Trading in the spot foreign exchange market involves a significant risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Clients should evaluate their financial condition in light of the potential risk of loss before deciding to trade. Only discretionary risk capital should be used for trading. Discretionary risk capital is capital that if lost will not cause a change in your lifestyle.
Minimum System Requirements
Windows 2000 / XP / Vista
2 .0 GHz or faster CPU
512 MB RAM (1GB recommended)
Screen resolution 1024x768 or higher
Modem/connection speed 36.6 Kbps or faster
Internet Explorer version 7.0 / Mozilla FireFox 2.0 or later
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Forex History
The foreign exchange (currency or forex or FX) market exists wherever one currency is traded for another. It is by far the largest market in the world, in terms of cash value traded, and includes trading between large banks, central banks, currency speculators, multinational corporations, governments, and other financial markets and institutions. The trade [...]
Trading for A Living
There can’t be many traders who haven’t at least considered the idea of telling the boss what they think of him, throwing it all in and going off to trade the stock market for a living. It’s a big risk financially, and that uncertainty is what stops most from jumping ship. Is it really possible [...]
My Chart
Sometime, when having some free time, i love to sit infront of my monitor and watching my chart. Just like tonight, i’ve been watching my chart for about 2 hours. My signal today has given 30pips profit.
I’m currently having one open position, long position, but that’s not what make me watching my monitor. No, [...]
I’m currently having one open position, long position, but that’s not what make me watching my monitor. No, [...]
Do I really make Pips?
Some signal-watchers (what a funny term) keep asking me whether I really trade using my daily forex signal or not. Though I’ve answere ‘Yes, that’s right’ many times, still i received the same question again and again. Yesterday, for example, someone contact me and telling
your signal is getting worst and worst each day. I’m [...]
your signal is getting worst and worst each day. I’m [...]
What is Forex
The first question came into my mind at the first time I heard this term.”Forex, what kinda creature is it?”. Some negative thoughts on this term has been long time spreading in most of Indonesian (my lovely country) mind. Mainly because most of them has heard a general opinion that this creature is [...]
BigBen Strategy - The Logic
This article is a continuation from previous Big Ben Strategy post
The logic
As mentioned, the pound/dollar rate tends to have lower trading volume outside European/London trading hours because the majority of GBP/USD spot deals are worked through U.K. and European dealers. This gives the European/British interbank community tremendous insight into the currency pair’s actual supply-demand picture. [...]
The logic
As mentioned, the pound/dollar rate tends to have lower trading volume outside European/London trading hours because the majority of GBP/USD spot deals are worked through U.K. and European dealers. This gives the European/British interbank community tremendous insight into the currency pair’s actual supply-demand picture. [...]
My Forex Trading System
Due to many e-mails asking my forex trading systems, I feel squeezed to make a comprehensive post about system I use. However, I confuse on how to write a good post explaining whole aspects of my trading systems. It makes the process gets harder and needs longer time.
I want all of you to understand, my [...]
I want all of you to understand, my [...]
Pivot Point
Speaking of pivots, I know two terms which explain pivot in different perspective. First is Pivot point and the second is Pivot Lines. Recently, when people discuss or mention ‘Pivot‘ it usually refer to Pivot Lines. Even, I have read somewhere a term of ‘Pivot Point‘ refers to Pivot Lines.
It is ok if the current [...]
It is ok if the current [...]
Pivot Lines
Pivot Lines is what usually called as Pivot. In different post, I wrote Pivot Point as the other definition of Pivot. However, as I know, in common discussion Pivot term usually refers to Pivot Lines.
Pivot Lines are lines of support and resistance which are calculated from the High(H), Low(L) and Close (C) price of the [...]
Pivot Lines are lines of support and resistance which are calculated from the High(H), Low(L) and Close (C) price of the [...]
Forex Support and Resistance Level
Support and Resistance is a trading concept which interprete whether the market is currently in doubt and probably will have a direction change. A price level, at which this market situation occur, is called as Support or Resistance level. We expect or predict that on this level market will change its direction.
Traders have [...]
Traders have [...]
4 Features of American Consumerism that Affect the Forex Markets
After decades of relative strength and stability, the US Dollar has lately been in a steady state of decline. No one has felt the effects of this fall more acutely than average American consumers, who have seen the purchasing power of their paychecks dramatically decrease both at home and abroad. [...]
Thing You Should Really Consider
Phrase that you probably often hear but give minor attention is “Forex Trading is Risky Business”. Though any kind of investment involves risk, forex trading involves the highest risk among others. I should emphasize this since I know many of you are relatively new to forex trading and probably brought here by such overwhelming [...]
Northfinance Stops Operating
As I noticed earlier, Northfinance said though they wouldn’t accept any new client, they would still keep serving old clients. Then surprisingly yesterday I received an official message noticing that Northfinance has officially decided to stop operating by the 1st June 2008.
Below is a copy of the official email.
Dear,
We would like to thank you [.
Below is a copy of the official email.
Dear,
We would like to thank you [.
:: Forex Trading
Forex trading isn’t strange words for those who looking forward to make quick profit in the financial market. Most investors will have at least hear or read about Forex trading. If Forex is a new term to you, please do read the Introduction to the Forex market before proceed reading this Forex trading article.
Forex trading is said to be the highest risk with highest return investment (or speculation game to be more accurate) in the financial market. The amount traded in the Forex market is much larger than any stock market or even combining few stock markets. Forex trading is simply a world wide trading market running 24 hours from Monday to Friday.
Everyday, there are new Forex traders entering into trading Forex. Some of them don’t even fully understand how Forex is traded but have already trading Forex. They are not idiot who want to burn their hard earned money, it’s just because Forex market is simply too lucrative market to enter with extreme high return. Any Forex traders can easily make a double return just in few minutes time trading Forex.
Forex trading is the trading of buying or selling certain currency. For example, buying US Dollar, then selling it later at a higher price to gain profit. Forex traders may also first sell US Dollar and later on buy it back at a lower price with the same gaining profit. It’s simple strategy of selling price minus buying price to make profit. In Forex trading, we just treat currency as a good, buy it and sell it.
