Chap 26 Exchange rate

Currency Overview :

  • Major Currencies: Dollar ($), Euro (€), Yen (¥)

  • Importance: Most international payments are made using these currencies.

  • Global Perspective: Over 100 different currencies exist.

  • Key Question: What determines the value of the Saudi Riyal in relation to others?

  • The Foreign Exchange Market

  • Definition: Foreign currency refers to foreign bank notes, coins, and bank deposits.

  • Function: To buy international goods and services, one needs the currency of the respective country.

  • Role of Foreign Exchange Market: A marketplace where currencies are exchanged.

Page 4: Trading Currencies

  • Process of Exchange: Foreign currency is exchanged for Saudi Riyals in this market.

  • Functionality: This market facilitates international trade between currencies overall.

Page 5: Exchange Rates

  • Concept: The price at which one currency can be exchanged for another.

  • Definitions:

    • Currency Depreciation: A fall in the value of one currency relative to another

    • Currency Appreciation: A rise in value of one currency relative to another.

Page 6: Exchange Rate as a Price

  • Understanding: An exchange rate is essentially the price of one currency in terms of another.

  • Market Dynamics: Determined within the competitive foreign exchange market—traders determine the demand and supply.

Page 7: Exchange Rate Policies

  • Overview of Policies:

    • Flexible exchange rate

    • Fixed exchange rate

    • Managed exchange rate

  • Focus: Understanding different exchange rate determination methods and their implications.

Page 8: Fixed Exchange Rate

  • Definition: A policy that pegs the exchange rate at a predetermined value.

  • Mechanism: Requires active government or central bank intervention to maintain the rate.

Page 9: Managed Exchange Rate

  • Definition: A system situated between flexible and fixed exchange rates.

  • Mechanism: Primarily determined by market forces with occasional government intervention.

Page 10: Supply and Demand in the Market

  • Framework: Analyzing the foreign exchange through the supply and demand model.

  • Terminology: Exchange rate (e) signifies price, while the quantity indicates dollars traded.

Page 11: Law of Demand for Foreign Exchange

  • Concept: Demand for Saudi Riyal arises from the need to purchase Saudi goods, services, or assets.

  • Relationship: As the exchange rate increases, the quantity of Riyals demanded decreases.

Page 12: Demand Curve for U.S. Dollars

  • Relationship: A higher exchange rate results in decreased demand for U.S. dollars, while a lower exchange rate increases demand.

  • Visual Representation: Demand curve illustrates this relationship.

Page 13: Law of Supply of Foreign Exchange

  • Concept: Supply of Saudi Riyal is also derived, aimed at purchasing foreign goods, services, or assets.

  • Relationship: As the exchange rate rises, the quantity of Riyals supplied increases.

Page 14: Supply Curve for U.S. Dollars

  • Relationship: An increase in the exchange rate translates to greater dollar supply, while a decrease results in reduced supply.

  • Visual Representation: The curve reflects the dynamics.

Page 15: Market Equilibrium

  • Concept: The equilibrium exchange rate is determined by the interaction of demand and supply forces in the foreign exchange market.

Page 16: Adjustments towards Equilibrium

  • Dynamics:

    • Surplus: Results when the exchange rate is high—market corrects toward equilibrium.

    • Shortage: Results when the exchange rate is low—market rises back to equilibrium.

Page 17: Equilibrium in Currency Exchange

  • Example Scenario:

    • Surplus occurs at 150 yen per U.S. dollar

    • Equilibrium at 100 yen per U.S. dollar

    • Shortage at 50 yen per U.S. dollar

Page 18: Changes in U.S. Dollar Demand

  • Influencing Factors: Other influences that can change demand include world demand for exports, U.S. interest rates relative to foreign rates, and expected future exchange rates.

Page 19: Demand Influences Explained

  • World Demand for Exports: Increased global demand leads to greater demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Interest Rate Differential: A higher U.S. interest rate relative to foreign rates increases dollar demand.

Page 20: Expected Future Exchange Rate

  • Concept: If the anticipated future exchange rate for U.S. dollars increases, immediate demand for dollars also surges.

Page 21: Demand Curve Response

  • Visual Reference: Demonstrates shifts in the demand curve due to changes in exports, interest rates, and expectations.

Page 22: Changes in U.S. Dollar Demand

  • Graphical Analysis: Illustrates increased and decreased demand scenarios with demand curve shifts in response to external factors.

Page 23: Changes in Supply of U.S. Dollars

  • Influencing Factors: A change in variables influencing the supply includes U.S. demand for imports and expected future exchange rates.

Page 24: U.S. Demand for Imports

  • Concept: Increased demand for imports leads to a rightward shift in the supply curve of U.S. dollars.

Page 25: Expected Future Exchange Rate Impact

  • Concept: If future exchange rates for U.S. dollars are expected to rise, overall supply decreases, shifting the curve leftward.

Page 26: Supply Curve Response

  • Visual Reference: Displays shifts of the supply curve in response to changes in imports and anticipated rates.

Page 27: Changes in U.S. Dollar Supply

  • Graphical Analysis: Indicates shifts in supply scenarios based on demand and expectations.

