Cash & Liquidity ManagementCash ManagementPracticeManaging Payments in Volatile Markets

Managing Payments in Volatile Markets

The political unrest and economic instability rumbling across pockets of northern Africa and the Middle East symbolise the challenges that are simultaneously new and yet strikingly familiar to multinational businesses with long-standing interests in dynamic markets around the world. For cash managers, such events highlight the importance of both vigilantly monitoring political, social and economic trends that can trigger payment and exchange rate risks, and establishing a solid strategy for mitigating those risks.

Reflecting on Historic Events

A look at past political and economic disruptions provides valuable insights into the potential impact of geopolitical events on payment flows and risks.

UK withdrawal from the ERM

In the early 1990s, the UK withdrew from the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) because of diametrically opposed economic conditions in the UK and Germany. The UK, like all countries in the ERM, had pegged its currency to the Deutsche mark (DM) and, by extension, its monetary policies to Germany’s. When Germany raised its interest rates to attract foreign capital after the reunification of east and west Germany, the UK, which was battling a recession, was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Market speculators realised the UK’s dilemma and began selling the pound (GBP) short. When the GBP began to slide, the Bank of England (BoE) intervened by raising interest rates from 10% to 15% on ‘Black Wednesday’, and buying GBP in the market, thus shrinking foreign currency reserves. The manoeuvres were unsuccessful and the UK abandoned the ERM. Within weeks, the pound fell 15% against the DM and 25% against the US dollar.

Throughout the crisis, the UK government had to weigh up liquidity risks related to depleting its foreign currency reserves, and companies managing cross-border payments and cash flows had to juggle market risks tied to geopolitical events.

East Asian currency crisis

Also during the 1990s, a series of events unfolded in Asia as economic downturns and financial policy shifts in the west challenged Asia’s fast-growing economies.

Many developing markets in Asia attracted foreign investment with high interest rates, leading to an inflow of cash and also driving up the cost of assets and speculative borrowing. To buffer their currencies from exchange rate volatilities, countries such as Korea, Thailand and Indonesia pegged their currencies to the US dollar.

At the same time and in an effort to preserve capital at home, the US and other western countries raised their interest rates, effectively stemming the flow of investments to Asia.

Korea, Thailand and Indonesia all increased their interest rates and intervened in the markets to support their pegged currencies. Eventually, however, they were forced to abandon their pegs and allow their currencies to float on the market. Subsequently, in the year that followed, the Thai baht depreciated 36%, the Korean won was devalued over 30% and the Indonesian rupee plummeted 80%. Once the panic subsided, however, asset prices and foreign exchange (FX) rates found their natural market-driven levels and all three countries resumed impressive growth trends.

Malaysia, whose currency was only partially pegged to the US dollar, responded differently. When the Malaysian government perceived speculative trading on the ringgit, it set up currency controls that included resetting the currency’s peg and prohibiting offshore trading in it. With trading limited to licensed onshore banks, most global FX banks suspended trading, complicating cash and payment activities for their corporate clients, since payments in the country could only be made through an onshore bank. Only recently have these restrictions been relaxed.

A Comparison with Recent Trends

Earlier this year, a different set of drivers created payment risks in parts of northern Africa and the Middle East. Social and political forces, rather than weaknesses in the financial sector, rocked financial markets in Tunisia, Egypt, the Ivory Coast, Libya and a number of other nations where civil unrest has accompanied calls for regime changes.

In Tunisia and Egypt, protesters fed up with government corruption and high unemployment quickly ousted leaders who had been in place for decades. Unlike Malaysia, the governments did not intervene in financial markets, except to close them temporarily because of demonstrations in the streets. As events unfolded there was a sense that the financial markets would eventually return to normal.

In the Ivory Coast, events took a different turn. Incumbent President Gbagbo refused to step down after being defeated in an election last November, opening up a new chapter in regional instability.

In an attempt to eject the unlawful regime, the Central Bank of the West African States, which services the Ivory Coast and seven other countries that share a common currency (XOF), suspended all transactions with the Ivory Coast.

The action essentially prohibited the Ivory Coast from participating in the XOF and precluded payments being made into the country. In response, the Gbagbo administration ordered all banks to revert to manual clearing. Rather than submit, foreign banks closed down and the government nationalised all banks. As a result, force majeure (superior force) was declared and financial assets were frozen.

Lessons Learned

Across emerging and developed markets alike, political and economic tremors are extremely significant from a payment flow perspective. What’s more, as history demonstrates, situations can deteriorate rapidly and payments systems can be materially impacted.

When it comes to making payments in volatile markets, the best defence is a good offence. This includes a three-pronged attack that covers situational, legal and processing-related factors:

  1. Monitor the situation: Situational awareness is the first step toward minimising payment and FX risks. Stay abreast of evolving news events and review banking industry and country risk reports and updates. The best and most up-to-date information should come from discussions with your payments and currency trading partners. Global financial providers can provide a distinct advantage because of their presence in local markets and day-to-day interactions with settlement systems, central banks and the broad range of public and private sector institutions.
  2. Review legal implications: Review your provider’s contract to clarify its and your liabilities and responsibilities. Also understand the ramifications of force majeure.
  3. Pursue processing-related strategies: While each situation is different, steps can be taken from a processing perspective to mitigate risks. Consult with your FX and payments provider about processing windows and exception arrangements. Make payments early in the week and avoid situations where settlements straddle holidays or weekends. Also discuss with your vendors and other beneficiaries what is happening, the various risks that could impact payment delivery, and potential payment alternatives, such as settling in a different country or currency, for example.

The bottom line is that the best strategy for making payments in dynamic and stable markets alike is to align your payments activities with an experienced cross-border provider.

That provider should have on-the-ground experts who are attuned to what is happening locally, have the breadth and depth of experience to stay one step ahead of you and can provide the solid insights you need to manage cash flows most effectively during extraordinary situations.

Risks Associated with Dynamic Markets

  • Geopolitical risk: Risks related to political change or instability.
  • Market risk: Risks associated with FX rate movement.
  • Credit risk: Risk that a counterparty will not remit after payment has been made.
  • Systemic risk: Risk of collapse of an entire financial system or market.
  • Liquidity risk: Risk of funds getting trapped in a country.
  • Operational risk: Risk of operational or procedural failures.
  • Settlement risk: The possibility that a counterparty will not pay or that transaction settlement in a transfer system does not take place as expected.

To learn more about Citi, visit the company’s gtnews microsite.

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