You might now think how can Forex trading make huge profit just by selling and buying currency? Forex is traded using margin, Forex traders don’t need to full amount to buy any currency. For example, Forex traders just need 1000 Dollar to buy up 100,000 Dollar. This allows any Forex traders to make huge profit with little money.
Another important factor that any Forex traders can make huge profit is the high fluctuation for currency. Every day every seconds, the currency exchange rate is moving up and down, the Forex exchange rate fluctuate more heavily whenever there is any important economic data being released.
Forex trading is simply sounds too easy for anyone to make profit in very short time. But before you committed into Forex trading, it is strongly advised to have full understanding in Forex trading. Do read up other Forex trading articles in this website and share Forex trading knowledge in the Forex forums.
Forex trading is said to be the highest risk with highest return investment (or speculation game to be more accurate) in the financial market. The amount traded in the Forex market is much larger than any stock market or even combining few stock markets. Forex trading is simply a world wide trading market running 24 hours from Monday to Friday.
Everyday, there are new Forex traders entering into trading Forex. Some of them don’t even fully understand how Forex is traded but have already trading Forex. They are not idiot who want to burn their hard earned money, it’s just because Forex market is simply too lucrative market to enter with extreme high return. Any Forex traders can easily make a double return just in few minutes time trading Forex.
Forex trading is the trading of buying or selling certain currency. For example, buying US Dollar, then selling it later at a higher price to gain profit. Forex traders may also first sell US Dollar and later on buy it back at a lower price with the same gaining profit. It’s simple strategy of selling price minus buying price to make profit. In Forex trading, we just treat currency as a good, buy it and sell it.
You might now think how can Forex trading make huge profit just by selling and buying currency? Forex is traded using margin, Forex traders don’t need to full amount to buy any currency. For example, Forex traders just need 1000 Dollar to buy up 100,000 Dollar. This allows any Forex traders to make huge profit with little money.
Another important factor that any Forex traders can make huge profit is the high fluctuation for currency. Every day every seconds, the currency exchange rate is moving up and down, the Forex exchange rate fluctuate more heavily whenever there is any important economic data being released.
Forex trading is simply sounds too easy for anyone to make profit in very short time. But before you committed into Forex trading, it is strongly advised to have full understanding in Forex trading. Do read up other Forex trading articles in this website and share Forex trading knowledge in the Forex forums.
:: Forex Development History
Foreign exchange development history - exchange market evolution foreign exchange development history - exchange market evolution gold remittance system and Bretton woods agreement
In 1967, a Chicago bank rejected to provide pound loan to a professor named Milton Friedman, because his purposed was to use this fund to sell short the British pound. Mr. Friedman realized excessively that the price ratio from the British pound to US dollar at that time was high, he wanted first to sell the British pound, after the British pound fell he buys back the British pound to repay the bank again. This family bank rejects the loan offer based on the "Bretton woods Agreement" which was established 20 years ago. This agreement has fixed the various countries' currency to US dollar exchange rate, and the price ratio between the U.S dollar and the gold is also fixed to 35 US dollars to each ounce of gold.
The Bretton Woods Agreement was signed in 1944, the purposed was to prevent the currency to escape between countries, and also to limit the international speculation, thus to stabilize the international currency. Before this agreement was signed, the gold remittance standard system which was widely used since 1876 - was leading the international economy system until the First World War. In the gold remittance system, the currency was at the stable level under the support of the gold price. The gold remittance system has abolished the old time king and the ruler which depreciates the currency value unlawfully, which will lead to inflation.
But, the gold remittance standard system is certainly imperfect. Along with a country economic potentiality enhancement, it can import massive products from overseas, until it exhausts the gold reserve of certain country. It resulted the supply of the currency reduces, the interest rate raises, the economic activity will start to decline until it reaches the recession limit. Finally, the commodity price falls to the valley, gradually attracts other countries to stream in, massively rushes to purchase this country commodity. This will pour gold into this country, this will increase this country currency supplies quantity, and it will reduce the interest rate, and will create the wealth. This is so called the "the prosperity - decline” pattern and is the circulation of the gold remittance standard system, until the trade circulation and the gold freedom was broken by the First World War.
After several catastrophes wars, the Bretton Woods agreement has appeared. The countries which signed the treaty agreed to maintain the domestic currency to US dollar exchange rate, as well as the necessity of the corresponding ratio of the gold, and only allow a small fluctuation. Countries are prohibited to depreciate the currency value for the gain trade benefit, only allows the country to depreciate not more then 10%. Enters the 50's, the continuous growth of the international trade causes the fund large-scale shift which produces because of the postwar reconstruction, this causes Bretton Woods system which establishes the foreign exchange rate to lose stability.
This agreement was finally abolished in 1971, US dollar no longer could convert to gold. Until 1973, each major industrialized nation currency exchange rate fluctuation has been more freely, mainly regulates by the foreign exchange market through the currency supplies and demand quantity. The business volume, the transaction speed as well as the price variability, have achieved a comprehensive growth in the 1970's, come along with the emerge of price ratio fluctuation, the brand-new financial tool, then only the market liberalization and the trade liberalization could be achieved.
In the 1980s, along with the published of the computer and correlation technology, the international capital has flow rapidly, and strongly related the Asia, Europe and America market. Foreign exchange business volume from 80's rises daily from 70 billion US dollars to 150 billion US dollars after 20 years.
European market inflation
One of the reasons why the foreign exchange developed rapidly was the rapid development of the Euro dollar market. In a Euro dollar market, US dollar is stored beyond the border of America banks. Similarly, the European market is refers to property depositing outside the currency rightful owner country market. A Euro dollar market was formed at first in the 50's, at that time Russia deposited its petroleum income beyond the US border, avoid being freeze by the US government. This has formed a large offshore US dollar national treasury which is beyond the control of the US government. The American government has formulated a law to prohibited US dollar from lending money for the foreigner. Because the degree of freedom of the Euro dollar market is bigger and the rate of return is bigger, therefore it has large attraction. Starting from the 80's, the American company starts to borrow loan from the offshore market, they discovered that the European market is a wealth center which consists of large amount of floating capital which could provide short-term loan.
