FORIGN MONEY MARKET

The Euro-dollar market* had caused many changes to the modern financial world in which, the open competitive effect of the international money market caused the liberalization by almost all industrialized countries of domestic money and banking markets. The market acted as a fully international mechanism for attracting deposits and offering loans, over a broad range of maturities and at highly competitive rates. The first important development of Euro-dollar business came after the Second World War, when Soviet bloc holders of dollar balances wanted to keep them in a form not subject to control by the US authorities. They kept them with London banks. However, the development of the market as a large-scale international structure really dates from 1957. It was given its impetus then by a rise in UK Bank rate to 7% and the imposition of restrictions on sterling credits to finance trade between non-sterling countries. At that time, banks in the US were limited (by Regulation Q) as to the amount of interest they might pay on deposits. Banks outside the US were able to offer a higher rate for dollar deposits, and yet, by operating on finer margins, to offer competitive terms for dollar loans. Many banks were well placed to take advantage of this situation. This was because of their wide overseas connections, long experience of international business and variety of outlets for making international loans. The first substantial development of the market took place in London, and London conducted much of the largest share of the business, which contributed considerable invisible earnings to the UK balance of payments.
The role of sterling has been a central point to the development of the Euro-dollar market. To the sense that, the control of sterling has not only been a central preoccupation of British governments, but largely determined Britain’s strategy towards the international financial market. Since 1958, governments have found themselves in a “dilemma” by the pressures of which the international use of sterling had placed on the British economy where “depleted” reserves of the entire sterling area constituted the most significant constraint on achieving economic growth. The management of sterling was the heart of governing Britain until conditions allowed the convertibility of the currency in the late 1950s. The central point that, throughout the postwar period, the British government sought agreements that enabled US dollars to flow to Britain whilst restricting the convertibility of sterling in domestic and foreign hands, (the Washington Loan Agreement, the Marshall Plan, and military assistance programmes encouraged a flow of dollars to Britain).
The UK government placed particular emphasis on exports to the dollar area (dollar-earning exports), with sterling area exports deemed next in importance. As early as the 1950s, Conservative governments, set about reasserting the international status of sterling and the importance of the City of London as the world’s premier financial centre. In 1953, commodity markets and exchanges for raw materials were re-opened in London. March 1954 saw the long awaited return of London Gold Market (open to all non-residents of the sterling area). Changes were made in currency regulations in 1955, which allowed the partial convertability of the pound for non-sterling area residents and non-dollar area residents. This was followed finally by the full convertability of sterling in December 1958, and by the Bank of England’s decision in 1962 to provide cheap foreign exchange cover and allow non-residents to hold dollar balances with the Bank of England (thus signalling the beginning of the Euro-dollar market). Dollars could now be deposited with the Bank of England in an external account, thereby escaping US exchange regulations and earning a higher rate of interest than obtainable in the US. The aim here was well calculated. London’s position as the main financial centre would be re-established and the City would quickly become the world’s leading Euro-dollar market.
However, the real significance of the Euro-dollar market lay in the fact that it originally drew its funds from non-bank suppliers and ultimately lent them to non-bank users, in which the established market was not dependent upon the existence on the USA remaining in deficit. As, the market soon become an integrated international money market providing its own specialised service which had shown considerable powers of survival. Merchant banks simply turned to the expatriate dollars, and used them in the way they have used sterling, operating freely on a global scale in the financing of international trade and the arrangement of longer term loans. American and other foreign banks wanting to take advantage of the paucity of financial controls in the UK soon joined this new market that was dominated by the merchant banks. Hence, between 1967-1978 the representation of foreign banks in London grew from 113 to 395. As, for the City’s banks, the establishment of sterling convertability in 1958 “was arguably the most important event of this century”, for it heralded the rise of the London Euro-dollar market. The table below shows how dramatic the Euro-dollar market had indeed become. A total of 91 international Euro-currency issues totalling the equivalent of $1,884m took place in 1967. The firms shown below are ranked in order of the aggregate amount of issues for which they acted either as managers or as co-managers. Apart from those listed, there were 45 firms active in such management

Many people, it seems, have a fear of money. Does the thought of having a lot of money make you uncomfortable? Cause you anxiety? If so, it may be that you are buying into the myths about money. Myths that are simply untrue. In fact, many of the most common statements about money are often misquoted, wrong, or were made by people who did not understand money … or had none.
Let’s look at a few of the myths about money …
“Money is the root of all evil”
Everybody has heard this one. Unfortunately, it’s one of the most famous misquotes of all time. The original quote comes from the New Testament and the correct quote is “the LOVE of money is the root of all evil”. The love of money is an obsession and thus the true quote warns of the potential corruption that can derive from a love of, or obsession with, money (or any unhealthy preoccupation).. The fact is that money itself is neither good nor evil. It is neutral. Money can be used for good or it can be used for bad. How it is used is a choice, and the choice of how to use money is in the hands of he (or she) who controls it.
“Money is Power” (and Power corrupts)
Money itself has no real power. For instance, if you were legally given 10 million after-tax dollars in cash, put it in a safe deposit box, never touched it and never told anyone you had it you would have no more power than you do right now. The power of money comes from the use (or misuse) of it or the perceived benefit or threat by others. The money itself does not generate any power; it has to be converted into power. And whether or not you wish to convert money into power is a choice. And if one decides to convert money into power that power may be used for good or for evil, depending on the character of the person with the money.
“Money will change your life”
Let’s hope so! Used wisely, money can greatly ease many of life’s burdens and greatly enhance one’s life. Or, if you have a weak character, choose to live in fear and worry, you can let money make you miserable. It’s not the money, it’s YOU. The important thing to realize is that you get to control the money, it doesn’t get to control you. Want proof? Here’s how much actual control you have over your money - in the extreme, you can always give all the money away - and be rid of it. Just like that. You can give it all to charity, you can throw it out the window, you can walk down the street and hand it out. You can burn it all. It’s yours and you can do whatever you want with it, including give it away. Gone. You can make it all disappear if you choose to do so. That may be a stupid choice but that choice is always yours. That’s the ultimate power you have over your money and it rests in your hands. Money doesn’t ruin or change your life or change you or take control over your life. Unless you let it. And since you have the ultimate power to get rid of it why would you let it ruin your life?
“Money can’t buy you happiness”
This is true - if you are not happy to begin with. However, if you reasonably well-grounded, have a good value system and a little control over yourself money won’t hurt you either. Contrary to popular wisdom, money and happiness are not mutually exclusive. In fact, money can greatly enhance the security, independence and well being of your life, your family’s life and the lives of people you care about. Money can’t buy you happiness but happiness can’t buy you money!
To sum it up, the fear of money is often based on misconceptions. The truth is that money itself is simply an inanimate thing, doesn’t know or care who does what with it, has no moral or ethical value and is a necessary commodity to have in the civilized world. Money, in the hands of whoever has it, has the capacity for great good or great evil, depending on who is doing the spending. It is not money that should be judged but the character and actions of the person (or entity) who uses it.
Money is nothing to fear.