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1. Currencies – U.S. dollar foreign-exchange rates. May 5, 2011 Country/currency

ID: 2735577 • Letter: 1

Question

1. Currencies – U.S. dollar foreign-exchange rates. May 5, 2011

Country/currency………..in US$..............per US$

British Pound……………….1.5347…………….0.6516

Norwegian Kroner……….0.1690……………..5.9173

Thai Baht……………………..0.0310……………..32.250

Suppose a Big Mac costs $3.27 in Boston, and 101 Thai Baht in Thailand. In this circumstance, what can we say is TRUE?

Purchasing Power Parity does not hold, and Big Macs are relatively expensive in Thailand

Purchasing Power Parity holds, and Big Macs cost the same in these two cities

Purchasing Power Parity does not hold, and Big Macs are relatively cheap in Thailand

Purchasing Power Parity holds, and Big Macs are relatively cheap in Thailand

Purchasing Power Parity holds, and Big Macs are relatively expensive in Thailand

2. What can we infer from the fact that the correlation coefficient between Project George and Project Puddy was 0.00?

That the expected return of the two projects will be zero (or close to zero)

That the projects have a direct relationship with each other

That the covariance between the two projects will be equal to zero

That the state dependent returns must have had equal probability of occurring

That the diversification gain between the two projects will be zero (or close to zero)

a.

Purchasing Power Parity does not hold, and Big Macs are relatively expensive in Thailand

b.

Purchasing Power Parity holds, and Big Macs cost the same in these two cities

c.

Purchasing Power Parity does not hold, and Big Macs are relatively cheap in Thailand

d.

Purchasing Power Parity holds, and Big Macs are relatively cheap in Thailand

e.

Purchasing Power Parity holds, and Big Macs are relatively expensive in Thailand

Explanation / Answer

Solution of question 1

Exchange rate between US Dollar is Thai Baht = $0.310 per Baht

Cost of Big mac in Boston = $3.27

Cost of Big Mac in Thailand = 101 Baht

Cost of Bing in Thailand is calculate in US Dollar term using Exchange rate of $0.310 per Baht.

Cost of Bing Mac = 101 Baht × $0.0310

                              = $3.13

Cost of one Bing Mac in Thailand in term of US dollar is $3.13 and cost of same big Mac in US is $3.27. So Purchasing power parity does not exist. Also big Mac is relatively cheap in Thailand compare to USA.

Hence, option (C) is correct answer.

Solution of question 2

Correlation coefficient shows the relationship between two project return and movement of return with respect to each other project return. If correlation coefficient is 1 then there is perfect and direct relationship between two projects return that if return of first project increases by 10% and return of second project is also increase by 10%.

Similarly, if correlation coefficient is -1 then there is perfect but inverse relationship between two project return that if return of first project increases by 10% and return of second project is decrease by 10%.

If Correlation coefficient between two projects is zero it mean there is no relationship between two projects. So, in this case covariance between the two projects will be equal to zero.

Hence, option (C) is correct answer.