Corporations in the market for hedging or financial management purposes. Corporates are not always as price sensitive as speculative funds and their interest can be very long term in nature.
Taking an offsetting position to reduce the impact of currency or price movements on a business. The aim is to protect margins and make cash flows more predictable, not to speculate.
Read full definitionTraders of significant size, including pension funds, asset managers and insurance companies. They are viewed as indicators of major long-term market interest, as opposed to shorter-term intra-day speculators.
Read full definitionThe current market exchange rate at which one currency can be bought or sold for immediate delivery. Spot trades typically settle two business days later (T+2).
Read full definitionAn agreement to exchange a set amount of one currency for another at a fixed rate on a future date. It locks in today’s rate, protecting a business from adverse currency moves before a payment falls due.
Read full definitionThe simultaneous purchase and sale of the same amount of a currency for two different value dates, typically a near leg at spot and a far leg forward. It is used to roll a hedge forward or manage short-term cash-flow timing.
Read full definitionTwo currencies quoted against each other, such as GBP/USD. The first is the base currency and the second the quote currency; the price shows how much of the quote currency one unit of the base is worth.
Read full definitionThe difference between the price at which the market will buy a currency (bid) and the price at which it will sell (ask). A tighter spread means lower transaction costs.
Read full definitionThe smallest standard increment by which a currency pair moves, usually the fourth decimal place (0.0001). Pips are the common unit for quoting spreads and price movements.
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