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Foreign Exchange Markets

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Foreign Exchange Markets and Transactions

1) Foreign Exchange Market

In 1971 the US suspended the convertibility of the dollar to gold, and by 1973 the US and other nations had accepted floating exchange rates.
Today the exchange market is the largest market in the world. The market is an elaborate network of trading desks, banks, cooperations and individuals who buy and sell currencies all over the world.

2) What is an Exchange Rate?

An Exchange rate is the price of a currency. The rates are available from many print and electronic sources.
Direct quotes = Exchange rates that are listed in the form of “US $ Equivalent”
Indirect quotes = Rates listed in the form of “Currency per US”

2.1 ) Cross Exchange rates

Most quotations in exchange rates tables are expressed in terms of the US dollar.
But some occasions require exchange rates expressed in term of two non-US dollar currencies. These rates are called cross exchange rates.

2.2) Bid/Ask Spread When banks or brokers facilitate currency transactions they charge a fee for their service. In many cases these fees come from the difference between the bank´s bid and ask quotes -> called the bit/ask spread.

3) Exchange Rate Movements Prices and currencies can fluctuate. 3.1) Currency Appreciation and Depreciation Appreciate= a currency in value relative to other currencies. Depreciate= a currency decreases in value A purchasing power of one currency relative to another currency can appreciate or depreciate.

3.2) Measuring Fluctuations Exchange rate fluctuations are often presented in percentage terms, relative to some reference currency.

3.3) Why exchange rate change Purchasing Power Parity Purchasing Power Parity A well-known (and controversial) theory

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