Foreign Exchange

Host families WANTED

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World Heritage is presently seeking host families to participate in the 2010/2011 academic year program.

We have students from all over the world who are excited to share their heritage and to learn about our country. We are also proud to be a part of the YES (Youth Exchange and Study) program which was created by the U.S. Department of State and provides scholarship for a ten month experience to high school students from countries with significant Muslim population, and the FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) program which brings high school age students from Eurasia (Newly Independent State of the form Soviet Union) to the USA for an academic year.

These personable and academically select exchange students speak English, are bright, curious and eager to learn about this country through living as part of a family and attending high school. The exchange students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins and return at the end of the school year. Each World Heritage student is fully insured, brings his or her own personal spending money and expects to bear his or her share of house responsibilities, as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles. At the same time the student will be teaching their newly adopted host family about their own culture and language.

The students are well screened and qualified by World Heritage. Once families are paired, students and families are encouraged to begin corresponding prior to the student’s arrival.

Hosting an exchange student can be a life changing experience for everyone involved. I have had the joy of serving as a liaison between host families, students, schools and World Heritage and have been able to see how this program can really make a difference! I am the local Area Rep for Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, and I’m always available to answer any questions and get you started on the road to hosting foreign exchange students! Please call or e-mail any questions.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES

2010-01-16T03:06:00.003-08:00

THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS THE AVERAGE RATES OF EXCHANGE IN DECEMBER 2009 TOGETHER

WITH COMPARABLE FIGURES FOR OTHER MONTHS. AVERAGES ARE BASED ON DAILY NOON BUYING

RATES FOR CABLE TRANSFERS IN NEW YORK CITY CERTIFIED FOR CUSTOMS PURPOSES BY

THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK.

(Currency units per U.S. dollar except as noted)

MONETARY 2009 2009 2009 2008

COUNTRY UNIT December November October December

*AUSTRALIA DOLLAR 0.9021 0.9197 0.9067 0.6719

BRAZIL REAL 1.7508 1.7268 1.7378 2.3954

CANADA DOLLAR 1.0537 1.0593 1.0547 1.2337

CHINA, P.R. YUAN 6.8275 6.8271 6.8267 6.8539

DENMARK KRONE 5.1060 4.9914 5.0220 5.5239

*EMU MEMBERS EURO 1.4579 1.4908 1.4821 1.3511

HONG KONG DOLLAR 7.7526 7.7497 7.7497 7.7504

INDIA RUPEE 46.5273 46.5305 46.6524 48.5132

JAPAN YEN 89.9509 89.2674 90.3671 91.2750

MALAYSIA RINGGIT 3.4099 3.3886 3.4016 3.5483

MEXICO PESO 12.8622 13.1115 13.2275 13.4167

*NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 0.7169 0.7301 0.7386 0.5597

NORWAY KRONE 5.7708 5.6430 5.6428 7.0159

SINGAPORE DOLLAR 1.3962 1.3888 1.3974 1.4769

SOUTH AFRICA RAND 7.4848 7.5096 7.4871 9.9227

SOUTH KOREA WON 1163.3109 1162.8368 1173.7405 1361.5727

SRI LANKA RUPEE 114.2836 114.4853 114.7838 111.4464

SWEDEN KRONA 7.1384 6.9267 6.9550 8.0124

SWITZERLAND FRANC 1.0301 1.0131 1.0213 1.1404

TAIWAN DOLLAR 32.2459 32.3189 32.2910 33.1555

THAILAND BAHT 33.2045 33.2621 33.3900 35.0086

*UNITED KINGDOM POUND 1.6226 1.6599 1.6212 1.4854

VENEZUELA BOLIVAR 2.1446 2.1430 2.1446 2.1446

MEMO:

UNITED STATES DOLLAR

1)BROAD JAN97=100 101.7502 101.2873 101.7775 108.4748

2)MAJOR CURRENCY MAR73=100 73.9795 73.1487 73.5597 80.6853

3)OITP JAN97=100 132.5444 132.8137 133.3550 138.5069

U.S. dollars per currency unit.

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1) A weighted average of the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar against the currencies

of a broad group of major U.S. trading partners.

