Foriegn Exchange Market
What are the Functions of the Foreign Exchange Market?
Definition
The foreign exchange market, also known as the forex, FX, or currency market, involves the trading of one currency for another. Prior to 1996 the market was confined to large corporate banks and international corporations. However it has since opened up to include all traders and speculators. Today, the average daily turnover in forex markets is US$1.9 trillion, according to the Bank of International Settlement’s Triennial Survey. The market is growing rapidly as investors gain more information and develop more interest.
In trading foreign exchange, investors bet that one currency will appreciate over another; they profit when they bet correctly and collect the profit in the form of an interest rate spread when they return to the original currency. The profit margins are low compared with other fixed-income markets. Large trading volumes can, however result, in very high profits. Most forex trading takes place in London, New York, and Tokyo, with most trading activity in London, which dominates the market at 30% of all transactions. New York’s market share is 16%, and Tokyo’s has fallen to 10% due to the growing prominence of Singapore and Hong Kong. Singapore has become the fourth largest exchange market globally, and Hong Kong is the fifth, having overtaken Switzerland. The various players in the foreign exchange market include bank dealers, 16% of which are international investors and speculators. Banks account for almost two-thirds of forex transactions; of the rest, about 20% is mainly attributable to securities firms that operate in the international debt and equity markets.
One type of very short-term transaction is the spot transaction between two currencies, delivering over two days and using cash as opposed to a contract.
In a forward transaction, the money is not exchanged until an arranged date and an exchange rate is agreed in advance. The time period ranges from days to years.
Definition
The foreign exchange market, also known as the forex, FX, or currency market, involves the trading of one currency for another. Prior to 1996 the market was confined to large corporate banks and international corporations. However it has since opened up to include all traders and speculators. Today, the average daily turnover in forex markets is US$1.9 trillion, according to the Bank of International Settlement’s Triennial Survey. The market is growing rapidly as investors gain more information and develop more interest.
In trading foreign exchange, investors bet that one currency will appreciate over another; they profit when they bet correctly and collect the profit in the form of an interest rate spread when they return to the original currency. The profit margins are low compared with other fixed-income markets. Large trading volumes can, however result, in very high profits. Most forex trading takes place in London, New York, and Tokyo, with most trading activity in London, which dominates the market at 30% of all transactions. New York’s market share is 16%, and Tokyo’s has fallen to 10% due to the growing prominence of Singapore and Hong Kong. Singapore has become the fourth largest exchange market globally, and Hong Kong is the fifth, having overtaken Switzerland. The various players in the foreign exchange market include bank dealers, 16% of which are international investors and speculators. Banks account for almost two-thirds of forex transactions; of the rest, about 20% is mainly attributable to securities firms that operate in the international debt and equity markets.
One type of very short-term transaction is the spot transaction between two currencies, delivering over two days and using cash as opposed to a contract.
In a forward transaction, the money is not exchanged until an arranged date and an exchange rate is agreed in advance. The time period ranges from days to years.