This paper examines the benefits from hedging the currency exposure of international
investments in single- and multi-country equity and bond portfolios from the perspectives of
German, Japanese, British and American investors. Over the period 1975 to 2009, hedging of
currency risk substantially reduced the volatility of foreign investments at a quarterly
investment horizon. Contrary to previous studies, the paper finds that at longer investment
horizons of up to five years the case for hedging for risk reduction purposes remained strong.
In addition to its impact on risk, hedging affected returns in economically meaningful
magnitudes in some cases.