2) A weighted average of the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar against a subset of

the broad index currencies that circulate widely outside the country of issue.

3) A weighted average of the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar against a subset of

the broad index currencies that do not circulate widely outside the country of issue.

For information about your subscription to this release or about receiving it in document form,

please call publication services at Federal Reserve Board at (202) 452-3244.

The euro is reported in place of the individual eure-area currencies. These currency rates

can be derived from the dollar/euro rate by using the fixed conversion rates (in currencies

per euro) given below:

1 EURO = 13.7603 AUSTRIAN SCHILLINGS

= 40.3399 BELGIAN FRANCS

= 5.94573 FINNISH MARKKAS

= 6.55957 FRENCH FRANCS

= 1.95583 GERMAN MARKS

= .787564 IRISH POUNDS

= 1936.27 ITALIAN LIRE

= 40.3399 LUXEMBOURG FRANCS

= 2.20371 NETHERLANDS GUILDERS

= 200.482 PORTUGUESE ESCUDOS

= 166.386 SPANISH PESETAS

= 340.750 GREEK DRACHMAS

= 239.640 SLOVENIAN TOLAR

Global Finance names the World’s Best Foreign Exchange Providers 2010

2010-01-16T03:05:00.004-08:00

GLOBAL WINNER

Deutsche Bank

REGIONAL WINNERS
North America	Citi
Latin America	Citi
Western Europe	Deutsche Bank
Central and Eastern Europe	Deutsche Bank
Scandinavia	Handelsbanken Capital Markets
Middle East	Ahli United Bank
Africa	Standard Chartered Bank
Asia-Pacifc	Standard Chartered Bank
Southeast Asia	Standard Chartered Ba

BEST FOREIGN EXCHANGE PROVIDERS 2010

2010-01-16T03:05:00.003-08:00

Global Finance names the World’s Best Foreign Exchange Providers 2010

NEW YORK, November 17, 2009 – Global Finance magazine has named the “Best Foreign Exchange Banks and Providers” by country, region and category in an exclusive survey to be published in the January 2010 issue. Deutsche Bank was named as the global winner. Global Finance editors – with input from industry analysts, corporate executives and technology experts – also selected the best currency trading providers in 86 countries or regions. The best online foreign exchange systems were also identifed. Criteria for choosing the traditional and online winners included transaction volume, market share, scope of global coverage, customer service,competitive pricing and innovative technologies.

“The dollar has come under attack and emerging market currencies are soaring. Corporations around the world need to select a strong, knowledgeable FX bank to help them cope with the turbulence in the markets and the risk of a dollar collapse,” says Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and president of Global Finance.

For editorial information please contact: Dan Keeler, Editor, email: dan@gfmag.com

UBS raises 2010 foreign exchange forecast for peso at 46 to $1

2010-01-16T03:05:00.001-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - The Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) has raised its 2010 foreign exchange forecast for the Philippines to P46 to the dollar from P48 previously on expectations that there will be more dollar inflows next year.

The revised forecast of P46 against the greenback is within the government’s foreign exchange forecast range of P46 to P48 to the dollar for 2010.

UBS noted that the peso would likely perform better than the Singapore dollar and the Malaysian ringgit next year.

“Current account surpluses, along with comparative leniency on the part of central banks towards currency appreciation, could allow for relatively more strength against the US dollar by end 2010 for the Thai bath and the Philippine peso than for the Singapore dollar and Malaysian ringgit,” UBS said in its latest report on the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries.

UBS said that along with Thailand, the Philippines is likely to sustain its current account surplus on continued dollar inflows next year even as it noted that the surpluses may diminish in size.

“In our view, this, combined with the balance of investment flows, should favor stronger currencies over an eight-month timeframe. Here, we are assuming that investment flows reflect real and financial sector investors’ efforts to search out cheaper production bases and stronger growth than available in developed markets,” it said.

Currently, the peso has been trading at the P48-to-the-dollar level.

In the first quarter of the year, the country’s current account — a record of trade and remittances — recorded a surplus of $2.2 billion, higher by 69.2 percent compared to the $1.3 billion surplus in the same period last year.

The marked improvement was due to higher services and current transfers net receipts coupled with lower trade-in-goods deficit, the Philippine central bank has said.

