Welcome to Forex Trading Guide
Article
Martin Maier
What Is FOREX or FOREX MARKET? PART I
The Foreign Exchange market (also referred to as the Forex or FX market) is the largest financial market in the world, with over $1.5 trillion changing hands every day.
That is larger than all US equity and Treasury markets combined!
Unlike other financial markets that operate at a centralized location (i.e. stock exchange), the worldwide Forex market has no central location. It is a global electronic network of banks, financial institutions and individual traders, all involved in the buying and selling of national currencies. Another major feature of the Forex market is that it operates 24 hours a day, corresponding to the opening and closing of financial centers in countries all across the world, starting each day in Sydney, then Tokyo, London and New York. At any time, in any location, there are buyers and sellers, making the Forex market the most liquid market in the world.
Traditionally, access to the Forex market has been made available only to banks and other large financial institutions. With advances in technology over the years, however, the Forex market is now available to everybody, from banks to money managers to individual traders trading retail accounts. The time to get involved in this exciting, global market has never been better than now. Open an account and become an active player in the largest market on the planet.
The Forex Market is very different than trading currencies on the futures market, and a lot easier, than trading stocks or commodities.
Whether you are aware of it or not, you already play a role in the Forex market. The simple fact that you have money in your pocket makes you an investor in currency, particularly in the US Dollar. By holding US Dollars, you have elected not to
hold the currencies of other nations. Your purchases of stocks, bonds or other investments, along with money deposited in your bank account, represent
investments that rely heavily on the integrity of the value of their denominated currency ¨the US Dollar. Due to the changing value of the US Dollar and the resulting fluctuations in exchange rates, your investments may change in value, affecting your overall financial status. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that many investors have taken advantage of the fluctuation in Exchange Rates, using the volatility of the Foreign Exchange market as a way to increase their capital.
Example: suppose you had $1000 and bought Euros when the exchange rate was 1.50 Euros to the dollar. You would then have 1500 Euros. If the value of Euros against the US
dollar increased then you would sell (exchange) your Euros for dollars and have more dollars than you started with.
You might see the following:
EUR/USD last trade 1.5000 means
One Euro is worth $1.50 US dollars.
The first currency (in this example, the
EURO) is referred to as the base currency and the second (/USD) as the counter or quote currency.
The FOREX plays a vital role in the world economy and there will always be a tremendous need for the exchange of currencies. International trade increases as technology and communication increases. As long as there is international trade, there will be a FOREX market. The FX market has to exist so a country like Germany can sell products in the United States and be able to receive Euros in exchange for US Dollar.
Risks of currency trading
Margined currency trading is an extremely risky form of investment and is only suitable for individuals and institutions capable of handling the potential losses it entails. An account with an broker allows you to trade foreign currencies on a highly leveraged basis (up to about 400 times your account equity).The funds in an account that is trading at maximum leverage may be completely lost if the position(s) held in the account experiences even a one percent swing in value. Given the possibility of losing one's entire investment, speculation in the foreign exchange market should only be conducted with risk capital funds that, if lost, will not significantly affect the investors financial well-being.
About the Author
Veteran Trader Martin Maier is the Founder of http://www.fenixcapitalmanagement.com He is the developer of various futures and commodities trading programs and his systems have been ranked and rated by various large American Investment Profile Rating Companies such as STAR and MAR.
Forex Market News News
forex market news
SYDNEY, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A tender of U.S. dollars by Australia's central bank drew only tepid demand on Friday, suggesting banks' needs for the U.S. currency were receding at least in this part of the world. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA ...
Read more
Market latest: Australia - ninemsn
_____AUSTRALIAN CREDIT/FOREX (0100 GMT) SNAPSHOT_____ FOREIGN EXCHANGE (against previous Sydney close) 0.6098/01 (0.6344/49) 1.1651/83 (1.1755/75) 57.31/39 (60.37/44) 94.01/04 (95.15/20) 0.4902/08 (0.5077/82) 1.2434/38 (1.2493/99) DEBT ...
Read more
Market latest: Australia - ninemsn
Yen rallies as stocks fall, recession worries grow * US jobless claims spike, dollar gains vs high-yielders * Surprise Swiss interest rate cut hits Swiss franc * Still no deal for automakers * For up-to-the-minute market news, click on FXNEWS ...
Read more
FOREX-US dollar sinks vs yen, rises vs euro as stocks swoon - Reuters
The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX ...
Read more
BOJ eyes market moves, no rate cut seen Friday - FXStreet.com
The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX ...
Read more
Singapore c.bank: ready to inject funds in money market - FXStreet.com
Rupee weakens further Statesman News Service MUMBAI, Nov. 20: Fast depleting dollars because of intense selling pressure on Indian equities by foreign funds is taking toll of the rupee which is now in the 50s in its exchange value per US dollar ...
Read more
Rupee weakens further - Statesman
CHICAGO, Nov 19, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- PFGBEST.com announced that its BESTDirect MetaTrader4 (MT4) forex trading platform has surpassed expectations in its premier and is now being broadly marketed in the electronic forex trading industry. Hundreds ...
Read more
PFGBEST.com Delivers MetaTrader4 Retail Forex Platform - Marketwatch
Fear of global slowdown lifts yen and dollar * U.S. consumer prices tumble in October * US auto sector, commercial property a worry * For up-to-the-minute market news, click on FXNEWS (Updates prices, adds comment, changes byline) By Gertrude Chavez ...
Read more
FOREX-US dollar slips against yen, up versus euro - Reuters
The Reserve Bank of India`s reference rate for the rupee depreciated 1.41% against US dollar to 49.68 on November 18, as compared to that of the previous working day`s 48.99 (November 17). Meanwhile, the rupee depreciated 1.64% to 62.58 against the ...
Read more
Rupee depreciates in forex market - MyIris
NEW DELHI: India's foreign exchange reserves, having peaked at $314.62 billion in May, dropped by over $44 billion in the past two months, thanks to the widening trade deficit and FIIs pulling out of emerging markets with worsening global crisis ...
Read more