What is Forex?

What is Forex?

The Foreign Exchange 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., the stock exchange), the worldwide Forex market does not have a central location. It is a global electronic network of banks, financial institutions and individual Forex 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.



Whether or not you are aware of it, you already play a role in currency trading. The simple fact that you have money in your pocket makes you an investor in currency. By holding US Dollars, for example, 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 the US Dollar. Due to the changing value of this denominated currency 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 speculate on currency pairs.




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 Forex traders.
pportunities in a rising or falling market Dissimilar from trading in the equity market, forex does not have any restrictions on short selling. No matter which way the market is moving or whether a trader is short or long, profit potential (and risk) exists in the forex market. Because currency trading involves the buying and selling of currency pairs, traders have an equal potential to profit (or lose) in a falling or rising market.
Unparalleled liquidity In the forex market, over $1.5 trillion worth of trades are traded daily, which makes the currency trading market the most liquid market in the world – trading in 1 day what Wall St. trades in 1 month. No matter what time of the day or night it is, the forex market is always moving, and around the world active traders are buying and selling currencies.
200 times more leverage than trading stocks With stocks, the maximum leverage is 2:1. But when you trade Forex with Forex, you can use up to 400:1 leverage. For example, if you invest $1,000 in stocks, with 2:1 leverage you may buy up to $2,000 worth of shares. However, if you invest $1,000 margin on a foreign currency trade, at 400:1 leverage, you can control up to $400,000 in currencies. Leverage is one of the most appealing factors of the forex market. Traders should note that trading using leverage may increase potential gains as well as losses on any given trade.



Scratch-out the middleman Spot currency trading bypasses expensive middlemen that are always associated with trading stocks. With forex, clients are able to interact directly with the currency market, and can buy and sell at the simple click of a mouse. No mess. No hassle. No middleman.



Commission-free* you are never charged a commission. No clearing fees. No exchange fees. No Software fees. No brokerage fees.
we are compensated through the Bid and Ask prices or spread of a given currency pair. We may charge a fee for fund withdrawals.
Forex and the technical trader Because currencies typically develop strong trending patterns, a technical currency trader may potentially identify new trends, breakouts, and opportunities to enter and exit positions.



Measuring the currency market Currency prices are reflected in the balance of supply and demand for currencies. When it comes to currencies, there are two primary factors that affect supply and demand and they are interest rates and the strength of the originating country’s economy as a whole. Fundamental indicators, such as foreign investment, PPI, CPI, GDP, and the trade balance, echo the overall health of the economy, and alter the supply and demand for that currency. Expert commentaries and data on interest rates, International trade, and currencies are release on a regular basis.




Trade forex 24-hours a day When you are looking at your forex platform, you are actually looking at a window display of the world’s economy. Currency trading is available twenty-four hours a day, starting on Sunday at 5P.M. EST with the opening of the market in Sidney and Singapore. A short while after, the Tokyo market opens. Then London, which opens at 2A.M. EST on Monday. And, by daytime in N.Y., the currency market has already been very active for fifteen hours. With currency trading, you are able to decide when to trade. Trading stocks when the U.S. markets are closed is difficult and only offers limited liquidity. With forex, you can trade twenty-four hours a day, from Sunday at 5P.M. EST. until Friday at 5P.M EST.
6 major currency pairs vs. over 8000 stocks There are approximately 8,000 publicly traded companies, deciding which one to trade can become downright tedious and confusing. How do you determine which needle to pull out of the haystack? With Forex, there are currently 6 major currency pairs to choose from, and about 34 second-tier currencies.