Of the respondents who identified booked foreign currency monetary assets
and liabilities as an exposure on their balance sheets, 68% acknowledged that
they actively manage the exposure. There were no notable differences between
the behaviors of private and public companies, or by revenue size of companies.
This outcome reflects almost unchanged behavior from 2009, when 66% stated
that they managed this exposure. The highest level of activity came from 2008,
when 74% hedged this exposure. We have consistently expressed mild surprise
that the percentage of companies actively managing this exposure is not
higher. The P&L resulting from the remeasurement of booked foreign currency
accounts receivable and payable is typically captured in an FX Gain/Loss line
of the income statement. Explaining gains and losses attributable to FX P&L
is something that management usually seeks to avoid, since FX P&L, whether
a gain or a loss, often calls into question whether risk management practices
have been adequately defined. Regardless of our reaction, the three surveys
taken as a whole reveal that a strong majority of companies hedge balance sheet
exposures, but by no means is it a universal practice.