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Glossary

Navigate the complex world of currency management with our comprehensive dictionary of financial terms and definitions.

foreign currency translation

Foreign currency translation is the restatement, in the currency in which a company presents its financial statements, of all assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, gains and losses that are denominated in foreign currencies. The process of foreign currency translation results in accounting FX gains and losses. There are three main foreign currency translation methods available. With the current/noncurrent method, all the foreign exchange denominated current assets and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate, while non-current assets and liabilities are translated at the historical exchange rate. With the monetary/nonmonetary method, monetary items such as cash, accounts receivable and payable, are translated at the current exchange rate, while nonmonetary items (inventory, fixed assets) are translated at the historical exchange rate. Finally, with the current rate method, all balance sheet and income statement items are translated at the current exchange rate. No matter what foreign currency translation is used, the resulting FX gains and losses are paper only, and rarely affect cash flows.