Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar e analisar a evolução do grau de integração financeira do Brasil com os mercados de capitais internacionais a partir da década de noventa. O conceito de integração financeira fraca é adotado por meio da relação da paridade coberta de juros (PCJ) e o conceito de integração forte é usado a partir da relação de paridade descoberta de juros (PDJ). As condições de não arbitragem foram estimadas usando os modelos de parâmetros fixos e de parâmetros variando no tempo. A importância de estimar parâmetros variáveis ao longo do tempo deve-se ao fato de que várias mudanças na legislação de capitais estrangeiros ocorreram no período amostral. Além disso, os planos de estabilização, as crises monetárias e financeiras e a mudança de regime cambial devem ter mostrado algum efeito sobre o comportamento das paridades de juros. Como outra possibilidade, estudam-se os possíveis fatores pull e push relevantes na explicação dos fluxos de entrada de capitais estrangeiros. Os resultados indicaram que existe um grau de integração financeira intermediário tanto no sentido fraco como forte. Os desvios da PDJ sugerem a presença de um prêmio de risco país e de um prêmio de risco da moeda relevantes nas arbitragens de juros. A aplicação do filtro de Kalman nas equações da PCJ e da PDJ mostrou evidências de variação nos parâmetros, observando-se mudanças bruscas como graduais ao longo do tempo. A PCJ mostrou uma mudança no início de 1991 que pode estar associado ao período de abertura da conta de capital brasileira. Foi também possível observar dois momentos de quebras estruturais na evolução PDJ. Além disso, um aumento no diferencial de juros interno e externo produziu uma desvalorização excessiva na taxa de câmbio no momentos de crescimento na incerteza no mercado de divisas. Com a introdução do Plano Real, os resultados apontaram que os investimentos estrangeiros foram realizados com prêmios de risco país e da moeda mais elevado relativamente aos outros anos da década. Por fim, os resultados mostraram as influências de fatores push como de fatores pull nas decisões de investimento no Brasil. / This work aims to investigate and to analyze the evolution of the degree of financial integration between Brazilian capital market and the international capital markets throughout nineties. The concept of weak financial integration is employed in relation to the covered parity of interests (CPI) and the concept of strong financial integration is used to uncovered parity of interests (UPI). The condition of non-arbitrage has been evaluated using the models of both fixed and varying in time parameters. The importance of evaluating variable parameters during the time is due to the fact that some change in the legislation of foreign capitals has occurred in the studied period. Moreover, the plans of stabilization, the monetary and financial crises and the change of exchange regime may have had some effects on the behavior of the interest parities. As another possibility, the study analyzes the pull and push relevant factors to explain foreign capital inflows. The results indicated that there is an intermediary degree of financial integration in both concepts; weak and strong financial integration. The deviations of the CPI have indicated that there are barriers to the mobility of capital and free-risk exceeding gains to those invest in Brazilian bonds compared to North-American bonds. The deviations of the UPI have pointed out the presence of a premium of country risk and premium of currency risk on the interest arbitrage. The use of the Kalman filter in the equations of the CPI and the UPI showed evidence of varying in the parameters. Theses changes might be strong and gradual during the time. The CPI changed in the beginning of 1991 significantly which can be associated to the period of Brazilian opening capital account. It was also possible to observe two structural breakdowns in the UPI series. Moreover, an increase in differential between internal and external interests created an extreme depreciation in the exchange rate during the period that uncertainties in the exchange market raised. After implementation of Real Plan, the results indicated that the foreign investments had been carried through country risk premium and currency risk premium relatively higher than to the other years of the decade. Finally, the results have shown the influences of push and pull factors in the decisions of investment in Brazilian economy.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar e analisar a evolução do grau de integração financeira do Brasil com os mercados de capitais internacionais a partir da década de noventa. O conceito de integração financeira fraca é adotado por meio da relação da paridade coberta de juros (PCJ) e o conceito de integração forte é usado a partir da relação de paridade descoberta de juros (PDJ). As condições de não arbitragem foram estimadas usando os modelos de parâmetros fixos e de parâmetros variando no tempo. A importância de estimar parâmetros variáveis ao longo do tempo deve-se ao fato de que várias mudanças na legislação de capitais estrangeiros ocorreram no período amostral. Além disso, os planos de estabilização, as crises monetárias e financeiras e a mudança de regime cambial devem ter mostrado algum efeito sobre o comportamento das paridades de juros. Como outra possibilidade, estudam-se os possíveis fatores pull e push relevantes na explicação dos fluxos de