For many Canadians, currency movements are an everyday part of life.

When the Canadian dollar is strong, it means that going south of the border is cheaper. Whether it’s a vacation in Hawaii or a shopping spree in New York City, a strong Canadian dollar can buy more in terms of U.S. dollars.

Likewise, a weak Canadian dollar can buy fewer U.S. dollars – meaning that travel, shopping, and other expenses in U.S. dollars are more expensive.

THE SAME EFFECT

The impact of currency fluctuations isn’t limited only to foreign purchases.

In fact, as today’s infographic from Fidelity Investments Canada shows, these same fluctuations can also affect the performance of your portfolio.

Why is that the case?

Many Canadian portfolios have exposure to American-listed companies such as Apple, Wells Fargo, Tesla, or Johnson & Johnson. As a result, fluctuations in the USD/CAD rate can have a profound impact on how these investments perform in Canadian dollars.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

Here’s an example of the impact of currency in action:

  • A Canadian investor puts $100 CAD into a fund that buys U.S. stocks
  • At the time of investment, $1 CAD buys $0.80 USD
  • After exchange, $80 USD is invested in the U.S. market
  • The U.S. market goes up 10% in one year, and is now worth $88 USD
  • However, over the year, the exchange rate changed to $1 CAD per $0.85 USD
  • Converted back to Canadian dollars, at the new rate, the $88 USD is now worth $103.52 CAD, which is just a 3.5% gain in domestic Canadian currency

    • In the above case, a strengthening Canadian dollar ends up dampening the returns coming from the U.S. market.

    In contrast, if the exchange rate went the other direction – meaning Canadian dollar was weakening – any returns would actually amplify.

    LONG-TERM PLANNING

    If currency fluctuations can have a substantial impact on investments, what does this mean for portfolio construction and assessing risk?

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Related Posts