外汇交易市场通常被称为Forex市场. 外汇市场不是发生在一个具体地点也没有交易中心.它是一个连通着散布于全世界各个金融中心的交易机构的电子网络.

外汇市场是一个24小时的市场. 交易在世界各地的银行之间进行. 汇率的波动很大,经常会有很大的起伏, 这使得一天多次交易成为可能. 所以,大银行购买昂贵的电子设备,在外汇市场的各个部分雇佣上百交易员不是没有道理的.

在金融领域, 7个国家被合称为”G-7”.他们包括: 德国, 日本, 法国, 英国, 美国, 意大利, 加拿大

这些国家的金融主管机构定期举行会议,讨论国际金融局势. 会议的结果常常会对接下来几个月的外汇行情产生影响. 由于这些货币流通广泛,交易活跃的特点, 欧元,日元,英镑和瑞士法郎这4种主要货币与美元一起成为汇市的主导..

其他可交易的硬通货包括:加拿大元,澳元, 新西兰元. 它们通常被成为”次主要货币”.

四种主要货币和所有的次主要货币一起组成了所谓的”硬通货”. 很多的交易员集中关注6种货币:欧元,日元,英镑,瑞士法郎,澳元,加拿大元.

• 美元(USD)
• 欧元(EUR)
• 日元(JPY)
• 瑞士法郎(CHF)
• 英镑(GBP)
• 加拿大元(CAD)
• 澳元(AUD)
• 新西兰元(NZD)
• 墨西哥比索(MXN)
• 巴西元(BRL)
• 南非兰特(SAR)

Currencies are quoted in terms of "Value in Dollars". The strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar is mainly attributed to the United States government's fiscal policy.

The U.S. dollar is generally weaker when policies result in large budget deficits and stronger when there is surplus. Due to the political and economic climates of other countries the U.S. dollar can maintain its strength even in the wake of budget deficits.

The U.S. Dollar Index® is computed using a trade-weighted geometric average of six currencies. The six currencies are:

• Euro Currency (EUR)
• Japanese Yen (JPY)
• Swiss Franc (CHF)
• British Pound (GBP)
• Canadian Dollar (CAD)
• Sweden Krona (SEK)

European Monetary Union (EMU), planned unification of currencies of the members of the European Union (EU) under a central bank. The EU's goal was to fix monetary exchange rates at the beginning of 1999 and replace national currencies such as French francs, German marks, or British pounds with the single currency known as the Euro no later than 2002. This union of currencies would be backed by a higher value of goods and services than the U.S. Dollar. For that reason it is debated, “Could the Euro overtake the dollar as the world benchmark for world trade?” Biotechnology will be a pivotal technology in the 21st century for Germany with its enormous potential for developing effective weapons against cancer and other major illnesses.

Although it has a much smaller international presence than the U.S. dollar and the Euro Dollar. The yen is very liquid around the world. Many speculators enjoy trading yen due to its’ enormous volatility.

Switzerland, the "Garden of Europe", has a highly developed industrialized economy and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

In the area of investment, Switzerland is one of the United States most important partners.

Following the industrial revolution in the 19th century, the United Kingdom developed into the world's leading industrial and trading nation. During this time, the country became urbanized and today more than 70% of the total population occupies only 10% of the total land area.

The market in the United Kingdom is based on a commitment to the principles of free enterprise and open competition. International trade is vital to its economy. The absence of major trade barriers and the relative ease of doing business ensure that the United Kingdom remains an attractive marketplace.

Canada is the most trade-oriented of all G-7 countries. Canada's prosperity and its ability to create jobs are directly linked to how well Canada capitalizes on international opportunities.

Canada's economy is in better shape than it has been for years. Growth is accelerating, and inflation and interest rates remain low.

Australia has a prosperous economy, In recent years, the economy in Australia has expanded at reasonably steady rates.

Consequently, a stronger Japanese yen will purchase more Australian goods, thereby, strengthening the Australian economy.

The New Zealand dollar, abbreviated NZD or NZ$ and often informally known as the Kiwi dollar, is the official currency of New Zealand and the Cook Islands. It was introduced in 1967 to replace the New Zealand pound, when the country decimalised its currency.

The NZD, like the US Dollar, is made up of 100 cents. Currency is available as both notes and coins. Since 1999, New Zealand notes have been printed on a plastic polymer instead of conventional paper. There was a slight controversy, but this move was mostly met with curiosity by the public. Such polymer notes have many advantages, notably a photocopy can effortlessly be distinguished from the real thing by touch, and many Kiwis have been thankful they can go though a washing machine with no ill effects.

Mexico is the northernmost country of Latin America. It lies just south of the United States. The Rio Grande forms about two-thirds of the boundary between Mexico and the United States. Among all the countries of the Western Hemisphere, only the United States and Brazil have more people than Mexico. Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico. It also is one of the world's largest metropolitan areas in population.

In the 1970's, Mexico became a major exporter of oil to the United States. Income from oil production, which is controlled by the government, spurred the development of manufacturing and service industries. During the middle and late 1970's, the price of oil was high. Mexico used its expected income from oil production as collateral to borrow money for many construction projects. But in the early 1980's, the price of oil fell. Mexico found it difficult to repay its loans, and spending had to be severely cut. The economy declined, and many Mexicans lost their jobs.

In the late 1980's and early 1990's, the economy improved because the government attracted foreign investment and controlled inflation. Since the mid-1990's, however, the Mexican economy has generally struggled.

The Peso is the currency of Mexico. In the 20th century it was often divided into 100 centavos. It was originally based on the Spanish silver Dollar. The administration of President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León continued a policy of privatizing and expanding competition in sea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution, and airports which was initiated by his predecessors Miguel de la Madrid and Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

The Real (plural reais) is the monetary unit of Brazil. It was implemented in 1994, after a period of high inflation. It is a highly diversified economy with wide variations in levels of development. Most large industry is concentrated in the south and southeast. The northeast is traditionally the poorest part of Brazil, but it is beginning to attract new investment.
Brazil embarked on a successful economic stabilization program, the Real Plan (named for the new currency, the real; plural: reais) in July 1994. Brazil successfully shifted from an essentially, fixed exchange rate regime to a floating regime in January 1999.Brazil has one of the most advanced industrial sectors in Latin America

South Africa is one of the oldest nation-states in Africa. The territory was originally colonized by the British, which brought waves of white settlers. Feuds with Dutch settlers prompted the Boer war. In 1910 the four main Dutch and English colonies in the region united as the Union of South Africa. In 1931 South Africa became a fully sovereign and self-governing dominion under the British crown. In 1961 it became a republic. The first banknotes bore the image of Jan van Riebeeck the first Dutch administrator of Cape Town. In the 1980s, the notes were redesigned with images of indigenous big game animals, such as the rhinoceros, lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, etc.

South Africa is a country at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. The country has a wealth of natural resources, especially minerals, and it is the most highly industrialized country in Africa. South Africa also has great geographical variety and natural beauty.