entrada de capitais estrangeiros. Os resultados indicaram que existe um grau de integração financeira intermediário tanto no sentido fraco como forte. Os desvios da PDJ sugerem a presença de um prêmio de risco país e de um prêmio de risco da moeda relevantes nas arbitragens de juros. A aplicação do filtro de Kalman nas equações da PCJ e da PDJ mostrou evidências de variação nos parâmetros, observando-se mudanças bruscas como graduais ao longo do tempo. A PCJ mostrou uma mudança no início de 1991 que pode estar associado ao período de abertura da conta de capital brasileira. Foi também possível observar dois momentos de quebras estruturais na evolução PDJ. Além disso, um aumento no diferencial de juros interno e externo produziu uma desvalorização excessiva na taxa de câmbio no momentos de crescimento na incerteza no mercado de divisas. Com a introdução do Plano Real, os resultados apontaram que os investimentos estrangeiros foram realizados com prêmios de risco país e da moeda mais elevado relativamente aos outros anos da década. Por fim, os resultados mostraram as influências de fatores push como de fatores pull nas decisões de investimento no Brasil. / This work aims to investigate and to analyze the evolution of the degree of financial integration between Brazilian capital market and the international capital markets throughout nineties. The concept of weak financial integration is employed in relation to the covered parity of interests (CPI) and the concept of strong financial integration is used to uncovered parity of interests (UPI). The condition of non-arbitrage has been evaluated using the models of both fixed and varying in time parameters. The importance of evaluating variable parameters during the time is due to the fact that some change in the legislation of foreign capitals has occurred in the studied period. Moreover, the plans of stabilization, the monetary and financial crises and the change of exchange regime may have had some effects on the behavior of the interest parities. As another possibility, the study analyzes the pull and push relevant factors to explain foreign capital inflows. The results indicated that there is an intermediary degree of financial integration in both concepts; weak and strong financial integration. The deviations of the CPI have indicated that there are barriers to the mobility of capital and free-risk exceeding gains to those invest in Brazilian bonds compared to North-American bonds. The deviations of the UPI have pointed out the presence of a premium of country risk and premium of currency risk on the interest arbitrage. The use of the Kalman filter in the equations of the CPI and the UPI showed evidence of varying in the parameters. Theses changes might be strong and gradual during the time. The CPI changed in the beginning of 1991 significantly which can be associated to the period of Brazilian opening capital account. It was also possible to observe two structural breakdowns in the UPI series. Moreover, an increase in differential between internal and external interests created an extreme depreciation in the exchange rate during the period that uncertainties in the exchange market raised. After implementation of Real Plan, the results indicated that the foreign investments had been carried through country risk premium and currency risk premium relatively higher than to the other years of the decade. Finally, the results have shown the influences of push and pull factors in the decisions of investment in Brazilian economy.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This research was conducted with the objective of studying the dynamics of soil temperature and water content as a function of the different amounts of black oat residue (Avena sativa Schreb.) in the soil cover, through existing relationships with meteorological variables, as well as the simulation of these dynamics using Hydrus-1D. The experiment was carried out in an Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico arênico (Rhodic Paleudalf) in Santa Maria - RS. The treatments consisted of the use of 3, 6 and 9 Mg ha-1 of oat straw in soil cover and an uncovered soil treatment (0 Mg ha-1). Soil temperature and water content at different depths, in addition to meteorological conditions, were measured during the period from December 1, 2014 to December 6, 2015. The effect of straw on soil temperature was analyzed at different depths, correlating covered soil temperature with uncovered soil temperature. The equations used for estimating soil surface temperature were adjusted by the least square method, where the surface temperature is estimated as a function of air temperature and incident solar radiation, and its performance compared to the sinusoidal equation. The hydraulic and thermal parameters required for the simulation of soil temperature and water content were optimized by the reverse solution and validated on uncovered soils. The optimized parameters were used to simulate the temperature and water content in soils with different amounts of straw with two contour conditions for the soil surface temperature, one measure and the other estimated. The straw affected the soil temperature down to 50 cm deep. The uncovered soil temperature at which inversion of the straw effect occurred was 19.6 ° C at the surface and 15.8 ° C at 50 cm depth. The presence of straw keeps the soil warmer than the soil without straw at the beginning of the day, but prevents it from warming similar to the