Factors which influence the exchange rate

Exchange rates are determined by factors, such as interest rates, confidence, the current account on balance of payments, economic growth and relative inflation rates. For example:

  • If US business became relatively more competitive, there would be greater demand for American goods; this increase in demand for US goods would cause an appreciation (increase in value) of the dollar.
  • However, if markets were worried about the future of the US economy, they would tend to sell dollars, leading to a fall in the value of the dollar.

Determination of exchange rates using supply and demand diagram

s-d-er-pound-dollar

In this example, a rise in demand for Pound Sterling has led to an increase in the value of the £ to $ – from £1 = $1.50 to £1 = $1.70

Note:

  • Appreciation = increase in value of exchange rate
  • Depreciation / devaluation = decrease in value of exchange rate.

Factors that influence exchange rates

Factors affecting exchange rate

 

1. Inflation

If inflation in the UK is relatively lower than elsewhere, then UK exports will become more competitive, and there will be an increase in demand for Pound Sterling to buy UK goods. Also, foreign goods will be less competitive and so UK citizens will buy fewer imports.

  • Therefore countries with lower inflation rates tend to see an appreciation in the value of their currency. For example, the long-term appreciation in the German D-Mark in the post-war period was related to the relatively lower inflation rate.

2. Interest rates

hot-money-flows

If UK interest rates rise relative to elsewhere, it will become more attractive to deposit money in the UK. You will get a better rate of return from saving in UK banks. Therefore demand for Sterling will rise.  This is known as “hot money flows” and is an important short-run factor in determining the value of a currency.

  • Higher interest rates cause an appreciation.
  • Cutting interest rates tends to cause a depreciation

3. Speculation

If speculators believe the sterling will rise in the future, they will demand more now to be able to make a profit. This increase in demand will cause the value to rise. Therefore movements in the exchange rate do not always reflect economic fundamentals but are often driven by the sentiments of the financial markets. For example, if markets see news which makes an interest rate increase more likely, the value of the pound will probably rise in anticipation.

Pound-dollar-daily-since-2006

The fall in the value of the Pound post-Brexit was partly related to the concerns that the UK would no longer attract as many capital flows outside the Single Currency.

4. Change in competitiveness

If British goods become more attractive and competitive this will also cause the value of the exchange rate to rise. For example, if the UK has long-term improvements in labour market relations and higher productivity, good will become more internationally competitive and in long-run cause an appreciation in the Pound. This is a similar factor to low inflation.

5. Relative strength of other currencies

In 2010 and 2011, the value of the Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc rose because markets were worried about all the other major economies – US and EU. Therefore, despite low-interest rates and low growth in Japan, the Yen kept appreciating. In the mid-1980s, the Pound fell to a low against the Dollar – this was mostly due to the strength of Dollar, caused by rising interest rates in the US.

6. Balance of payments

UK-current-account-from-2001

A deficit on the current account means that the value of imports (of goods and services) is greater than the value of exports. If this is financed by a surplus on the financial/capital account, then this is OK. But a country which struggles to attract enough capital inflows to finance a current account deficit will see a depreciation in the currency. (For example, current account deficit in US of 7% of GDP was one reason for depreciation of dollar in 2006-07). In the above diagram, the UK current account deficit reached 7% of GDP at the end of 2015, contributing to the decline in the value of the Pound.

7. Government debt

Under some circumstances, the value of government debt can influence the exchange rate. If markets fear a government may default on its debt, then investors will sell their bonds causing a fall in the value of the exchange rate. For example, Iceland debt problems in 2008, caused a rapid fall in the value of the Icelandic currency.

For example, if markets feared the US would default on its debt, foreign investors would sell their holdings of US bonds. This would cause a fall in the value of the dollar. See: US dollar and debt

8. Government intervention

Some governments attempt to influence the value of their currency. For example, China has sought to keep its currency undervalued to make Chinese exports more competitive. They can do this by buying US dollar assets which increases the value of the US dollar to Chinese Yuan.

9. Economic growth/recession

A recession may cause a depreciation in the exchange rate because during a recession interest rates usually fall. However, there is no hard and fast rule. It depends on several factors. See: Impact of recession on currency.

Example fall in value of Sterling 2007 – Jan 2009

sterling-exchange-rate-index-80-22-marks

Sterling exchange rate index, which shows the value of Sterling against a basket of currencies.

During the period 2007-09, the value of Sterling fell over 20%. This was due to:

  • Restoring UK’s lost competitiveness. The UK had large current account deficit in 2007
  • Bank of England cut interest rates to 0.5% in 2008.
  • The recession hit UK economy hard. Markets expected interest rates in the UK to stay low for a considerable time.
  • Bank of England pursued quantitative easing (increasing the money supply). This raised the prospect of future inflation, making UK bonds less attractive.

Sterling effective exchange rate

A Large devaluation in 1992, occurred when the UK left Exchange Rate Mechanism. When the UK left the ERM, they were able to cut interest rates sharply, which restored economic growth but also made it less attractive to save in UK banks.

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