A risk manager analyzes a long position with a USD 10 million value. To hedge the portfolio, it seeks to use options that decrease JPY 0.50 in value for every JPY 1 increase in the long position. At first approximation, what is the overall exposure to USD depreciation?

A risk manager analyzes a long position with a USD 10 million value. To hedge the portfolio, it seeks to use options that decrease JPY 0.50 in value for every JPY 1 increase in the long position. At first approximation, what is the overall exposure to USD depreciation?
A . His overall portfolio has the same exposure to USD as a portfolio that is long USD 5 million.
B . His overall portfolio has the same exposure to USD as a portfolio that is long USD 10 million.
C . His overall portfolio has the same exposure to USD as a portfolio that is short USD 5 million.
D . His overall portfolio has the same exposure to USD as a portfolio that is short USD 10 million.

View Answer

Answer: D

Explanation:

The risk manager is analyzing a long position worth USD 10 million. To hedge this portfolio, the risk manager uses options that decrease in value by JPY 0.50 for every JPY 1 increase in the long position. This effectively means the options are shorting the currency. Therefore, if the long position is fully hedged by these options, the overall exposure of the portfolio will be equivalent to the full value of the long position but in the opposite direction. Thus, the portfolio has the same exposure to USD as a portfolio that is short USD 10 million.