ground without straw for the rest of the day, causing in turn that, bare soil gets warmer during the day and cools more at night compared to the covered soil. This temperature was similar in all amounts of straw, but decreased in depth. The temperature of the soil surface can be estimated as a function of air temperature and solar radiation. In uncovered soil the proposed equation presents better performance compared to the sinusoidal equation. In covered soils the sinusoidal equation had better performance. The optimal hydraulic and thermal parameters of the soil improved the simulations of temperature and soil water content. The soil temperature with different amounts of oat straw can be simulated using Hydrus-1D, and the use of the contour condition with the measured surface temperature performed better than the estimated surface temperature. / Esta pesquisa foi conduzida com o objetivo de estudar a dinâmica da temperatura e do conteúdo de água do solo em função de diferentes quantidades de resíduos de aveia preta disposta em cobertura por meio das relações existente com variáveis meteorológicas, bem como a representação destes comportamentos por meio de simulação utilizando o Hydrus-1D. O experimento foi conduzido em um Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico arênico em Santa Maria - RS. Os tratamentos consistiram da utilização de três diferentes níveis de cobertura do solo (3, 6 e 9 Mg ha-1) com palha de aveia (Avena sativa) e um tratamento com solo descoberto (0 Mg ha-1). A temperatura do solo e o conteúdo volumétrico de água, em diferentes profundidades, além das condições meteorológicas, foram mensurados durante o período de 01/12/2014 a 06/12/2015. O efeito da cobertura do solo com resíduos vegetais na temperatura do solo foi analisado nas diferentes profundidades correlacionando a temperatura do solo com palha e a temperatura do solo descoberto. O método dos mínimos quadrados foi usado para gerar equações de estimativa da temperatura da superfície do solo em função da temperatura do ar e da radiação solar e o seu desempenho foi comparado com a equação senoidal. Os parâmetros hidráulicos e térmicos, necessários para a simulação da temperatura e do conteúdo de água do solo, com o Hydrus-1D, foram otimizados por meio da solução inversa e validados em solos descobertos. Os parâmetros otimizados foram usados para a simulação da temperatura e do conteúdo de água em solos com diferentes quantidades de palha com duas condições de contorno para a temperatura da superfície do solo, uma medida e outra estimada. A palha exerce influência sobre a temperatura do solo até 50 cm de profundidade. A temperatura do solo descoberto em que ocorre a inversão do efeito da palha foi de 19,6 °C na superfície e 15,8 °C a 50 cm de profundidade. A presença de cobertura de palha mantém o solo mais aquecido que o solo sem palha no início do dia, mas impede que ele se aqueça igual ao solo sem palha no restante do dia. Assim resultando em uma percepção de que a palha aquece e resfria o solo em relação à temperatura do solo desnudo. Essa temperatura foi semelhante em todas as quantidades de palha, porém decresceu em profundidade. A estimativa da temperatura da superfície do solo pode ser estimada em função da temperatura do ar e da radiação solar. Em solo descoberto as equações propostas tem melhor desempenho que a equação senoidal. Em solos cobertos a equação senoidal teve melhor desempenho. Os parâmetros hidráulicos e térmicos do solo otimizados melhoraram as simulações da temperatura e conteúdo de água do solo. A simulação da temperatura do solo com diferentes quantidades de cobertura vegetal pode ser simulada usando o Hydrus-1D, sendo que o uso da condição de contorno com a temperatura da superfície medido teve melhor desempenho que o utilizando a temperatura da superfície estimada.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar e analisar a evolução do grau de integração financeira do Brasil com os mercados de capitais internacionais a partir da década de noventa. O conceito de integração financeira fraca é adotado por meio da relação da paridade coberta de juros (PCJ) e o conceito de integração forte é usado a partir da relação de paridade descoberta de juros (PDJ). As condições de não arbitragem foram estimadas usando os modelos de parâmetros fixos e de parâmetros variando no tempo. A importância de estimar parâmetros variáveis ao longo do tempo deve-se ao fato de que várias mudanças na legislação de capitais estrangeiros ocorreram no período amostral. Além disso, os planos de estabilização, as crises monetárias e financeiras e a mudança de regime cambial devem ter mostrado algum efeito sobre o comportamento das paridades de juros. Como outra possibilidade, estudam-se os possíveis fatores pull e push relevantes na explicação dos fluxos de entrada de capitais estrangeiros. Os resultados indicaram que existe um grau de integração financeira intermediário tanto no sentido fraco como forte. Os desvios da PDJ sugerem a presença de um prêmio de risco país e de um prêmio de risco da moeda relevantes nas arbitragens de juros. A aplicação do filtro de Kalman nas equações da PCJ e da PDJ mostrou evidências de variação nos parâmetros, observando-se mudanças bruscas como graduais ao longo do tempo. A PCJ mostrou uma mudança no início de 1991 que pode estar associado ao período de abertura da conta de capital brasileira. Foi também possível observar dois momentos de quebras estruturais na evolução PDJ. Além disso, um