GLOSSARIES
A
Accrual
The apportionment of premiums and discounts on forward exchange transactions that relate directly to deposit swap (Interest Arbitrage) deals , over the period of each deal.
Adjustment
Official action normally by either change in the internal economic policies to correct a payment imbalance or in the official currency rate or. Adjustment-Official action normally by either change in the internal economic policies to correct a payment imbalance or in the official currency rate or.
Appreciation
A currency is said to ‘appreciate’ when it strengthens in price in response to market demand.
Arbitrage
The purchase or sale of an instrument and simultaneous taking of an equal and opposite position in a related market, in order to take advantage of small price differentials between markets.
Ask (Offer) Price
The price at which the market is prepared to sell a specific Currency in a Foreign Exchange Contract or Cross Currency Contract. At this price, the trader can buy the base currency. In the quotation, it is shown on the right side of the quotation. For example, in the quote USD/CHF 1.4527/32, the ask price is 1.4532; meaning you can buy one US dollar for 1.4532 Swiss francs.
At Best
An instruction given to a dealer to buy or sell at the best rate that can be obtained.
At or Better
An order to deal at a specific rate or better.
B
Balance of Trade – 貿易差額
一個國家的出口值減去其進口值。
Bar Chart – 長條圖
一種圖表類型，由四個重要部位所組成：最高價和最低價形成垂直條，開盤價以小橫線標記在長條的左邊，收盤價以小橫線標記在長條的右邊。
Base Currency – 基礎貨幣
在貨幣對中的第一種貨幣。它顯示基礎貨幣相對於第二種貨幣的價值。例如，若美元/瑞士法郎匯率等於1.6245，則在外匯市場的一美元價值1.6245瑞士法郎，美元通常被認為是報價的「基礎」貨幣，意思是報價組合中，以1美元為單位對另一種貨幣的價值。此規則的例外主要有英鎊、歐元和澳元。
Bear Market – 熊市
以價格下跌為特徵的市場。
Bid Price – 買價
市場準備買進外匯合約或交叉貨幣合約中特定貨幣的價格。交易人能夠以該價格賣出基礎貨幣。它顯示在報價的左邊。例如，在報價美元/瑞士法郎 1.4565/32 中，買價是 1.4565；意思是說，您可以以1.4565的瑞士法郎賣出一美元。
Bid/Ask Spread – 出價/賣價價差
出價和要價之間的差額。大數報價——適用於匯率最前面幾位數字的交易商表達法。這些數字經常在交易商的報價中被刪去。例如，美元/日圓匯率可能為117.50/117.55，但可能以口頭報價而沒有前三位數字，即「50/55」。
Book – 帳冊
在專業交易環境中，「帳冊」是交易人或櫃台總部位的摘要。
Broker – 經紀商
擔任中間人把買方和賣方集合在一起以賺取費用或佣金的個人或公司。相反地，「交易商」調撥資本並建立一邊的部位，希望在隨後與另一方的交易中，平倉以賺取價差（利潤）。
Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944 – 1944 年Bretton Woods 協議
為主要貨幣建立固定外匯匯率的協議，規定中央銀行進入貨幣市場干預，並以每盎司35美元緊盯黃金價格。該協議持續至1971年，當時尼克森總統廢止Bretton Woods協議並為主要貨幣建立浮動匯率。
Bull Market – 牛市
以價格上漲為特徵的市場。
Bundesbank – 德意志聯邦銀行
德國的中央銀行。
C
Cable
Trader jargon refer to the Sterling/US Dollar exchange rate because the rate was originally transmitted via a transatlantic cable beginning in the mid 1800′s.
Candlestick Chart
A charts that indicate the trading range for the day as well as the opening and closing price. If the open price is higher than the close price, the rectangle between the open and close price is shaded. If the close price is higher than the open price, that area of the chart is not shaded.
Cash Market
The market in the actual financial instrument on which a futures or options contract is based.
Central Bank
A government or quasi-governmental organization that manages a country’s monetary policy. For example, the US central bank is the Federal Reserve, and the German central bank is the Bundesbank.
