Spot Exchange Rate

What is the Spot Exchange Rate?

The spot exchange rate is the current amount one currency will trade for another currency at a specific point in time. It is the open market price that a trader will pay to buy another currency. Generally, the spot exchange rates are regulated by the global foreign exchange market, where organizations, countries, and currency traders settle financial transactions and investments. Foreign exchange is the most extensive liquid market globally, with trillions of currency being transacted daily.

The most-traded currencies in the global forex market are the U.S. dollar, the British pound, the Canadian dollar, the Euro, and the Japanese yen. However, the trading process is done virtually around the globe between multinational corporations, hedge funds, government institutions, mutual funds, and insurance firms. The transaction activities range from loans, long and short-term investments, import and export financings.

Spot Exchange Explained

Foreign exchange of a domestic currency with a foreign currency allows traders to easily transact a good or service in standard currency. The spot exchange rate is the cost incurred when a product is traded immediately on the spot.

Cash delivery after spot exchange transactions is normally settled within two business working days from the date of transaction. Forex markets are responsible for setting spot rates. However, some countries influence their currency markets through different strategies like a currency peg.

During the transaction process, the two parties involved agree on the transaction value of either currency, settlement date, or transfer of banking information where currency delivery is involved. Spot investments in the international markets involve huge financial transactions, and spot exchange transactions constitute 43% of the total forex transactions.

Spot Exchange Rates vs. Forward Rates

The spot rate is the cost of a commodity being transacted instantly on the spot. Similarly, the forward rate is the settlement of a transaction cost that will be cleared on a future date. For example, in bond markets, the forward rate is the predetermined yield realized from interest rates and bond maturities. The spot price refers to a quoted purchase price or sale of a currency, stock, or commodity for effective delivery and settlement on the spot date.

The cost of a commodity in bond markets is determined by its expected yield over a given time. If a trader purchases a bond that is closer to maturity, the bond’s forward rate will be greater than the interest rate.

For example, a trader buys a two-year-bond worth $1,000 with a 10% interest rate and one year due to maturity, the expected yield or forward rate will be 21% since the investor will receive $1,210 in one year. Generally, in currency markets, the forward rate refers to the future agreed exchange rate, while the spot rate represents the immediate exchange rate of an instrument.

Spot Market Rate

The forex spot market can become extremely volatile. In the long-term, rates are mostly influenced by interest rate variations and the economic impacts of financial market principles. During the short term, rates are frequently controlled by price fluctuations and speculative news.

However, in the event of market fluctuations, central banks may step in to regulate the market, either by adjusting interest rates or by buying or selling the local currency. Generally, economies with huge reserves of foreign currency are in a better position to influence their local currency market exchange rates.

How to Execute a Spot Exchange

Online trading systems deal with diversified foreign exchange and provide currency traders with an option of executing spot exchanges electronically.

The following are common methods used in executing spot foreign exchange transactions:

Direct Execution

A direct spot exchange execution is done between two traders without involving a third party. The investors may execute their trading via telephone communication or an electronic dealing system like the Reuters conversational system.

Electronic Broking Systems

The electronic broking platform provides two parties with efficient electronic trading executed via an automated order matching system reserved for foreign exchange traders. An example is the Reuters Matching 3000 system.

Electronic Trading System

Investors may get their trading executed through either a multibank dealing system or a single-bank trading platform. Such execution systems are computer software programs tailored to support the traders. They stream live market rates, which investors may use to trade and gain access to financial markets.

Inter-Dealer Voice Broker

Inter-dealer voice broker execution is done via telephone conversation with a foreign exchange broker. The broker acts as a financial intermediary whose work is to facilitate investment transactions between two currency dealers. Voice brokers may also execute trades in the interest of their institutional clients, such as insurance companies.

Related Readings

CFI offers the Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA)® certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and advance your career, the following resources will be helpful:

• Currency Risk
• Pound Sterling (GBP)
• Spot Market
• USD/CAD Currency Cross
• See all economics resources