The foreign currency or foreign exchange market is an international financial marketplace for selling and buying currencies. Many people and companies participate in this market, which is fundamentally unorganized. In addition to retail investors, this market also attracts international investors, who purchase shares of foreign companies and make financial investments without ownership. As such, it can be a complex place to enter. Here are some basic rules for navigating this marketplace. Before you begin trading, it’s important to understand how these currencies work.
Foreign currency or forex market
The foreign currency or forex market is the largest market in the world. In April 2019, the value of the market’s trading activity averaged $6.6 trillion. It is run by the Bank for International Settlements, a group of 63 central banks that share a common monetary and financial responsibility. The largest trading centers are New York, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The foreign exchange market is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Different levels of access
The foreign currency or foreign exchange market is comprised of different levels of access. The interbank market, which involves the largest commercial banks, is the most accessible and is characterized by extremely thin spreads. Outside of this inner circle, the difference between the bid and ask prices is wide. This difference is due to the high volume of trading in the various currencies. This is why the foreign exchange market is so important for people and businesses that operate around the world.
