Friday 10 June 2011

The British Pound Exchange Rate And Origins

By Shaun Foster


Whereas the United States dollar is generally the most well known foreign money attributable to its extensive use online, the British pound exchange rate (GBP) is sort of an fascinating forex because it has history that dates again to about a dozen centuries ago. Historians differ of their opinion of how the pound exchange rate got here to being, one concept is that through the initial times, silver pennies were used as currency, and having 240 of them meant you've a 'pound' as 240 silver pennies or 'sterlings' were equal to at least one pound in weight.

Ultimately the sterling was developed and took its place over time. Silver coins were used to value sterling. A number of years later, within the seventeenth century, the bank of England was founded following which the appearance of paper money was born.

Over the years the pound exchange rate has constantly moved and has experienced many adjustments earlier than it gained a degree of stability. Notable factors that affected the pound exchange rate might be dated back to the 18th century, when Gold was used to standardize currency. Through the 18th century, Britain determined to disregard the Gold customary only to return to it in the nineteenth century.

During the first world war, several limits were positioned on foreign money thus being bound to the Gold standard made it inconvenient leading to Britain abandoning it again. UK then rejoined the Gold standard and left it once more relying on the situation. Till the Second World War, the pound exchange rate held a fairly sturdy position compared with the dollar; however, with the commencement of World War 2, the pound exchange rate shortly started to drop.

During the Second World War, the pound exchange rate suffered even more loss due to the US; this happened when the US lent arms to the British and were forced to repay the loan before the stipulated date. Following the large depreciation, the pound was fixed resulting in a stable exchange rate for a period of time. By 1971, the pound had stabilized and was allowed to 'float' in the market as we see it today. Thus, as aforementioned there are several years of history and several political and economic influences on the pound exchange rate.




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