics such as high degree of debt ratio and ESOPs usage influence use of foreign currency derivatives in India.
Reprint No 08306