This document provides an overview of the foreign exchange market, including its organization, participants, and key components. It discusses the spot market and forward market. The spot market facilitates immediate currency transactions that are settled within 2 business days. The forward market allows participants to agree to exchange currencies at a future date at a fixed rate. Major participants in the foreign exchange market include commercial banks, brokers, customers, arbitrageurs, traders, hedgers and speculators. The market sees over $1.2 trillion in daily volume and is centered in major financial hubs like London, New York and Tokyo.

1. CHAPTER 7CHAPTER 7
THE FOREIGNTHE FOREIGN
EXCHANGEEXCHANGE
MARKETMARKET

2. CHAPTER OVERVIEWCHAPTER OVERVIEW
I.I. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
II.II. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGEFOREIGN EXCHANGE
MARKETMARKET
III.III. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
IV.IV. THE FORWARD MARKETTHE FORWARD MARKET
V.V. INTEREST RATE PARITYINTEREST RATE PARITY
THEORYTHEORY

3. PART I. INTRODUCTIONPART I. INTRODUCTION
I.I. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
A.A. The Currency Market:The Currency Market:
where moneywhere money
denominated in onedenominated in one
currency is bought andcurrency is bought and
sold with moneysold with money
denominated in anotherdenominated in another
currency.currency.

4. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
B. International Trade andB. International Trade and
Capital Transactions:Capital Transactions:
- facilitated with the ability- facilitated with the ability
to transfer purchasing powerto transfer purchasing power
between countriesbetween countries

5. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
C.C. LocationLocation
1.1. OTC-type: no specificOTC-type: no specific
locationlocation
2.2. Most trades by phone,Most trades by phone,
telex, or SWIFTtelex, or SWIFT
SWIFT:SWIFT: Society for WorldwideSociety for Worldwide
Interbank FinancialInterbank Financial
TelecommunicationsTelecommunications

6. PART II.PART II.
ORGANIZATION OF THE FOREIGNORGANIZATION OF THE FOREIGN
EXCHANGE MARKETEXCHANGE MARKET
II .. PARTICIPANTS IN THEPARTICIPANTS IN THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGEFOREIGN EXCHANGE
MARKETMARKET
A.A. Participants at 2 LevelsParticipants at 2 Levels
1.1. Wholesale Level (95%)Wholesale Level (95%)
- major banks- major banks
2.2. Retail LevelRetail Level
- business- business
customers.customers.

7. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
B.B. Two Types of CurrencyTwo Types of Currency
MarketsMarkets
1.1. Spot Market:Spot Market:
- immediate transaction- immediate transaction
- recorded by 2nd- recorded by 2nd
business daybusiness day

8. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
2.2. Forward Market:Forward Market:
- transactions take place at a- transactions take place at a
specified future datespecified future date

9. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
C.C. Participants by MarketParticipants by Market
1.1. Spot MarketSpot Market
a.a. commercial bankscommercial banks
b.b. brokersbrokers
c.c. customers of commercialcustomers of commercial
and central banksand central banks

10. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
2.2. Forward MarketForward Market
a.a. arbitrageursarbitrageurs
b.b. traderstraders
c.c. hedgershedgers
d.d. speculatorsspeculators

11. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
II.II. CLEARING SYSTEMSCLEARING SYSTEMS
A. Clearing House InterbankA. Clearing House Interbank
Payments SystemPayments System
(CHIPS)(CHIPS)
- used in U.S. for electronic- used in U.S. for electronic
fund transfers.fund transfers.

12. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
B.B. FedWireFedWire
- operated by the Fed- operated by the Fed
- used for domestic transfers- used for domestic transfers

13. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
III.III. ELECTRONIC TRADINGELECTRONIC TRADING
A.A. Automated TradingAutomated Trading
- genuine screen-based- genuine screen-based
marketmarket

14. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
B.B. Results:Results:
1.1. Reduces cost of tradingReduces cost of trading
2.2. Threatens traders’Threatens traders’
oligopoly of informationoligopoly of information
3.3. Provides liquidityProvides liquidity

15. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
IV.IV. SIZE OF THE MARKETSIZE OF THE MARKET
A.A. Largest in the worldLargest in the world
1995: $1.2 trillion daily1995: $1.2 trillion daily

16. ORGANIZATION OF THEORGANIZATION OF THE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETFOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
B.B. Market Centers (1995):Market Centers (1995):
London =London = $464 billion$464 billion
dailydaily
New York= $244 billionNew York= $244 billion
dailydaily
Tokyo = $161 billionTokyo = $161 billion
dailydaily