London once was (until now still is) one of the main offshore market. In the 80's, the Bank of England in order to maintain its global finance industry center dominant position, using US dollar as England pound substitution to make loan, thus to become a Euro dollar market center. London's convenient geographical position (is situated between Asian and Americas market) also helps to maintain the European market as the dominant position.
In 1967, a Chicago bank rejected to provide pound loan to a professor named Milton Friedman, because his purposed was to use this fund to sell short the British pound. Mr. Friedman realized excessively that the price ratio from the British pound to US dollar at that time was high, he wanted first to sell the British pound, after the British pound fell he buys back the British pound to repay the bank again. This family bank rejects the loan offer based on the "Bretton woods Agreement" which was established 20 years ago. This agreement has fixed the various countries' currency to US dollar exchange rate, and the price ratio between the U.S dollar and the gold is also fixed to 35 US dollars to each ounce of gold.
The Bretton Woods Agreement was signed in 1944, the purposed was to prevent the currency to escape between countries, and also to limit the international speculation, thus to stabilize the international currency. Before this agreement was signed, the gold remittance standard system which was widely used since 1876 - was leading the international economy system until the First World War. In the gold remittance system, the currency was at the stable level under the support of the gold price. The gold remittance system has abolished the old time king and the ruler which depreciates the currency value unlawfully, which will lead to inflation.
But, the gold remittance standard system is certainly imperfect. Along with a country economic potentiality enhancement, it can import massive products from overseas, until it exhausts the gold reserve of certain country. It resulted the supply of the currency reduces, the interest rate raises, the economic activity will start to decline until it reaches the recession limit. Finally, the commodity price falls to the valley, gradually attracts other countries to stream in, massively rushes to purchase this country commodity. This will pour gold into this country, this will increase this country currency supplies quantity, and it will reduce the interest rate, and will create the wealth. This is so called the "the prosperity - decline” pattern and is the circulation of the gold remittance standard system, until the trade circulation and the gold freedom was broken by the First World War.
After several catastrophes wars, the Bretton Woods agreement has appeared. The countries which signed the treaty agreed to maintain the domestic currency to US dollar exchange rate, as well as the necessity of the corresponding ratio of the gold, and only allow a small fluctuation. Countries are prohibited to depreciate the currency value for the gain trade benefit, only allows the country to depreciate not more then 10%. Enters the 50's, the continuous growth of the international trade causes the fund large-scale shift which produces because of the postwar reconstruction, this causes Bretton Woods system which establishes the foreign exchange rate to lose stability.
This agreement was finally abolished in 1971, US dollar no longer could convert to gold. Until 1973, each major industrialized nation currency exchange rate fluctuation has been more freely, mainly regulates by the foreign exchange market through the currency supplies and demand quantity. The business volume, the transaction speed as well as the price variability, have achieved a comprehensive growth in the 1970's, come along with the emerge of price ratio fluctuation, the brand-new financial tool, then only the market liberalization and the trade liberalization could be achieved.
In the 1980s, along with the published of the computer and correlation technology, the international capital has flow rapidly, and strongly related the Asia, Europe and America market. Foreign exchange business volume from 80's rises daily from 70 billion US dollars to 150 billion US dollars after 20 years.
European market inflation
One of the reasons why the foreign exchange developed rapidly was the rapid development of the Euro dollar market. In a Euro dollar market, US dollar is stored beyond the border of America banks. Similarly, the European market is refers to property depositing outside the currency rightful owner country market. A Euro dollar market was formed at first in the 50's, at that time Russia deposited its petroleum income beyond the US border, avoid being freeze by the US government. This has formed a large offshore US dollar national treasury which is beyond the control of the US government. The American government has formulated a law to prohibited US dollar from lending money for the foreigner. Because the degree of freedom of the Euro dollar market is bigger and the rate of return is bigger, therefore it has large attraction. Starting from the 80's, the American company starts to borrow loan from the offshore market, they discovered that the European market is a wealth center which consists of large amount of floating capital which could provide short-term loan.
London once was (until now still is) one of the main offshore market. In the 80's, the Bank of England in order to maintain its global finance industry center dominant position, using US dollar as England pound substitution to make loan, thus to become a Euro dollar market center. London's convenient geographical position (is situated between Asian and Americas market) also helps to maintain the European market as the dominant position.
:: Famous Forex Quotes
“If you get in on Jones’ tip; get out on Jones’ tip”. If you are riding another person’s idea, ride it all the way.
Run early or not at all. Don't be an eleven o'clock bull or a five o'clock bear.
Woodrow Wilson said, "a governments first priority is to organize the common interest against special interests". Successful traders seek out market opportunities capitalizing on the reality that government's first priority is rarely achieved.
People who buy headlines eventually end up selling newspapers.
If you do not know who you are, the market is an expensive place to find out.
Never give advice-the smart don't need it and the stupid don't heed it.
Disregard all prognostications. In the world of money, which is a world shaped by human behavior, nobody has the foggiest notion of what will happen in the future. Mark that word-nobody! Thus the successful trader bases no moves on what supposedly will happen but reacts instead to what does happen.
Worry is not a sickness but a sign of health. If you are not worried, you are not risking enough.
Except in unusual circumstances, get in the habit of taking your profit too soon. Don't torment yourself if a trade continues winning without you. Chances are it won't continue long. If it does console yourself by thinking of all the times when liquidating early preserved gains you would otherwise have lost.
When the ship starts to sink, don't pray-jump!
Life never happens in a straight line. Any adult knows this. But we can too easily be hypnotized into forgetting it when contemplating a chart. Beware of the chartist's illusion.
