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The week's question
In December 2024, in the thread "Re: BRK: Why Not XOM?", BreckHutHigh asked the members: "What about the long road trips with kids?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: Said   😊 😞
Number: of 21937 
Subject: OT: Currency diversification
Date: 04/08/25 12:25 AM
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Thanks to all the uproar lately diversification becomes more and more important for me. While I am diversified re brokers/banks over several countries/jurisdictions 80% of my assets are held in USD, with only 10% each in EUR/NZD each. With less trust now in a longterm strong USD I am thinking about more currency diversification for which it might be a perfect time as against the USD all else currently are extremely weak. Mostly living in Germany I naturally should think "Euro", but I don't, because of geopolitical unrest and potential for more to come (read: Putin). There are 2 decisive factors re the decision what currencies to buy for my liquid USD:

A) Looking at exchange rates I am very tempted by NZD + AUD + JPY, as all 3 are historically low against the USD, especially the 3 last ones = perfect time to sell USD and to buy those currencies.

B) Interest rates: How much % do I get in which currency? I simply looked at IBKR, as I have an account with them, so could easily exchange my USD cash I have with them into NZD/AUD/JPY. Result: JPY with 0% at IBKR is not interesting any more. Similar for NZD with 1.3% and EUR with 2%, especially because I already have 10% in each and get far more for that.

That leaves AUD with 4% at IBKR, which hugely surprised me as NZD and AUD longterm move more or less in tandem, usually with the NZD a bit weaker, but offering higher interest rates. I am therefore completely baffled by IBKR offering 4% for holding AUD but only 1.3% for NZD (btw IN New Zealand I get 4% for NZD term deposit).

So it seems to be a non-brainer: Converting my USD cash at IBKR in AUD, thereby getting great interest + currently many weak Aussi Dollars + having diversified into an additional currency.

What may I miss here?

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This community has written 21,448 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
BRK: Why Not XOM? · 62 recs · 2024
Second quarter comments · 60 recs · 2023
Berkshire's Profit Contributors · 57 recs · 2023
Summary of 2Q 2026 · 54 recs · 2026
3Q Summary · 53 recs · 2024
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