Currency exchange rates explained

Exchange rates are influenced by banks and trading institutions and the volume of currency they are buying and selling at any given time. Currencies are traded (bought and sold) daily around the world.

One currency can be purchased by another currency through banking institutions or on the open market. The volumes of currencies traded are increased and decreased depending on the attractiveness of any particular currency, which depends on a multitude of factors such as political stability, economic strength, government debt and fiscal policy among others.

Government central banks also have the ability to set a currency at a constant price through a method called pegging, which essentially tethers the value of one currency to another. The value (or price) of a currency is determined by its traded volume. If a currency is competitively priced, traders will buy the currency, essentially driving up its value. If a currency is not competitively priced, traders may avoid buying, or even sell it, essentially driving down its value.

Exchange rates fluctuate due to one major factor: global demand and supply. The more in-demand a particular currency is, the more its value will increase. Factors that affect demand and supply of currency include governments and businesses trading internationally, countries’ political and economic stability, travel and tourism, trading of currencies on the stock market and even natural disasters.

Exchange rates are also influenced by countries’ rules and actions that govern their currency, known as their fiscal policy. Interest rates play a large role in exchange rate fluctuation. Favourable interest rate movements will drive demand for a particular currency – driving up its value.

Why do currency exchange rates fluctuate?

Currencies constantly move up and down against each other as financial markets change. These movements can be caused by supply and demand, as well as by political and economic events.

Why are tourist money exchange rates not the same as the market spot rate?

The market (or spot) exchange rate, is the rate at which banks exchange currencies. There are a lot of processes and people involved in providing currency into your hands. There is a cost to doing this, which means that the value of the currency is affected to cover all of said cost.

At Travelex, we work to provide you with the best value on your foreign currency as possible. We are constantly striving to improve our systems and processes to make them more efficient, meaning that you get the best value for your travel money exchange rates from us.

Does it pay to shop around and compare rates?

There are a lot of foreign currency providers in Oman, offering you a range of products and services. With so much choice, it means that you can spend time to find the best exchange rate in the market. However, there is usually very little difference; it can be just a matter of Rials.