Knowing Some Basics Concerning the Foreign Exchange Market

We come face to face with our local money every day. The time will come when some of us will need to make or receive a payment in a foreign currency.

To jump this hurdle, we go to the bank to handle the currency exchange, or to a number of foreign currency exchange companies we can find on the internet, who will invariably quote far better rates of exchange. Believe me they will, they could not exist if they did not offer a better deal.

You do not have to be a mechanic to know some essential words about a car like the steering wheel, the hand brake, clutch pedal, the engine etc. But you do need to know these fundamental words to be able to understand what they refer to when becoming a car driver otherwise life would be hard.

Similarly, it is important to know a little about the foreign exchange market so that when the day comes and you will be need to buy foreign currency to get that house of your dreams or anything else abroad, you are not at a disadvantage.

The FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET also called FOREX or FX, has no trading centre.

Unlike the London Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange centres, it has no fixed abode, but manages very well and is extremely active.

There are hundreds of brokerage companies and banks, who deal between themselves including big corporations. Put these on one level. On another level, there are smaller agents who handle the buying and selling of the foreign currencies, going by the rates as signalled by Reuters or other agencies. These rates are aligned to the actual events taking place non stop in the market.
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The difference between these two levels is a wholesale and retail classification as existing in other trades. When the media talk about the foreign exchange market, it is the wholesale level they refer to.

Foreign exchange currency institutions have better access to obtaining a more advantageous rate of exchange than the ordinary small company or the man in the street.

The foreign exchange market operates 24 hours per day.

BID is the rate at which a dealer is ready to purchase the base currency.

OFFER is the rate at which the dealer is ready to sell the basic currency.

The difference between the BID and ASK price is called the SPREAD.

The MARKET MAKERS make the profit from the spread. They make no commission.

BASIC CURRENCY is the currency against which the other currencies are quoted.

BULL MARKET refers to a price rising market.

BEAR MARKET refers to a declining price market.

BOTTOM: a description of a price decline meeting heavy support against further price decline.

CABLE: When the steel cable was connected under the Atlantic in 1850 thus linking USA with UK enabling telegraph transmission between the London and New York Exchanges, it was called ATLANTIC CABLE. Satellite and optic cables are now used, and the word CABLE refers to GBP/USD currency pair rate.

CROSS RATES: This refers to currency pairs where the USD is not included like GBP/EUR or GBP/JPY

MARGIN refers to a deposit in cash required to cover the possibility of loss the client may encounter trading the foreign exchange.

MARGIN CALL refers to a requirement for additional money, to make up the minimum cash deposit needed to cover any losses the client may encounter trading in the foreign exchange market.

VOLATILITY refers to the extent of price fluctuation.

There are of course, many more terms used in the foreign currency business, but you have here a selection which will help you to know some of the basics.

Good luck.

Time to Evaluate the Possibility of a Change of Trend

Quite a number of shrewd American investors have been buying foreign stock these last couple of years, and made good returns in the process. It was a good decision, especially since the dollar started to fall and fall.

Of course, nothing lasts forever, and there is a whiff in the air of a change in the attitude towards the dollar. This is not without some reason albeit, that many think it is nonsensical to consider that the dollar should begin to appreciate.

The malaise with which USA has been dogged for some time now, is starting to reach the shores of other countries, notably Europe. It was inevitable that the problems of USA would affect others. The position of interest rates, falling house prices, the lot.

These consequences might be beneficial for the dollar, and those shrewd American investors may well decide to cut back on their investments abroad, and return to their currency with a profit while they can, because a rising dollar value would cut into their profit. This may be just one reason of several, to start a reversal trend.

For one thing, the British pound in particular, has been valued too highly, and whatever injections of support it has been getting, cannot last forever. Also, the high position of the euro is not easy to live with much longer.

It is well known that many factors have pointed to dollar weakness, and there are numerous people who will think the currency must weaken again in the long run.

It would certainly be nothing new, to see things turn out in a manner contrary to the book. The foreign currency game is prone to surprises. However, there are times when surprises, when put under the microscope, are in fact events which should have been seen as very real possibilities. Those, with that little extra foresight, may well be tempted and step in early by siding with the dollar.

So, is this the moment when the gamble might pay off and the dollar appreciation start?
Everybody would like to know the definite answer to that, and the best way may be is to ask the question whether the dollar has reached the bottom.

This is the point where the gambling bit comes in. The answer is not too easy this time. The prize is certainly a big one, because if caught at the right time, the dollar might earn big money. However, if caught wrongly, how much more could it fall?

So the question is, are we facing the possibility of making a lot or losing a little. Put that way, it seems that the odds favour taking a chance with the dollar albeit, with your fingers firmly crossed.


If you are going to take a plunge, make sure you get the best attention and the best exchange rates. For this, make several calls to the various foreign currency exchange companies and select the one who offers the best deal. Almost without exception, they offer better exchange rates than the High street banks, and do not charge any extras.
They will not run away with your money, as they would have nowhere to run without being instantly caught. Your money is sent to their bank and transmitted directly and at once, to your bank.

These days, movements of funds are carefully noted, because of money laundering risks, and all British companies dealing with any money transfers etc., must be licensed by H.M. Revenue and Customs, and display the Registration Number issued to them, which can be easily verified. Similarly, other countries have their own precautions in place.