1.2 Foreign currencies
Functional and presentation currency
The Group accounts are presented in US Dollars. The Company’s functional currency is US Dollars.
Foreign currency transactions
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of Group companies at exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated to the functional currency as at the exchange rate at the reporting date. Non-monetary items are not retranslated.
Foreign operations
Balance sheet items of foreign operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisition are translated into US Dollars on consolidation at the exchange rates at the reporting date. Income statement items and the cash flows of foreign operations are translated at average rates as an approximation to actual transaction rates, with actual transaction rates used for large one off transactions.
Foreign currency differences are recognised in ‘Other comprehensive income’ and accumulated in ‘Other reserves’ within equity. These include: exchange differences on the translation at closing rates of exchange of non-US Dollar opening net assets; the differences arising between the translation of profits into US Dollars at actual (or average, as an approximation) and closing exchange rates; to the extent that the hedging relationship is effective, the difference on translation of foreign currency borrowings or swaps that are used to finance or hedge the Group’s net investments in foreign operations; and the movement in the fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts used to hedge forecast foreign exchange cash flows.
The exchange rates used for the translation of currencies into US Dollars that have the most significant impact on the Group results were:
|
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
|
2015 |
|
Average rates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sterling |
|
1.29 |
|
1.35 |
|
1.53 |
|
Euro |
|
1.13 |
|
1.11 |
|
1.11 |
|
Swiss Franc |
|
1.02 |
|
1.02 |
|
1.04 |
|
Year end rates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sterling |
|
1.35 |
|
1.23 |
|
1.48 |
|
Euro |
|
1.20 |
|
1.05 |
|
1.09 |
|
Swiss Franc |
|
1.02 |
|
0.98 |
|
1.00 |
|