Latest News and Articles

Currency exchange rates are affected by a number of things happening all over the world, from economic, political and law changes to scandals. We publish the latest news and articles to help keep you up to date and stay informed when making payments overseas.

Lockdown endings: what’s happening where?

June 11th, 2020 | Coronavirus, Property News

The global property market has been drastically affected by the coronavirus epidemic and the lockdowns. But international property professionals – everybody involved in helping people to buy and sell homes – have found new and creative ways of doing business.
Our traders have been in touch with agents and other professionals and here we give a round up of the latest, along with some idea on when flights may restart.

The General Election and your currency

October 30th, 2019 | Currency 101

Well, this is exciting! In the three and a half years since the Referendum you might have got used to not much happening. Suddenly we have an election coming on 12th December, from which we could go in all sorts of directions. For anyone planning to move abroad, buy a property abroad or do business abroad the result could have profound implications.

Where will the pound be by Christmas?

October 15th, 2019 | Currency 101

Where will the pound be by Christmas? While no-one can predict with any certainty how any currency pair will trade in the future – not without a crystal ball – that doesn’t stop the major banks from having a go. There is something to be said for the wisdom of crowds, too, and this takes an average of those forecasts. We also look at the economic and political factors to look out for in the UK, Europe and US over the next three months.

Even so, at Smart we strongly recommend a strategy of focusing on your own plans, setting out your required budget and then fixing your rate with a forward contract.

Does a rate cut mean now’s the time to act?

September 30th, 2019 | Currency 101

The pound weakened last week on hints from the Bank of England of an interest rate cut, even if a...

How to protect your income when living abroad

September 17th, 2019 | Currency 101

Many of our clients buy abroad to enjoy their retirement or make the most of a UK income with a...

How to buy safely, no matter what happens with Brexit

September 4th, 2019 | Brexit, Currency 101

The government has lost its majority, the bill against no-deal is making its way through Parliament and...

Currency for your viewing trip

August 16th, 2019 | Currency 101

We’re approaching one of the busiest times of the year for buying property. If you’re ready to see some overseas homes, what should you be doing with currency for your viewing trip? Smart Currency Exchange’s senior trader Barney Cotton explains.

Your action plan for transactions in the year ahead

August 2nd, 2019 | Brexit, Currency 101

If you commute to work, isn't it bliss at this time of year? Empty trains, warm sunshine and a game of...

Where will the pound go this summer?

July 23rd, 2019 | Brexit, Currency 101

The UK has a new PM, the Brexit deadline is inching ever closer, the US's trade tensions with China and...

“Our clients buying today who protected their money in April are 5-6% better off”

July 10th, 2019 | Brexit, Company News, Currency 101

With a new Prime Minister on the horizon and still no sign of a finalised Brexit deal, there's a huge...

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Taking the complexity out of currency

Currency exchange rates are among the most complicated parts of the financial world. Where exchange rates will go is impossible to predict, as they are buffeted by the world events and news of the economy, both at a global and local level.

Vast quantities of currency are traded by the financial institutions based on the smallest piece of economic data, or rumour of political events – 90% of the currency markets are speculative. At the end of all this might be you, about to make the biggest and most complicated purchase of your own life, a home abroad. You may be desperately hoping that rates won’t change, taking the property of your dreams out of your budget, even as vital decisions are taken far away that will do just that.

Smart Currency Exchange may not be able to tell fortunes, but we can help you protect your property purchase by budgeting effectively, managing risk and suggesting solutions. But we want you to stay informed too.

Our team of writers and traders will be digesting all the global and local news that might affect you, and creating content that you will (a) enjoy reading and (b) use to good effect.

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News and events affect exchange rates

If you’re buying property abroad, you may be paying close attention to how your pounds are rising and falling in value as euros or dollars. You may also be keeping a close eye on current events and changes to the law that could affect your purchase, such as Brexit.

You may want to know why those changes are happening, or you might just want to know what could affect your money in the future. Either way, Smart covers the political, property and currency related news you need to know, giving both detailed analysis and readable, usable guidance, all free of charge.

Having been in operation for more than a decade and helped thousands of people to buy abroad, we’ve gained a wealth of knowledge that we are very happy to share.

You can read all about it, both on this website and in our Daily Market Updates. But we also write for other key organisations, including the global business news service Forbes, and the largest property website in the UK, Rightmove. Our expert opinion is frequently sought by national newspapers too.

Our news and advice covers all the major countries and the major currencies. Staying up to date will help you to minimise risks with your currency and protect your budget, so please keep coming back to this site, and you can also sign up to our mailing list.