Supporting management decisions by using artificial neural networks for exchange rate prediction

Management Information Systems are meant to create methods for data management, leading to better decision making. By designing, implementing and using business information systems in innovative ways, the effectiveness and efficiency of every-day activities significantly increases. In the context of uncertainty and high volatilities resulted from the extended crisis, the economic environment became unpredictable, impeding business practitioners from correctly assessing the risks of their activities. These volatilities affected also the evolution of exchange rates, emphasizing even more their nonlinear nature that makes them difficult to model using traditional estimation methods. This paper highlights the benefits of using advanced systems such as Artificial Neural Networks, which provide good solutions to nonlinear problems, guiding business activities in an efficient manner. Different types of Multilayer Perceptron Neural Networks are compared in this study, based on results obtained in predicting EUR/RON exchange rate.