Cash Buying - Rate at which Foreign Currency Cash deposited by the customer is converted into rupees.

Cash Selling - Rate applicable when a customer buys Foreign Currency Cash from the bank.

Travellers cheques'(T.C.) Buying - Rate at which Foreign Currency Travellers cheques' deposited by the customer is converted into rupees.

Travellers cheques'(T.C.) Selling - Rate applicable when a customer buys Foreign Currency Travellers' cheques from the bank.

Telegraphic Transfer (T.T.) Buying - Rate at which a Foreign Inward Remittance received by Telegraphic Transfer is converted into rupees.

Telegraphic Transfer (T.T.) Selling - Rate applicable when a customer sends an outward remittance through Telegraphic Transfer

What are value dates? A value date for a foreign transaction is a day on

which the transaction takes place. For inter-bank the transaction dates are two types:  Cash: Value today Tom: value tomorrow  For customers the dates are two types:  Spot: Settlement on second successive working

day.  Forward: Settlement at a pre-deiced future date

beyond the second successive working day.

What is direct quote? A direct quote is where the price of foreign

currency is quoted in terms of home currency.

E.g. 1 USD = 48.48 INR (Rs.) 

What is an indirect quote?  An indirect quote is where exchange rate is

quoted in terms of variable units of foreign currency as equivalent to a fixed number of units of home currency. Simply a reciprocal of direct quotes.

E.g. USD 2.07 = Rs. 100

What are inter-bank rates and how are they different from market rates? 

Inter-bank as the name suggests are buying and selling rates between any two banks. Where as market rates are inter-bank rates plus the bank margins and commissions which generally depend on the amount of the exposure. 

What is a TT?  TT or telegraphic transfer is one of the mode for

inward or outward remittance. It is the fastest mode of transfer where the buyers

pays the bank the amount in home currency and the bank pays the equivalent in required foreign currency to the seller’s bank by a telegraphic code.

Examples of transactions where TT rate is applied include payment or receipt of demand drafts, mail transfers, Telegraphic transfers etc. drawn on the bank. TT rate is used for all transactions that do not involve handling of documents by the bank.

What are TT buying and selling rates?  TT buying rates are applied for purchase of foreign currency by

banks. It is applied to a transaction that does not involve any delay in

realization of foreign exchange by the bank. The rate is calculated by deducting from the inter-bank buying

rate the exchange margin. Thus, all foreign inward remittances which are made payable in

India are converted by applying this rate. TT selling rates is applied for selling foreign currency to the

customer by the bank for effecting remittances outside India. This rate is calculated by adding exchange margin to the inter-bank selling rate.

What is bill rate?  Bill buying or selling by any bank involves handling of documents by the

bank. This rate is worse than the TT rate. In addition, the bank will also recover interest for the period for which

the bank has lent the funds. Bill buying rate is applied when a foreign bill is

purchased/negotiated/discounted. When a bill is purchased, the proceeds will be realized by the bank after

the bill is presented to the drawee at the overseas centre. In the case of a usance bill, the proceeds will be realized on the due

date of the bill, which includes the transit period and the usance period of the bill.

Bill selling rate is applied for transaction involving transfer of proceeds of import bills. Even if the proceeds of import bills are remitted in foreign currency by way of DD, MT,TT, the rate to be applied is the bill selling rate (and not the TT selling rate).

What is Bid/Ask and spread?  Bid is the inter-bank buying rate and Ask is

the inter-bank selling rate. The difference between the two is spread. In

periods of high volatility spread may be around 5-10 paise, where as in periods of stability spread may be 0.25-0.50 paise.

What is a forward rate?  A forward rate is the rate offered for

transaction beyond Spot date. Forward rate = Spot rate + (premium/Discount). 

What are FRAs?  Forward Rate Agreement is an agreement

between two parties to buy/sell at pr determined price a pre determined rate. It is an agreement on forward contract on interest rates. 

TT Buying rate

Dollar / rupee spot buying rate Less exchange margin TT buying rate Rounded off to nearest multiple of 0.0025

Bills buying rate

Dollar / rupee market spot buying rate Add forward premium Or Less forward discount Bills buying rate Less exchange margin

TT selling rate

Dollar / rupee spot selling rate Add exchange margin for TT selling rate TT selling rate

Bills selling rate

Dollar/ rupee spot selling rate Add exchange margin for TT selling rate TT selling rate Add exchange margin for bills selling rate Bills selling rate