Optimism means expecting the best, but confidence means knowing how you will handle the worst. Never make a move if you are merely optimistic.
Whatever you do, whether you bet with the herd or against, think it through independently first.
Repeatedly reevaluate your open positions. Keep asking yourself: would I put my money into this if it were presented to me for the first time today? Is this trade progressing toward the ending position I envisioned?
It is a safe bet that the money lost by (short term) speculation is small compared with the gigantic sums lost by those who let their investments "ride". Long term investors are the biggest gamblers as after they make a trade they often times stay with it and end up losing it all. The intelligent trader will . By acting promptly-hold losses to a minimum.
As a rule of thumb good trend lines should touch at least three previous highs or lows. The more points the line catches, the better the line.
Volume and open interest are as important to the technician as price.
The clearest and easiest way to determine a trend is from previous highs and lows. Higher highs and higher lows mark an uptrend, lower highs and lower lows mark a downtrend.
Don't sell a quiet market after a fall because a low volume sell-off is actually a very bullish situation.
Prices are made in the minds of men, not in the soybean field: fear and greed can temporarily drive prices far beyond their so called real value.
When the market breaks through a weekly or monthly high, it is a buy signal. When it breaks through the previous weekly or monthly low, it is a sell signal.
Every sunken ship has a chart.
Take a trading break. A break will give you a detached view of the market and a fresh look at yourself and the way you want to trade for the next several weeks.
Assimilate into your very bones a set of trading rules that works for you.
The final phase in a bull move is an accelerated runaway near the top. In this phase, the market always makes you believe that you have underestimated the potential bull market. The temptation to continue pyramiding your position is strong as profits have now swelled to the point that you believe your account can stand any setback. It is imperative at this juncture to take profits on your pyramids and reduce the position back to base levels. The base position is then liquidated when it becomes apparent that the move has ended.
Run early or not at all. Don't be an eleven o'clock bull or a five o'clock bear.
Woodrow Wilson said, "a governments first priority is to organize the common interest against special interests". Successful traders seek out market opportunities capitalizing on the reality that government's first priority is rarely achieved.
People who buy headlines eventually end up selling newspapers.
If you do not know who you are, the market is an expensive place to find out.
Never give advice-the smart don't need it and the stupid don't heed it.
Disregard all prognostications. In the world of money, which is a world shaped by human behavior, nobody has the foggiest notion of what will happen in the future. Mark that word-nobody! Thus the successful trader bases no moves on what supposedly will happen but reacts instead to what does happen.
Worry is not a sickness but a sign of health. If you are not worried, you are not risking enough.
Except in unusual circumstances, get in the habit of taking your profit too soon. Don't torment yourself if a trade continues winning without you. Chances are it won't continue long. If it does console yourself by thinking of all the times when liquidating early preserved gains you would otherwise have lost.
When the ship starts to sink, don't pray-jump!
Life never happens in a straight line. Any adult knows this. But we can too easily be hypnotized into forgetting it when contemplating a chart. Beware of the chartist's illusion.
Optimism means expecting the best, but confidence means knowing how you will handle the worst. Never make a move if you are merely optimistic.
Whatever you do, whether you bet with the herd or against, think it through independently first.
Repeatedly reevaluate your open positions. Keep asking yourself: would I put my money into this if it were presented to me for the first time today? Is this trade progressing toward the ending position I envisioned?
It is a safe bet that the money lost by (short term) speculation is small compared with the gigantic sums lost by those who let their investments "ride". Long term investors are the biggest gamblers as after they make a trade they often times stay with it and end up losing it all. The intelligent trader will . By acting promptly-hold losses to a minimum.
As a rule of thumb good trend lines should touch at least three previous highs or lows. The more points the line catches, the better the line.
Volume and open interest are as important to the technician as price.
The clearest and easiest way to determine a trend is from previous highs and lows. Higher highs and higher lows mark an uptrend, lower highs and lower lows mark a downtrend.
Don't sell a quiet market after a fall because a low volume sell-off is actually a very bullish situation.
Prices are made in the minds of men, not in the soybean field: fear and greed can temporarily drive prices far beyond their so called real value.
When the market breaks through a weekly or monthly high, it is a buy signal. When it breaks through the previous weekly or monthly low, it is a sell signal.
Every sunken ship has a chart.
Take a trading break. A break will give you a detached view of the market and a fresh look at yourself and the way you want to trade for the next several weeks.
Assimilate into your very bones a set of trading rules that works for you.
The final phase in a bull move is an accelerated runaway near the top. In this phase, the market always makes you believe that you have underestimated the potential bull market. The temptation to continue pyramiding your position is strong as profits have now swelled to the point that you believe your account can stand any setback. It is imperative at this juncture to take profits on your pyramids and reduce the position back to base levels. The base position is then liquidated when it becomes apparent that the move has ended.
::What Is The Difference Between Forex and Futures?
A Forex trader could trade more transaction compared to the futures market (the trading volume could be a times larger), and the risk will be strictly under control. The trading volume of the Forex market is 46 times larger compared to the futures market, moreover Forex traders could make more profit from the Forex market due to the larger trading volume (the transaction volume is a few times larger), the REFCO Switzerland rich transaction platform allowed transaction between 1-100 times to be carry on, moreover a Forex trader could decide his or her own transaction amount, for example: Your account has $30,000, the basic transaction unit is each $1,000 (which transaction amount in $1.00, million), namely, so the proportion of the margin of each transaction unit is 100:1.
The risk of the Forex trader is under control, such margin call will not happen compared to futures, through the Forex trading system, your risk will receive the strict limit, even if your margin if lower then the deposit required, the Forex trading system will automatically settle your position, this means even if a Forex trader suffered losses, moreover if the market is suffering from a disaster fluctuation, your loss could not surpass your account amount. In order to understand the advantages, please apply for the demo account to carry on the complete zero risk.
