CITIC Limited Half-Year Report 2019

113 CITIC Limited Half-Year Report 2019 For the six months ended 30 June 2019 29 Financial risk management and fair values (continued) (c) Interest rate risk (continued) (iii) Sensitivity analysis The Group uses sensitivity analysis to measure the potential effect of changes in interest rates on the Group’s profit or loss. As at 30 June 2019, it is estimated that a general increase or decrease of 100 basis points in interest rates, with all other variables held constant, the Group’s profit before taxation would decrease or increase by HK$8,363 million (31 December 2018: decrease or increase by HK$12,844 million). This sensitivity analysis is based on a static interest rate risk profile of the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities and certain simplified assumptions. The analysis only measures the impact of changes in the interest rates within one year, showing how annualised interest income would have been affected by repricing of the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities within the one-year period. The analysis is based on the following assumptions: (1) all assets and liabilities that reprice or mature within three months and after three months but within one year reprice or mature at the beginning of the respective periods; (2) there is a parallel shift in the yield curve and in interest rates; and (3) there are no other changes to the portfolio, all positions will be retained and rolled over upon maturity. The analysis does not take into account the effect of risk management measures taken by management. Because of its hypothetical nature with the assumptions adopted, actual changes in the Group’s profit before taxation resulting from increases or decreases in interest rates may differ from the results of this sensitivity analysis. (d) Currency risk Currency risk arises from the changes in exchange rates on the Group’s foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. The Group measures its currency risk with foreign currency exposures, and manages currency risk by entering into spot foreign exchange transactions, use of derivatives (mainly foreign forwards and swaps), and matching its foreign currency denominated assets with corresponding liabilities in the same currency. The revenue from the Group’s Sino Iron Project is denominated in US$, which is also the functional currency for this entity. A substantial portion of its development and operating expenditure are denominated in Australian Dollars. The Group entered into plain vanilla forward contracts to manage the foreign currency risks. The Group funded the Sino Iron Project and the acquisition of bulk cargo vessels by borrowing US$ loans to match the future cash outflows of these assets. The Group’s investments in the Sino Iron Project and bulk cargo vessels (whose functional currency is in US$) have been designated as an accounting hedge against other US$ loans. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements