The Foreign Exchange Market is the platform through which the different currencies of the world are traded. Also known as the Forex or the FX Market, it is the largest of any of the financial markets. The numbers posted in trading volume on a typical day are close to $4 trillion U.S. dollars, with around 1/3 of that amount traded in London markets.
The principle is easy enough to understand. In fact, any traveler has experienced it upon arrival in a foreign country. In order to obtain local currency, one must sell one currency and buy the other. FX traders operate on the same system, though on a much grander scale.
Looking closer at the process in a newspaper's financial section, an observer might notice the "bid" prices versus the "ask" prices. Basically, a bank will set the "ask" price, which is the rate it will offer to buyers. This rate will be higher than the one someone selling back to the bank would receive (the "bid" price). The difference between these two prices is known as the "spread" and is the way a bank will profit from the Foreign Exchange Markets.
The different strategies employed by investors in Forex Markets are fascinating. Some investors will look for longer terms of trends in the market, a steady devaluation or a rise in the currency's strength. At the same time, short-term speculation is highly common and can lead to substantial profits if an investor can read the trend correctly.
The Forex markets are not typically explored by the common investor. One of the reasons is the bid/ask spread which is set by the largest banks in the world. Unlike most areas of investment, the upper echelon banks can secure a rate of exchange on currencies not available to any other players in the market. In fact, the overwhelming majority of the world's currency transactions (nearly 4 out of 5) are handled by the top 10 banks in the market, giants like Deutsche Bank and Barclay's.
The Forex Markets are always a breeding ground for speculation. The aggressive investment style of hedge fund managers has been particularly useful in the currency exchange trading. Since the financial officers of governments have the ability to use Central Bank funds to slow down a currency's devaluation, it can prove difficult to see a trend complete its cycle. By overwhelming the market with capital, hedge fund investors have been able to overcome these effects.
The factors which have an effect on a currency's strength around the world are numerous: government budget deficits, as well as trade deficits, are key indicators, along with inflation levels, overall GDP movement, unemployment levels and government credit rating. In addition, political factors may also have an effect on the strength of a nation's currency, as when a nation's citizens begin to sell local currency off rapidly in favor of an international alternative.
An interesting feature of the FX is the fact that they never close between Monday and Friday. After the close of business in New York, traders can continue on in Europe and finally Asia before New York markets open once again in the morning.
The principle is easy enough to understand. In fact, any traveler has experienced it upon arrival in a foreign country. In order to obtain local currency, one must sell one currency and buy the other. FX traders operate on the same system, though on a much grander scale.
Looking closer at the process in a newspaper's financial section, an observer might notice the "bid" prices versus the "ask" prices. Basically, a bank will set the "ask" price, which is the rate it will offer to buyers. This rate will be higher than the one someone selling back to the bank would receive (the "bid" price). The difference between these two prices is known as the "spread" and is the way a bank will profit from the Foreign Exchange Markets.
The different strategies employed by investors in Forex Markets are fascinating. Some investors will look for longer terms of trends in the market, a steady devaluation or a rise in the currency's strength. At the same time, short-term speculation is highly common and can lead to substantial profits if an investor can read the trend correctly.
The Forex markets are not typically explored by the common investor. One of the reasons is the bid/ask spread which is set by the largest banks in the world. Unlike most areas of investment, the upper echelon banks can secure a rate of exchange on currencies not available to any other players in the market. In fact, the overwhelming majority of the world's currency transactions (nearly 4 out of 5) are handled by the top 10 banks in the market, giants like Deutsche Bank and Barclay's.
The Forex Markets are always a breeding ground for speculation. The aggressive investment style of hedge fund managers has been particularly useful in the currency exchange trading. Since the financial officers of governments have the ability to use Central Bank funds to slow down a currency's devaluation, it can prove difficult to see a trend complete its cycle. By overwhelming the market with capital, hedge fund investors have been able to overcome these effects.
The factors which have an effect on a currency's strength around the world are numerous: government budget deficits, as well as trade deficits, are key indicators, along with inflation levels, overall GDP movement, unemployment levels and government credit rating. In addition, political factors may also have an effect on the strength of a nation's currency, as when a nation's citizens begin to sell local currency off rapidly in favor of an international alternative.
An interesting feature of the FX is the fact that they never close between Monday and Friday. After the close of business in New York, traders can continue on in Europe and finally Asia before New York markets open once again in the morning.
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