A Forex trader will receive a large limitation of liquidation and a relatively fair market because the trading volume of the Forex market is large and it is also the largest liquidation market in the world. At present the trading volume in the Forex market is 140 billion Dollars, such big market will completely digest your transaction cash.
A Forex trader may do 24 hours transactions and other markets are different, the Forex market is a 24 hour linkages market, it starts from every Sunday before dawn Australian Sydney market, substandard collect the transaction center Singapore, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt to New York continuously to open, such linkage market enable you to do 24 hours transactions, also provide flexibility for Forex trader to do transaction
The risk of the Forex trader is under control, such margin call will not happen compared to futures, through the Forex trading system, your risk will receive the strict limit, even if your margin if lower then the deposit required, the Forex trading system will automatically settle your position, this means even if a Forex trader suffered losses, moreover if the market is suffering from a disaster fluctuation, your loss could not surpass your account amount. In order to understand the advantages, please apply for the demo account to carry on the complete zero risk.
A Forex trader will receive a large limitation of liquidation and a relatively fair market because the trading volume of the Forex market is large and it is also the largest liquidation market in the world. At present the trading volume in the Forex market is 140 billion Dollars, such big market will completely digest your transaction cash.
A Forex trader may do 24 hours transactions and other markets are different, the Forex market is a 24 hour linkages market, it starts from every Sunday before dawn Australian Sydney market, substandard collect the transaction center Singapore, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt to New York continuously to open, such linkage market enable you to do 24 hours transactions, also provide flexibility for Forex trader to do transaction
:: The Foreign Exchange Rate
In the international market, the Foreign Exchange rate is demonstrated by five numerals, for example:
EUR/USD 1.2653
USD/JPY 107.65
GBP/JPY 195.03
The Exchange Rate Change
The exchange rate smallest change for the final figure (is 1 pip), for example:
The EUR/USD smallest change is 0.0001
USD/JPY smallest change is 0.01
Quoted Price
All quoted prices can be divided into direct quoted price and the indirect quoted price, for example:
The direct quoted price currency includes: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, NZD/USD ......
The indirect quoted price currency includes: USD/JPY, USD/CHF, USD/CAD ....
For example, the EUR/USD quoted price is 1.2653, which means each euro could convert to 1.2653 US dollars, while the USD/JPY quoted price is 107.65, which means that each US dollar could convert to 107.65 Japanese Yen.
The buying price and the selling price of the foreign currency is decided by the bank or the broker house, customer decides only the buying trend. For example, the EUR/USD quoted price general demonstration is 1.2652/57, which means the broker house is willing to buy Euro dollar at the price of 1.2652, and sell at the price of 1.2657. At this time, the price difference between the buyer and the seller (pip difference) is 5 pips, for foreign exchange trading, the smaller the point means the trading cost is lower and the chance of profit making is much larger.
EUR/USD 1.2653
USD/JPY 107.65
GBP/JPY 195.03
The Exchange Rate Change
The exchange rate smallest change for the final figure (is 1 pip), for example:
The EUR/USD smallest change is 0.0001
USD/JPY smallest change is 0.01
Quoted Price
All quoted prices can be divided into direct quoted price and the indirect quoted price, for example:
The direct quoted price currency includes: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, NZD/USD ......
The indirect quoted price currency includes: USD/JPY, USD/CHF, USD/CAD ....
For example, the EUR/USD quoted price is 1.2653, which means each euro could convert to 1.2653 US dollars, while the USD/JPY quoted price is 107.65, which means that each US dollar could convert to 107.65 Japanese Yen.
The buying price and the selling price of the foreign currency is decided by the bank or the broker house, customer decides only the buying trend. For example, the EUR/USD quoted price general demonstration is 1.2652/57, which means the broker house is willing to buy Euro dollar at the price of 1.2652, and sell at the price of 1.2657. At this time, the price difference between the buyer and the seller (pip difference) is 5 pips, for foreign exchange trading, the smaller the point means the trading cost is lower and the chance of profit making is much larger.
Forex Basics
Forex Basics The following is an introduction to some of the basic terms and concepts used in forex trading.
Foreign Exchange : The simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another.
Foreign Exchange Market : An informal network of trading relationships between the world's major banks and other market participants, sometimes referred to as the 'interbank' market. The foreign exchange market has no central clearinghouse or exchange, and is considered an over-the-counter (OTC) market.
Spot Market : Market for buying and selling currencies for settlement within two business days (the value date). USD/CAD = 1 day. Most dealers will automatically roll over your open positions, allowing you to hold a position for an indefinite period of time.
Rollover : The process whereby the settlement of a transaction is rolled forward to the next value date. The cost of this process is based on the interest rate differential between two currencies.
Exchange Rate : The value of one currency expressed in terms of another. For example, if the exchange rate for EUR/USD is 1.3200, 1 Euro is worth US$1.3200.
Currency Pair : The two currencies that make up an exchange rate. When one is bought, the other is sold, and vice versa.
Base Currency : The first currency in the pair.
Counter Currency : The second currency in the pair. Also known as the terms currency.
ISO Currency Codes :
USD = US Dollar
EUR = Euro
JPY = Japanese Yen
GBP = British Pound
CHF = Swiss Franc
CAD = Canadian Dollar
AUD = Australian Dollar
NZD = New Zealand Dollar
Currency Pair Terminology
EUR/USD = "Euro"
USD/JPY = "Dollar Yen"
GBP/USD = "Cable" or "Sterling"
USD/CHF = "Swissy"
USD/CAD = "Dollar Canada" (CAD referred to as the "Loonie")
AUD/USD = "Aussie Dollar"
NZD/USD = "Kiwi"
The following pairs might also be referred to by the following nicknames:
EUR/USD = "Fiber"
USD/JPY = "Gopher"
EUR/GBP = "Chunnel"
GBP/CHF = "Geppy"
Market Maker :A market maker makes a market for a particular financial instrument, providing liquidity and a two-way price quote. A market maker takes the opposite side of your trade.
Broker : A firm that matches buyers and sellers for a fee or a commission.
