On January 18 US Gadget sells its product to the Canadian customer for $250,000, and continues with
the forex hedge on the online forex platform until the Canadian dollars have been collected. Assume
the US dollar continues to strengthen to a current exchange rate of USD/CAD = 1.0413/1.0416.
Forex Hedge Accounting Treatment
OANDA’s FXConsulting
for Corporations
27
Other comprehensive income
(balance sheet – equity section)
Jan 18
(1,357.21)
Record the gain in value of the forex hedge: (1.0413 – 1.0355)
Calculate the change in the Canadian dollar: ((1.0413 – 1.0355)*243,736= $1,413.67 CDN
Convert the Canadian dollar gain to USD: 1,413.67 /1.0416 = $1,357.21 USD
Interest expense
Feb 10
39.74
Cash (USD)
Feb 10
(39.74)
Record the interest differential of the spot trade on the retail forex platform for 18 days.
CAD interest paid (sold currency): 18/365*4.55%*(250,000.02) = $(560.96) CAD
Convert the CAD interest paid to USD: (560.96) /1.0416= $(538.56) USD
USD interest sold (purchased currency) = 18/365*4.15%*(243,735.99) = $498.82 USD
Net interest expense 498.82 – 538.56 = $39.74
Other comprehensive income
(balance sheet – equity section)
Jan 18
3,652.68
Income statement
Jan 18
(3,652.68)
Reclassify the other comprehensive income amount on the balance sheet to the income statement
when the sale has been completed. Previous transactions were:
Sep 30: $3,446.14
Dec 31: (5,741.61)
Jan 18: (1,357.21)
Total: (3,652.68)
In the end, US Gadget was able to manage foreign exchange fluctuations using forex hedging with
retail forex platform. Any losses in value of the sales contract were offset by gains in value of the forex
hedge. In the end, US Gadget paid $420.23 (or 0.17% of the sales value) to manage foreign currency
fluctuations over a period of 139 days. ($71.29+89.92+219.28+39.74)
Notes:
This example simplified the interest differential. The actual interest amount is charged daily as
opposed to the reporting period dates or transaction dates in the example.
The example assumes that US Gadget is able to convert CAD to USD at spot market rates,
whereas the cost of the conversion would typically be higher. In addition to local banks, there
are foreign currency international wire companies, which offer international funds transfers at
close to interbank rates. It is assumed that US Gadget has sufficient margin dollars in their
online forex platform account at all times to maintain the forex hedge at spot market rates. By
regulation, online forex brokers must use margin accounts to guarantee financial security to
their customers. Through the use of margin accounts, online forex brokers can offer greater
transactional efficiency and avoid the cost of credit checks and ongoing monthly credit
monitoring. Alternatively, if online forex brokers offered credit to their clients, then the cost of
credit management and written-off accounts would be charged to all its customers through
higher rates and set-up fees.
The example excludes the interest earned on the funds held at the online forex broker margin
account. Ensure your online forex broker pays competitive interest on all outstanding margin
balances.