Explore this introduction to topics in the foreign currency market such as its participants and motives, products, risks.
Understand how to trade shares of overseas-listed companies in foreign currencies, become aware of settlement concerns and know how exchange rate fluctuations can affect profits and losses when using a cash account or borrowing on margin.
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• Define an exchange rate • Identify different drivers that can affect their values, including country-specific factors such as trade balance, foreign investment, volatility, and fiscal and monetary policies • Explore some of the factors that influence the supply and demand dynamics for a certain country’s currency and that hold sway over its spot rate
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Learn to calculate different outcomes on profits, losses and margin loan repayments when trading shares of overseas-listed companies in foreign currencies, including from exchange rate fluctuations and stock price moves.
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Foreign exchange (Forex) trading is the process of buying one currency and selling another with the goal of making a profit from the trade. Forex (FX) is a portmanteau of the words foreign and exchange. According to a triennial report from the Bank for International Settlements (a global bank for national central banks), the daily global volume for forex trading reached $ trillion in
Read on to learn about the forex markets, how they work, and how to start trading.
The foreign exchange market is where currencies are traded. This international market's most unique aspect is that it lacks a central marketplace. Instead, currency trading is conducted electronically over the counter (OTC). This means that all transactions occur via computer networks among traders worldwide rather than on one centralized exchange.
The market is open 24 hours a day, five and a half days a week. Currencies are traded worldwide in the major financial centers of Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Zurich—across almost every time zone. This means the forex market begins in Tokyo and Hong Kong when the U.S. trading day ends. The forex market can be highly active at any time, with price quotes changing constantly.
You’ll often see the terms FX, forex, foreign exchange market, and currency market. These terms are synonymous, and all refer to the forex market.
The FX market is the only truly continuous and nonstop trading market in the world. In the past, the forex market was dominated by institutional firms and large banks, which acted on behalf of clients. But it has become more retail-oriented in recent years—traders and investors of all sizes participate in it.
An interesting aspect of world forex markets is that no physical buildings function as trading venues. Instead, it is a series of connected trading terminals and computer networks. Market participants are institutions, investment banks, commercial banks, and retail investors from around the world.
Currency trading was very difficult for individual investors until it made its way onto the internet. Most currency traders were large multinational corporations, hedge funds, or high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) because forex trading required a lot of capital.
Commercial and investment banks still conduct most of the trading in forex markets on behalf of their clients. But there are also opportunities for professional and individual investors to trade one currency against another.
Forex trading, or FX trading, involves buying and selling different currencies with the aim of making a profit. At its core, forex trading is about capturing the changing values of pairs of currencies. For example, if you think the Euro will increase in value against the U.S. Dollar, a speculator might buy Euros with Dollars. If the Euro's value rises on a relative basis (the EUR/USD rate), you can sell your Euros back for more Dollars than you initially spent, thus making a profit.
In addition to speculative trading, forex trading is also used for hedging purposes. Hedging in forex is used by individuals and businesses to protect themselves from adverse currency movements, known as currency risk. For example, a company doing business in another country might use forex trading to hedge against potential losses caused by fluctuations in the exchange rate abroad. By securing a favorable rate in advance through a forex transaction, they can reduce the risk of financial uncertainty and ensure more stable profits or costs in their domestic currency. This aspect of forex trading is crucial for international businesses seeking stability in their financial planning.
Forex trading features favorable aspects like high liquidity, meaning it's easy to buy and sell many currencies without a significant change in their value. Additionally, traders can use leverage, which allows them to control a large position with a relatively small amount of money. However, leverage can also amplify losses, making forex trading a field that requires knowledge, strategy, and an awareness of the risks involved.
Forex trading is also distinctly global, encompassing financial centers worldwide, which means that currency values are influenced by a variety of global events. Economic indicators such as interest rates, inflation, geopolitical stability, and economic growth can significantly impact currency prices. For instance, if a country's central bank raises its interest rates, its currency might strengthen due to the higher returns on investments denominated in that currency. Similarly, political uncertainty or a poor economic growth outlook can lead to a currency's depreciation. This global interconnectivity makes forex trading not just a financial activity but also a reflection of worldwide economic and political dynamics.
Trading forex is similar to equity trading. Here are some steps to get yourself started on the forex trading journey.
Forex is traded primarily via spot, forwards, and futures markets. The spot market is the largest of all three markets because it is the “underlying” asset on which forwards and futures markets are based. When people talk about the forex market, they are usually referring to the spot market.
The forwards and futures markets tend to be more popular with companies or financial firms that need to hedge their foreign exchange risks out to a specific future date.
