The forex market is a single global market which facilitates across the counter trade in currencies. It is open 24 hours on all five working days of the week so that traders can deal with others across all the time zones. This makes it the largest among all the financial markets, with a daily currency exchange turnover of around $4 trillion.
Even though it is decentralized and across the counter, traders operate by a set of rules and strategies. Those getting started will have to get acquainted with concepts like currency pair values, spreads and pips. Since the movements in value are much smaller, the profit margins are smaller too and this puts an emphasis on high volumes. Also, FX trading involves leveraging to an extent not required with stocks or other markets.
Another big difference is that players here are divided into different levels. At the top is the inter-bank market which is limited to large banks. The tiny spreads (ask/bid price difference) on transactions between these banks are not known to outsiders. The spread increases as one goes down this totem pole and trade volumes decrease.
The next level of access belongs to smaller banks, multi national corporations, and institutional investors. The corporations need the FX to pay employees and suppliers in their own local currency. The hedge funds, insurance companies, pension funds, etc take positions in foreign exchange to hedge their risks and diversify portfolios.
The next level is occupied by the massive money transfer companies. Each of these firms racks up tens of billions of dollars worth of currency exchange. However, it is the retail FX trader aka individual traders who are currently the biggest engine of growth for the forex market.
The main driver for this growth is online trading and the low entry bar. All that's really required is a fast broadband connected computer and a minimum balance trading account with a broker. The broker offers the platform and tools and data required for technical analysis and executing trades based on a specific strategy.
A trading system can be built for the forex market using signals and indicators, or a ready-made system can bought to make things easier. Traders are at the very least required to know how to use these systems. Most have a specific trading style and philosophy, which can be based on technical analysis or a study of macro conditions like the politics and state of the economy of a particular currency.
Even though it is decentralized and across the counter, traders operate by a set of rules and strategies. Those getting started will have to get acquainted with concepts like currency pair values, spreads and pips. Since the movements in value are much smaller, the profit margins are smaller too and this puts an emphasis on high volumes. Also, FX trading involves leveraging to an extent not required with stocks or other markets.
Another big difference is that players here are divided into different levels. At the top is the inter-bank market which is limited to large banks. The tiny spreads (ask/bid price difference) on transactions between these banks are not known to outsiders. The spread increases as one goes down this totem pole and trade volumes decrease.
The next level of access belongs to smaller banks, multi national corporations, and institutional investors. The corporations need the FX to pay employees and suppliers in their own local currency. The hedge funds, insurance companies, pension funds, etc take positions in foreign exchange to hedge their risks and diversify portfolios.
The next level is occupied by the massive money transfer companies. Each of these firms racks up tens of billions of dollars worth of currency exchange. However, it is the retail FX trader aka individual traders who are currently the biggest engine of growth for the forex market.
The main driver for this growth is online trading and the low entry bar. All that's really required is a fast broadband connected computer and a minimum balance trading account with a broker. The broker offers the platform and tools and data required for technical analysis and executing trades based on a specific strategy.
A trading system can be built for the forex market using signals and indicators, or a ready-made system can bought to make things easier. Traders are at the very least required to know how to use these systems. Most have a specific trading style and philosophy, which can be based on technical analysis or a study of macro conditions like the politics and state of the economy of a particular currency.
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Several distinguished trading info sources bring highly factual forex news on a regular continual basis. Certain numbers of the so called forex scams are still existing in the modern world of trading.
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