Chapter 1: Introduction

1.0. Introduction
The term “foreign exchange” basically refers to buying the currency of one country while selling the currency of another country. All nations have their own, different kinds of money (currency). This has existed throughout the ages, probably since the time of the Babylonians. As trading developed between nations, the need to convert one kind of money to another also developed. This is how a formal system of foreign exchange arose. As trade between nations developed, Britain, as the nation with the largest and strongest navy, could spread its commercial interests far and wide. It therefore became the most active trading nation, with a vast empire of colonies. As a result, Britain’s currency, the pound sterling, became a benchmark to which other currencies were compared (and exchanged) for most of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, most currencies are compared to the U.S. Dollar, currently the most active and commercially strong trading nation; many currencies are still “pegged” to the U.S. Dollar for their exchange rate.
Because FX risks can be identified, they can be managed. Foreign exchange management requires that governments, companies, and individuals understand the factors that influence the valuation of currency. By identifying these factors, they can enter into transactions that mitigate the risks to acceptable levels. These transactions, or hedge positions, are designed to maximize the economic benefit of foreign exchange receipts, and payments for governments, multinational companies, or individuals

1.1. Foreign Exchange
Foreign Exchange (FX) is the conversion of currency of one country to the currency of other country whereas foreign currency is any currency other than the country’s own currency.

1.2. Foreign Exchange Market
Foreign Exchange Market is a market where the