How to calculate exchange rates
If you’ve ever sent money overseas, you know how important it is to understand a country’s local currency and how it relates to the money you have. This is the idea behind how to calculate exchange rates and understand foreign currencies.
“Exchange rate” refers to how much of one currency you can trade for a different currency. For example, you could trade about 1 USD for 0.83 EUR. Or in other words, 1 EUR is equal to about 1.21 USD.
How are exchange rates determined?
Exchange rates are determined by foreign exchange trading (forex trading). Forex trading is an international market for buying and selling currencies, and it’s about 25 times larger than all the world’s stock markets.
Forex trading includes small transactions, like when you travel internationally and trade your currency for the local currency. It also includes large transactions, like when a business secures an exchange rate for the future. Forex trading happens all day, every day, and that’s why the exchange rate is always changing for most currencies.
These trades impact exchange rates because there is more money circulating in different economies. Since about 88% of the world trade is in US dollars, most exchange rate calculations are compared to this currency.
What are the different types of exchange rates?
There are two different types of exchange rates to be aware of around the world: flexible and fixed exchange rates:
Flexible exchange rates
Flexible exchange rates, which are used by many developed countries, depend on a country’s current supply and demand, and “self-correct” based on changes in the economy. With a flexible exchange rate, if the demand for a currency is low, its value will decrease. This makes imported goods more expensive and can stimulate the economy as consumers turn to local goods and services, generating jobs that contribute to a market correction. Since this cycle happens often, a flexible exchange rate is always changing.
When a country has a flexible exchange rate, this also means that the government or central bank doesn’t actively work to keep the exchange rate fixed or regulated. Instead, the forex market influences the exchange rate. For example, as of February 2021, the exchange rate was 1 USD to 0.83 EUR, but at the end of March 2020, it was about 1 USD to 0.91 EUR.
Fixed exchange rates
Fixed exchange rates are set and maintained by a country’s government, resulting in an official exchange rate. This set price is usually determined against a major international currency, like the US dollar.
For a fixed exchange rate to work, the central bank buys and sells currency on the forex market in return for the currency it’s compared against. For example, if a country fixes its exchange rate equal to 2 USD, they then supply itself with enough US dollars to supply the market with that exchange rate. These reserves are called foreign reserves and help regulate market fluctuations, inflation, and deflation, and as a result, the country’s exchange rate.
As of February 2021, countries with a fixed exchange rate include Saudi Arabia, Belize, Cuba, Hong Kong, Panama, United Arab Emirates, and a few others.
What causes exchange rates to change?
One of the most common questions about exchange rates is “Why do exchange rates change so frequently?” This is because they depend on several factors, such as interest rates, money supply, and financial stability:
Interest rates
Interest rates, inflation, and exchange rates are closely related because they directly influence each other. When financial institutions change the interest rate, this impacts currency values. Higher interest rates mean that lenders receive a higher return compared to other economies, which then motivates them to spend more money in that country. This leads to an influx in foreign capital, which causes the exchange rate to increase.
Decreasing interest rates have the opposite effect. As interest rates go down, so do exchange rates. In short, higher interest rates make a country’s currency more valuable, which drives investors to exchange their local currency for the higher-paying one.
Money supply
Money supply, or how much cash a country has on hand, influences both inflation and exchange rates. This is the money that the country’s central bank creates. If there is too much money in circulation, this causes inflation. This also means that the country’s currency isn’t worth as much because there is more of it.
When that currency is exchanged internationally, it’s not worth as much because there’s an excess, resulting in a decreasing exchange rate. This is what economists mean when they talk about how “strong” a currency is.
Financial stability
The country’s economic health plays a role in determining its exchange rate. If a country has a strong economy, people will buy its goods and services. This results in more international currency being injected into the local economy. On the flip side, things like financial instability or political turmoil can make international investors nervous and they may move their capital to more stable countries.
How often do exchange rates change?
Exchange rates aren’t set in stone and can change on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Since a country’s interest rates, money supply, and financial stability can fluctuate at any moment, the exchange rate can vary greatly. If you’re sending money abroad, it’s important to always check the country’s exchange rate first.
How to read an exchange rate
Currency conversion calculations are presented in pairs, which means that one currency is quoted against the other. For example, a 1 USD/CAD exchange rate means that 1 USD is equal to about 1.26 CAD. Usually, exchange rates are presented as a number, like 1.26, as in the case of the USD/CAD example.
How to calculate exchange rates
Currency conversion calculations can be tricky at first, but it really only requires a simple calculation. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to calculate exchange rates:
- Know the country’s exchange rate. You can find this information online or on the Western Union app. If you’re traveling, the exchange rates are usually posted at places like banks, airports, or currency exchange shops.
- If you know the exchange rate, divide your current currency by the exchange rate. For example, suppose that the USD/EUR exchange rate is 0.631 and you’d like to convert 100 USD into EUR. To accomplish this, simply multiply the 100 by 0.631 and the result is the number of EUR that you will receive: 63.10 EUR. Converting EUR to USD involves reversing that process. Using the same example, if you took your 63.10 EUR and multiplied it by 0.631, you end up with the 100 USD you started with.
- If you don’t know the exchange rate, you can use the following currency conversion calculation to find it:
Starting Amount (Original Currency) / Ending Amount (New Currency) = Exchange Rate
For example, if you exchange 100 USD for 80 EUR, the exchange rate would be 1.25.
How much does it cost to send money abroad with Western Union?
It’s important to understand exchange rates, especially if you’re sending or receiving money from overseas, in addition to knowing how much your money transfer method will cost you. This gives you an idea of how much money will be received on the other end after the exchange rate and fees are applied.
Unfortunately, some money transfer services aren’t always transparent when it comes to fees, and you may feel unsure about sending money. Thankfully, with Western Union, there’s no mystery and you can easily get an estimate for the cost of your money transfer. When you start sending money, fill out the applicable fields to get an estimate before you complete your transfer.
