What is Fixed Exchange Rate?

As the name suggests, under fixed exchange rate system, the value of a currency in terms of another is fixed. These rates are determined by governments or central banks of the respective countries. The fixed exchange rates result from pegging their currencies to either some common commodity or to some particular currency. The rates remain constant or they may fluctuate within a narrow range. When a currency tends crossing over the limits, governments intervene to keep within the band. Normally countries pegs its currency to the currency in which the major transactions are carried out or some countries even peg their currencies to SDR. For example
: – US dollar has 24 currencies pegged to itself whereas French franc has 14 currencies and 4 currencies are pegged to SDRs. The major advantage of this system is that it provides stability to international trade and exchange rate risk is reduced to some extent. Because of the fixed exchange rate system, exporters and importers are clear how much they have to pay each other on the due date. The disadvantage is that it is prone to speculation i.e. a speculator anticipating devaluation of pound sterling will buy US dollars at a forward rate so as to sell them when devaluation of the pound takes place.