New skills for managing FX fluctuations and appreciation

Concerns regarding inflation, currency volatility and regulatory complexities — not to mention the eurozone’s lurch from crisis to crisis — are just some of the issues facing treasurers in Asia-Pacific. But finding a strategy that successfully caters to the needs of a growing business in emerging markets with the right kind of capital structure can be a difficult balance to strike for treasurers. “Before [the crisis] you could create a long-range plan based on flows and more certain dynamics and direct your foreign exchange (FX) strategy and revisit annually,” said Shane Fitzsimons, GE’s CFO for global growth and operations. “You may, for example, have been operating in fewer countries with more stable currency relationships. In today’s more global economy, you have to be more nimble and alert to changing events and be in a position to respond accordingly.”