Currency Rates

Currency Exchange and Currency transfers for your Property Purchase Abroad.

The Foreign Currency Exchange market is the world’s largest financial market, in excess of 1.5 trillion US dollars are being exchanged daily.

The process of Foreign currency exchange transfers couldn’t be easier. and as most services – money transfer is a free service with our Foreign Exchange partner.

However, be aware that some companies make charges for transfering money abroad.

Here is a simple 3 step guide:

Step 1. Open an account

Complete an application form and ensure you have usually two forms of ID: (1) photographic (2) proof of residence.

Step 2. Buy your currency

Speak to a currency dealer and they will give you the current market rate. If you are happy with the quotation they will buy the currency on your behalf. This trade is usually confirmed in writing by way of a deal receipt and usually provides instructions on how, when, and where to make payment for your currency.

Step 3. Get your currency

Once cleared funds are received by your dealer, they will promptly transfer your exchanged currency to any bank account of your choice, worldwide, the same day.

Other than just choosing any particular day to exchange your money, you could choose other dates to make the currency exchange. It may be that you have decided to buy a new property that won’t need the final balance to be paid until 18 month’s time. In this case, it may suit you to do a ’spot deal’ today for the deposit and arrange for a ‘forward deal’ for the final balance. By doing this, you will have just ‘fixed’ the purchase price to your home currency and will have ensured that you don’t get caught out by a weakening home currency, or a strengthening one in the country of your purchase. This can save people thousands.

Here are 4 basic types of transaction:

• Spot Contract
A spot contract is undertaken when you buy currency at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction and make payment within two working days. This transaction is typically used for deposit payments on property or for full payment if the funds to pay for the transaction are available.

• Forward Currency Contracts
A forward contract is undertaken when you fix the exchange rate now for a specific date from one to 24 months in the future. As an example, your final payment for a home abroad may be the equivalent of £100,000. You could fix that exchange rate today with a small deposit, and pay for the bulk of that transaction at the completion of the forward contract. To guarantee the exchange rate, private clients will have to pay for at least 10% of the value straight away (a margin deposit) and the balance on or before the maturity of the contract.

• Time-Option Forward Contracts
You may also reserve a time-option forward contract. This contract allows greater flexibility in paying. For example, a property developer may give you a date of December 2008 as an approximate completion date but may tell you it could take a bit longer. Your dealer may recommend that you set a date for your forward contract of February 2009 and you are free to settle that contract anytime before the maturity date with no penalty.

• Limit Order
Limit Orders allow a client to set the rate at that which they would like to exchange their currency. Our foreign Exchange partner will monitor the market for you and if the rate can be achieved, we will purchase the currency on your behalf. We would then notify you of the due date for your payment. This is particularly important for contracts of substantial value where a small currency fluctuation may have huge implications.
Getting Started

If you would like further information please call our Private Client Desk on 01480 458400. You may also register online with us. We will contact you to activate your account. In order to complete the registration process, we require two forms of identification. Please also provide us with a copy of your passport or driving licence and a utility bill, council tax bill or landline telephone bill with your address.

The value of your foreign currency can be fixed for a given period ahead. If you don’t wish to transfer your money now, you can book the rate of exchange now, for a date ahead.

To discuss how best to make a currency exchange into euros at the best rate, talk to a foreign currency exchange specialist. visit fx-foreignexchange,

Global Currency Exchange Rates Today

• Global Currency Exchange Network, bring you daily currency exchange rates. For currency conversion, and money transfers, go to our website to create a free money transfer account 

• Here is a sample of the global currency exchange rates from this morning. If you would like to be kept informed of any particular currency exchange rate, just let us know in the form below this table. We trade commercial amounts and commercial rates

  GLOBAL CURRENCY EXCHANGE NETWORK – gbp,aed.pln,usd,brl,cad,aud,eur

Base Currency is the GBP, British Pound:

Currency	Code	GBP/1 Unit	Units/1 GBP
UAE dhm. Dirham	AED	0.1518	6.5936
Australian Dollar	AUD	0.4595	2.1801
Brazilian Real	BRL	0.3127	3.2093
Canadian Dollar	CAD	0.5261	1.9035
Egyptian Pound	EGP	0.1034	9.8009
Euro	EUR	0.7936	1.2617
Japanese Yen	JPY	0.005167	193.754
Polish Zloty	PLN	0.2368	4.2378
US Dollar	USD	0.5575	1.7946

n.b. These are just indication rates as of 8.30am on Sunday 14th September

The Dirham, Dubai and Abu Dhabi

One property market that doesn’t seem to have run out of steam is Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Dubai has opened it’s arms to property investors and now, it appears that Abu Dhabi is quietly doing the same.

Buildings are being constructed at an alarming rate, ever skyward, along with the prices. Tales are told of some properties being sold on 12 times before the property has even been handed over by the builder! With a property market like this, it’s easy to fall prey to the silver-tongued salesman with promises of vast profits in weeks.

The truth is, it really is happening. I spoke to one of my colleagues the other day who is noted for her conservative approach to parting with her own hard-earned money, and she has even bought a property on the hope of selling it before completion.

However, she does have an advantage. She can buy her Dirhams, or AED as we know it, just when the rate against the pound and the Euro suits her. She waits until the rate peaks between the pound and the Dirham, then buys as many Dirhams as she can. Over time, she has made the difference of 5%. In real terms, this means her property will be 5% cheaper than it may have been if she traded at the lower exchange rate.

If you are considering buying abroad, it is advisable to have a chat with a professional currency broker to see which methods of buying foreign currency will suit you best. The advice will cost nothing, but may save you thousands as it has for my colleague.