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Currency Management by International Fixed Income Mutual Funds

Author

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  • Clemens Sialm
  • Qifei Zhu

Abstract

Investments in international fixed income securities are exposed to significant currency risks. We collect novel data on mutual fund currency derivatives and document that around 90% of U.S. international fixed income funds use currency forwards to manage their foreign exchange exposure. Funds' currency forward positions differ substantially based on risk management demands related to portfolio currency exposures, return-enhancement motives such as currency momentum and carry trade, and strategic considerations related to past performance and fund clienteles. Funds that hedge their currency risk exhibit lower return variability, but do not generate inferior abnormal returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Clemens Sialm & Qifei Zhu, 2021. "Currency Management by International Fixed Income Mutual Funds," NBER Working Papers 29082, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29082
    Note: AP CF IFM ITI
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eugenio Cerutti & Haonan Zhou, 2024. "Uncovering CIP Deviations in Emerging Markets: Distinctions, Determinants, and Disconnect," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 72(1), pages 196-252, March.
    2. Wang, Luqi & Urga, Giovanni, 2025. "Optimal N-state endogenous Markov-switching model for currency liquidity timing," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    3. Jing Chen & Junxiong Fang & Chunqiu Zhang & Yi Zhou, 2023. "Homemade international diversification under economic policy uncertainty," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 46(1), pages 31-62, February.
    4. Sergio Florez-Orrego & Matteo Maggiori & Jesse Schreger & Ziwen Sun & Serdil Tinda, 2024. "Global Capital Allocation," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 16(1), pages 623-653, August.
    5. repec:osf:socarx:5s6n3_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Tsvetelina Nenova, 2025. "Global or Regional Safe Assets: Evidence from Bond Substitution Patterns," BIS Working Papers 1254, Bank for International Settlements.
    7. Graziano, Marco & Habib, Maurizio Michael, 2024. "Mutual funds and safe government bonds: do returns matter?," Working Paper Series 2931, European Central Bank.
    8. Aldunate, Felipe & Da, Zhi & Larrain, Borja & Sialm, Clemens, 2025. "Pension fund flows, exchange rates, and covered interest rate parity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G13 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Contingent Pricing; Futures Pricing
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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