The trade-in-goods deficit narrowed by 22.9 percent to $2.1 billion from the $2.8 billion deficit recorded in the same quarter last year, given the larger contraction in imports of goods of $5.2 billion compared to that of exports of goods of $4.6 billion.

The global economic slowdown continued to take its toll on exports and imports which both posted double-digit declines following the recession in the economies of our traditional trading partners, the central bank also said.

2010 Triennial Central Bank Survey of Foreign Exchange and Derivatives Market Activity

2010-01-16T03:04:00.000-08:00

Every three years, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) coordinates a global central bank survey designed to yield comprehensive and internationally consistent information on the size and structure of foreign exchange (FX) and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets. By increasing market transparency, the survey aims to help monetary authorities and market participants better monitor patterns of activity and exposures in the global financial system.

The BIS announced today that it will conduct the eighth such triennial survey in April and June 2010. The 54 participating central banks will compile data collected from the reporting financial institutions in their countries for submission to the BIS, which will calculate and publish the global totals. In April 2010, data will be collected on daily turnover in notional amounts of FX spot as well as FX and interest rate OTC derivatives transactions. Data as at end-June will be collected on outstanding notional amounts and gross market values of FX, interest rate, equity, commodity and other OTC derivatives contracts as well as credit default swaps (CDS).

The BIS has been working with central banks to prepare the survey guidelines and reporting templates for the upcoming exercise. The turnover part of the survey will be conducted on a residence (locational) basis, the amounts outstanding part on a global consolidated basis. More than 4,000 financial institutions worldwide are expected to participate.

Instead of a single final report as for the previous surveys, the 2010 publication will be split into two parts according to the following timeline:

· Global activity on traditional FX markets and associated OTC derivatives instruments

o End-August: preliminary results on turnover at end-April

o November: detailed report (including notional amounts outstanding and gross market values)

· Non-FX OTC derivatives and CDS global positions and gross market values at end-June

o End-October: preliminary results

o December: detailed analysis

Forex Trading Broker Fees

2010-01-02T11:01:00.001-08:00

Forex brokers provide you with the platform for trading on the currency markets. Most trader are not shy about making their own trade, yet a novice or beginning trader may be a bit timid. You can hire an accomplished broker to place your trade for you, but that’s really necessary if you spend some time to learn the foreign exchange market. There are many forex brokers that can service your fx trade, while there are several that won’t go near a client that doesn’t have 25k or better to invest.

A forex trading broker is exactly that, a broker between the buyer and seller of a particular currency. The broker will have access to state of the art hardware and software that will allow them to place a trade faster than you or I, but they will obviously be charging a fee for their services.

You may find certain similarities between the currency trading markets and the stock markets, but those similarities stop quickly, especially considering there are no broker fees in forex trading, only a fee that is called the spread and is built into every currency transaction by the broker.

The Forex Spread

The spread is the difference between the buy and sell price of a currency pair and is usually a very small difference in price. It can also be described in terms of “pips”. The pip is the smallest price change that can take place within an exchange rate. It is usually 1/100 of one percent, or one basis point.

A forex broker will be exceedingly faster than a bank when it trades currency, and a broker will have much better rates than a bank. This is because the broker is a dedicated currency trader with the facilities to place trades within the currency market much easier.

Your future in currency trading, along with your success will highly depend on how wisely you choose a currency broker that will not overcharge you fees and will place your trades quickly and efficiently. Currency rates change abruptly within a currency pair that is traded regularly like the EUR/USD, so the timing of your broker will play a more significant factor in the profitability of your trade than your broker’s fees.

