Resources for Foreign Exchange Rates

Learning foreign exchange rates basics help you understand where your business stands in the international markets. The exchange rate itself is a ratio that shows how much one country's currency is worth in terms of another country's. Although it gives people a quick idea of a country's relative financial strength, the exchange rate is influenced by a complex set of factors that can be difficult to understand, especially when developing nations and countries whose financial systems differ from that of the U.S are involved.

To understand exchange rates, it's helpful to learn about the different factors that affect the a currency's value. Central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve have the most control over the rate, but a number of other conditions play a role in its change as well, including inflation and foreign policy. Once you're familiar with the exchange rate basics, you can trade currency on the foreign exchange market and strengthen your business' international presence.

1. Inflation, fiscal policy and economic growth have important impacts on foreign exchange currency rates.

2. Many websites post live foreign exchange rates and offer powerful currency converters.

3. Currencies are traded on the foreign exchange, or FX, market.

Learn about the factors that influence currency exchange rates

Before you venture into online forex trading or make business deals overseas, it's important to understand the basic factors that influence the foreign exchange rate. Once you know what drives forex rates to rise or fall, you'll be able to watch the market for trends and time your business transactions, so you don't get burned by bad rates.

Find the latest foreign exchange quotes online

A good, basic way to keep up with the exchange rate is by getting up-to-date quotes from currency sites online. Some of these simply display the most recent rate quotes, but others offer users the ability to trade currency, as well.

Invest in foreign exchange markets with online forex trading

Exchange rates for many countries are determined by supply of and demand for their currencies on the foreign exchange market. Known as the Forex or FX market for short, this diverse market gives institutional investors, small businesses, multinational corporations and individual investors a forum for trading a wide variety of currencies and their derivative instruments. Whenever you do business overseas, your money goes through the FX market, so it's important to know the basics behind how it works.

• Sign up for an online forex trading practice account to hone your trading skills in a risk-free environment.