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X-Rates
X-Rates is a website that favours the boxy, well ordered look – and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. In fact given the amount of data that is available on this site it is actually a plus.
You see, when you are dealing with topics that include currency conversions and exchange rates, some sites fall over themselves to give you every last shred of information. And this can lead quite quickly to confusion if you aren’t too careful.
That’s why we recommend this site wholeheartedly if you want something that is quick and easy to use, and doesn’t put you off the moment you arrive!
Take me to the site! How do I get there?
So you are convinced? No problem – the URL you need is www.x-rates.com. Don’t forget that little dash in between the X and the rates.
What does the site offer?
The website itself offers features including the “custom table” - a fabulous table that converts one base unit of any currency you select into every other listed currency. This means that you can see at a glance and in one single place how any one currency is doing across the broad range of other currencies on offer. This is particularly useful if you want to try and spot any interesting movements that sometimes go unnoticed in currency trading.
For example, if you wish to see how a currency such as the Euro is faring, you would click on the custom table and then select the Euro, and just press Go. The resulting list is what one Euro would buy you in each of the other currencies.
You can also do a historic look-up; however the results may not be what you immediately expect. If you choose to see the historic data for American Dollars (USD) versus British Pounds (GBP) and choose a single day sometime in the past, you will not see the data listed from then until now. Instead you will only see a list of the rates on that specific date and the week in which that date falls.
Along the right hand side of the website you will see a huge list of currencies, all with clickable names. Try clicking on one and you will see what happens. It will basically show you what that currency is worth when it goes head to head with all the others in the list. The data they use for this chart is generally just a day old, which makes it quite adequate for many people’s needs.
You can also go into more depth on this chart if you need to, as well as exporting the data to an Excel document. Many people won’t need to do this but it is good to know the ability to do so is there if required.
What is their currency converter like?
If you want to perform a specific currency conversion then the main currency converter is on the main page. The box at the top (with the slightly greyed out space around it) is where the result is returned, so don't try to input any information into there.
The first drop down list, called “convert”, is the currency that you want to convert from. So you could choose Australian Dollars (AUD) into American Dollars (USD), for example. The three letter international currency code is missing from the listed choices, but country and currency should be clear enough for most people. The three letter code is present in the answers that are delivered into the space at the top, though. This should help avoid any confusion.
Next you just need to choose the destination currency from the “into” drop-down list. With both lists your choices are limited to about twenty four or so currencies. You will find all the most popular ones here though, as you would expect.
Finally enter the amount of origin currency you wish to convert. So if you wanted to convert $144 AUD into USD, this is the box that you would enter 144 into. Finally you just need to click on ‘calculate’ to see the result.
Supposing I need some help and advice – can they help me with that?
Oh definitely – there are plenty of links dotted about the place that will lead you to the exact type of information you need.
First of all we should point out the section on frequently asked questions, since it can easily be missed if you don’t know where to look. Right down in the bottom right hand corner there is a quick and easy link to take you to a page containing some questions and answers. If your question isn’t answered here, scroll down further to see the link to a feedback form, as well as the appropriate email address for your needs.
If you have an interest in Forex trading and you want to find out more about this subject, there is a box on the home page which has a number of links in it. Any of these could be useful to you. Make sure you look for the box headed FXCM.
There are also a number of other links which might prove useful, but the main one to remember is the FAQ page as this will lead you to any other contact you need with them.
In conclusion
If you are the type of person who is overwhelmed by some of the bigger sites regarding currency, then X-Rates might just take away that sense of panic! The site has been carefully thought out and very well planned in the sense of design. This makes it a sure fire winner as far as we are concerned.
Currency converters can be anything from in depth to something as simple as three boxes and a few directions. This site takes the latter route, and is no less useful for that.
Rating (out of five stars)
The converter itself is very simple and gives you the basic data that you need. Many Forex users will find it perfect for their needs, and that’s why we’re giving this site four stars out of five.
- 4 Stars
Link: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html
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