Tick/Pip Values

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roduct

Lot size
Approx Tick Value
per lot*

Major Currencies

EUR/USD EUR 100,000 .0001 = $10
USD/JPY USD 100,000 .01 = $10
GBP/USD GBP 100,000 .0001 = $10
USD/CHF USD 100,000 .0001 = $9
USD/CAD USD 100,000 .0001 = $8
AUD/USD AUD 100,000 .0001 = $10
NZD/USD NZD 100,000 .0001 = $10
USD/SEK USD 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
USD/NOK USD 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
USD/MXN USD 100,000 .0001 = $1
USD/ZAR USD 100,000 .0001 = $1
USD/DKK USD 100,000 .0001 = $2

Cross Rates & Exotic Currencies

AUD/CAD AUD 100,000 .0001 = $8
AUD/CHF AUD 100,000 .0001 = $9
AUD/JPY AUD 100,000 .01 = $10
AUD/NZD AUD 100,000 .0001 = $6
CAD/CHF CAD 100,000 .0001 = $9
CAD/JPY CAD 100,000 .01 = $15
CHF/DKK CHF 100,000 .0001 = $2
CHF/JPY CHF 100,000 .01 = $10
CHF/NOK CHF 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
CHF/SEK CHF 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
EUR/AUD EUR 100,000 .0001 = $7
EUR/CAD EUR 100,000 .0001 = $8
EUR/CHF EUR 100,000 .0001 = $9
EUR/CZK EUR 100,000 .0001 = $0.5
EUR/DKK EUR 100,000 .0001 = $2
EUR/GBP EUR 100,000 .0001 = $15
EUR/HKD EUR 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
EUR/JPY EUR 100,000 .01 = $10
EUR/NOK EUR 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
EUR/NZD EUR 100,000 .0001 = $6
EUR/SEK EUR 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
EUR/SGD EUR 100,000 .0001 = $6.5
EUR/TRY EUR 100,000 .0001 = $6.5
EUR/ZAR EUR 100,000 .0001 = $1
GBP/AUD GBP 100,000 .0001 = $7
GBP/CAD GBP 100,000 .0001 = $8
GBP/CHF GBP 100,000 .0001 = $9
GBP/JPY GBP 100,000 .01 = $10
GBP/NZD GBP 100,000 .0001 = $6
NZD/CHF NZD 100,000 .0001 = $9
NZD/JPY NZD 100,000 .01 = $10
NOK/SEK NOK 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
USD/HKD USD 100,000 .0001 = $1.5
USD/HUF USD 100,000 .0001 = $4.5
USD/PLN USD 100,000 .0001 = $3
USD/SGD USD 100,000 .0001 = $6.5
USD/TRY USD 100,000 .0001 = $6.5

White Label

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GFX is the clear choice for banks and regulated Forex brokers who want to offer their clients a secure and efficient online trading tool. Advantages of GFX's white label include:

*

Build your own brand. Take advantage of a "white label" version of GFX's internet trading platform branded with your company logo.
*

A superior product to offer your clients. No one else can match GFX's breadth of product offerings, low margin requirements and tight spreads. In addition to major currencies and cross rates, your clients will also benefit from being able to trade precious metals and exotic currencies commission-free along with a leverage up to 200:1.
*

Advanced, real-time online reporting. With GFX, you can more effectively manage your back office - log in any time to GFX's online reporting system to run reports on your clients' trading activity.
*

Secure trading environment. GFX is one of the top firms in the online trading industry, with a reputation for security of funds and financial stability.
*

No risk on your books. Banks and regulated Forex brokers can benefit from taking no risk as all positions are held by GFX's liquidity provider. The White Label can simply collect a volume-based rebate without needing to concern with taking client positions on their books.

If you are interested in benefitting from GFX's White Label program, please complete and submit the below form. This will allow us to reply to you promptly with relevant information, and to get started as quickly as possible.

Trading Managers / Asset Managers

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GFX offers the ideal service for Trading Managers, Asset Managers, Fund Managers and other industry professionals.

As well as offering an extensive list of commission-free forex products and a leverage up to 200:1, GFX's online trading platform boasts a multiple account functionality which enables an unlimited number of accounts to be managed simultaneously from a single trading window. Trading managers can trade client accounts individually, or use GFX's MetaTrader 4 software to automatically divide block trades among multiple accounts as specified by the user.

GFX's online reporting system also provides account statements and convenient position tracking for each individual account, even when they are grouped and traded from a single trading window.

