We are exposed to various financial market risks as a result of: (i) our ordinary business activity, (ii) debt incurred to finance our business, (iii) our investments in companies, and (iv) other financial instruments related to the above commitments. The main market risks affecting Group companies are as follows: 168 Table of Contents •Exchange rate risk: arises primarily from: (i) Telefónica’s international presence, through its investments and businesses in countries that use currencies other than the euro (primarily in Latin America, but also in the United Kingdom), (ii) debt denominated in currencies other than that of the country where the business is conducted or the home country of the company incurring such debt , and (iii) for those trade receivables or payables in foreign currency related to the company with the transaction registered. •Interest rate risk: arises primarily in connection with changes in interest rates affecting: (i) financial expenses on floating-rate debt (or short-term debt likely to be renewed), (ii) the value of long-term liabilities at fixed interest rates and (iii) financial expenses and principal payments of inflation-linked financial instruments, considering interest rate risk as the impact of changes in inflation rates. •Share price risk: arises primarily from changes in the value of the equity investments (that may be bought, sold or otherwise involved in transactions), from changes in the value of derivatives associated with such investments, from changes in the value of treasury shares and from changes in the value of equity derivatives. •Liquidity risk: arises due to a mismatch between financing needs (including operating and financial expenses, investment, debt redemptions and dividend commitments) and sources of finance (including revenues, divestments, credit lines from financial institutions and capital market transactions). The cost of finance could also be affected by movements in the credit spreads (over benchmark rates) demanded by lenders. •Country risk: refers to the possible decline in the value of assets, cash flows generated or cash flows returned to the parent company as a result of political, economic or social instability in the countries where the Telefónica Group operates, especially in Latin America. •Credit risk: appears when a counterparty fails to meet or delays its payment obligations in accordance with the agreed terms, driving an impairment in an asset due to: (i) solvency issues, or (ii) no intention to pay. We seek to actively manage these risks through the use of derivatives (primarily on exchange rates, interest rates and share prices) and by incurring debt in local currencies, where appropriate, with a view to stabilizing cash flows, our income statement and, to a lesser extent, part of the value of our investments. In this way, we attempt to protect our solvency, facilitate financial planning and take advantage of investment opportunities. We manage our exchange rate risk and interest rate risk in terms of net financial debt and net financial debt plus commitments as calculated by us. We believe that these parameters are more appropriate to understanding our debt position. Net financial debt and net financial debt plus commitments take into account the impact of our cash balance and cash equivalents including derivatives positions with a positive value linked to liabilities. Neither net financial debt nor net financial debt plus commitments as calculated by us should be considered as a substitute for gross financial debt (the sum of current and non-current interest-bearing debt) as a measure of our leverage. For a more detailed description on reconciliation of net debt and net financial debt to gross financial debt, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Non-GAAP financial information—Net financial debt, net financial debt plus leases, net financial debt plus commitments and net financial debt plus leases plus commitments.” For a more detailed description on quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks see Note 19 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.