Counterparty : One of the participants in a transaction.
Sell Quote : The quote on the left is the price at which you can sell currency. (Also known as the bid price). e.g. For EUR/USD 1.3200/03, you can sell 1 Euro for US$1.3200.
Buy Quote : The quote on the right is the price at which you can buy currency. (Also known as the ask or offer price). e.g. For EUR/USD 1.3200/03, you can buy 1 Euro for US$1.3203.
Spread : The difference between the sell quote and the buy quote. If the quote for EUR/USD reads 1.3200/03, the spread is 3 pips. In order to break even, the currency must shift in your direction by an amount equal to the spread.
Pip : Price Interest Point. The smallest price increment a currency can make. Also known as points. e.g. 1 pip = 0.0001 for EUR/USD, or 0.01 for USD/JPY.
Pip Value : The value of a pip. 1 pip = $10 for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD & NZD/USD with 100k lots, or $1 per pip with 10k lots. To calculate the pip value of other currency pairs, use a pip value calculator .
Tick : Minimum change in price
Lot : The standard unit size of a transaction. Typically, one standard lot is equal to 100,000 units of the base currency, or 10,000 units for a mini.
Standard Account : Trading with standard lot sizes
Mini Account : Trading with mini lot sizes
Margin : The deposit required to open a position. A 1% margin requirement allows you to open a $100,000 position with a $1,000 deposit.
Leverage : The amount of times the value of your transaction exceeds your margin. e.g. 100:1 leverage implies a 1% margin.
Long Position : A position whereby the trader profits from an increase in price. (Buy low, sell high)
Short Position : A position whereby the trader profits from a decrease in price. (Sell high, buy low)
Market Order : An order at the current market price
Entry Order : An order that is executed when the price touches a pre-specified level
Limit Entry Order : An order to buy below the market or sell above the market at a pre-specified level, believing that the price will reverse direction from that point.
Stop-Entry Order : An order to buy above the market or sell below the market at a pre-specified level, believing that the price will continue in the same direction from that point.
Limit Order :An order to take profits at a pre-specified level
Stop-Loss Order : An order to limit losses at a pre-specified level
OCO Order : One Cancels Other. Two orders whereby if one is executed, the other is cancelled.
Manual Execution : The order is executed with human intervention.
Automatic Execution : The order is executed automatically by computer without human intervention or involvement.
Slippage : The difference in pips between the order price and the price the order is filled at.
Example Transaction : Assume you have a trading account of $20,000 and you have chosen to use 100:1 leverage on your account. The current quote for EUR/USD is 1.3225/28. You place a market order to buy 1 lot of 100,000 Euros at 1.3228, expecting the euro to strengthen against the dollar. At the same time you place a stop-loss order at 1.3203, and a limit order at 1.3328.
The value of this trade is $132,280 (100,000 * 1.3228) but because you are using 100:1 leverage, you only need to deposit 1% of the total, which is $1322.80 ($132,280 * 0.01).
The Euro strengthens against the dollar as expected, rising to 1.3328 where your limit order is reached. Your position is closed. You have made 100 pips.
Your total profit for this trade is $1,000 (100,000 * (1.3328 - 1.3228)), and the return on your investment is 75.6% ($1000/$1322.80).
Trade Summary :
Opening Balance: $20,000
Leverage: 100:1
Buy: 1 std lot EUR/USD @ 1.3228 = $132,280
Margin Requirement: $1322.80
Position Size: 6.6% of the account ($1322.80/$20,000)
Pip Value: 1 pip = $10
Stop-Loss: 25 pips (representing 1.25% of the account)
Limit: 100 pips
Risk/Reward Ratio: 4:1
Sell: 1 std lot EUR/USD @ 1.3328 = $133,280
Profit: $1,000
Return: 75.6% ($1,000/$1322.80)
Closing Balance: $21,000 (+5% gain
Foreign Exchange : The simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another.
Foreign Exchange Market : An informal network of trading relationships between the world's major banks and other market participants, sometimes referred to as the 'interbank' market. The foreign exchange market has no central clearinghouse or exchange, and is considered an over-the-counter (OTC) market.
Spot Market : Market for buying and selling currencies for settlement within two business days (the value date). USD/CAD = 1 day. Most dealers will automatically roll over your open positions, allowing you to hold a position for an indefinite period of time.
Rollover : The process whereby the settlement of a transaction is rolled forward to the next value date. The cost of this process is based on the interest rate differential between two currencies.
Exchange Rate : The value of one currency expressed in terms of another. For example, if the exchange rate for EUR/USD is 1.3200, 1 Euro is worth US$1.3200.
Currency Pair : The two currencies that make up an exchange rate. When one is bought, the other is sold, and vice versa.
Base Currency : The first currency in the pair.
Counter Currency : The second currency in the pair. Also known as the terms currency.
ISO Currency Codes :
USD = US Dollar
EUR = Euro
JPY = Japanese Yen
GBP = British Pound
CHF = Swiss Franc
CAD = Canadian Dollar
AUD = Australian Dollar
NZD = New Zealand Dollar
Currency Pair Terminology
EUR/USD = "Euro"
USD/JPY = "Dollar Yen"
GBP/USD = "Cable" or "Sterling"
USD/CHF = "Swissy"
USD/CAD = "Dollar Canada" (CAD referred to as the "Loonie")
AUD/USD = "Aussie Dollar"
NZD/USD = "Kiwi"
The following pairs might also be referred to by the following nicknames:
EUR/USD = "Fiber"
USD/JPY = "Gopher"
EUR/GBP = "Chunnel"
GBP/CHF = "Geppy"
Market Maker :A market maker makes a market for a particular financial instrument, providing liquidity and a two-way price quote. A market maker takes the opposite side of your trade.
Broker : A firm that matches buyers and sellers for a fee or a commission.
Counterparty : One of the participants in a transaction.
Sell Quote : The quote on the left is the price at which you can sell currency. (Also known as the bid price). e.g. For EUR/USD 1.3200/03, you can sell 1 Euro for US$1.3200.
