Forward Trades
Forward trades – buy or sell foreign currency now, pay later
✔ Currency exchange available in the majority of freely tradable currencies
✔ Set the exchange rate now; settle the currency trade up to 12 months in the future
✔ Protect against moving exchange rates during your chosen time frame
✔ Ideal for sending money abroad
✔ Easy and low cost way to help manage exchange rate fluctuations
✔ Money transfer services delivered professionally
Plan now for future currency exchange and protect your international payments
How can you use a Forward trade?
Forward trades are an ideal tool for currency exchange. These types of trade differentiate from Spot currency trades and regular money trades.
A Forward trade is a ‘buy now, pay later’ type of trade and is the most effective way of managing the risk of ever-moving exchange rates, giving you the ability to plan and budget for your overseas payments.
A Forward trade is useful if you are buying an overseas property, for example, and need to pay different amounts on fixed instalment dates. By setting the exchange rate in advance, you can guarantee the amount you will need to pay each time and budget more effectively, protecting the trades against currency risk.
Example: Buying a property abroad
Exchange rates fluctuate all the time. The rate you get when you first agree to buy a property internationally will be different from the rate you get when you pay your deposit. It’ll be a different price again when you sign the final deeds of sale and – if you’re buying off-plan – each time you make a scheduled payment during construction.
In the current political climate, any currency movements can be considerable. When it comes to buying property overseas, the difference these exchange rate fluctuations make can add up to thousands of Pounds.
A Forward trade lets you set the exchange rate when it is favourable, at a time that suits you in the property purchase process, so the price of your property will not change by the time you come to pay for it; and any investment is protected.
Price of a €975,000 four-bedroom
French apartment in Sterling
April 19 2017
£1 = €1.195
£815,900
Price difference
£1 = €1.195
£815,900
Price difference
April 19 2017
£1 = €1.195
£815,900
Price difference
£1 = €1.195
£815,900
Price difference
April 19 2017
£1 = €1.195
£815,900
Price difference
£1 = €1.195
£815,900
Price difference
How Forward trades work
To make a Forward trade, you agree to exchange a specific amount of one currency for another at a fixed exchange rate, then settle that trade on a date you have chosen, which can be up to 12 months in the future.
- You set the amount of currency required, the exchange rate and settlement date on the day that you agree the trade, avoiding the exchange rate risk during that time. You simply pay a small deposit to secure the exchange rate, and then no payment is required until the agreed settlement date for the trade.
- Currency trades can be booked against the vast majority of freely tradable currencies and not just against Pounds Sterling.
- In practice, the ability to set an exchange rate in advance in this way guarantees the amount of currency that you will need to pay for or receive in exchange for a given amount of foreign currency, regardless of what happens to exchange rates between the date you agree the transaction and the settlement date.
- You can also make multiple payments from the initial lump sum and set the length of the Forward trade for a time that suits your needs, giving you complete payment flexibility.
Because the exchange rate is fixed, your exchange rate will be protected from currency movements during the time you have agreed. This is ideal for future payments at times when exchange rates are uncertain, so your money is protected from unfavourable currency market movements between now and the time you need to make your international payment.
By fixing the exchange rate in advance, you are able to eliminate the risk of currency fluctuations on your international transactions. You will be able to calculate the value of all your future transactions within the period of the Forward trade with certainty, taking the stress out of continuing international transfers.
Making a Forward trade
For Forward trades (trade now, pay later) you will need to make two transfers to Halo Financial. You will need to send us a deposit of 10% upfront, or other agreed percentage of the full value of the currency trade. The remaining 90% balance must be paid before the agreed settlement date (the future date that the currency has been reserved for).
How to pay for a Forward trade
Both the deposit and balance payment can be paid for by CHAPS, Faster Payment (dependent on your bank) or BACS, assuming your settlement currency is Sterling.
You will need to settle Forward trades that are to be settled in any currency other than British Pounds, or from Sterling funds held in accounts outside of the UK, by electronic Telegraphic Transfer (TT) – this is also known as a SWIFT transfer.
It’s important to factor in enough time for the transfer to clear into Halo’s client accounts: CHAPS transfers and Faster Payments clear the same day and BACS on the third business day.
If you have any questions, call us today on +44 (0)20 7350 5473 or visit our FAQs pages.
Why choose Halo Financial?
1
Low Fees
competitive rates
2
5 Star
Feefo and Google Reviews
3
FCA
authorised payments
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