aumento no diferencial de juros interno e externo produziu uma desvalorização excessiva na taxa de câmbio no momentos de crescimento na incerteza no mercado de divisas. Com a introdução do Plano Real, os resultados apontaram que os investimentos estrangeiros foram realizados com prêmios de risco país e da moeda mais elevado relativamente aos outros anos da década. Por fim, os resultados mostraram as influências de fatores push como de fatores pull nas decisões de investimento no Brasil. / This work aims to investigate and to analyze the evolution of the degree of financial integration between Brazilian capital market and the international capital markets throughout nineties. The concept of weak financial integration is employed in relation to the covered parity of interests (CPI) and the concept of strong financial integration is used to uncovered parity of interests (UPI). The condition of non-arbitrage has been evaluated using the models of both fixed and varying in time parameters. The importance of evaluating variable parameters during the time is due to the fact that some change in the legislation of foreign capitals has occurred in the studied period. Moreover, the plans of stabilization, the monetary and financial crises and the change of exchange regime may have had some effects on the behavior of the interest parities. As another possibility, the study analyzes the pull and push relevant factors to explain foreign capital inflows. The results indicated that there is an intermediary degree of financial integration in both concepts; weak and strong financial integration. The deviations of the CPI have indicated that there are barriers to the mobility of capital and free-risk exceeding gains to those invest in Brazilian bonds compared to North-American bonds. The deviations of the UPI have pointed out the presence of a premium of country risk and premium of currency risk on the interest arbitrage. The use of the Kalman filter in the equations of the CPI and the UPI showed evidence of varying in the parameters. Theses changes might be strong and gradual during the time. The CPI changed in the beginning of 1991 significantly which can be associated to the period of Brazilian opening capital account. It was also possible to observe two structural breakdowns in the UPI series. Moreover, an increase in differential between internal and external interests created an extreme depreciation in the exchange rate during the period that uncertainties in the exchange market raised. After implementation of Real Plan, the results indicated that the foreign investments had been carried through country risk premium and currency risk premium relatively higher than to the other years of the decade. Finally, the results have shown the influences of push and pull factors in the decisions of investment in Brazilian economy.

The main objective of the study was to determine the exchange rate volatility regime for carry trade profitability when using the South African Rand as the target currency. The study used the Logistic Smooth Transition Regression (LSTR) model to test the uncovered interest rate parity (UIP). The Sharpe ratio and the risk adjusted forward premium were used as the transition variables. The transition variable is a function of the transition function, which is used to determine the regime for the UIP. The LSTR model is characterised by three regimes, i.e. the lower regime, the middle regime and the upper regime. The LSTR model was tested for the short-term forward rate maturity of less than one year. The results show that the UIP hypothesis holds in the middle regime for the Rand/USD and the Rand/GBP when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable. Meanwhile, the UIP hypothesis does not hold for the Rand/Yen when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable for the forward rate maturity of one month, and it does hold for other short-term forward rate maturity of less than one year. The results for the risk adjusted forward premium as the transition variable show that the UIP hypothesis does not hold for all three currencies at various short-term forward rate maturities of less than one year. The research provides the following contributions to new knowledge: (1) Uncovered interest parity hypothesis holds in the middle regime for all periods for the Rand/USD and the Rand/GBP when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable with a short-term forward rate maturity of less than one year. (2) Currency carry trade profit taking for the Rand/USD and the Rand/GBP can be achieved in the upper regime. (3) The results for the Rand/Yen are mixed, in that the UIP hypothesis does not hold for other crisis periods as a result of negative Sharpe ratios. However, for the calm periods, UIP hypothesis holds in the middle regime for the Rand/Yen for short-term forward rate maturity of more than one month but less than one year when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable. The overall contribution of this study is that for the South African Rand as the target currency, the UIP hypothesis holds for the short-term horizon when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable and that this mostly depends more on currency than on horizon. Contrary to other researchers who found that the UIP holds in the long-term maturity with higher Sharpe ratios in the upper regime, this study proved that the UIP holds in the short-term maturity horizon. / Business Management / D.B.L.