17. PART III.PART III.
THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
I.I. SPOT QUOTATIONSSPOT QUOTATIONS
A.A. SourcesSources
1.1. All major newspapersAll major newspapers
2.2. Major currencies haveMajor currencies have
four different quotes:four different quotes:
a.a. spot pricespot price
b.b. 30-day30-day
c.c. 90-day90-day
d.d. 180-day180-day

18. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
B.B. Method of QuotationMethod of Quotation
1.1. For interbank dollarFor interbank dollar
trades:trades:
a.a. American termsAmerican terms
example: $.5838/dmexample: $.5838/dm
b.b. European termsEuropean terms
example: dm1.713/$example: dm1.713/$

19. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
2.2. For nonbank customers:For nonbank customers:
Direct quoteDirect quote
gives the home currencygives the home currency
price of one unit of foreignprice of one unit of foreign
currency.currency.
EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: dm0.25/FFdm0.25/FF

20. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
C.C. Transactions CostsTransactions Costs
1.1. Bid-Ask SpreadBid-Ask Spread
used to calculate the feeused to calculate the fee
charged by the bankcharged by the bank
Bid = the price at whichBid = the price at which
the bank is willing to buythe bank is willing to buy
Ask = the price it will sellAsk = the price it will sell
the currencythe currency

21. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
4.4. Percent Spread Formula (PS):Percent Spread Formula (PS):
100x
Ask
BidAsk
PS
−
=

22. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
D.D. Cross RatesCross Rates
1.1. The exchange rateThe exchange rate
between 2 non - US$between 2 non - US$
currencies.currencies.

23. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
2.2. Calculating Cross RatesCalculating Cross Rates
When you want to knowWhen you want to know
what the dm/what the dm/ cross ratecross rate
is, and you knowis, and you know
dm2/US$ anddm2/US$ and .55/US$.55/US$
then dm/then dm/ = dm2/US$= dm2/US$ ÷÷
.55/US$.55/US$
= dm3.636/= dm3.636/ 

24. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
E.E. Currency ArbitrageCurrency Arbitrage
1.1. If cross rates differ fromIf cross rates differ from
one financial center toone financial center to
another, and profitanother, and profit
opportunities exist.opportunities exist.

25. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
2.2. Buy cheap in one int’l market,Buy cheap in one int’l market,
sell at a higher price insell at a higher price in
anotheranother
3.3. Role of Available InformationRole of Available Information

26. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
F.F. Settlement Date Value Date:Settlement Date Value Date:
1.1. Date monies are dueDate monies are due
2.2. 2nd Working day after date of2nd Working day after date of
original transaction.original transaction.

27. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
G.G. Exchange RiskExchange Risk
1.1. Bankers = middlemenBankers = middlemen
a.a. Incurring risk of adverseIncurring risk of adverse
exchange rate moves.exchange rate moves.
b.b. Increased uncertaintyIncreased uncertainty
about future exchangeabout future exchange
rate requiresrate requires

28. THE SPOT MARKETTHE SPOT MARKET
1.)1.) Demand for higher riskDemand for higher risk
premiumpremium
2.)2.) Bankers widen bid-askBankers widen bid-ask
spreadspread

29. MECHANICS OF SPOTMECHANICS OF SPOT
TRANSACTIONSTRANSACTIONS
SPOT TRANSACTIONS: AnSPOT TRANSACTIONS: An
ExampleExample
Step 1.Step 1. Currency transaction:Currency transaction:
verbal agreement, U.S.verbal agreement, U.S.
importer specifies:importer specifies:
a. Account to debit (his acct)a. Account to debit (his acct)
b. Account to creditb. Account to credit
(exporter)(exporter)

30. MECHANICS OF SPOTMECHANICS OF SPOT
TRANSACTIONSTRANSACTIONS
Step 2.Step 2. Bank sends importerBank sends importer
contract note including:contract note including:
- amount of foreign- amount of foreign
currencycurrency
- agreed exchange rate- agreed exchange rate
- confirmation of Step 1.- confirmation of Step 1.

31. MECHANICS OF SPOTMECHANICS OF SPOT
TRANSACTIONSTRANSACTIONS
Step 3.Step 3. SettlementSettlement
Correspondent bank in HongCorrespondent bank in Hong
Kong transfers HK$ fromKong transfers HK$ from
nostro account to exporter’s.nostro account to exporter’s.
Value Date.Value Date.
U.S. bank debits importer’sU.S. bank debits importer’s
account.account.

