Currency Converter

The Foreign Exchange Market (Forex) is one of the largest and most important markets in the world. It is a global, decentralized, over-the-counter market where various currencies are exchanged and traded. To better understand Forex, there are some key terms that need to be familiarized with.

Exchange Rate is the value of one currency expressed in terms of another. When two currencies are exchanged, their values rarely equate exactly.

Bid Price and Ask Price are the figures that refer to the prices that buyers and sellers, respectively, are willing to pay or accept for a unit of currency. The difference between the bid and ask price is called the Bid-Ask Spread. This spread forms the basis of currency conversions that are done by financial institutions such as banks, brokers, or businesses.

The smallest unit of value found in a bid-ask spread is known as the Pip or Point. For example, in the currency quote EUR/USD 1.2800/1.2803, there are three pips.

A Currency Pair is the combination of two currencies wherein the first currency is called the base currency, while the other is known as the quote currency. In the same example, EUR is the base currency and USD is the quote currency.

The Interbank Rate is the rate at which banks exchange currencies among themselves.

The Major Currencies are a collective term for the most globally traded currencies. This mainly includes USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD and CHF. Any currency pair that has the USD against one of these other currencies is known as a major currency pair.

Understanding these terms and their meanings is essential for effective trading and transactions in the Forex market.

Currency is an economic concept that has its roots deeply rooted in history, dating back at least 3,000 years. Before this, bartering - the exchange of goods and services without the use of money - was likely used. Over time, currency has taken many different forms; coins, barley, gold, silver, knives, cowrie shells, stamps, potato mashers, peppercorn, tea bricks, and cheese - all have been used as interchangeable units of value.

The first standardized unit of currency was minted in the seventh century B.C. by King Alyattes of Lydia, in modern-day Turkey. In modern times, currency is much more uniform and regulated, taking on the physical form of paper bills or coins; however, most of a person's currency is typically stored in digital accounts. Such accounts represent fiat money; currency declared by the government to be an official medium of payment, but not backed by a physical commodity - unlike early forms of money, which were tied to a valuable resource, such as gold or silver. Today, the majority of large-scale currency transactions are done electronically, using sophisticated currency systems and digital accounts. The popularity of debit cards, credit cards, and mobile payments has also meant that physical currencies are increasingly being used less in everyday transactions.

Cryptocurrencies are an innovative type of digital currency that operate independently of a central bank or authority. They are regulated and generated through the use of encryption techniques, allowing users to securely transfer funds to one another. The technology utilized by cryptocurrencies, known as blockchain, is a decentralized ledger of transactions across a peer-to-peer network, granting participants the ability to confirm transactions without the requirement of a central clearing authority such as a bank or government. Cryptocurrencies, like any other currency, have a fluctuating value and can be traded in the same way. Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency and has the largest market cap, but there are many others, such as Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Ripple (XRP). While its future is uncertain, some experts believe that there is a realistic chance that cryptocurrencies may become the currency of the future.

The currencies of various countries are rarely, if ever, completely equivalent in value. Exchange rates, which define the rate of exchange of one currency for another, exist to enable the balanced exchange of different currencies. These real-time exchange rates are sourced from the foreign exchange market (forex), where most currency transactions take place. This market operates at high speeds, with exchange rates changing constantly. Commonly traded forex transactions involve the U.S. dollar and the European euro, the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen, and the U.S. dollar and the British pound Sterling. For this calculator, Bitcoin is currently the only cryptocurrency available for conversion.

Exchange rates between currencies are a complex concept as they are impacted by an array of different factors. Inflation, interest rates, trade deficits, politics and economic performance are just some of the many components that influence the value of one currency in comparison to another.

Differences in inflation is a primary component that shapes the exchange rates between various currencies. A currency of an economy with low inflation rates will typically appreciate in strength as purchasing power increases, whereas the currency of another economy with higher inflation will usually depreciate in relation to that of the lower inflation currency.

Interest rates can also affect the demand of a currency and the inflation rate of the respective economy, thus driving the exchange rate of a currency upwards or downwards.

Trade deficits are another hallmark of currency fluctuation. A trade deficit occurs when an economy is spending more than it is earning through its foreign trade (including goods, services, interest and dividends to name a few) and requires more foreign currency than it receives through the sale of its exports.

Politics can also play a significant role in influencing exchange rates. Governmental regulations and policies can have a direct and/or indirect impact on the rates. Generally, economies which are viewed more favorably in the global market due to their politically stable conditions, often make sounder investments than those economies constantly stricken by political unrest.

The overall economic performance of a country is another factor that may affect the exchange rate of its currency. International investors are likely to look to economies that have a strong performance when searching for a place to receive the best return-on-investment. Therefore, heightened capital inflows due to increased confidence in an economy’s performance, can boost the strength of its currency.

In summary, exchange rates are a result of a complicated set of factors that have varying levels of impact. To get a better understanding and stay ahead of changes in this ever-evolving market, it is important stay up to date on the latest trends.

Noor Muhammad

CEO / Co-Founder

"Success isn’t Always about Greatness. It’s about Consistency" - I Noor Muhammad founder of RaviHost. FreePion is a proud product of RaviHost. We at RaviHost are fully determind to provide you 100% free SEO and digital marketing tools. You can use our tools for free and recommend to your friends.