Forex Exchange Blog

Justin Stewart asked:


For those who have never heard of foreign exchange, also known as forex, they may be incredibly confused when you explain to them that investors buy, sell, and trade currencies. They may be even more confused to hear that the exchange rates for these currencies rely on the forex market and the way that investors view the currencies around the world. Those who begin to get into forex trading and investing may find that it can be even more confusing to determine what kind of investment to go with. There are multiple ways to have a transaction in the forex world. Some people may not understand the pros and cons between each, and why they may want to go with a certain forex transaction type over another. By trying to understand the top 5 transactions made on the forex market, you may better understand what you may want to do with your own investment.

Forward Transaction

A forward transaction is a transaction that is made for the future; this means that the money does not actually come into play until a future date. The buyer and seller agree on a specific, stuck exchange rate for that certain date in the future. Because of the fixed date, the rate is stuck to the choice on that day. The actual market numbers on the day of the transaction do not matter, as the fixed rate cannot be changed. There is no limit on the extent of a future forward transaction, as it is dependent on the buyer and seller alone.

Spot Transaction

The spot transaction is the quickest and fastest way to actually exchange your currency. There is an exchange of two currencies over a two day period on the forex exchange, meaning that no contracts are signed. This allows the transaction to happen at a faster pace.

Future Transactions

These transactions are also forward transactions, and deal with contracts much like the normal forward transactions. The contracts usually deal with a certain amount by a certain date, rather than on a certain date. The contract lasts for the time specified, and are major on the forex market.

Swap Transactions

Swap transactions are easily the most normal and common of the multiple ways to do transactions on the forex market. Swap transactions are also forward transactions, but they do not happen as a trade through the forex market itself. A swap transaction can be confusing at first, two investors agree to change currencies for a certain amount of time. A later date is set for the two investors to change currencies back.

Option Transactions

Option transactions in the forex market common. The foreign exchange options give an investor the right (or option) to exchange money on the forex market. This option has a fixed exchange rate and a specific date. The option transaction is the most prominent in the forex market because of the high traffic and amount of money that is sunk into the currency forex market daily.



DRAKEFORD

Michael Williams asked:


In the Forex market the value of two separate currencies and how they relate to one another is what is known as the Forex exchange rate. Usually the Forex rate is how much of one currency is needed to buy a unit of another. Knowing the basics regarding the Forex exchange can help you get started in understanding it even better.

Just to give you an example of how the Foreign exchange rate can work and to help you better understands it we can compare the United States dollar with the Japanese yen. Let’s say that on a certain day the US dollar is able to buy one hundred and ten Japanese yens, this would indicate that the exchange rate for that day is 1:110 or a one to one hundred and ten ratio. This ratio in the exchange rate is also known as pairing. When you take it vice versa you can use it to indicate how many US dollars a single unit of Japanese yen can buy. Another term that is used in the Foreign exchange rate is ‘cross rates’. This term however is only used when it does not involve US dollars; it is only used when relating two foreign currencies.

A few other terms used in the Forex exchange are pips or basis points, which are actually two terms used for the same thing. These terms are used to indicate Forex rates that are calculated up to four decimal points and whether or not these are negative or positive movements. An example of this would be if you were to exchange euros with yen at a value of 135.1030, but then the euro rate goes up to 135.1035, it is called a five-pip improvement.

In using the Forex exchange rate you are required to use two currencies and this means they are quoted as ‘two tier’ rates. Also in the Forex market its price basis is called a bid/ask. Using the previous ratio between the yen and the US dollar in the Forex market, if this trade is made it is called a ten pip ’spread’ and is secured. This term means it indicates the difference between the buying and actual selling price.

A lot of things can change the spread and affect it. These things include market conditions and traders’ instincts about the strength of certain currencies, which can fluctuate greatly from day to day. One thing you should remember however when it comes to the Forex is that only Forex traders who are licensed can access official quoted rates. This means therefore that smaller investors may not receive their currency at a very good rate, because they usually receive them from commercial banks.

One last thing concerning the Forex exchange rate is that it is independently determined. This is why it thrives so well, because solely buyers and sellers and their supply and demand of certain currencies determine it. In the end individual governments and banks cannot decide the values.

With the benefits and knowledge of how the Forex exchange works you can decide if entering the Forex market is the right move for you. But with all the advantages of Forex, why wouldn’t you want to?



BRILEY

weng asked:


I have invested on forex market for a while and frequently heard about carry trade. As i know, this term means to buy in like Euro/Yen pair to profit from the difference between the two currency’s interest rate. The diffence in this pair’s interest rate is 3.5% now, but what about the GBD/USD pair which has only o.25% in difference?

BEILMAN

Trustee asked:


1. The Chinese minimum wage is around 600 yuan (USD80)
per month.
Americans minimum wage is about USD5 per hour = USD800 per month

Minimum wage Americans USD800 vs Chinese USD80

http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/2006%20ed…

2. In terms of food, China basically is a Self-Sufficient country. Therefore Not Necessary to buy other currencies for food shelter.
And that’s partly why their foreign reseves are growing.

3. The Chinese Foreign Exchange Reserves is USD1,400 Billion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/list_of_cou…

If US urged China to float their currency without the existing fixed bands, would this help to compete with China?
(US hoping that the Yuan will increase and labor become expensive hence certain products in China becoming costly that all factories could be shifted back to US)

With 1.4trillions reserves, forex mkt is in their hand.

Additional Details

32 minutes ago
Just like the japanese who have lots2 of foreign reserves, the Chinese too can easily interfere in the forex open market (throw away their Yuan to make it cheaper) to determine the value as they like.

CASTELLANOS