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.
Example:
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.
RISK WARNING:
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.
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