Economies

Monetary policy is made up of the decisions and actions taken by a central bank to achieve its goals, which are typically to promote economic growth, create jobs and lower interest rates and inflation.

The money supply is the amount of currency available to consumers and businesses to make payments, in addition to the money held in checking and savings accounts. It is also made up of different components.

In this FXCM Insights article, learn more about the Federal Open Market Committee—the 12-member organisation that serves as the policymaking unit of the U.S. Federal reserve.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a statistic derived and used around the globe to identify prevailing inflationary or deflationary pressures. It is calculated by averaging the prices of a basket of select goods and services commonly consumed by households.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a private, not-for-profit agency authorised by the U.S. Congress to protect American investors from fraud and wrong-doing by securities brokers. It's not part of the U.S. government but is overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is part of the government. FINRA regulates U.S. brokerage firms by enforcing its own rules as well as federal securities laws and those of the Municipal…

Probably no other American president has expressed so much public displeasure with his own choice to head the U.S. Federal Reserve as has Donald Trump with Jerome Powell. It actually reached the point that much speculation has arisen as to whether or not he can fire the Fed chair if he wishes. The quick answer seems to be no, but there may be some highly political and difficult means for…

Since its creation in 1973 by the Fed, the trade-weighted U.S. dollar index has been used to track the dollar's value against the currencies of major American trading partners.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government. It regulates the futures, options, derivatives and swaps markets. Learn more about how the CFTC functions at FXCM.

There is an important difference between "on-the-run" and "off-the-run" securities that goes beyond distinguishing between newer and older issues. Learn more about these securities at FXCM Insights.

Ralph Nelson Elliott developed Wave Theory in the early 20th century through a study of stock data sets. Elliott Wave Theory alludes to price being fractal waves, each a product of investor psychology.

The evolution of the financial markets has created an assortment of new questions and challenges for participants. While the core business of an active trader is to buy and sell securities, in recent years the issue of systemic risk has come to the forefront. Whether in the trade of currencies, futures or equities, dramatic volatilities often appear out of nowhere. In the world's capital markets, volatility plays an ever-present role…