Rates API

Unlock Official Exchange Rates with the Rates API

Access trusted, authoritative exchange rates sourced directly from the European Central Bank (ECB). Integrate current and historical currency data into your applications and financial models.

Currently free. Subject to change.

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Exchange Rates

Official ECB exchange rates for the past month (base currency: USD).

FAQ

What is the Rates API?

The Rates API is a RESTful service providing official exchange rates for widely used currencies. Data is currently sourced from the European Central Bank (ECB). We plan to offer support for additional central banks in the future. The API is currently free but may transition to a paid service.

How often is the data updated?

The data is updated as soon as the central bank publishes new exchange rates. The ECB publishes new rates once every business day.

What kind of data does this API offer?

The API offers current and historical exchange rates for all currencies with published rates by the European Central Bank, which are the following: AUD, BGN, BRL, CAD, CHF, CNY, CZK, DKK, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JPY, KRW, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, PHP, PLN, RON, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR.

Why should I use this API?

We offer a simple, easy-to-use API. Instead of parsing complex XML files from various central banks, use our API to save time and effort, while increasing stability and reliability.

Which central banks do you support?

We currently only support the ECB, but will be adding support for the Federal Reserve. If you have a particular central bank in mind, please let us know.

Glossary

Common Terms
Exchange Rate
The value of one currency expressed in terms of another.
Currency Pair
A quotation that lists the relative value of two currencies (e.g., EUR/USD).
Base Currency
The first currency listed in a currency pair (e.g., EUR in EUR/USD). Its value is always 1.
Quote Currency / Counter Currency / Target Currency
The second currency listed in a currency pair (e.g., USD in EUR/USD).
Spot Rate
The current exchange rate for immediate delivery of a currency. Often T+2, or two business days.
Real Exchange Rate
The nominal exchange rate adjusted for differences in price levels between countries.
Cross Rate
The exchange rate between two currencies, neither of which is the official currency in the country where the quote is given.
Currency Symbol
A symbol used to identify currencies (e.g., $, €, £, ¥). Some currencies are identified by their code instead (e.g. 5 Danish krone is shortened to: 5 kr)
Currency Code
A three-letter code defined by ISO 4217 to represent currencies (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP, JPY).

Market Participants & Trading Dynamics
Foreign Exchange Market (Forex, FX)
A global decentralized marketplace for trading currencies.
Liquidity
The ease with which a currency can be bought or sold without significantly affecting its price.
Volatility
The degree of variation of a trading price series over time. Higher volatility means the price can change dramatically over a short time period in either direction.
Trading Volume
The total amount of a currency traded in a given period.
Leverage
Using borrowed capital to increase the potential return of an investment. (Also increases potential losses.)
Margin
The amount of capital required to open and maintain a leveraged trading position.
Hedge
An investment strategy used to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in an asset.
Speculation
Buying or selling currencies to profit from expected price changes.
Arbitrage
The simultaneous purchase and sale of an asset in different markets to profit from tiny differences in the asset's listed price.

Central Bank & Economic Influence
Central Bank
A national bank that provides financial and banking services for its country's government and commercial banking system.
Monetary Policy
Actions undertaken by a central bank to manipulate the money supply and credit conditions to stimulate or restrain economic activity.
Interest Rates
The cost of borrowing money, typically expressed as an annual percentage.
Inflation
A general increase in the prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders in a given period.
Balance of Payments
A record of all economic transactions between a country and the rest of the world.
Fiscal Policy
Government spending and taxation policies used to influence the economy.
Quantitative Easing (QE)
A monetary policy in which a central bank purchases longer-term securities from the open market in order to increase the money supply and encourage lending and investment.
Devaluation
A deliberate downward adjustment to the value of a country's currency relative to another currency, group of currencies, or standard. (Usually by a country with a fixed exchange rate.)
Revaluation
A deliberate upward adjustment to the value of a country's currency relative to another currency, group of currencies, or standard. (Usually by a country with a fixed exchange rate.)

Exchange Rate Regimens
Fixed Exchange Rate
A system where a country's currency value is fixed or pegged to another currency, basket of currencies, or commodity.
Floating Exchange Rate
A system where a currency's value is determined by market forces (supply and demand).
Managed Float
A system where a currency floats, but the central bank intervenes to smooth out fluctuations or achieve specific exchange rate goals.
Crawling Peg
An exchange rate regime in which the currency is allowed to fluctuate within a band that gradually changes over time.

Related Economic Concepts
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
A theory that states that exchange rates should adjust to equalize the prices of identical goods and services in different countries.
Currency Appreciation
An increase in the value of a currency in relation to another currency.
Currency Depreciation
A decrease in the value of a currency in relation to another currency.
Carry Trade
A trading strategy that involves borrowing in a currency with a low interest rate and investing in a currency with a higher interest rate. (Involves risk.)
Forward Premium / Discount
The annualized percentage difference between the forward rate and the spot rate. The forward exchange rate on a currency that is expected to appreciate is at a discount, meaning it is less expensive to purchase the currency forward.
Risk Aversion
The tendency of investors to prefer investments with lower risk, even if they offer lower returns.
Contagion
The tendency of economic crisis to spread across multiple countries.