Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The New World Currency

Do you ever consider the possibility that the money you work so hard for could be gone from your pocketbook in the next few years? Quicker then you might think, currency as we know it, is changing. Necessity for efficiency is transforming the flow of cash into a digital form. The use of e-currency is quickly spreading throughout the world. Everyday, more and more people are making purchases online. These purchases are being facilitated by companies like Paypal, E-Bullion, E-Gold and Net Pay. The digital age is definitely upon us, and with the new forms of commerce, comes new forms of opportunity. With the advent of these E-currency companies, trade between different countries is suddenly becoming easier and more profitable. New products and services are quickly filling the need for the flow of money. The one constant still remaining is the ever present, currency exchange rates. To avoid these fluctuations and exchange fees, companies have facilitated their transactions with the global currency of gold. Some online e-currency companies now tout that their holdings are 100% backed by gold. This no longer is true for any of the national currencies now in existence. The United States for example, has not had 100% of their currency backed by gold, since the end of the gold standard in 1914. The value of the U.S dollar continues to decline, as the value of gold rises steadily. Due to national inflation, the cash you hold in your hand will continue to lose value. Unfortunately, there is not nearly enough gold to cover all of the paper money holdings. That money you hold in your hand is basically a loan from the government. The tenet of many governments, when they fall on hard times, is to print more money. This fact has led to the desire for more worldwide corporations to embrace the idea of a worldwide currency.

By Matthew Sherborne

Monday, April 23, 2007

CurrencyExchange Basics




Currency Exchange Basics:-If you are planning to travel abroad in the near future, you will probably need some local currency. That is where a currency exchange service comes in. Currency exchange is when you trade currency from one country to the equivalent monetary value in the currency of another country.
A currency exchange service will take your dollars and give you the equivalent value in Euros for example. The value of each currency is governed by what is refered to as the currency exchange rate (or simply the exchange rate). The currency exchange service will take a small fee for making the transaction and this is normally a percentage of the amount you are exchanging.
Finding a Currency ExchangeMost banks and even hotels will provide a currency exchange service for you. Sometimes this is a convenient way to obtain the local currency. Recently, it has become possible to exchange currency online using a number of different currency exchange service websites. Normally, the online rates are more up to date and they tend to change a lower overall fee for the transaction.
If you know how much currency you will need for your trip, making the trade online might be the right approach for you. If you do decide to exchange your currency beforehand, make certain you understand the risks associated with changes in the exchange rate. If the currency you are trading is volatile relative to your local currency, it is possible to lose money in the transaction and the values of the currencies fluctuate.
Typically, experts do recommend that you avoid exchanging currencies at airports or near popular tourist destinations. Compared to banks or hotels, currency exchange are these services main and only business, and as a result they typically will charge a higher fee to exchange currencies. If you need some quick cash, this might not be a big problem, but for anything over a few hundred dollars you will be much better of using a bank or an online currency exchange service to make sure you receive a fair and reasonable exchange rate.