This diploma thesis remarks on the beginning of the equality of rights and the complete social recognition of the puppetry in Czech theatres in the years 1973 - 1982. The thesis deals with the history of the East Bohemian theatre DRAK in Hradec Kralove from its foundation, it describes the arrival of the director Josef Krofta, Prague's performances of DRAK in 1977, the first tours abroad, it observes DRAK in the context of totality, it outlines Krofta's directorial principles and the perspective of the DRAK's Theatre poetics within a decade. Significant attention is dedicated to the reconstruction of the top chosen period plays from the DRAK Theatre, directed by Josef Krofta, because these plays reflect the best the emancipation of the Czech puppet theatre.

The main objective of the study was to determine the exchange rate volatility regime for carry trade profitability when using the South African Rand as the target currency. The study used the Logistic Smooth Transition Regression (LSTR) model to test the uncovered interest rate parity (UIP). The Sharpe ratio and the risk adjusted forward premium were used as the transition variables. The transition variable is a function of the transition function, which is used to determine the regime for the UIP. The LSTR model is characterised by three regimes, i.e. the lower regime, the middle regime and the upper regime. The LSTR model was tested for the short-term forward rate maturity of less than one year. The results show that the UIP hypothesis holds in the middle regime for the Rand/USD and the Rand/GBP when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable. Meanwhile, the UIP hypothesis does not hold for the Rand/Yen when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable for the forward rate maturity of one month, and it does hold for other short-term forward rate maturity of less than one year. The results for the risk adjusted forward premium as the transition variable show that the UIP hypothesis does not hold for all three currencies at various short-term forward rate maturities of less than one year. The research provides the following contributions to new knowledge: (1) Uncovered interest parity hypothesis holds in the middle regime for all periods for the Rand/USD and the Rand/GBP when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable with a short-term forward rate maturity of less than one year. (2) Currency carry trade profit taking for the Rand/USD and the Rand/GBP can be achieved in the upper regime. (3) The results for the Rand/Yen are mixed, in that the UIP hypothesis does not hold for other crisis periods as a result of negative Sharpe ratios. However, for the calm periods, UIP hypothesis holds in the middle regime for the Rand/Yen for short-term forward rate maturity of more than one month but less than one year when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable. The overall contribution of this study is that for the South African Rand as the target currency, the UIP hypothesis holds for the short-term horizon when using the Sharpe ratio as the transition variable and that this mostly depends more on currency than on horizon. Contrary to other researchers who found that the UIP holds in the long-term maturity with higher Sharpe ratios in the upper regime, this study proved that the UIP holds in the short-term maturity horizon. / Business Management / D.B.L.

The thesis investigates different exchange rate models and their forecasting performance. The work takes previous literature overview and summarize their findings. Despite the significant amount of papers which were done on the topic of exchange rate forecast, basically none of them cannot find an appropriate model which would outperform a forecast of a simple random walk in every horizon or for any currency pair. However, there are some positive findings in specific cases (e.g. for specific pair or for specific time horizon). The study provides up-to-date analysis of four exchange rates (USD/CZK, USD/ILS, USD/GBP and USD/EUR) for the period of time from January 2000 to August 2013 and analyse forecasting performance of seven exchange rate models (uncovered interest rate parity model, purchasing power parity model, monetary model, monetary model with error correction, Taylor rule model, hidden Markov model and ESTAR model). Although, the results are in advantage of Taylor rule model, especially for the exchange rate of USD/CZK, I cannot prove that the forecasting performance is significantly better than the random walk model. Except of the overall analysis, the work suppose instabilities in the time. Stock and Watson (2003) found that the forecast predictability is not stable over time. As a consequence, the econometric model can give us better forecast than random walk process at some period of time, however at other period, the forecasting ability can be worse than random walk. Based on Fluctuation test of Giacomini and Rossi (2010a) every model is analysed how the out-of-sample forecast ability changes over time.

