If the whole world used the same currency, NVS’ 1Q09 operating income would’ve grown by 5% relative to 1Q08. But currency transactions reduced operating income by 7% and currency translations reduced operating income by an additional 4%, resulting in a negative 6% year-over-year change in operating income as reported.
“The efficient-market hypothesis may be the foremost piece of B.S. ever promulgated in any area of human knowledge!”