Effects of the Current Crisis

The current financial crisis will affect many aspects of the life of the average person in the foreseeable future. Investors will see shrinking portfolios, job prospects will dim, and retirement funds will dwindle. Credit markets will freeze; small businesses will feel the pinch and many will see their net worth diminish.

The Financial Crisis and US Leadership

The financial crisis may also have an unforeseen effect-the limitation of the US to exert a leadership role in world affairs. Since World War Two the US has been the most powerful nation militarily but just as important is the reputation of the US as a financial powerhouse. New York has long been considered the world’s financial center. The status of the US dollar as the world’s dominant currency gave it special powers and privileges. “The dollar’s status as a reserve currency … has given the U.S. a privileged measure of economic stability relative to its rivals,” said journalist Sebastian Mallaby, of the Council on Foreign Relations. “It has allowed the U.S. to project power abroad, too.”

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A Brief History of Forex

Since the Forex markets have no central location and conduct business using various electronic platforms investors in the UK enjoy the same opportunities as traders around the globe. Forex opportunities can be accessed from anywhere with internet service. Historically modern Forex markets came into existence with the Bretton Woods agreement which established rules for commercial and financial transactions between industrialized nations. The Bretton Woods agreement was instrumental in the reconstruction of Europe after World War Two.

In the early 1970’s the gold standard was abandoned and currencies were allowed to float freely. By the 90’s various policy changes allowed small investors to enter this lucrative market. Today Forex trading is popular in both Europe and the United States and the UK is no exception. Forex markets are the largest in the world with approximately 2 trillion dollars US traded daily. No longer the exclusive domain of large banks and corporations, Forex markets now provide astounding opportunities for the average investor.

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