There are five types of currency markets. These are spot, forward, futures, options and swaps. In the spot market, currency trading takes place at real-time exchange rates. Forward markets deal in over-the-counter (OTC) forward contracts, while currency futures are traded through centralised exchanges in the futures market.
The options market gives traders a right to convert the currency on a future date but there is no obligation to do so. It allows traders the right to buy or sell currency at a specific rate and on a specific date. Swap transactions involve simultaneous borrowing and lending of two types of currencies between two investors.