Forex resources

Government Websites for Foreign Trade

U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Highlights - Shows the latest information for the trade balance of the United States, including a graph of imports and exports over the past year.

http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/ - Look under Exchange Rates and International Data for historical foreign exchange rates by the day, week, month, and year. Also includes other statistics for United States economic activity.

Bureau of Economic Analysis - Provides the latest statistics on the balance of payments for the United States and other economic activity, including regional statistics.

National Futures Association (NFA), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTA)

Retail Off-Exchange Foreign Currency (Forex)

This is the main page for forex compliance by the National Futures Association (NFA).

Forex Transactions- A Regulatory Guide in PDF format (73 pages)

Foreign currency (Forex) fraud

Beware of Foreign Currency Exchange Frauds - CFTC.gov

Useful Websites for Foreign Exchange

The Big Mac Index

In most cases, it is difficult to determine purchasing power parity (PPP) around the world. Nonetheless, the Economist.com has compiled a Big Mac Index, which shows the prices of Big Macs at McDonalds located throughout the world, and shows, according to this index, how much a currency is overvalued or undervalued compared to the USD. This is just a rough measure, of course, since some costs, like rent and labor, cannot traded and equalized easily. It also ignores capital flows across borders, which is a much bigger determinant of currency exchange rates, especially within a short time period.

Market Overview: Foreign Exchange Rates/Currencies, Key Cross Rates and Currency Converter - MarketWatch

Current foreign exchange rates for the world's major currencies. Includes key cross rates, a currency converter, and news about the currency markets. Provides cross rates for the U.S. dollar (USD), the United Kingdom pound (GBP), the Euro (EUR), and the Japanese Yen (JPY). Also has basic, advanced, and interactive charts that displays the exchange rates over time.

Global Financial Holidays

Goodbusinessday®.com is a continuously updated source of information on holidays and observances affecting global financial markets—bank holidays, public holidays, currency non-clearing days and trading and settlement holidays affecting exchanges. Data is organized by country, city, currency and exchange. Interactive calendars and one-click search facilities provide the information you need in an instant.

Forex Blog

The World Clock - Time Zone Difference by Country - Currency rates are often up during the work hours of the country issuing the currency. This site lists the time zone differences of every country from New York, USA.

Forex Education

All About...The Foreign Exchange Market in the United States - Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Course Readings for Educators - Federal Reserve Bank of New York

The Research and Statistics Group produces three publications—Current Issues in Economics and Finance, the Economic Policy Review, and Staff Reports—that are useful tools for teaching. Articles in these series, assigned as course readings, can help students understand complex economic and financial market issues. Also of value to educators are the Group's conference volumes, which offer multiple perspectives on a topic of current interest.

Forex Forums

Forex Trading: Forex Currency Trading Tools & Forex Forum

Founded in 1996, Global-View's forex (currency) trading forums are geared to providing 24 hour a day support to foreign exchange traders of all levels of experience. Its goal is to encourage fx trading ideas while acting as a clearinghouse of information on the forex market. In addition to the world renowned forex forum, Global-View has added futures, political, and help forums for the currency trader over the years. Global-View also offers a wide range of foreign exchange trading tools, including live forex rates, live forex news, forex analysis and forex trading signals services. Access to all forums is free, registration is required.

MoneyTec Traders Community Forum

MoneyTec Traders community is an online trader’s forum discussion group that promotes a mature, intelligent & respectful discussion in a positive & safe environment for everyone. A resource to help traders become better traders were you’re “invited” to meet fellow traders from around the world, discuss trading ideas, share, learn and build new trading techniques and strategies.

Preventing Fraud

Some investors are losing money by sending money to fraudulent companies promising them riches by trading currencies, or by offering employment to solicit others in the scam. These investors are most often contacted by phone in boiler room operations, or by targeting specific ethnic groups. The best way to prevent fraud is don't respond to telephone solicitations, or to friends, who may have been defrauded themselves. Seek out and research any companies yourself with the help of these resources:

The CFTC warns consumers of sales solicitations appearing in newspapers, radio or television promotions, or attractive Internet websites, touting high-return, low-risk investment opportunities in foreign currency trading, and of highly paid currency-trading employment opportunities. Check out their enforcement site for more information.
Call the National Futures Association at (800) 676-4NFA or use their Background Affiliation Status Information Center (BASIC) to find out about Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registrations, NFA membership information, and futures-related regulatory and non-regulatory actions contributed by NFA, the CFTC and the U.S. futures exchanges.
You can also check the the Attorney General's consumer protection bureau at www.naag.org, or find more help from your state at http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_state_resources.shtml.