In this study, the foreign exchange exposure of listed Korean corporations during 1994 to 2005 toward trade-weighted real effective foreign exchange rate has been analyzed, excluding financial firms. The results show that there were more negative expo...
In this study, the foreign exchange exposure of listed Korean corporations during 1994 to 2005 toward trade-weighted real effective foreign exchange rate has been analyzed, excluding financial firms. The results show that there were more negative exposure firms regardless of the firms that focus more on export and the different time horizon of return on stocks. Domestic companies, on average, suggest a higher negative absolute value of foreign exchange exposure coefficient than export companies.
The evidence to why there were more firms with negative foreign exchange exposure coefficient than positive coefficient can be inferred as follows. The results of the appreciation of foreign currency against Korean Won show a sign of weakening competitiveness of the Korean firms. Also the firms are not strong enough to pass-through the effect of appreciation of foreign exchange rate to trade counterparts. Another reason is when appreciation occurs in foreign currency. The fear of foreign exchange rate loss causes foreign investors to sell their stocks which will then decrease the value.