Export sales and import purchases are international transactions; they are components of what is called trade. When two parties from different countries enter into a transaction, they must decide which of the two countries' currencies to use to settle the transaction. For example, if a U.S. computer manufacturer sells to a customer in Japan, the parties must decide whether the [...]
SFAS 133 also allows the use of cash flow hedge accounting for foreign currency derivatives used to hedge the cash flow risk associated with a forecasted foreign currency transaction. For hedge accounting to apply, the forecasted transaction must be probable (likely to occur), the hedge must be highly effective in offsetting fluctuations in the cash flow associated with the foreign [...]
Hedges of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities, such as accounts receivable and accounts payable, can qualify as either cash flow hedges ox fair value hedges. To qualify as a cash flow hedge, the hedging instrument must completely offset the variability in the cash flows associated with the foreign currency receivable or payable. If the hedging-instrument does not qualify as [...]