32. PART III.PART III.
THE FORWARD MARKETTHE FORWARD MARKET
I.I. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
A. Definition of a ForwardA. Definition of a Forward
ContractContract
an agreement between a bank andan agreement between a bank and
a customer to deliver a specifieda customer to deliver a specified
amount of currency againstamount of currency against
another currency at a specifiedanother currency at a specified
future date and at a fixed exchangefuture date and at a fixed exchange
rate.rate.

33. THE FORWARD MARKETTHE FORWARD MARKET
2. Purpose of a Forward:2. Purpose of a Forward:
HedgingHedging
the act of reducing exchangethe act of reducing exchange
rate risk.rate risk.

34. THE FORWARD MARKETTHE FORWARD MARKET
B.B. Forward Rate QuotationsForward Rate Quotations
1.1. Two Methods:Two Methods:
a.a. Outright Rate:Outright Rate: quoted toquoted to
commercial customers.commercial customers.
b.b. Swap Rate:Swap Rate: quoted in thequoted in the
interbank market as ainterbank market as a
discount or premium.discount or premium.

35. THE FORWARD MARKETTHE FORWARD MARKET
CALCULATING THE FORWARDCALCULATING THE FORWARD
PREMIUM OR DISCOUNTPREMIUM OR DISCOUNT
== F-SF-S xx 1212 x 100x 100
SS nn
where F = the forward rate of exchangewhere F = the forward rate of exchange
S = the spot rate of exchangeS = the spot rate of exchange
n = the number of months in then = the number of months in the
forward contractforward contract

36. THE FORWARD MARKETTHE FORWARD MARKET
C.C. Forward Contract MaturitiesForward Contract Maturities
1.1. Contract TermsContract Terms
a.a. 30-day30-day
b.b. 90-day90-day
c.c. 180-day180-day
d.d. 360-day360-day
2.2. Longer-term ContractsLonger-term Contracts

37. PART IV.PART IV.
INTEREST RATE PARITY THEORYINTEREST RATE PARITY THEORY
I.I. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
A. The Theory states:A. The Theory states:
the forward rate (F) differsthe forward rate (F) differs
from the spot rate (S) atfrom the spot rate (S) at
equilibrium by an amountequilibrium by an amount
equal to the interestequal to the interest
differential (rdifferential (rhh - r- rff) between) between
two countries.two countries.

38. INTEREST RATE PARITYINTEREST RATE PARITY
THEORYTHEORY
2.2. The forward premium orThe forward premium or
discount equals the interestdiscount equals the interest
rate differential.rate differential.
(F - S)/S = (r(F - S)/S = (rhh - r- rff))
wherewhere rrhh = the home rate= the home rate
rrff = the foreign rate= the foreign rate

39. INTEREST RATE PARITYINTEREST RATE PARITY
THEORYTHEORY
3.3. In equilibrium, returns onIn equilibrium, returns on
currencies will be the samecurrencies will be the same
i. e. No profit will be realizedi. e. No profit will be realized
and interest parity existsand interest parity exists
which can be writtenwhich can be written
(1 + r(1 + rhh)) == FF
(1 + r(1 + rff) S) S

40. INTEREST RATE PARITYINTEREST RATE PARITY
THEORYTHEORY
B.B. Covered Interest ArbitrageCovered Interest Arbitrage
1. Conditions required:1. Conditions required:
interest rate differential doesinterest rate differential does
not equal the forwardnot equal the forward
premium or discount.premium or discount.
2.2. Funds will move to a countryFunds will move to a country
with a more attractive rate.with a more attractive rate.

41. INTEREST RATE PARITYINTEREST RATE PARITY
THEORYTHEORY
3.3. Market pressures develop:Market pressures develop:
a.a. As one currency is moreAs one currency is more
demanded spot and solddemanded spot and sold
forward.forward.
b. Inflow of fund depressesb. Inflow of fund depresses
interest rates.interest rates.

42. INTEREST RATE PARITYINTEREST RATE PARITY
THEORYTHEORY
C.C. Summary:Summary:
Interest Rate Parity states:Interest Rate Parity states:
1.1. Higher interest rates on aHigher interest rates on a
currency offset bycurrency offset by
forwardforward discounts.discounts.
2.2. Lower interest rates areLower interest rates are
offset by forwardoffset by forward
premiums.premiums.