Question

Suppose in the spot market 1 U.S. dollar equals 1.3750 Canadian dollars. 6-month Canadian securities have an annualized return of 6.00% (and thus a 6-month periodic return of 3.00%). 6-month U.S. securities have an annualized return of 6.50% and a periodic return of 3.25%. If interest rate parity holds, what is the U.S. dollar-Canadian dollar exchange rate in the 180-day forward market

Answer 1

$1 = 1.372 CD

Step-by-step explanation:

Spot rate, 1$ = 1.3750 Canadian dollars

Canadian securities annualized return = 6%

U.S. securities annualized return = 6.5%

Term = 6 month ≅(180 days)

Forward exchange rate in 180 days, 1$ = Spot rate * (1+US rate*6/12) / (1+CD rate*6/12)

= 1.3750 CD * (1 + 6%*6/12) / (1 + 6.5%*6/12)

= 1.3750 CD * (1 + 0.03) / (1 + 0.0325)

= 1.3750 CD * 1.03/1.0325

= 1.371670702179177 CD

= 1.372 CD

So, the the U.S. dollar-Canadian dollar exchange rate in the 180-day forward market is $1 = 1.372 CD