Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Floating Rates Versus Fixed Rates



Forex is the leading market in the world. As a matter of fact, over $1 trillion is being trade in the currency markets every day. This article will help you to understand the concept of foreign exchange market (also known as forex or simply FX) in terms of exchange rate and why some currency rise and fall its value and why others stay the same.
Exchange Rate
This is the rate at which one currency can be exchanged for another. Meaning, it is the worth of another country’s money compared to that of your own. Say, you’re travelling to another country; you need to buy the local money for you to enjoy your itinerary.  Say, you’re going to Hong Kong, the exchange rate for USD 1.00 is 7.75 HKD, this means that for every US dollar, you can buy 5 and a half Hong Kong dollars.
Fixed
There are ways the price can be distinguished against another. This is the rate the government, central bank positions and preserves as the certified exchange rate. A set value will be distinguished not in favour of a major world currency (usually the US dollar). In order to preserve the local exchange rate, the central bank purchases and sells its own money on the forex in return for the currency to which it is hooked.
Floating
Nothing like the fixed rate, a floating exchange rate is determined by the classified market through supply and demand. A floating rate is frequently called self-correcting. Here’s a shortened example: if the requirement for a specific currency is low, its worth will decrease, however making imported commodities pricier and thus invigorating demand for local commodities and services. This in return will produce more jobs, and therefore an auto-correction would take place in the market. A floating exchange rate is continually varying.
The World Once Pegged
There was once a global fixed exchange rate between 1870 and 1914. Money were linked to gold, this means the worth of local money was fixed at a set exchange rate to gold ounces. This was identified as the gold standard. This approved for unobstructed capital mobility as well as global firmness in money and trade; nevertheless, with the beginning of World War I, the gold standard was discarded.
Why Peg?
The reasons to peg a currency are linked to constancy. Especially in today's developing nations, a country may choose to peg its currency to generate a constant atmosphere for foreign investment. With a peg the financier will always know what his/her investment value is, and thus will not have to be anxious about daily fluctuations. A pegged currency can also help to lower inflation rates and make demand, which results from greater assurance in the steadiness of the currency.

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