Voice of International Business

Foreign exchange (forex) options are powerful financial instruments that provide traders and investors with the flexibility to manage currency exposure, hedge risks, and speculate on currency movements. In this article, we'll delve into the world of forex options, exploring what they are, how they work, and their benefits and risks. Understanding Forex Options Forex options are derivative contracts that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specific currency pair at a predetermined exchange rate (the strike price) on or before the expiration date. These options are traded over-the-counter (OTC) or on organized exchanges such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). There are two types of forex options: call options and put options. A call option gives the holder the right to buy the underlying currency pair, while a put option gives the holder the right to sell the underlying currency pair. Traders and investors...

The Ukraine-Russia War has shaken the entire world-economy heavily. Business strategies of different countries of the world have changed with the emergence of this war since February 2022. Economic power houses like USA and European Union imposed various sanctions on transactions with Russia. Therefore, this war created volatility in the prices of foreign currencies.   Business organizations as well as the general people have become the victim of this fluctuation in the foreign-exchange market. Smart business organizations around the world are using different derivative products of the foreign exchange market. Hedging is one of the most powerful tools in this derivative group. Here we will discuss about how you can hedge a foreign exchange risk involved for import in US Dollar during the present scenario of Ukraine-Russia war.   What is Hedging Hedging is the activity of minimizing the risk of financial losses by using different financial instruments/ derivatives. ...

  For many grounds you may want to be sure about, is shipment made as per declaration. As a stakeholder in an international import-export trade transaction, it is a typical curiosity. Now the question is how you can be sure without being present on the spot? In this part of writing, we'll discuss what may be the reasons you'll want to know about it. Then we'll discuss the procedures to be confirmed that the exporter has shipped as per their declaration, examining different documents. This article is intended for exporters, importers, bankers, and other professionals dealing with import-export trade. Though we've discussed the export-import documentation in Bangladesh, the procedure is almost identical for other countries. Stakeholders in an International Import-Export Trade Transaction Usual stakeholders in an international import-export trade transaction are importers, exporters, and bankers. Moreover, persons directly operating the transactions on behalf of th...

  Verifying and Tracking a Bill of Lading has become more important in international trade transactions than ever. All trade finance professionals are very much concerned about money laundering and terrorist financing. Moreover, local, regional and international trade sanctions are another vital issue to deal with. You might be thinking, how verification of B/L or BoL can help in those issues!   Bill of Lading at a Glance A Bill of Lading, sometimes called B/L and BoL, is essential for international trade. The Carrier of goods or shipping lines issues a Bill of Lading to the Shipper of the goods. A Bill of Lading looks like below: Usual Concern Regarding a Shipment in Trade Transaction In the normal course of business, an exporter-seller ships goods to the buyer as per the contract or LC. Then they send documents for collection. Then the buyer pays or accepts to pay and takes documents to release goods. In some cases, the buyer pays in advance, receives documents...

Are you a newbie in the area of Foreign Exchange and International Trade Finance? If you are, this is a perfect place to start your lessons.    Many newbies have repeatedly searched for study materials on this topic, Foreign Exchange for Beginners. They never found a complete guideline. This section of my blog aimed to help them in this regard. In addition, this write-up will guide you through learning operational procedures in banking and international business.  Let us start with some ABCs of Foreign Exchange & International Trade. We will discuss some terms used in this track and their definitions. You will know what documents are required for what purpose. You will also find samples, examples, and references.  It will help students, bankers, and those who are involved in Trade Finance. Then, this blog will try to continue with the readers' interest.   What is Foreign Exchange? Before we reach a final definition, we must know the word Foreign Exchange. Th...