An organization uses hedging to address foreign currency risk.

Hedging is a risk-sharing strategy because the organization uses a financial instrument or contractual arrangement to offset all or part of the financial effect of an adverse movement in foreign currency rates. The underlying activity or exposure generally remains in place, but a counterbalancing position transfers or shares part of the financial consequences with another market participant. Risk avoidance would involve discontinuing the activity that creates the foreign currency exposure. Risk acceptance would mean retaining the exposure without taking significant action to alter it. Risk reduction typically involves controls or operational measures that decrease the likelihood or impact of an adverse event. Because hedging transfers or offsets a portion of the financial exposure rather than eliminating the underlying business activity, it is classified as risk sharing.