Chartist
An individual who use charts and graphs and interprets historical data to find trends and predict future movements. Also referred to as Technical Trader.
Cleared Funds
Funds that are freely available, sent in to settle a trade.
Closed Position
Exposures in Foreign Currencies that no longer exist. The process to close a position is to sell or buy a certain amount of currency to offset an equal amount of the open position. This will ‘square’ the position.
Clearing
The process of settling a trade.
Contagion
The tendency of an economic crisis to spread from one market to another. In 1997, political instability in Indonesia caused high volatility in their domestic currency, the Rupiah. From there, the contagion spread to other Asian emerging currencies, and then to Latin America, and is now referred to as the Asian Contagion.
Collateral
Something given to secure a loan or as a guarantee of performance.
Commission
A transaction fee charged by a broker.
Confirmation
A document exchanged by counterparts to a transaction that states the terms of said transaction.
Contract
The standard unit of trading.
Counter Currency
The second listed Currency in a Currency Pair.
Counterparty
One of the participants in a financial transaction.
Country Risk
Risk associated with a cross-border transaction, including but not limited to legal and political conditions.
Cross Currency Pairs or Cross Rate
A foreign exchange transaction in which one foreign currency is traded against a second foreign currency. For example; EUR/GBP
Currency Symbols
AUD – Australian Dollar
CAD – Canadian Dollar
EUR – Euro
JPY – Japanese Yen
GBP – British Pound
CHF – Swiss Franc
CAD – Canadian Dollar
EUR – Euro
JPY – Japanese Yen
GBP – British Pound
CHF – Swiss Franc
Currency
Any form of money issued by a government or central bank and used as legal tender and a basis for trade.
Currency Pair
The two currencies that make up a foreign exchange rate. For Example, EUR/USD
Currency Risk
The probability of an adverse change in exchange rates.
D
Day Trader
Speculators who take positions in commodities which are then liquidated prior to the close of the same trading day.
Dealer
An individual or firm that acts as a principal or counterpart to a transaction. Principals take one side of a position, hoping to earn a spread (profit) by closing out the position in a subsequent trade with another party. In contrast, a broker is an individual or firm that acts as an intermediary, putting together buyers and sellers for a fee or commission.
Deficit
A negative balance of trade or payments.
Delivery
An FX trade where both sides make and take actual delivery of the currencies traded.
Depreciation
A fall in the value of a currency due to market forces.
Derivative
A contract that changes in value in relation to the price movements of a related or underlying security, future or other physical instrument. An Option is the most common derivative instrument.
Devaluation
The deliberate downward adjustment of a currency’s price, normally by official announcement.
F
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
The regulatory agency responsible for administering bank depository insurance in the US.
Federal Reserve (Fed)
The Central Bank for the United States.
First In First Out (FIFO)
Open positions are closed according to the FIFO accounting rule. All positions opened within a particular currency pair are liquidated in the order in which they were originally opened.
Flat/Square
Dealer jargon used to describe a position that has been completely reversed, e.g. you bought $500,000 then sold $500,000, thereby creating a neutral (flat) position.
Foreign Exchange
(Forex, FX) – The simultaneous buy one of the currencies and sell of another
Forward
The pre-specified exchange rate for a foreign exchange contract settling at some agreed future date, based upon the interest rate differential between the two currencies involved.
Forward Points
The pips added to or subtracted from the current exchange rate to calculate a forward price.
Fundamental Analysis
Analysis of economic and political information with the objective of determining future movements in a financial market.
Futures Contract
An obligation to exchange a good or instrument at set price on a future date. The primary difference between a Future and a Forward is that Futures are typically traded over an exchange (Exchange- Traded Contacts – ETC), versus forwards, which are considered Over The Counter (OTC) contracts. An OTC is any contract NOT traded on an exchange.
FX
Foreign Exchange.
E
Economic Indicator
A government issued statistic that indicate current economic growth and stability. Common indicators include employment rates, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation, retail sales, etc.
End Of Day Order (EOD)
An order to buy or sell at a specified price. This order remains open until the end of the trading day which is typically 5PM ET.