Page 28: Changes in the Exchange Rate

  • Dynamics:

    • Increased demand with unchanged supply leads to a rise in exchange rates.

    • Conversely, increased supply under unchanged demand results in lowered rates.

Page 29: Changes in Demand for Saudi Riyal

  • Influencing Factors: World demand for Saudi exports, interest rates differentials, and expected future exchange rates affect Saudi Riyal demand.

Page 30: Demand for Saudi Exports

  • Effect: Higher world demand for Saudi exports increases the demand for Saudi Riyal imports and increases its value.

Page 31: Changes in Supply of Saudi Riyal

  • Influencing Factors: Domestic demand for imports, interest rates differentials, and anticipated exchange rates affect supply.

Page 32: Fixed Exchange Rate in Saudi Arabia

  • Historical Context: Saudi Arabia has maintained a fixed exchange rate since 1986, currently set at 3.75 SAR to 1 USD, with the Central Bank managing this rate.

Page 33: Fixed Exchange Rate Overview

  • Functionality: Demonstrates the pegged value and the supply dynamics of dollars against the Yuan in the market.

Page 34: Fixed Exchange Rate Example—Peso

  • Similar Dynamics: Analyzes the pegged rate for the Peso against the Dollar, showing market interactions.

Page 35: Foreign Currency Reserves

  • Historical Data: Trends in Saudi foreign currency reserves, demonstrating stability and growth over various years.

Page 36: Evaluating Exchange Rate Policies

  • Comparison:

    • Floating exchange rates prioritize low inflation and unemployment.

    • Fixed rates offer stability and attract foreign investments but can hinder monetary policy flexibility.

    • Recommendations: Fixed exchange rates may be more advantageous for developing countries with volatile past exchange rates.

Changes in U.S. Dollar Demand

Influencing Factors
  • World Demand for Exports: An increase in global demand results in greater demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Interest Rate Differential: A higher U.S. interest rate in comparison to foreign rates raises the demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate: Anticipating a future rise in the exchange rate leads to increased immediate demand for U.S. dollars.

Demand Curve Response

Visual Reference: Demonstrates shifts in the demand curve due to changes in exports, interest rates, and expectations.


Changes in Supply of U.S. Dollars

Influencing Factors
  • U.S. Demand for Imports: An increase in imports shifts the supply curve of U.S. dollars to the right.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate Impact: If future exchange rates for U.S. dollars are expected to rise, the overall supply decreases, shifting the curve leftward.

Supply Curve Response

Visual Reference: Displays shifts in the supply curve in response to changes in imports and anticipated rates.

Changes in U.S. Dollar Demand

Influencing Factors
  • World Demand for Exports: An increase in global demand results in greater demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Interest Rate Differential: A higher U.S. interest rate in comparison to foreign rates raises the demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate: Anticipating a future rise in the exchange rate leads to increased immediate demand for U.S. dollars.

Demand Curve Response

Visual Reference: Demonstrates shifts in the demand curve due to changes in exports, interest rates, and expectations.


Changes in Supply of U.S. Dollars

Influencing Factors
  • U.S. Demand for Imports: An increase in imports shifts the supply curve of U.S. dollars to the right.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate Impact: If future exchange rates for U.S. dollars are expected to rise, the overall supply decreases, shifting the curve leftward.

Supply Curve Response

Visual Reference: Displays shifts in the supply curve in response to changes in imports and anticipated rates.

Changes in U.S. Dollar Demand

Influencing Factors
  • World Demand for Exports: An increase in global demand results in greater demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Interest Rate Differential: A higher U.S. interest rate in comparison to foreign rates raises the demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate: Anticipating a future rise in the exchange rate leads to increased immediate demand for U.S. dollars.

Demand Curve Response

Visual Reference: Demonstrates shifts in the demand curve due to changes in exports, interest rates, and expectations.


Changes in Supply of U.S. Dollars

Influencing Factors
  • U.S. Demand for Imports: An increase in imports shifts the supply curve of U.S. dollars to the right.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate Impact: If future exchange rates for U.S. dollars are expected to rise, the overall supply decreases, shifting the curve leftward.

Supply Curve Response

Visual Reference: Displays shifts in the supply curve in response to changes in imports and anticipated rates.

Changes in U.S. Dollar Demand

Influencing Factors
  • World Demand for Exports: An increase in global demand results in greater demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Interest Rate Differential: A higher U.S. interest rate in comparison to foreign rates raises the demand for U.S. dollars.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate: Anticipating a future rise in the exchange rate leads to increased immediate demand for U.S. dollars.

Demand Curve Response

Visual Reference: Demonstrates shifts in the demand curve due to changes in exports, interest rates, and expectations.


Changes in Supply of U.S. Dollars

Influencing Factors
  • U.S. Demand for Imports: An increase in imports shifts the supply curve of U.S. dollars to the right.

  • Expected Future Exchange Rate Impact: If future exchange rates for U.S. dollars are expected to rise, the overall supply decreases, shifting the curve leftward.

Supply Curve Response

Visual Reference: Displays shifts in the supply curve in response to changes in imports and anticipated rates.