forex

The global decentralised market for trading national currencies — the largest and most liquid financial market in the world, with daily trading volume exceeding $7 trillion.

• foreignexchange (full form)

• forex market
• forex trading
• forex rates
• forex trader
• forex volatility
• forex reserves

1. 1.The forex market operates 24 hours a day across time zones — when London closes, New York is open; when New York closes, Tokyo opens. (global market structure)
2. 2.Central banks intervene in forex markets to stabilise their currencies — selling reserves to support a falling currency or buying foreign currency to prevent their own from appreciating too much. (monetary policy tool)

• foreign exchange /FX/ (full form)
• currency market (market for trading currencies)

portmanteau of "foreign exchange" — "foreign" from Latin "foranus" (outside) + "exchange" from Latin "excambiare" (to trade) — trading the money of outsiders