Check the column header in the paper: "Per US$" vs "In US$".
Converting USD to Foreign Currency
Converting Foreign Currency to USD
Input Amount:–
Exchange Rate Used:–
Inverse Rate (Cross Check):–
0.00
Understanding Wall Street Journal Currency Exchange Rates
For decades, the currency tables in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) have served as a benchmark for investors, travelers, and business leaders tracking the global foreign exchange (forex) market. Unlike simple online converters that often show "mid-market" rates without context, reading the WSJ tables requires understanding specific financial conventions, particularly the distinction between "Per US$" and "In US$" columns.
This calculator is designed to help you verify calculations based on the printed or digital tables found in financial publications, allowing you to manually input the spot rates to determine exact conversion values.
How to Read the WSJ Currency Table
Financial newspapers typically present currency data in a matrix format. Understanding the two primary columns is critical for accurate calculation:
Currency
In US$ (USD Equivalent)
Per US$ (Currency per USD)
Euro (EUR)
1.0850
0.9217
Japan Yen (JPY)
0.0067
149.25
U.K. Pound (GBP)
1.2700
0.7874
1. "Per US$" (Currency per US Dollar)
This column tells you how many units of the foreign currency you get for one single US Dollar. This is the standard quoting convention for most currencies, such as the Japanese Yen (JPY), Canadian Dollar (CAD), and Swiss Franc (CHF).
Math: To convert USD to Foreign Currency, you multiply your USD amount by this rate.
Math: To convert Foreign Currency to USD, you divide your Foreign amount by this rate.
2. "In US$" (US Dollar Equivalent)
This column represents the value of one unit of foreign currency in US Dollars. This is often referred to as "American terms" or a "direct quote" for US traders. It is traditionally used for the Euro (EUR), British Pound (GBP), and Australian Dollar (AUD).
Math: To convert Foreign Currency to USD, you multiply the Foreign amount by this rate.
Math: To convert USD to Foreign Currency, you divide the USD amount by this rate.
Factors Influencing Daily Exchange Rates
The rates listed in the Wall Street Journal are typically "New York Closing" rates or "Mid-point" rates from the interbank market. Several macroeconomic factors influence these numbers daily:
Interest Rate Differentials: Central bank policies (like the Federal Reserve vs. the ECB) drive capital flows. Higher interest rates generally attract foreign capital, boosting the currency value.
Inflation Rates: Lower inflation typically supports a currency's value relative to currencies with higher inflation.
Geopolitical Stability: Investors prefer "safe-haven" currencies (like the USD or CHF) during times of global uncertainty.
Using This Calculator
Since printed rates are static snapshots of the market, this tool allows you to input the specific rate you see in the paper to perform accurate conversions. By selecting whether the rate is "Per USD" or "In USD," the calculator automatically adjusts the mathematical formula (multiplication vs. division) to ensure you get the correct result regardless of the currency direction.
function updateLabels() {
var rateFormat = document.querySelector('input[name="rateFormat"]:checked').value;
var label = document.getElementById("rateLabel");
if (rateFormat === "perUSD") {
label.textContent = "Exchange Rate (Per US$)";
label.placeholder = "e.g., 148.50 (Yen per Dollar)";
} else {
label.textContent = "Exchange Rate (In US$)";
label.placeholder = "e.g., 1.08 (Dollars per Euro)";
}
}
function calculateCurrency() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var amount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("initialAmount").value);
var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("exchangeRate").value);
var rateFormat = document.querySelector('input[name="rateFormat"]:checked').value; // 'perUSD' or 'inUSD'
var direction = document.getElementById("conversionDirection").value; // 'usdToForeign' or 'foreignToUsd'
// 2. Validation
if (isNaN(amount) || isNaN(rate) || amount < 0 || rate <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive amount and exchange rate.");
return;
}
var result = 0;
var inverseRate = 0;
var resultSymbol = "";
var inputSymbol = "";
// 3. Calculation Logic
// Scenario A: Rate is "Per US$" (e.g., 150 Yen = 1 USD)
if (rateFormat === "perUSD") {
inverseRate = 1 / rate; // Calculates the "In US$" equivalent
if (direction === "usdToForeign") {
// Have USD, want Foreign. Multiplcation.
// 100 USD * 150 Rate = 15000 Yen
result = amount * rate;
inputSymbol = " USD";
resultSymbol = " Foreign Units";
} else {
// Have Foreign, want USD. Division.
// 15000 Yen / 150 Rate = 100 USD
result = amount / rate;
inputSymbol = " Foreign Units";
resultSymbol = " USD";
}
}
// Scenario B: Rate is "In US$" (e.g., 1 Euro = 1.08 USD)
else {
inverseRate = 1 / rate; // Calculates the "Per US$" equivalent
if (direction === "usdToForeign") {
// Have USD, want Foreign. Division.
// 108 USD / 1.08 Rate = 100 Euro
result = amount / rate;
inputSymbol = " USD";
resultSymbol = " Foreign Units";
} else {
// Have Foreign, want USD. Multiplication.
// 100 Euro * 1.08 Rate = 108 USD
result = amount * rate;
inputSymbol = " Foreign Units";
resultSymbol = " USD";
}
}
// 4. Formatting Results
// Currency formatting usually requires 2 decimals, except specifically low value units like Yen which might just use integers,
// but for a generic calculator 2 or 4 decimals is safe.
var formattedResult = result.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
var formattedAmount = amount.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
// Update DOM
document.getElementById("dispAmount").textContent = formattedAmount + inputSymbol;
document.getElementById("dispRate").textContent = rate;
document.getElementById("dispInverse").textContent = inverseRate.toFixed(6); // High precision for inverse
document.getElementById("finalResult").textContent = formattedResult + resultSymbol;
// Show result area
document.getElementById("result-area").style.display = "block";
}