Introducing Brokers / Referral Agents

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GFX offers an outstanding opportunity for individuals and corporations who wish to refer self-trading clients. Advantages of referring clients to GFX include:

*

Outstanding compensation scheme. GFX offers a volume-based compensation package with the Referral Agent.
*

A superior product to offer your clients. No one else can match GFX's breadth of product offerings and low margin requirements. In addition to major currencies and cross rates, your clients will also benefit from being able to trade precious metals and exotic currencies commission-free along with a leverage up to 200:1.
*

Advanced, real-time online reporting. With GFX, you can more effectively manage your back office - log in any time to GFX's online reporting system to run reports on trading activity of your referred accounts.
*

Secure trading environment. GFX is one of the top firms in the online trading industry, with a reputation for security of funds and financial stability.

If you are interested in becoming a Referral Agent for GFX, please complete and submit the below form. This will allow us to reply to you promptly with relevant information, and to get your Referral Agent agreement with GFX started as quickly as possible.

Forex Trading with GFX

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Trade on 2 to 3 pip Spreads
GFX's low spreads improve net trading results, especially for active traders. GFX uses its economies of scale and efficient dealing practices to offer the lowest spreads in retail Forex.

Instant order execution. Orders placed on the GFX software are executed immediately online, up to 100 lots (10 million currency units) at a time. Traders can also place stops, trailing stops, or limits on open positions or have them pre-set on market orders.

Zero Commissions and Fees
GFX clients always trade with zero commissions and no transaction fees, unless agreed otherwise.

Powerful Trading Software
GFX "MetaTrader 4" software sets new standards in online trading functionality, performance, and ease of use. Get a free demo account here.

Fractional lot sizes. Trading on GFX's software is not confined to only 1 lot increments. Clients can also trade .5 of a lot, 1.2 lot, or any other amount. Each Lot is equivalent to 100,000 currency units.

Real-time account and margin information. Your account balance, usable margin, and value of open positions are displayed in the trading software in real-time.

Real-time Charts, News and Quotes. GFX MetaTrader 4 software has charts, news, and quotes easily accessible from the menus.

Multiple Account Trading. Trading managers and funds can trade multiple accounts from a single window. The MetaTrader 4 software allows a block order to be automatically split up among multiple customer accounts as specified by the trader.

"Mini" Trading Capability. Set the number of Lots to "0.1" to trade a mini position with 1 pip equal to about $1. Margin requirements for these positions are $50.

Hedging capability. Traders can open positions in the same currency in opposite directions, without the positions offsetting and without using additional margin.

Service and Support. GFX clients have access to 24 hour technical support, as well as 24 hour trading by telephone or chat.

Lower Margin Requirements
Trade all currencies on 0.5% margin; equivalent to 200:1 leverage. Lower margin requirements mean more trading flexibility without getting a margin call.

Wide selection of products
Trade any of 49 major and exotic currency pairs, plus gold and silver. All products are commission-free with the same low margin requirements. Click here for a full list.

Limited Risk
GFX's clients can never lose more than their funds on deposit.

Security of funds
With GFX, your funds are secure and properly handled by a supervised broker with over CHF 10 million of capital. Client funds are segregated from GFX's own assets, thereby offering security of client funds.

India Forex

2010-01-02T10:55:00.000-08:00

The Orissa High Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into the alleged Rs 25 lakh-crore derivative scam in the foreign exchange market of the country.

“In view of national interest involving irregularities of such huge amount due to faulty derivative contracts, we direct the CBI to make a thorough probe into the whole affair after registering a case”, a bench of the HC comprising acting chief justice I.M.Quddusi and justice Kumari Sanju Panda observed, while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by a Cuttack-based businessman Prabanjan Patra in this regard.

The CBI in its preliminary investigation report filed to the HC last month said that there were prima facie evidences of violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) by several banks in India, which sold derivative contracts to gullible companies, exporters and importers, resulting in huge losses. The national investigating agency, however, did not name the erring banks in the report.

The Indian business houses including exporters and importers entered into derivative agreements with the banks to avoid the risk of high fluctuations of foreign exchange values. As per the contract, the banks arrange foreign exchanges to the companies at a rate agreed between them for a fixed period irrespective of the increase or decrease in the foreign currencies.

Multi-disciplinary team

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BCFS brings together a multi-disciplinary team with depth and breadth of experience in structuring, trading, investment management, accounting and regulatory and legal requirements. We have global reach through our investment professionals based in London, New York, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney.

