Investment portfolio Forex risk hedging in the international stock market

Abstract

Subject. Investment management on the international financial market necessitates a special approach to foreign currency hedging. The majority of international investors fully eliminate risk associated with their foreign-exchange holdings, seeking profits only from stock price differentials. In certain circumstances, a correlation between local currency exchange rate and local stock index may provide additional opportunities for profit generation. Objectives. The aim of the study is to test the hypothesis that partial currency risk-taking may reduce the total portfolio risk and increase return on international investment. Methods. I apply the global optimization approach to calculate investment portfolios for 11 countries of the world. Each portfolio includes shares of 20–25 highly capitalized companies. Descriptive statistic methods are used to check the input data, i.e. random variable calculation, pivot tables. Investment strategy efficiency is assessed based on the Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, Treynor Ratio and Omega Ratio. Results. Currency hedge position at the rate of about 14 percent of the total portfolio value may increase investment yield by two percentage points annually on the ten-year time span. Conclusions and Relevance. Total currency risk hedge is necessary for investment in developed and developing countries that pursue the policy of regular devaluation of their national currency. Market regulators inside a particular country should take into account that a sudden devaluation of national currency may be needed, if return on the stock market is lower than that of risk-free instruments.