This thesis provides a thorough analysis of the covered- and uncovered interest parity conditions (CIP, UIP) as well as the forward rate unbiasedness hypothesis (FRUH) for Sweden and the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). By studying data on interbank rates in Sweden (STIBOR) and the EMU (EURIBOR) as well as the corresponding spot- and forward exchange rates, monetary integration and country-specific risks are determined and analyzed with direct applications to the potential entry of Sweden into the EMU. As interest rate parity in general gives insight into market efficiency and frictions between the chosen regions, such points are discussed in addition to EMU entry. Drawing on past studies that mainly studied one condition in isolation, a nested formulation of interest rate parity is instead derived and tested using cointegration and robust estimation methods. The results point to a strict rejection of the FRUH for all horizons except the shortest and a case where CIP only holds for the 6-month horizon and partially over one year. This implies, based on the nested formulation, that UIP is rejected for all horizons as well. Ultimately, the study concludes that a Swedish entry into the EMU is not motivated given the lackluster results on UIP and due to the lack of monetary integration. / Den här uppsatsen presenterar en djupgående analys av det kurssäkrade- och icke-kurssäkrade ränteparitetsvillkoret samt den effektiva marknadshypotesen på valutaterminer för Sverige och den europeiska ekonomiska och monetära unionen (EMU). Genom att studera data på interbankräntor i Sverige (STIBOR) och EMU (EURIBOR) samt respektive spot- och valutaterminskurser så skattas och analyseras monetär integration samt landsspecifika risker med en direkt tillämpning på Sveriges eventuella inträde i EMU. Eftersom ränteparitet generellt ger insikt i marknadseffektivitet och friktioner regioner emellan, diskuteras även dessa punkter utöver ett eventuellt EMU-inträde. Genom att bygga på föregående studier som i huvudsak studerar ränteparitetsvillkoren var för sig, härleds en sekventiell formulering av villkoren som sedan testas med kointegration och robusta estimeringsmetoder. Resultaten ger att den effektiva marknadshypotesen strikt förkastas på alla tidshorisonter förutom på en dag respektive en vecka, samt att kurssäkrad ränteparitet håller på 6 och delvis 12 månaders sikt. Baserat på den sekventiella formuleringen så innebär detta att icke-kurssäkrad ränteparitet inte håller på någon tidshorisont. Slutligen, baserat på både resultat och diskussion, är ett svenskt inträde i EMU inte motiverbart givet negativa resultat för icke-kurssäkrad ränteparitet och avsaknaden av fullständig monetär integration mellan regionerna.

The inability to effectively hedge against unfavourable exchange rate movements, using the current forward exchange rate as the only guideline, is a key inhibiting factor of international trade. Market participants use the current forward exchange rate quoted in the market to make decisions regarding future exchange rate changes. However, the current forward exchange rate is not solely determined by the interaction of demand and supply, but is also a mechanistic estimation, which is based on the current spot exchange rate and the carry cost of the transaction. Results of various studies, including this study, demonstrated that the current forward exchange rate differs substantially from the realized future spot exchange rate. This phenomenon is known as the exchange rate puzzle. This study contributes to the dynamics of modelling exchange rate theories by developing an exchange rate model that has the ability to explain the realized future spot exchange rate and the exchange rate puzzle. The exchange rate model is based only on current (time t) economic fundamentals and includes an alternative approach of incorporating the impact of the interaction of two international financial markets into the model. This study derived a unique exchange rate model, which proves that the exchange rate puzzle is a pseudo problem. The pseudo problem is based on the generally excepted fallacy that current non–stationary, level time series data cannot be used to model exchange rate theories, because of the incorrect assumption that all the available econometric methods yield statistically insignificant results due to spurious regressions. Empirical evidence conclusively shows that using non–stationary, level time series data of current economic fundamentals can statistically significantly explain the realized future spot exchange rate and, therefore, that the exchange rate puzzle can be solved. This model will give market participants in the foreign exchange market a better indication of expected future exchange rates, which will considerably reduce the dependence on the mechanistically derived forward points. The newly derived exchange rate model will also have an influence on the demand and supply of forward exchange, resulting in forward points that are a more accurate prediction of the realized future exchange rate. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Risk management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.