During times of extreme pricing volatility or market panic, the term "circuit breaker" is frequently used by traders, brokers and the financial media. Amid extraordinary events such as viral outbreaks or terrorist attacks, these devices are designed to prevent full-blown market crashes. Circuit Breaker Defined In the physical world, a circuit breaker is a safety mechanism used to cut the flow of electricity through a closed path. When engaged, electrical…

The relative values of international currencies play a key role in global finance. Three areas that are particularly sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations are intercountry trade, pricing stability and regional economic growth. In practice, governments and central banking authorities implement a collection of unique mechanisms to promote the stability of their domestic money. Central banks frequently employ devices such as interest rate adjustments, debt purchases and pegs to manage exchange…

Monetary Policy Versus Fiscal Policy Governments have two main ways to influence their economies: Monetary policy is the actions taken by a country's central bank to regulate interest rates, control the supply of money and the amount of funds banks must hold rather than lend to their customers. Fiscal policy is the spending and taxation policies of the government that can influence how much money businesses and consumers have to…

Conventional wisdom suggests that prosperity and currency appreciation are good for the welfare of a nation. However, if domestic wealth increases too quickly, a phenomenon known as Dutch disease may prove detrimental to the long-term economic health of an afflicted country. What Is Dutch Disease? Dutch disease is a financial expression used to describe the negative influence that a sudden appreciation of a nation's wealth and domestic currency can have…

What Are The Basel Accords? The Basel Accords are a set of standards created by the Basel Committee to establish uniform banking regulation among the world's financial systems. The Basel Committee was originally called the Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices, and it was headquartered at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland. It was created in 1974 by the central bank governors of the Group of Ten…

What Is The Bank For International Settlements? The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), also known as "the bank for central banks," defines its mission as being an "international organisation that serves central banks and other financial authorities across the globe to build a greater collective understanding of the world economy, fosters international cooperation among them and supports them in the pursuit of global monetary and financial stability." Based in Basel,…

Influencing interest rates is one of the most important things central banks do, because interest rates have a profound effect on economic growth, job creation and inflation. But how does it happen? Learn more in this FXCM Insights article.

What Is A Central Bank? A central bank manages a nation's currency, money supply and interest rates and acts as a lender of last resort to the country's banks. Many are also responsible for regulating and supervising their country's banks. Many are set up to be independent from their government, although their directors are usually appointed by that country's chief executive or leader of government. Most countries have their own…

At FXCM Insights, learn more about the yield curve, what it measures, and why it has been considered an effective indicator of recession.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an institution providing guidance and financing to member nations in an attempt to promote global currency and financial stability. It has been a constant staple of global finance since its 1944 inception at Bretton Woods.

Quantitative tightening is the reverse process of quantitative easing, and it has many investors worried about what it may do to the value of certain assets. Learn more about QT at FXCM.