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Factors That Determine the Currency Exchange Rates

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Factors that Determine the Currency Exchange Rates

Exchange rate is often referred to as the nominal exchange rate. It is defined as the rate at which one currency can be converted, or 'exchanged ', into another currency. For example, the pound is currently worth about 1.824 US dollars. One pound can be converted into 1.824 dollars. This is the exchange rate between the pound and the dollar. There are four types of currencies can be operated, which are a floating, managed and fixed exchange rate.

Lots of developed industrial nations like US ($), UK (???) and Japan (??¥) operate floating exchange rates. A floating exchange rate is known as freely floating and should be self-regulating. It is often determined by the market …show more content…

With a fixed exchange system, a country may face a persistent surplus or deficit. To deal with a persistent surplus, government can increase home demand in order to encourage import, or raise home price to make export less competitive. To deal with a persistent deficit, government can reduce the home demand or decrease home price to make export more competitive. If both of measures inefficient, the only way of influence the exchange rate is to change the exchange rate. If countries with surpluses move their value of exchange rates higher, it will be revalue, if countries with deficit decrease their value of exchange rate, it will be devaluation. And usually, exports are dearer in the condition of devaluation.

If a government is confident that a floating exchange rate system can keep a balance of payments in balance. Then it will not hold reserves of foreign currency.

The market demand and supply for currency are the most significant determinant for influencing the exchange rate in a floated exchange rate system. If there is an increase in demanding pounds, the equilibrium price is likely to change. For example, as it illustrated in figure 1.4(A) (B), if an American buys a British Rover, there will be an increase in the

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