Taking a far-out view of forex.

With the right skills and resources - not to mention a fair helping of luck - currency trading can deliver exciting returns. Admittedly, it's not suitable for everyone - you may not have the time nor the appetite for risk to play the forex markets. But just because you don't fancy staking large amounts on dicey short-term bets doesn't mean you should avoid this asset class altogether.

Away from the world of minute-by-minute charts and mega-leverage, there are plenty of interesting longer-term possibilities in forex. For example, you may have current or future exposure to a foreign currency, which you want to lay off. Or you might want to boost your returns and spread your portfolio's risks beyond just shares and bonds. Or you could exploit currency movements in...