Buy Quote : The quote on the right is the price at which you can buy currency. (Also known as the ask or offer price). e.g. For EUR/USD 1.3200/03, you can buy 1 Euro for US$1.3203.
Spread : The difference between the sell quote and the buy quote. If the quote for EUR/USD reads 1.3200/03, the spread is 3 pips. In order to break even, the currency must shift in your direction by an amount equal to the spread.
Pip : Price Interest Point. The smallest price increment a currency can make. Also known as points. e.g. 1 pip = 0.0001 for EUR/USD, or 0.01 for USD/JPY.
Pip Value : The value of a pip. 1 pip = $10 for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD & NZD/USD with 100k lots, or $1 per pip with 10k lots. To calculate the pip value of other currency pairs, use a pip value calculator .
Tick : Minimum change in price
Lot : The standard unit size of a transaction. Typically, one standard lot is equal to 100,000 units of the base currency, or 10,000 units for a mini.
Standard Account : Trading with standard lot sizes
Mini Account : Trading with mini lot sizes
Margin : The deposit required to open a position. A 1% margin requirement allows you to open a $100,000 position with a $1,000 deposit.
Leverage : The amount of times the value of your transaction exceeds your margin. e.g. 100:1 leverage implies a 1% margin.
Long Position : A position whereby the trader profits from an increase in price. (Buy low, sell high)
Short Position : A position whereby the trader profits from a decrease in price. (Sell high, buy low)
Market Order : An order at the current market price
Entry Order : An order that is executed when the price touches a pre-specified level
Limit Entry Order : An order to buy below the market or sell above the market at a pre-specified level, believing that the price will reverse direction from that point.
Stop-Entry Order : An order to buy above the market or sell below the market at a pre-specified level, believing that the price will continue in the same direction from that point.
Limit Order :An order to take profits at a pre-specified level
Stop-Loss Order : An order to limit losses at a pre-specified level
OCO Order : One Cancels Other. Two orders whereby if one is executed, the other is cancelled.
Manual Execution : The order is executed with human intervention.
Automatic Execution : The order is executed automatically by computer without human intervention or involvement.
Slippage : The difference in pips between the order price and the price the order is filled at.
Example Transaction : Assume you have a trading account of $20,000 and you have chosen to use 100:1 leverage on your account. The current quote for EUR/USD is 1.3225/28. You place a market order to buy 1 lot of 100,000 Euros at 1.3228, expecting the euro to strengthen against the dollar. At the same time you place a stop-loss order at 1.3203, and a limit order at 1.3328.
The value of this trade is $132,280 (100,000 * 1.3228) but because you are using 100:1 leverage, you only need to deposit 1% of the total, which is $1322.80 ($132,280 * 0.01).
The Euro strengthens against the dollar as expected, rising to 1.3328 where your limit order is reached. Your position is closed. You have made 100 pips.
Your total profit for this trade is $1,000 (100,000 * (1.3328 - 1.3228)), and the return on your investment is 75.6% ($1000/$1322.80).
Trade Summary :
Opening Balance: $20,000
Leverage: 100:1
Buy: 1 std lot EUR/USD @ 1.3228 = $132,280
Margin Requirement: $1322.80
Position Size: 6.6% of the account ($1322.80/$20,000)
Pip Value: 1 pip = $10
Stop-Loss: 25 pips (representing 1.25% of the account)
Limit: 100 pips
Risk/Reward Ratio: 4:1
Sell: 1 std lot EUR/USD @ 1.3328 = $133,280
Profit: $1,000
Return: 75.6% ($1,000/$1322.80)
Closing Balance: $21,000 (+5% gain
:: Introduction to Foreign Exchange Markets
Being the main force driving the global economic market, currency is no doubt an essential element for a country. However, in order for all the countries with different currencies to trade with one another, a system of exchange rate between their currencies is needed; this system, is formally known as foreign exchange or currency exchange.
In the early days, the system of currency exchange is supported solely by the gold amount held in the vault of a country. However, this system is no longer appropriate now due to inflation and hence, the value of one’s currency nowadays is determined through the market forces alone. In order to determine the value of a currency’s exchange rate, two main types of system is used which is floating currency and pegged currency.
For floating exchange rate, its value is determined by the supply and demand of the global market where the supply and demand is bound by all these factors such as foreign investment, inflation and ratios of import and export. Normally, this system is adopted by most of the advance countries like for example UK, US and Canada. All of these countries have a similarity where their market is well developed and stable in economic terms. These countries choose to practice this system due to the reason where floating exchange rate is proven to be much more efficient compared to the pegged exchange rate. The reason behind this is because for floating exchange rate, the market itself will re-adjust the exchange rate real-time in order to portray the actual inflation and other economic forces. However, every system has its own flaw and so does the floating exchange rate system. For instance, if a country suffers from economic instability due to various reasons such as political issues, a floating exchange rate system will certainly discourage investment due to the high risk of suffering from inflationary disaster or sudden slump in exchange rate.
Another form of exchange rate is known as pegged exchange rate. This is a system where the value of the exchange rate is fixed by the government of a country and not the supply and demand of the market. This system is called pegged exchange rate because the value of a country’s currency is fixed to another country’s currency. As a result, the value of the pegged currency will not fluctuate unlike the floating currency. The working principle behind this system is slightly complicated where the government of a country will fixed the exchange rate of their currency and when there is a demand for a certain currency resulting a rise in the exchange rate, the government will have to release enough of that currency into the market in order to meet that demand. However, there is a fatal flaw in this system where if the pegged exchange rate is not controlled properly, panics may arise within the country and as a result of that, people will be rushing to exchange their money into a more stable currency. When that happens, the sudden overflow of that country’s currency into the market will decrease the value of their exchange rate and in the end, their currency will be worthless. Due to this reason, only those under-developed or developing countries will practice this method as a form to control the inflation rate.
