As some of you may know, I work on the foreign currency desk at work, trading options, futures and spot. The following is an email exchange from this past Friday that I thought I'd share.

THE ORIGINAL EMAIL

Dear Foreign Exchange Board worker person,

Ummmm last week I could get 40.40 THB for my USD ... and now I can only get 31.35. I'm not amused. Please fix.

Sincerely,

Dying To Eat Thai

MY RESPONSE

It is with deep regret that I learn of your distress over the recently strengthened THB currency against the US dollar. I say regret, because there is nothing I can do to help you. Currency exchange rates, as you know, are determined by market forces in the (largely unregulated) interbank market. I refer you to the Bank of Thailand, who has the power to “print currency” and probably has an interest in weakening the Thai Baht to boost exports. Perhaps your plea will strike a chord in their hearts and provoke an intervention on your behalf. What’s a few paltry billion THB to them, anyway?? Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying cheap, yummy Thai food again!

Best of luck!

Yours,
“Foreign exchange board worker person”

...AND THE FINAL RESPONSE

Dear Foreign Exchange Board Worker Person,

Thank you for your prompt response and apt suggestion to resolving this dilemma. It's nice to know that at least one of us has actual influence over currency rates. I will let you know when my discussions with the Bank of Thailand have concluded, though please let me know the moment the rates move in our favor.

Yours truly,

Soon to be Bhat and Happy