THE INTRODUCTION OF EMERGING CURRENCIES INTO A PORTFOLIO: TOWARDS A MORE COMPLETE DIVERSIFICATION MODEL

We draw on portfolio theory and international diversification in order to analyse strategies allowing to reduce emerging economies' exposure to exchange-rate risk. We show in particular that it may be efficient for an investor, in terms of maximising the return-to-risk ratio, to build up a portfolio of emerging-country assets denominated in local currency - unhedged against currency risk - compared with a strategy including emerging-country securities denominated in foreign currencies. This strategy would lead to a reduction in the original sin (i.e. the inability of emerging economies to borrow in local currency), and de facto to a reduction in currency mismatches in the balance sheets of emerging economies.