Question

A currency speculator expects the spot rate of British Pounds (GBP) to change from $2.00 to $2.20 in 6-months. Assume the speculator has access to credit lines of USD 20,000,000 in the US and GBP 10,000,000 in UK. The annual borrowing and lending rates are 6 percent in US and 4 percent in UK. In order for the speculator to take advantage from the expected spot rate change in GBP, it should

Answer 1

Borrow in dollars then at spot rate convert money to british pound. Invest in the pounds for half a year and convert back to dollars.

Step-by-step explanation:

Access to credit = $20000000

We do a conversion to pounds

= 20000000/2

= £10000000

When this is invested for 6 months

10000000 x 1 +4% x6/12

= 10000000(1+0.04*0.5)

= 10000000x1.02

= 10200000

We then make a conversion back to dollars

10200000 x 2.2

= 22,440,000 dollars

Loan to be repaid

20000000(1+6%x6/12)

= 20000000 x 1 +0.06*0.5

= 20000000 x 1.03

= 20,600,000

Then arbitrage profit = 22440000 - 20600000

= 1840000