In 1995, amid a soaring yen, treasurers were encouraged to think long-term.
One currency is soaring, the other is tanking, as a company what do you do? For the moment, nothing. That was the case nearly 20 years ago when, opposite of today, the yen was rising fast and the dollar tanking. But because companies aren’t active currency traders per se, they’re left to plan ahead; and assuredly not get burned by picking tops or bottoms.
In the spring of 1995, companies were witnessing a lofty yen and a dollar was plumbing historic lows. “At first glance, the historic highs for the yen seem to have had little immediate impact on hedging strategies,” International Treasurer wrote in “A Yen for More,” May 1, 1995. “Most companies adjusted their tactics in the first half of 1994—some of them after wrong-siding the market by protecting budget rates of 120-1 30 yen to the dollar against expected greenback appreciation.”
So with really not a lot to do at that moment about the cross, International Treasurer encouraged treasurers to think long-term.
“With yen exchange rate repeatedly breaking historic highs against the US dollar, more companies should start to look beyond simple near-term profits (or losses). Instead, they should look to the longer-term tactical and strategic implications of their long-yen positions.”
Perhaps that’s what treasurers should be thinking about today? That and also the accounting considerations. “Some are still bound by the soon-to-be-overhauled hedge accounting rules” and are wondering about the consequences of hedging out as far they could and still qualify for hedge accounting, International Treasurer wrote.