European Monetary Union (EMU)
The principal goal of the EMU is to establish a single European currency called the Euro, which will officially replace the national currencies of the member EU countries in 2002. On Janaury1, 1999 the transitional phase to introduce the Euro began. The Euro now exists as a banking currency and paper financial transactions and foreign exchange are made in Euros. This transition period will last for three years, at which time Euro notes a coins will enter circulation. On July 1,2002, only Euros will be legal tender for EMU participants, the national currencies of the member countries will cease to exist. The current members of the EMU are Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
EURO
The currency of the European Monetary Union (EMU). It is a replacement for the European Currency Unit (ECU).
European Central Bank (ECB)
The Central Bank for the new European Monetary Union
G
G7
The seven leading industrial countries, being US , Germany, Japan, France, UK, Canada, Italy.
Going Long
The purchase of a stock, commodity, or currency for investment or speculation.
Going Short
The selling of a currency or instrument not owned by the seller.
Gross Domestic Product
Total value of a country’s output, income or expenditure produced within the country’s physical borders.
Gross National Product
Gross domestic product plus income earned from investment or work abroad.
Good ‘Til Cancelled Order (GTC)
An order to buy or sell at a specified price. This order remains open until filled or until the client cancels.
H
Hedge
A position or combination of positions that are reduces the risk of your primary position.
“Hit The Bid”
Acceptance of purchasing at the offer or selling at the bid.
I
Inflation
An economic condition whereby prices for consumer goods rise, eroding purchasing power.
Initial Margin
The initial deposit of collateral required to enter into a position as a guarantee on future performance.
Interbank Rates
The Foreign Exchange rates at which large international banks quote other large international banks.
Intervention
Action by a central bank to affect the value of its currency by entering the market. Concerted intervention refers to action by a number of central banks to control exchange rates.
K
Kiwi
Slang for the New Zealand dollar.
L
Leading Indicators
Statistics that are considered to predict future economic activity.
Leverage
Also called margin. The ratio of the amount used in a transaction to the required security deposit.
LIBOR
The London Inter-Bank Offered Rate. Banks use LIBOR when borrowing from another bank.
Limit Order
An order with restrictions on the maximum price to be paid or the minimum price to be received. As an example, if the current price of USD/YEN is 117.00/05, then a limit order to buy USD would be at a price below 102. (ie 116.50)
Liquidation
The closing of an existing position through the execution of an offsetting transaction.
Liquidity
The ability of a market to accept large transaction with minimal to no impact on price stability.
Long Position
A position that appreciates in value if market prices increase. When the base currency in the pair is bought, the position is said to be long.
Lot
A unit to measure the amount of the deal. The value of the deal always corresponds to an integer number of lots.
M
Margin
The required equity that an investor must deposit to collateralize a position.
Margin Call
A request from a broker or dealer for additional funds or other collateral to guarantee performance on a position that has moved against the customer.
Market Maker
A dealer who regularly quotes both bid and ask prices and is ready to make a two-sided market for any financial instrument.
Market Risk
Exposure to changes in market prices.
Mark-to-Market
Process of re-evaluating all open positions with the current market prices. These new values then determine margin requirements.
Maturity
The date for settlement or expiry of a financial instrument.
N
Net Position
The amount of currency bought or sold which have not yet been offset by opposite transactions.
O
Offer(ask)
The rate at which a dealer is willing to sell a currency. See Ask (offer) price
Offsetting Transaction
A trade with which serves to cancel or offset some or all of the market risk of an open position.
One Cancels The Other Order (OCO)
A designation for two orders whereby one part of the two orders is executed the other is automatically cancelled
Open Order
An order that will be executed when a market moves to its designated price. Normally associate with Good ’til Cancelled Orders.
Open Position
An active trade with corresponding unrealized P&L, which has not been offset by an equal and opposite deal.
Over The Counter (OTC)
Used to describe any transaction that is not conducted over an exchange.
Overnight Position
A trade that remains open until the next business day.
Order
An instruction to execute a trade at a specified rate.
P
Pips
The smallest unit of price for any foreign currency. Digits added to or subtracted from the fourth decimal place, i.e. 0.0001. Also called Points.
