All marketsBeginner

Cash Market

a.k.a. Spot market

A market where things are bought and sold for immediate delivery and payment, rather than at a future date.
In plain English

A market where things are bought and sold for immediate delivery and payment, rather than at a future date.

In the cash market, you pay and receive the goods right away (or within a short standard window). It is the 'now' market, as opposed to futures and forwards, which settle later.

In forex, the spot market is the cash market: trades settle in two business days for most pairs. Retail traders usually trade a rolling version of spot that never actually delivers currency.

Keep this word for good

Your free Private Swap Lounge saves the terms you’ve learned and quizzes you on them. Portal under construction. Expected delivery date is December 01, 2026.