However, the truth is, most of the countries do not fully practice the floating exchange rate or the pegged exchange rate method in reality. Instead, they use a hybrid system known as floating peg. Floating peg is the combination of the two main systems where one country will normally fixed their exchange rate to the US Dollars and after that, they will constantly review their peg rate in order to stay in line with the actual market value.
The Foreign exchange market, or commonly known as FOREX, is the largest and most prolific financial market because each day, more than 1 trillion worth of currency exchange takes place between investors, speculators and countries. From this, we can deduce that the actual mechanism behind the world of foreign exchange is far more complicated than what we may already know, and that, the information mentioned earlier is just the tip of an iceberg.
In the early days, the system of currency exchange is supported solely by the gold amount held in the vault of a country. However, this system is no longer appropriate now due to inflation and hence, the value of one’s currency nowadays is determined through the market forces alone. In order to determine the value of a currency’s exchange rate, two main types of system is used which is floating currency and pegged currency.
For floating exchange rate, its value is determined by the supply and demand of the global market where the supply and demand is bound by all these factors such as foreign investment, inflation and ratios of import and export. Normally, this system is adopted by most of the advance countries like for example UK, US and Canada. All of these countries have a similarity where their market is well developed and stable in economic terms. These countries choose to practice this system due to the reason where floating exchange rate is proven to be much more efficient compared to the pegged exchange rate. The reason behind this is because for floating exchange rate, the market itself will re-adjust the exchange rate real-time in order to portray the actual inflation and other economic forces. However, every system has its own flaw and so does the floating exchange rate system. For instance, if a country suffers from economic instability due to various reasons such as political issues, a floating exchange rate system will certainly discourage investment due to the high risk of suffering from inflationary disaster or sudden slump in exchange rate.
Another form of exchange rate is known as pegged exchange rate. This is a system where the value of the exchange rate is fixed by the government of a country and not the supply and demand of the market. This system is called pegged exchange rate because the value of a country’s currency is fixed to another country’s currency. As a result, the value of the pegged currency will not fluctuate unlike the floating currency. The working principle behind this system is slightly complicated where the government of a country will fixed the exchange rate of their currency and when there is a demand for a certain currency resulting a rise in the exchange rate, the government will have to release enough of that currency into the market in order to meet that demand. However, there is a fatal flaw in this system where if the pegged exchange rate is not controlled properly, panics may arise within the country and as a result of that, people will be rushing to exchange their money into a more stable currency. When that happens, the sudden overflow of that country’s currency into the market will decrease the value of their exchange rate and in the end, their currency will be worthless. Due to this reason, only those under-developed or developing countries will practice this method as a form to control the inflation rate.
However, the truth is, most of the countries do not fully practice the floating exchange rate or the pegged exchange rate method in reality. Instead, they use a hybrid system known as floating peg. Floating peg is the combination of the two main systems where one country will normally fixed their exchange rate to the US Dollars and after that, they will constantly review their peg rate in order to stay in line with the actual market value.
The Foreign exchange market, or commonly known as FOREX, is the largest and most prolific financial market because each day, more than 1 trillion worth of currency exchange takes place between investors, speculators and countries. From this, we can deduce that the actual mechanism behind the world of foreign exchange is far more complicated than what we may already know, and that, the information mentioned earlier is just the tip of an iceberg.
What is a forex broker?
Have you ever felt intrigued by the many advertisements on high leverage and great profit potential involved in currency trading? The golden gate of the kingdom of money, we are told, is reached by the road of forex. Are forex brokers highway robbers infesting that road, or honest dealers making our journey easier? We'll discuss the brokerage business in this article.
A forex broker is the mediator between the retail and wholesale forex markets The wholesale market is comprised of banks and similar large institutions, and the retail market, of course, includes individual traders who are seeking to acquire speculative gains. Forex brokers are not traders themselves, but occasionally they will have their own staff trading the market on their behalf.
Forex brokers allow retail traders to interact with the markets, and are compensated for their services through the bid-ask spread which is the difference between the price a trader must accept to sell (bid), and the price he must pay to buy(ask) a currency. Since forex traders suffer losses often, brokers make the utmost effort to protect themselves. First, they net out the positions of their clients with entries on the opposite side. Since the vast majority of forex traders lose money, by entering the opposite order they usually make profits. And they also protect themselves by activating margin calls in case that a trader's account value falls below a threshold level (margin requirement).
At the inception of the forex brokerage business, retail trading was largely unregulated as authorities did not possess the expertise and background for effective oversight. Today, however, numerous regulatory bodies which include the CFTC in the U.S., the BaFin in Germany, and the FSA in the U.K. ensure a healthy, legal and competitive environment by maintaining strict regulation of the business. As such, one of the most important considerations for a beginning forex trader is guaranteeing that the broker is regulated by the relevant national authority.
A forex broker is the mediator between the retail and wholesale forex markets The wholesale market is comprised of banks and similar large institutions, and the retail market, of course, includes individual traders who are seeking to acquire speculative gains. Forex brokers are not traders themselves, but occasionally they will have their own staff trading the market on their behalf.
Forex brokers allow retail traders to interact with the markets, and are compensated for their services through the bid-ask spread which is the difference between the price a trader must accept to sell (bid), and the price he must pay to buy(ask) a currency. Since forex traders suffer losses often, brokers make the utmost effort to protect themselves. First, they net out the positions of their clients with entries on the opposite side. Since the vast majority of forex traders lose money, by entering the opposite order they usually make profits. And they also protect themselves by activating margin calls in case that a trader's account value falls below a threshold level (margin requirement).
At the inception of the forex brokerage business, retail trading was largely unregulated as authorities did not possess the expertise and background for effective oversight. Today, however, numerous regulatory bodies which include the CFTC in the U.S., the BaFin in Germany, and the FSA in the U.K. ensure a healthy, legal and competitive environment by maintaining strict regulation of the business. As such, one of the most important considerations for a beginning forex trader is guaranteeing that the broker is regulated by the relevant national authority.
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