G10 CURRENCY ROLE IN FOREX TRADING.

The G10 currencies are ten of the most traded currencies in the world. Which are also among the ten most liquid currencies in the world. Traders regularly buy and sell them in the open market with minimal impact on their own international exchange rates. The following are called G10 currencies. USD- EUR- GBP.JPY.AUD.NZD.CAD.CHF.NOK.SEK.DDK All G10 countries are financially and economically strong. Their role in Forex market is important. More about this source textSource text required for additional translation information Currency Reserves are and why they are important. We are too well aware that many of our subscribers have differing experiences with and knowledge of; markets, foreign currencies and International currency trading issues. So as a guide for those who are perhaps less experienced in these areas we thought we would provide a brief definition and general guide as to what they are why such reserves are important and how various Governments use them. Foreign Currency Reserves (Forex Reserves) is the amount of foreign currencies that are held by the Central Bank of a country. In general use, foreign currency reserves may also include gold and IMF reserves such as SDR’s or Special Drawing Rights. 2 Main Reasons for Holding Foreign Currency Reserves are: 1. To influence the exchange Rate. With large foreign exchange reserves, a country can target a certain exchange rate. For example, suppose a country wanted to increase the value of its currency, it could sell it’s dollar reserves to buy its own currency on the foreign exchange markets. The increased demand for this currency would appreciate its value. An example of the opposite of this happening and to which President-Elect Trump has made reference during the Election campaign, is the case of China who have historically been trying to keep the Yuan undervalued by selling Yuan and buying Dollars thereby improving their export prospects to overseas markets – by flooding them with ‘cheap goods’. This is why China has so many Dollar reserves in excess of $3 trillion worth at the current time. 2. To act as a Guarantor for Liabilities such as External Debt. If a country holds substantial foreign debt, holding foreign currency reserves can help to give more confidence in the country’s ability to pay. If countries have dwindling foreign currency reserves, there is likely to be deterioration in a country’s credit worthiness. So Who Decides a Country’s Foreign Currency Reserve? 1. The amount of foreign currency reserves will be decided by the Central Bank / Government depending on current exchange rates / monetary policy? 2. International agreements: in the Bretton Woods system for example, countries tried to maintain a certain level of foreign currencies to be able to protect the value of a currency. In a floating exchange rate there is less need to hold foreign currency for protecting against speculative attacks. 3. Often an increase in foreign currency reserves may simply reflect a large current account surplus and a desire to prevent the currency appreciating too much. There are Problems however in holding Foreign Currency Reserves: 1. Foreign Currency Reserves are rarely sufficient to target a certain exchange rate. If speculators sell heavily, then a currency will fall despite the best efforts of a Central Bank. e.g. In 1992, the UK lost billions of pounds trying to protect the value of Sterling when it was in the Exchange Rate Mechanism. Eventually, the UK authorities had to admit defeat and devalue the pound. This was the time when the much maligned George Soros made a $1 billion in betting against the Bank of England. 2. Inflation Erodes Value. The problem with holding foreign currency reserves is that they can lose their value. Inflation erodes the value of currencies not fixed against gold for example. Therefore, a Central Bank will need to keep buying foreign reserves to maintain the same purchasing power in markets. 3. They may lose Money on Currency Changes. In theory a Central Bank can make money through the appreciation of other currencies it holds. However, many Central Banks have been losing money through the long term decline in the value of the dollar for example, though recently this situation has reversed.