INSTITUTE OF BANKERS IN MALAWI
DIPLOMA IN BANKING EXAMINATION
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL TRADE FINANCE (IOBM – D202)
Date: Wednesday, 7th November 2012
Time Allocated: 3 hours (08:00 – 11:00 am)
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1 This paper consists of TWO Sections, A and B.
2 Section A consists of 4 questions, each question carries 15 marks.
Answer ALL questions.
3 Section B consists of 4 questions, each question carries 20 marks. Answer ANY TWO questions.
4 You will be allowed 10 minutes to go through the paper before the start of the examination, you may write on this paper but not in the answer book.
5 Begin each answer on a new page.
6 Please write your examination number on each answer book used. Answer books without examination numbers will not be marked.
7 DO NOT open this question paper until instructed to do so.
SECTION A (60 MARKS)
Answer ALL questions from this section.
QUESTION 1
(a) Explain the “Mercantilist” Theory of Trade and mention the system that replaced this theory? (5 marks)
(b) State Adam Smith’s Theory of trade and illustrate how countries stand to benefit from specialization. (4 marks)
(c) Assume you are buying a vehicle from UAE and the price quoted is US$ 5,000.00. The US$ / Malawi Kwacha exchange rate on the day you were quoted is 1 US$ = MK 160.00
(i) Calculate the cost of the car to you in Malawi Kwacha. (2 marks)
(ii) Suppose at the time of payment, the US$ / MWK exchange rate has risen to US$1 = MWK 180.00, calculate the additional cost of the car in Malawi Kwacha. (2 marks)
(iii) Explain the effect of a strong dollar to an importer, as well as an exporter. Quantify your answer by showing your calculations. (2marks)
(Total 15 marks)
QUESTION 2
Explain briefly, by giving examples, how the following will affect the exchange rate of a country’s currency:
(a) Rate of inflation (3 marks)
(b) Leads and lags (3 marks)
(c) Economic position (3 marks)
(d) Hot money (3 marks)
(e) Hedging. (3 marks)
(Total 15 marks)
QUESTION 3
The following information relates to transactions in a treasury section of a bank on 27 February 2012:
Bought £250,000 @ 280
Sold US$120,000 @ 175
Sold £100,000 @ 290
Bought US$25,000 @ 170
Required:
(a) Summarise the information above by preparing a deal blotter showing the closing positions for each foreign currency. (8 marks)
(b) Explain the risk exposure to the bank created by the transactions. (2 marks)
(c) Describe two payment mechanisms in international trade. (2 marks)
(d) Define a Bankers Acceptance. (3 marks)
(Total 15 marks)
QUESTION 4
(a) State two advantages and disadvantages for the use of advance payments
(4 marks)
(b) Define a documentary collection. Mention two different ways in which documentary collections are carried out. (6 marks)
(c) State the difference between confirmed irrevocable letter of credit and unconfirmed irrevocable letter of credit. (5 marks)
(Total 15 marks)
SECTION B (40 MARKS)
Answer ANY TWO questions from this section.
QUESTION 5
Documentary collection states that banks act as post office; that is, they facilitate the safe receipt of documents by the importer and the reciprocal receipt of payment by the exporter.
Required:
a) Substantiate the statement above by drawing a diagram of the modus operandi. (3 marks)
b) Identify and define the roles of the parties involved. (10 marks)
c) Provide the sequence of steps in the process from the point of contract of sale between importer and exporter up to the final point of payment receipt by the exporter. (7 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
QUESTION 6
Makwasa Tea Association, a company based in Malawi has entered into agreement to sell tea to Mc Gregor Industries, a company based in Sweden. The Finance Manager for Makwasa has approached you as a bank manager to express the concerns he has on the assurance that the importer will pay for the goods and that losses due to foreign exchange movements are minimized:
(a) Advise the finance manager on how payment can be guaranteed using a letter of credit.
Note: Assumption should be made that the Finance Manager has no knowledge of International Trade operations. (7 marks)
(b) Describe three ways in which the Finance Manager can minimize losses due to movement in exchange rates. (6 marks)
(c) Bangula Cotton Limited has an export credit insurance cover on cotton which is exported to Britain. The premium is charged as follows:
(i) A fixed amount of 30 tambala for every K1, 000 worth of cotton shipped in the previous year.
(ii) A variable amount of 0.4% payable monthly on value of cotton exports declared that month.
Calculate the premium payable by Bangula for 2007 to the insurance company given the following statistics:
Total export value of cotton year 2006: MK215, 000,000
2007 export values June : MK 36,000,000
July : MK 29,000,000
August: MK 41,000,000
September: MK 38,000,000
October: MK 52,000,000 (7 marks)
(Total 20 Marks)
QUESTION 7
(a) Discuss three factors that would determine a countries exchange rate? (6 marks)
(b) Explain how balance of payments would affect a country’s exchange rate?
(4 marks)
(c) Mention and explain the documents required by authorized dealer banks in order to approve application to pay for imports? (10 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
QUESTION 8
(a) What is export credit insurance and on what basis is the insurance premium calculated? (10 marks)
(b) Describe the procedures and steps in the establishment of a documentary letter of credit. (5 marks)
(c) Describe two payment methods and list the advantages of such payment methods to the exporter. (5 marks)
(Total 20 marks)
END OF THE EXAMINATION PAPER
6
A qualification examined by the Institute of Bankers in Malawi