Glossary
A
Ask Price
Also referred to as the offer price. The price at which the market is willing to sell.
B
Base Currency
The first currency in a currency pair; it shows how much the base currency is worth against a second currency. For example, if the USD/EUR rate equals 1.1299 then one US dollar is worth 1.1299 EUR.
Bear (Bearish) Market
Pessimistic outlook; favoring declining market conditions.
Bid Price
The opposite of an ask price; the price at which the market is willing to pay.
Bull (Bullish) Market
Optimistic outlook; favoring strengthening market conditions.
C
Cable
Nickname for the GBP/USD currency pair.
Central Bank
A government organization that manages a country’s monetary policy.
Commodity Currencies
Currencies which depend heavily on the export of certain raw materials i.e. oil, timber, iron, coal and aluminum.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
A measure of the average change in prices of a basket of consumer goods over a period of time.
Cross Rate
An exchange rate between two currencies, in which neither is the currency of the country where the pair is quoted. For example, in the US, a EUR/JPY quote is considered a cross rate.
Currency Pair
Two currencies that make up a foreign exchange rate.
Currency Risk
Unpredictable profits or losses associated with the change in price of one currency in relation to another; can be reduced by hedging, which offsets currency fluctuations.
Currency Symbols
Three letter symbol that represents a specific currency; for example, USD (U.S. Dollar).
D
Dovish
Refers to policymakers who support lower interest rates.
Drawdown
To pull from a total amount either in part of in full.
E
Exchange Rate
The value of one currency for the purpose of conversion to another.
Exposure
Amount an investor stands to lose in an investment.
F
Fixed Date Forward
Buy or sell currency with delivery for a specific date, up to 12 months in advance.
Foreign Exchange
The global marketplace where participants can buy, sell or exchange currencies.
Forward Contract
Agreement to buy/ sell currency at a pre-specified exchange rate, with added forward points, at a future date.
Forward Points
Pips, based on interest rate differentials, added to or subtracted from the current exchange rate in order to calculate a forward price.
G
G7
Group of seven nations, which include: United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.
G8
Same member countries as G7, plus Russia.
Greenback
Nickname for the US dollar.
H
Hawkish
Opposite of Dovish; refers policy makers who support higher interest rates.
Hedge
An investment to reduce currency risk, normally through products like standing orders or forward contracts.
Hedge Ratio
Value of a position protected through the use of a hedge compared with the size of the entire position itself.
I
Inflation
Increase in consumer good prices and decrease in purchasing power.
Interbank Rates
Foreign exchange rates that large international banks quote each other.
ISM Manufacturing Index
Monthly index based on more than 400 surveys of non-manufacturing firms by the Institute of Supply Management. Values over 50 indicate growth in the non-manufacturing sector.
J
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
Monthly survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that measures job vacancies.
L
Long Position
Purchasing currency with the expectation that the value of the asset will rise; for example, when the base currency is bought the position is long.
Loonie
Nickname for the USD/CAD currency pair.
M
Margin Call
Request for additional funds on a position that has moved against the customer.
Market Order
Risk management tool used to place a buy/ sell order once the spot rate reaches a pre-defined level.
P
Par Forward
Series of forwards with different settlement dates but a common exchange rate.
Pip
The smallest incremental move an exchange rate can make; one hundredth of a percent (0.0001).
Premium
The amount by which the forward price exceeds the spot price.
Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)
Economic indicator of the manufacturing industry, based on five areas: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries and employment environment.
Q
Quantitative Easing
When a central bank injects money into an economy with the hope of stimulating growth.
Quote
Indicative market price used for information purposes.
R
Rally
A recovery in price after a period of decline.
Resistance Level
The price level where a currency has difficulty strengthening thus may begin weakening as a result.
Retail Sales
A monthly economic indicator complied and released by the Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce. Measures sales of all goods and services sold by retailers for the previous month.
Risk
Exposure to uncertain change in the market.
Risk Management
Utilization of analysis and products to reduce/ control exposure to risk.
S
Safe-Haven Currencies
Currency that is viewed as stable enough to keep its value relative to other currencies in times of economic uncertainty.
Short Position
Investment positions that benefits from a decline in market price; for example, when the base currency is sold the position is short.
Spot Rate
The current exchange rate that a currency pair can be bought or sold at.
Spot Trade
Purchase/ sale of currency for immediate delivery, as opposed to sometime in the future.
Sterling
Nickname for the GBP/USD currency pair.
Stop Loss
Order to buy/ sell at a pre-defined level in order to limit a loss.
Support Level
Opposite of a resistance level; price level where a currency has, historically, had difficulty falling past.
T
Take Profit
Order to buy/ sell a pre-defined level in order to secure a profit.
Technical Analysis
Process of reviewing past price patterns for clues as to the direction of future price movements.
U
Unemployment Rate
Measure of the total workforce that is unemployed and actively seeking employment.
V
Value Date
Also referred to as the maturity date. The delivery date of funds traded; for spot trades it is normally two days after the transaction date.
Volatility
Degree of change in the value of a currency over time. For example, high volatility is associated with a high degree of risk.
W
Window Forwards
Set a timeframe that lets you draw funds as needed from the forward contract as often as you like, until the end of the window.
Y
Yield
Percentage return from an investment.
Currency Corner
Audra Evans, Vice President of Marketing
Currency Corner
Audra Evans, Vice President of Marketing
Audra uses her 18+ years of global marketing experience to promote Monex USA's tailored FX solutions to businesses across a range of industries. Learn more about Audra in our currency corner!
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