Political Risk
Exposure to changes in governmental policy which will have an adverse effect on an investor’s position.
Position
The netted total holdings of a given currency.
Premium
In the currency markets, describes the amount by which the forward or futures price exceed the spot price.
Price Transparency
Describes quotes to which every market participant has equal access.
Profit/Loss or “P/L” or Gain/Loss
The actual “realized” gain or loss resulting from trading activities on Closed Positions, plus the theoretical “unrealized” gain or loss on Open Positions that have been Mark-to-Market.
Q
Quote
An indicative market price, normally used for information purposes only.
R
Rally
A Recovery in price after a period of decline.
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest price of a future recorded during a given trading session.
Rate
The price of one currency in terms of another, typically used for dealing purposes.
Resistance
A term used in technical analysis indicating a specific price level at which analysis concludes people will sell.
Revaluation
An increase in the exchange rate for a currency as a result of central bank intervention.Opposite of Devaluation.
Risk
Exposure to uncertain change, most often used with a negative connotation of adverse change.
Risk Management
The employment of financial analysis and trading techniques to reduce and/or control exposure to various types of risk.
Roll-Over
Process whereby the settlement of a deal is rolled forward to another value date. The cost of this process is based on the interest rate differential of the two currencies.
Round Trip
Buying and selling of a specified amount of currency.
S
Settlement
The process by which of a trade is entered into the books and records of the counterparts to a transaction. The settlement of currency trades may or may not involve the actual physical exchange of one currency for another.
Short Position
An investment position that benefits from a decline in market price. When the base currency in the pair is sold, the position is said to be short.
Spot Price
The current market price. Settlement of spot transactions usually occurs within two business days.
Spread
The difference between the bid and offer prices.
Square
Purchase and sales are in balance and thus the dealer has no open position.
Sterling
Slang for British Pound.
Stop Loss order
Order type whereby an open position is automatically liquidated at a specific price. Often used to minimize exposure to losses if the market moves against an investor’s position. As an example, if an investor is long USD at 156.27, they might wish to put in a stop loss order for 155.49, which would limit losses should the dollar depreciate, possibly below 155.49.
Support Levels
A technique used in technical analysis that indicates a specific price ceiling and floor at which a given exchange rate will automatically correct itself.Opposite of resistance.
Swap
A currency swap is the simultaneous sale and purchase of the same amount of a given currency at a forward exchange rate.
Swissy
Market slang for Swiss Franc.
T
Technical Analysis
An effort to forecast prices by analyzing market data, i.e. historical price trends and averages, volumes, open interest, etc.
Tick
A minimum change in price, up or down.
Tomorrow Next (Tom/Next)
Simultaneous buying and selling of a currency for delivery the following day.
Transaction Cost
The cost of buying or selling a financial instrument.
Transaction Date
The date on which a trade occurs.
Turnover
The total money value of all executed transactions in a given time period; volume.
Two-Way Price
When both a bid and offer rate is quoted for a FX transaction.
U
Unrealized Gain/Loss
The theoretical gain or loss on Open Positions valued at current market rates, as determined by the broker in its sole discretion. Unrealized Gains’ Losses become Profits/Losses when position is closed.
Uptick
A new price quote at a price higher than the preceding quote.
Uptick Rule
In the U.S., a regulation whereby a security may not be sold short unless the last trade prior to the short sale was at a price lower than the price at which the short sale is executed.
US Prime Rate
The interest rate at which US banks will lend to their prime corporate customers.
V
Value Date
The date on which counterparts to a financial transaction agree to settle their respective obligations, i.e., exchanging payments. For spot currency transactions, the value date is normally two business days forward.Also known as maturity date.
Variation Margin
Funds a broker must request from the client to have the required margin deposited. The term usually refers to additional funds that must be deposited as a result of unfavorable price movements.
Volatility (Vol)
A statistical measure of a market’s price movements over time.
W
Whipsaw
Slang for a condition of a highly volatile market where a sharp price movement is quickly followed by a sharp reversal.
Y
Yard
Slang for a billion.
