Foreign exchange refers to the exchange of one country's currency for another. The foreign exchange market allows currencies to be traded globally, 24 hours a day. Major participants include banks, brokers, and authorized dealers. Exchange rates are determined by supply and demand in the foreign exchange market. They can be fixed by governments or allowed to float based on market forces. Factors like economic performance, interest rates, trade balances, and political events influence exchange rate movements. Risks from exchange rate fluctuations must be managed through techniques like setting loss limits and controlling overall currency exposure.