HedgeTalk Newsletter: Inflation and Jobs Data Lead this Week’s Headlines

Table of Contents:

1. Market Moving Headlines

2. Interest Rates

3. Currencies

4. Commodities

5. Concept of the Week: Risk versus Speculation

6. Quote of the Week

Market Moving Headlines

• US inflation rate below forecasts at 5% in March 2023

• US economy adds less jobs than expected in March 2023

• The unemployment rate in the US edged down to 3.5% in March 2023

• The dollar strengthened sharply on Monday with the US dollar index (DXY) hitting 103

• Natural gas prices surge by more than 8%

• Chile posts widest trade surplus in nearly 16 years

• Car production in Mexico rises to over 2-year high

• Russian ruble depreciates to it lowest in a year and below pre-war levels

• The IMF revises its global growth forecasts lower by 0.1% to 2.8% for 2023

• Lithium carbonate prices have sunk by 60% year-to-date

• The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index in the US falls to a three-month low

Interest Rates

Currencies

Commodities

Concept of the Week: Hedge Accounting Treatment for Derivatives

When using derivatives for hedging risk, it is important to apply the proper accounting treatment relative to the hedging strategy. By applying hedge accounting, the derivative’s periodic changes in value can be kept from adversely impacting earnings. The hedge accounting treatment is determined by:

• The intended use of the derivative, and

• The hedge designation elected at the inception of the hedge

The most likely hedge accounting scenarios are shown below.

Applying the appropriate hedge accounting is the best way to ensure earnings volatility does not occur due to hedging activity.

Quote of the Week

“There are three ways to deal with risk: avoid it, retain it, or transfer it.” – Garret Gunderson

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