Google hedges against foreign currency swings
In recent months, financial analysts have expressed concern that Google's financial results could be hurt by foreign-exchange rate changes. But Google said Thursday that it has taken measures to insulate itself from the potential problem.
Specifically, Google has invested about $80 million in hedging programs that counteract currency swings, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said on a conference call to discuss Google's third-quarter financial results. The foreign-exchange issue that currently afflicts Google is that the dollar is growing stronger relative to other currencies right now, which effectively devalues revenue from other countries.
The hedging programs "should be viewed as an insurance policy," Pichette said.
Google has hedging programs for the euro, the Canadian dollar, and the U.K. pound, and plans to extend the program to other foreign currencies, he said.
"Our hedging programs are working well," Pichette said.
In the third quarter, 51 percent of Google revenue came from outside the United States, Google said.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