Our investment philosophy is to continuously improve upon established ideas and flexibly adapt to changing market dynamics. We have integrated our business and infrastructure platforms to enable a cross-border approach that is unique in investment management. The team focuses on four distinct yet harmonised functions:
Fund Structuring works with clients to define, develop and execute customised solutions
Fund Management is responsible for the asset and risk management of each fund in accordance with its objectives, investment policies and regulatory guidelines
Portfolio Engineering creates investment strategies and methodologies in accordance with our investment philosophy, with a focus on asset class neutral models and performance consistency
Trading manages the re-balancing, risk exposure and execution of portfolios in a way that enhances alpha generation and reduces transaction impact on the strategy returns

Key Attributes

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Since launch of the first fund in January 2006, BCFS has:
Attracted leading investors, establishing a significant fund business and market leadership in applied investment innovation
Established a diverse client base from insurance companies, asset managers and corporate treasuries to family offices and private banking investors
Provided exposure to multiple asset classes including equities, commodities, interest rates, foreign exchange, fixed income, emerging markets, hedge funds and property
Grown assets under management to more than USD 6bn* in structured and quantitative strategies and manages more than 70 funds
Built a global footprint with funds distributed throughout South America, Europe and Asia Pacific
Increased its strong front- to back-office team to 70

*as of 30 June 2008

Fund Solutions

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Fund Solutions

Barclays Capital Fund Solutions (BCFS) is the investment management business of Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC.

The emergence of new asset classes, growth in demand for derivative solutions and an investor shift towards absolute returns have identified a strong necessity for an alternative fund management approach that:
Offers clients greater customisation of investment management products
Uses state-of-the art financial thinking but is adaptive to changes in the investment environment
Delivers multi-asset class performance, with the flexibility to access new asset classes as they emerge
Considers the complexities of multi-jurisdictional investors and asset bases to deliver pragmatic financial solutions

The BCFS business model and approach focus on this evolving market segment. BCFS combines its multi–jurisdictional fund expertise with world-class structuring, derivatives trading and asset allocation expertise to deliver applied investment innovation in fund management across all asset classes. The BCFS team is advised by Barclays Capital’s award-winning research team.

Foreign Exchange Trader III

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Responsible for the timely buying and selling of foreign currencies. Recommends competitive foreign exchange rates based on market performance. Reviews orders to ensure accuracy, proper record keeping, and conformance to regulations. Carries out trades and maintains the organization's accounts. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty and at least 5 years of experience in the field or in a related area, and may require state license. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. May lead and direct the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.

Currency Trading Between Banks

2009-06-03T21:33:00.004-07:00

Banks are a major force in the FX market and employ a large number of traders. Trading between banks is done in two ways—through a broker or directly with each other.

Brokers: If a U.S. bank trades with another bank, a FX broker may be used as an intermediary. The broker arranges the transaction, matching the buyer and seller without ever taking a position and charges a commission to both the buyer and seller. About a third of transactions are arranged in this way.

Direct: Mostly banks deal with each other directly. A trader "makes a market" for another by quoting a two-way price i.e. he is willing to buy or sell the currency. The difference between the two price quotes (the spread) is usually no more than 10 pips, or hundredths, of a currency unit.

Most currencies are quoted in terms of how many units of that currency would equal $1. However, the British pound, New Zealand dollar, Australian dollar, Irish punt and the Euro are quoted in terms of how many U.S. dollars would equal one unit of those currencies.

The currencies of the world’s large, industrialized economies, or hard currencies, are always in demand and are actively traded. In terms of trading volumes, the FX market is dominated by four currencies: the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. Together these account for over 80 percent of the market.

It is not always easy to find a market for all currencies. The demand for currencies of less developed countries, soft currencies, is a lot less than for the hard currencies. Weak demand internationally along with exchange controls may make these currencies difficult to convert.

