Saturday, August 1, 2009

yen-dollar carry trade

http://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0608/foreign-exchange-devaluation-buy-junky-currencies.html

This, essentially, is the currency arbitrage strategy known as the carry trade:
You decide to borrow Japanese yen, exchange them for dollars and stick the proceeds into one-year U.S. Treasurys.

The yen cost you less than 1% to borrow, while Treasurys are paying more than 5%. Since banks require you to put down only 20%, the four-percentage-point interest rate spread earns you a 20% annual profit. Bear markets, bankruptcies and changes in governments don't bother you. The only thing that can go wrong is if your dollars fall in value against the yen that you must repay.

....in last fall's financial crisis the dollar plunged against the yen, ruining that carry trade.

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