Don’t be affraid of credit changes
Through openness and a future orientation an organization can begin to take a realistic look at its culture. By doing this self-analysis, it begins the process of healing the wounds caused by a past orientation. The bad news is that the journey toward openness and a more positive paradigm takes time. The good news is that you can start right now. And you don’t have to go through the experience alone. You can use the Partnership Continuum as a guide to increase your Partnering Intelligence and get you to your destination.
Change is part of our daily lives. Our bodies go through a normal growth and maturity cycle as we change from children to adolescents and then to adults. As our bodies develop, we also mature both mentally and emotionally. Change doesn’t end with our bodies and minds. It is a dynamic that affects our relationships as well. And to add to the complexity, people are changing in different ways and at different rates all the time. As Heraclitus noted, there is nothing permanent except change. With all this change occurring around us, it’s helpful to remember that while you can’t always control change, you can control how you respond to it.
Loans are particularly exposed to currency movements
Being one of the most global sectors, the automotive sector is particularly exposed to currency movements. Significant changes of major exchange rates therefore may have a material impact on earnings. Yet, some manufacturers are better positioned than others due to a number of factors that do not only relate to natural or derivatives hedging. Awell-filled model pipeline, restructuring plans, cost reduction issues and a high degree of flexibility in the use and sourcing of raw materials and intermediate goods may outweigh negative effects due to currency fluctuations. With regard to transaction risk, those companies that have no foreign exchange exposure or are hedged, either naturally or through derivatives, clearly have the lowest risk. In terms of translation risk, companies whose assets and liabilities are well matched have the lowest risk and will have the lowest volatility of operating profits.
During the 2002/03 US dollar weakness, revenues and to a lesser extent operating profits of most European industrial issuers suffered significantly due to substantial US operations. However, exposure to US markets varies across industries.