sir_eccles

I'm seeing that the exchange rate is trending up slightly 1.62 right now. If the shutdown continues and particularly if the debt ceiling doesn't get raised where do people think this will head. Do you think we'll get close to 2?

In a slightly related matter, trying to get a quote on XE and I get told that "Your quote cannot exceed your approved limit of 0.00 USD." but I have a 10k limit.

Sally Redux

All bets are off with the Clown Party in town.

sir_eccles

Well a quick email to XE has cleared the error message.

Meanwhile I've just signed up with Worldfirst, I recall someone saying they were giving better rates compared to XE.

lansbury

I think the current rate is reasonably good considering it was down to around $1.52 not that long ago. I've booked two contracts with World First for end of November and early March 2014 at $1.6055, and am happy with that. Who knows where it will go, just as likely down again as up. If you see a rate you're happy with take it.

sir_eccles

Bum, Worldfirst are not licensed in Arizona, can't open an account with them.

yukichon

When I purchased our holiday home in Florida back in 2007 I got $2 - £1.
When you transfer large sums it reall makes a huge difference, that's why I am keeping an eye on it at present. I think the 1.62 is a decent rate tbh

Cardienscarf

This morning, XE quoted me 1.6403, but at the beginning of August I was exchanging around the 1.55 mark. That's about £70 difference on a 2000 USD to GBP exchange. That's a tank of petrol! I'm hoping the effwits hurry up and sort out their squabble while others are hoping the dollar continues to slide.

I hadn't heard of World First before this thread so have signed up with them and will see how they compare to XE.

Pulaski

I do too, and it is close to the average for the past thirty years. There have been relatively short periods when it has been above $1.80, even over $2.00, and other times. In the $1.30 range and dropping briefly close to parity, but has always come back to around the $1.60 mark.

sir_eccles

I think that's a good point, the times when it has been at parity or $2 are really the outliers. I was lucky that I sold my house at the end of 2006 I think I got about $1.95.

Portsmouth-Portsmouth

the Big Mac index on the Economist seems to indicate it should be close to $1.69- and it is a fairly good barometer.

yukichon

What on earth is the Big Mac index lol?

I would love to see it climb to 1.7 but tbh I don't know what the major triggers are...

Steerpike

Google is your friend, my friend ...

http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index

Invented by the economist and loosely refers to the relative cost of a 'Big Mac' in various economies, assuming the 'big mac' is a commodity that transcends borders ... more generally related to the notion of PPP - purchasing price parity.