Forex Trading - Do You Have It in You

By: NamSing Then
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:17:35
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Forex is short for Foreign Exchange, where money from one country is exchanged for that of another or the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another.

When one deals in forex trading the profit or loss, he incurs is the increased or decreased value of an investment caused solely by currency movements. For example, if an investor thought that the US dollar was weak, he might purchase German Mark. The investor's, the real profit or loss could then be in how the Mark moves against the US$.

Being the largest financial market in the world, the Forex market has a volume of more than $1.5 trillion daily. Also the Forex market, unlike other financial markets, has no permanent location, no central exchange and just happens ‘Over the Counter.’ It operates through an electronic network of large banks, central banks, currency speculators, multinational corporations, governments and other financial markets and institutions. Retail traders are individuals who are a small part of this market. They participate indirectly through brokers or banks.

The foreign exchange market is unique because of its trading volume, the extreme liquidity, the large number and variety of traders in the market, its geographical dispersion, its long trading hours i.e. 24 hours a day and a host of factors that affect exchange rates etc.

Currencies are traded against one another. Each pair of currencies are traditionally noted as XXX/YYY, where YYY is the ISO 4217 international three-letter code of the currency into which the price of one unit of XXX currency is expressed. For example, EUR/USD is the price of the euro expressed in US dollars, as in 1 euro = 1.2045 dollar.

73 % of the forex trading is done by 10 top international banks. These large banks continually provide the market with both “bid or buy” and “ask or sell” prices. The difference between the price at which a bank or broker will sell and the price at which a broker will buy from a wholesale customer is called the “spread”. This spread is very less for actively traded pairs of currencies, usually only 1-3 pips. One pip is the smallest unit of price move used in forex trading. For example, if the currency pair EUR/USD is currently trading at 1.4000 and then the exchange rate changes to 1.4010, the pair did a 10 pips move. The pip is the smallest unit regardless of the fractional representation of the currency exchange rate. Thus, 1.3000 to 1.3010 is the same move in pips terms as 110.00 to 110.10 For example, the bid/ask quote of EUR/USD might be 1.2200/1.2203. Minimum trading size for most deals is usually $1,000,000.

Whew! What a market!

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Forex, Forex Trading and Forex Firm

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Currency Trading category

  • The Truth About Forex Trading Softwares and Expert Advisors - By: Richard Golman
    This article attempts to show readers many experiences of the author using various expert advisors and automated forex trading systems.This, primarily is to assist readers to make a better and informed decision as regard purchase of highly profitable automated forex trading software. This article will therefore be of immense benefit to aspiring forex traders wishing to take his trading to a new pedestal.
  • How to Pick Optimized Automated Forex Trading Robots and Systems For Maximum Profitability - By: Richard Golman
    This article tries to illuminate the features necessary to look out for before forex traders buy automated trading software. There are many scam forex products out there, but this does not for once suggest there are no profitable ones too. The big question is, how do traders recognize good expert advisors? This is what this article endeavor to address. Read on...
  • Profit in Forex and Make More Money Using Proven Automated Trading Software - By: Richard Golman
    This article attempts to expose the mistakes many traders of the forex market make, and why such mistakes are the culprits responsible for often less-than-glamorous performance of many of these traders. By following the invaluable suggestions articulated in the article, readers will learn the most pertinent lesson in forex trading, what you don't have shouldn't be an obstacle to what you want to have.
  • An Understanding Of Forex Charts Is Essential To The Successful Trader - By: Donald Saunders
    For an increasing number of Forex traders charts are an essential tool in reaching trading decisions and a knowledge of Forex charting and technical analysis is now a fundamental part of any currency trading course.
  • 5 Reasons For Entering The Exciting World Of Currency Trading - By: Donald Saunders
    Currency (Forex) trading is extremely popular with small private investors around the world and this is not surprising when you look at the advantages which this lucrative form of investment provides.
  • Currency Trading Without A Clear Strategy Is The Road To Financial Ruin - By: Donald Saunders
    Many novices are enticed into Forex trading by the promise of high and low risk or risk free returns for a minimal investment and rush head first into trading without any clear plan. As we show here however, currency trading without a clear strategy can be a fast route to financial ruin.
  • A Good Forex Trading Course Is A Must For All Beginners - By: Donald Saunders
    If you are tempted to participate in the world's largest and most liquid financial market and share in the profits which more and more small investors are enjoying today then do not make the mistake of doing so without at least some basic training.
  • The Best Hours To Trade Forex - By: Donald Saunders
    If you are new to the world of forex trading then one question which you will surely be asking, and which we answer here, is just when is the best time of day to trade?
  • Forex Trading Software Is The Foundation Of Successful Trading - By: Donald Saunders
    At the very heart of any forex trader's toolbox is a forex trading software package and understanding the power of this package and choosing the right package is critical to any trader's success.
  • Simulated Forex Trading Can Save You A Fortune - By: Donald Saunders
    There is no better way to learn forex trading than to actually be able to sit at your computer and practice trading in the live environment, but this can be a very costly exercise. Today, however, the advent of forex trading simulators makes this both simple and safe.