Given that the global forex market was worth an estimated $2.409 quadrillion in 2019, it makes sense that this should be considered as one of the most influential financial entities in the world.

In addition to enabling individuals to trade currencies as derivative assets, the forex market is also heavily influenced by macroeconomic factors and thought to offer a detailed insight into the status of national economies.

But can businesses really use forex to improve their finances? We’ll explore this in greater detail in the article below:

The Nature of Forex and its Advantages

In simple terms, the forex market allows for the real-time exchange of international currencies, which are traded in major and minor pairs as derivative assets.

This means that it’s possible to buy, sell and profit from currencies without assuming ownership of the underlying financial instrument, affording opportunities for investors and businesses to profit within depreciating marketplaces.

Currency pairs are traded according to a fluctuating, real-time exchange rate, and monitoring this can also be highly beneficial to firms that are involved in international marketplaces.

More specifically, tracking real-time exchange rates helps business-owners to identify the optimal time for swapping a local currency with an international alternative, whether they intend to exchange small amounts or buy a particular currency in bulk.

By monitoring exchange rate fluctuations through online brokerage sites, you can also identify key future trends and data releases that are liable to impact selected currency valuations and time your transactions accordingly.

What Economic Factors Impact on the Forex Market?

This is one of the primary reasons why you should consider analyzing forex price movements for your business, but what are the economic factors that impact the foreign exchange?

While concepts such as international trade and geopolitical news can all impact currency prices, it’s macroeconomic factors that remain most influential. Factors such as inflation and a country’s base interest rate are most telling and offer a key insight into a currency’s future performance and the wider economic health of the underlying nation.

In instances where a country slashes its base interest rate, for example, the value of the national currency instantly becomes less popular amongst foreign investors. This leads to an incremental depreciation in value while changing the relationship of designated pairs across the globe.

As for inflation, this can be a double-edged sword for currency values. Typically, it indicates increased priced levels and reduced purchasing power, placing downward pressure on national currencies in the process.

However, inflation can also lead to currency appreciation over time, by forcing central bankers to hike the base interest rate to combat the impact of soaring prices. This is why entrepreneurs need to consider the wide range of macroeconomic factors that impact currency prices so that they can make more informed strategic decisions over time. Similarly, understanding the mechanisms of the forex market and the factors that trigger price movements can allow for far greater levels of financial management amongst entrepreneurs, particularly those that operate in both local and international markets.