
Throughout history, currency has taken many different forms. Before this, it is assumed that bartering, which is the exchange of goods and services without the use of money, was likely used. What is Currency?Ĭurrency is a universal medium of exchange for goods and services in an economy, and it is believed to have been used as such dating back at least 3,000 years. The USD in a currency pair with any of the others is known as a major currency pair. dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), Japanese yen (JPY), British pound (GBP), Australian dollar (AUD), Canadian dollar (CAD), and the Swiss franc (CHF). Major Currencies-This refers to a short list of the most traded currencies, which generally stay the same year-to-year. Interbank (bank-to-bank) Rate-This is the wholesale exchange rate that banks use between themselves. The first currency in a currency pair is called the base currency, while the second is called the quote currency. A pip is sometimes called a point.Ĭurrency Pair-A quote of the relative value of one currency unit against another currency unit. For example, 3 pips are the difference between the currency quote of EUR/USD 1.2800/1.2803. Pip-A pip is the smallest unit of value in a bid-ask spread. Some call this profit a fee or commission. As financial middlemen, most will set exchange rates of their own at bid-ask spreads that return a percentage as profit for doing business. Real-world currency exchanges with brokers, banks, or businesses typically do not follow precise market rates. Theoretically, buyers want the smallest possible spreads, while sellers want the highest spreads. The forex is able to facilitate the receipt or payment of units of currency that are equal in value.īid Price-The price that a buyer is willing to pay for a unit of currency.Īsk Price-The price that a seller is willing to accept for a unit of currency.īid-Ask Spread-The difference between the bid and ask price. This market is a necessity because one unit of currency very rarely equals exactly one unit of another currency. Another is on 1 Areos Street, Monastiraki Square (+ 657).Below is a short list of some of the important terms pertinent to foreign currency exchange.Įxchange Rate-The value of one currency expressed in terms of another.įorex-The foreign exchange market (forex) is a global, decentralized, over-the-counter market for the trading of currencies and is the largest market in the world (followed by the credit market). Where Are Eurochange Shops In Athens Where A Traveler Can Change Currency? One is on Karagiorgi Servias Str. Related: Athens, Greece: Your Essential Weekend Itinerary And if one must use an ATM, perhaps for an emergency, it’s better to choose the option of being charged fees in the local currency-and not the home currency. However, while these places might be convenient, they’re also a tad costlier.

Of course, one can exchange currency at the airport or even at the hotel. These include Eurochange, Intel Express, or Kapachange. For exchanging currency, currency exchange shops offer some of the best rates. So this is also something to keep in mind.

Typically, the exchange rates travelers get are slightly less favorable than the real exchange rates listed on several online sites.

Those who’re planning a trip should consistently check out the daily movements.
