Currency Exchange Risk

Currency Exchange Risk

Uncertainty about the rate at which revenues or costs denominated in one currency can be converted into another currency.

Foreign Exchange Risk

The risk that the return on an investment may be reduced or eliminated because of a change in the exchange rate of two currencies. For example, if an American has a CD in the United Kingdom worth 1 million British pounds and the exchange rate is 2 USD: 1 GBP, then the American effectively has $2 million in the CD. However, if the exchange rate changes significantly to, say, 1 USD: 1 GBP, then the American only has $1 million in the CD, even though he/she still has 1 million pounds. Foreign exchange risk is also called exchange rate risk.