Forex Trading the Foreign Exchange FX Currency Markets

How Does FOREX Compare to Other Investment Markets?

Commission-free trading:
In the equities and futures markets, individuals generally place their orders with a broker, who in turn routes the order to a market maker or exchange where the order is actually executed.
As a result, two parties charge fees: the broker charges a commission, and the firm who executes the order on the exchange charges a spread (a cost that is usually hidden in the equities and futures market, but is transparent in the FX market). In the FX market, you pay only a very small spread - and thus enjoy a much lower transaction cost.

Automated Margin Watcher:
Trading on margin, or with borrowed funds, in the equities and futures market is extremely risky, as the trader can be liable for more than their original deposit if the position goes against them.
In the FX market, though, trading on margin does not possess the same risk: traders' positions will be closed out if the position goes against them and their account value falls below their margin requirement.

Short Selling Without An Uptick:
Short selling, or the ability to enter a sell position and profit if the price goes down, is just as easy as buying in the currency market. While most equities markets have rules that hinder short selling - like the uptick rule, which states that the last price must have been an upward movement before a trader can enter a short order - the currency market does not have the same rules. Traders who think the euro will rise in value can simply buy euros and sell dollars;
alternatively, those who think the euro will fall in value can sell euros and buy dollars, all through the same single trading account and with the same amount of ease. As a result, the currency market presents opportunities for profit regardless of economic cycles.

24 Hour Trading:
While most exchanges have limited hours, the banks and market makers that operate the currency market are open 24 hours a day for trading. With most forex brokers, traders have access to the FX market from Sunday 5 PM EST to Friday 4 PM EST.

100:1 Leverage on Standard Accounts:
The leverage ratio, specifies the monetary amount a trader can trade above and beyond his/her initial deposit. The FX market allows for greater maximum leverage, and thus allows traders to more precisely customize their level of risk aversion.

About the Author

Toby Smitz is a full time forex trader at fxtsp.com. Click Forex to vist our site.

Forex Trading News

How Traders Boost Forex Trading Vocabulary with Vantage FX UK - Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:00:00 -0800
LONDON, February 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Vantage FX UK is helping traders to tell their adjustable pegs from their leading indicators with a comprehensive Forex trading glossary hosted on its website, http://www.vantagefx.co.uk/ ...

A Beginners Guide to Forex Trading and the US Dollar - Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:43:00 -0800
SADDLE RIVER, New Jersey, January 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Forex or FX for short, foreign exchange trading is one of the most widely traded markets in the world while all the major currencies trade against ...

Best Forex Trading Platforms Announces New Website Launch - Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:20:00 -0800
Best Forex Trading Platforms has recently announced the launch of their new website ranking and reviewing the best online forex platforms. They have made it their goal to bring top of the line platforms to trader all around the world. (PRWeb February 05, 2012) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9167589.htm

EUR/USD Forex Forecast Weekly Review 5 Feb 12 - Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:31:43 -0800
Simultaneous Release at TheGeekKnows.com Learn Forex Trading and read exclusive EUR/USD Reviews. Good day forex traders. In the previous EUR/USD forex forecast review we noted that the SMAs were turning bullish. In fact the short term SMA 20 had already began to slope up. The immediate concern of the Euro Zone budget deficit crisis probably remained to be Greece [.

Leading Australian Forex Trading Broker IC Markets Ends a Record 2011 Year - Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:02:11 -0800
International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (IC Markets) a market leading Australian forex broker today announced its 2011 results culminating an exciting year for the company. Over the 2011 year forex trading volumes increased by 83%, with the number of clients increasing by a record 93% representing two straight years of double digit growth.SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (PRWEB) January 30, 2012 International ...

RELATED ARTICLES

Calculating FOREX Profits and Losses
FOREX currencies are traded in much smaller divisions than cash. Whereas the smallest division in US cash is the penny ($0.01), US currency can be traded on the FOREX in divisions of $0.0001. This smallest division is called the pip (short for Price Interest Point - sometimes just called 'points'). Since currencies are traded in large lots of (say) $100,000 - small movements in value can generate substantial profits and losses. In a lot of US$100,000 one pip is worth $10 so an increase in 40 pips (4/10 of one cent) can generate a profit or loss of $400.

FOREX Brokers
Most FOREX traders use a broker to handle their transactions. What exactly is a broker? Strictly speaking, a broker is an individual or a company that buys and sells orders according the investor's decisions. Brokers earn money by charging a commission or a fee for their services.

FOREX Signals
One of the disadvantages of FOREX trading is the time investment needed to monitor the markets for advantageous entry and exit points. It's possible to sit in front of a computer monitor for hours watching the markets.

FOREX Trading Strategies
To be a successful FOREX trader you need a trading strategy. There is no one set strategy that is good for all traders; rather, each trader needs to develop his or her individual approach to the FOREX. Some traders rely solely on technical analysis while others prefer fundamental analysis, but many successful FOREX traders use a combination of both to get a broad overview of the market and for plotting entry and exit points.

FOREX Training
Knowledge is the key to successful FOREX trading. The knowledgeable trader has greater awareness of how the market moves and more chances of making profitable transactions. Without knowledge you are shooting in the dark. You may succeed on a few deals but the odds are that you are going to lose in the long run.

FOREX versus Stocks
Stocks have been a popular investment for hundreds of years. Companies issue stocks to raise capital for expansion and new projects, and each share of the stock represents a partial ownership in the company.

How to Read FOREX Quotes
Currency prices are determined by a number of factors, the most important of which are economic and political conditions in the issuing country. Political stability, inflation, and interest rates are all factored into the price of any currency. In addition, governments can try to control the price of their currency by either flooding the market (to lower the price) or buying extensively (to raise the price).

Introduction to Fundamental Analysis
FOREX traders almost always rely on analysis to make plan their trading strategies. There are two basic types of FOREX analysis - technical and fundamental. This article will look at fundamental analysis and how it used in FOREX trading.

Risks of FOREX Trading
Despite the claims you may see on some FOREX web sites, FOREX is not risk-free. You are trading with substantial sums of money and there is always a possibility that trades will go against you. There are several trading tools, however, that can minimize your risk, and with caution, and above all education, the FOREX trader can learn how to trade profitably and while minimizing losses.

Trading Currencies on Margin
The key to FOREX popularity is margin. Without margin, the FOREX would be beyond the reach of the average investor. So, what exactly is margin and how does it work?

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