Sources for currency demand on the FX market

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The currency of a growing economy with relative price stability and a wide variety of competitive goods and services will be more in demand than that of a country in political turmoil, with high inflation and few marketable exports.
Money will flow to wherever it can get the highest return with the least risk. If a nation’s financial instruments, such as stocks and bonds, offer relatively high rates of return at relatively low risk, foreigners will demand its currency to invest in them.
FX traders speculate within the market about how different events will move the exchange rates. For example:
News of political instability in other countries drives up demand for U.S. dollars as investors are looking for a "safe haven" for their money.
A country’s interest rates rise and its currency appreciates as foreign investors seek higher returns than they can get in their own countries.
Developing nations undertaking successful economic reforms may experience currency appreciation as foreign investors seek new opportunities.

Determination of Foreign Exchange Rates

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Exchange rates respond directly to all sorts of events, both tangible and psychological—
Business cycles;
Balance of payment statistics;
Political developments;
New tax laws;
Stock market news;
Inflationary expectations;
International investment patterns;
And government and central bank policies among others.

At the heart of this complex market are the same forces of demand and supply that determine the prices of goods and services in any free market. If at any given rate, the demand for a currency is greater than its supply, its price will rise. If supply exceeds demand, the price will fall.

The supply of a nation’s currency is influenced by that nation’s monetary authority, (usually its central bank), consistent with the amount of spending taking place in the economy. Government and central banks closely monitor economic activity to keep money supply at a level appropriate to achieve their economic goals

J–curve

2009-06-03T21:32:00.005-07:00

The J–curve explains why the trade position does not improve soon after the weakening of a currency. Most import/export orders are taken months in advance. Immediately after a currency’s value drops, the volume of imports remains about the same, but the prices in terms of the home currency rise. On the other hand, the value of the domestic exports remains the same, and the difference in values worsens the trade balance until the imports and exports adjust to the new exchange rates.

Exchange rates are an important consideration when making international investment decisions. The money invested overseas incurs an exchange rate risk.

When an investor decides to "cash out," or bring his money home, any gains could be magnified or wiped out depending on the change in the exchange rates in the interim. Thus, changes in exchange rates can have many repercussions on an economy:
Affects the prices of imported goods
Affects the overall level of price and wage inflation
Influences tourism patterns
May influence consumers’ buying decisions and investors’ long-term commitments.

Foreign Exchange Market Participants

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There are four types of market participants—banks, brokers, customers, and central banks.
Banks and other financial institutions are the biggest participants. They earn profits by buying and selling currencies from and to each other. Roughly two-thirds of all FX transactions involve banks dealing directly with each other.
Brokers act as intermediaries between banks. Dealers call them to find out where they can get the best price for currencies. Such arrangements are beneficial since they afford anonymity to the buyer/seller. Brokers earn profit by charging a commission on the transactions they arrange.
Customers, mainly large companies, require foreign currency in the course of doing business or making investments. Some even have their own trading desks if their requirements are large. Other types of customers are individuals who buy foreign exchange to travel abroad or make purchases in foreign countries.
Central banks, which act on behalf of their governments, sometimes participate in the FX market to influence the value of their currencies.

The foreign exchange market

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The foreign exchange market, or the "FX" market, is where the buying and selling of different currencies takes place. The price of one currency in terms of another is called an exchange rate.

The market itself is actually a worldwide network of traders, connected by telephone lines and computer screens—there is no central headquarters. There are three main centers of trading, which handle the majority of all FX transactions—United Kingdom, United States, and Japan.

Transactions in Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Germany, France and Australia account for most of the remaining transactions in the market. Trading goes on 24 hours a day: at 8 a.m. the exchange market is first opening in London, while the trading day is ending in Singapore and Hong Kong. At 1 p.m. in London, the New York market opens for business and later in the afternoon the traders in San Francisco can also conduct business. As the market closes in San Francisco, the Singapore and Hong Kong markets are starting their day.

The FX market is fast paced, volatile and enormous—it is the largest market in the world. In 2001 on average, an estimated $1,210 billion was traded each day—roughly equivalent to every person in the world trading $195 each day.

Foreign Exchange Market: What Is It?

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To buy foreign goods or services, or to invest in other countries, companies and individuals may need to first buy the currency of the country with which they are doing business. Generally, exporters prefer to be paid in their country’s currency or in U.S. dollars, which are accepted all over the world.

When Canadians buy oil from Saudi Arabia they may pay in U.S. dollars and not in Canadian dollars or Saudi riyals, even though the United States is not involved in the transaction.