Overnight the Australian dollar fell to just US82.96 cents.
That means, in the past six months alone, our currency has fallen more than 11%.
After touching US95 cents in early July bad news for our economy and good data out of the US has put immense pressure on our currency.
For outbound travellers, every drop in the AUD will be painful.
But investors needn't feel disgruntled by the swift decline. In fact, there are many reasons to believe the AUD has further to fall.
Meaning long-term share market investors can still profit from the currency's decline. This can be done in a number of obvious ways.
Firstly, investors can buy US shares, with an international broking account.
Another way is for investors to find Australian-listed companies with a large amount of foreign exposure.
Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU) is one such stock idea. It derives just 18.7% of revenues from Australia and New Zealand whilst over 44.7% comes from the U.S. alone. Computershare is a leader of share registry (it connects shareholders to their respective companies) and related business services for customers throughout the world.
Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) is another company with healthy U.S. exposure. Ardent is the owner of local brands such as Goodlife Health Clubs, theme parks such as Dreamworld and AMF and Kingpin Bowling. However it also owns Main Event, a growing US all-in-one (bowling, laser tag, pool etc.) entertainment provider. In FY14 Main Event's percentage of total group EBITDA grew to 21% from 17% in FY13.
Investment bank Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and hearing aid developer Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) are another two quality Australian businesses with a majority of income earned overseas. Macquarie derived 65% of income from foreign markets in the first half of FY15, whilst Cochlear said in its latest annual report, "over 90% of Cochlear's revenues and over 50% of costs are denominated in currencies other than AUD."
Both companies' shareholders will benefit in a big way if the AUD continues to fall.
Foolish takeaway
With the US economy firing on all cylinders and the Australian economy boasting a rising unemployment rate, slowing GDP growth and cooling house prices, I'm betting the AUD continues to fall throughout 2015. Therefore identifying companies with overseas exposure is essential; not only for the chance at superior capital gains but also to minimise risk.