The spot market is where currencies are bought and sold based on their trading price. That price is determined by supply and demand and is calculated based on several factors, such as:
A finalized deal on the spot market is known as a spot deal. It is a bilateral transaction in which one party delivers an agreed-upon currency amount to the counterparty and receives a specified amount of another currency at the agreed-upon exchange rate value. After a position is closed, it is settled in cash.
Although the spot market is commonly known as one that deals with transactions in the present (rather than in the future), these trades take two days to settle.
A forward contract is a private agreement between two parties to buy a currency at a future date and a predetermined price in the OTC markets. In the forwards market, contracts are bought and sold OTC between two parties, who determine the terms of the agreement between themselves.
A futures contract is a standardized agreement between two parties to take delivery of a currency at a future date and a predetermined price. Futures trade on exchanges and not OTC. In the futures market, futures contracts are bought and sold based on a standard size and settlement date on public commodities markets, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
Futures contracts have specific details, including the number of units being traded, delivery and settlement dates, and minimum price increments that cannot be customized. The exchange acts as a counterparty to the trader, providing clearance and settlement services.
Unlike the spot, forwards, and futures markets, the options market does not trade actual currencies. Instead, it deals in contracts that represent claims to a certain currency type, a specific price per unit, and a future date for settlement.
Both types of contracts are binding and are typically settled for cash at the exchange in question upon expiry, although contracts can also be bought and sold before they expire. These markets can offer protection against risk when trading currencies.
In addition to forwards and futures, options contracts are traded on specific currency pairs. Forex options give holders the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a forex trade at a future date.
There are two distinct features of currencies as an asset class:
So, you can profit from the difference between two interest rates in two different economies by buying the currency with the higher interest rate and shorting the currency with the lower interest rate. For instance, before the financial crisis, shorting the Japanese yen (JPY) and buying British pounds (GBP) was common because the interest rate differential was substantial. This strategy is sometimes referred to as a carry trade.
Companies doing business in foreign countries are at risk due to fluctuations in currency values when they buy or sell goods and services outside of their domestic market. Foreign exchange markets provide a way to hedge currency risk by fixing a rate at which the transaction will be completed. A trader can buy or sell currencies in the forward or swap markets in advance, which locks in an exchange rate.
Locking in the exchange rate helps them reduce losses or increase gains, depending on which currency in a pair is strengthened or weakened.
Factors like interest rates, trade flows, tourism, economic strength, and geopolitical risk affect the supply and demand for currencies, creating daily volatility in the forex markets. This creates opportunities to profit from changes that may increase or reduce one currency’s value compared to another. A forecast that one currency will weaken is essentially the same as assuming that the other currency in the pair will strengthen.
So, a trader anticipating price movement could short or long one of the currencies in a pair and take advantage of the movement.
The most basic forms of forex trades are long and short trades, with the price changes reported as pips, points, and ticks. In a long trade, the trader is betting that the currency price will increase and that they can profit from it. A short trade consists of a bet that the currency pair’s price will decrease. Traders can also use trading strategies based on technical analysis, such as breakout and moving averages, to fine-tune their approach to trading.
Depending on the duration and numbers for trading, trading strategies can be categorized into four further types:
The best way to get started on the forex journey is to learn its language. Here are a few terms to get you started:
Remember that the trading limit for each lot includes margin money used for leverage. This means the broker can provide you with capital at a predetermined ratio. For example, they may put up $50 for every $1 you put up for trading, meaning you will only need to use $10 from your funds to trade $ in currency.
Three types of charts are used in forex trading. They are:
Line charts are used to identify big-picture trends for a currency. They are the most basic and common type of chart used by forex traders. They display the closing trading price for a currency for the periods specified by the user. The trend lines identified in a line chart can be used to devise trading strategies. For example, you can use the information in a trend line to identify breakouts or a change in trend for rising or declining prices.
While useful, a line chart is generally used as a starting point for further trading analysis.
Like other instances in which they are used, bar charts provide more price information than line charts. Each bar chart represents one day of trading and contains the opening price, highest price, lowest price, and closing price (OHLC) for a trade. A dash on the left represents the day’s opening price, and a similar one on the right represents the closing price. Colors are sometimes used to indicate price movement, with green or white used for periods of rising prices and red or black for a period during which prices declined.
Bar charts for currency trading help traders identify whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market.
Japanese rice traders first used candlestick charts in the 18th century. They are visually more appealing and easier to read than the chart types described above. The upper portion of a candle is used for the opening price and highest price point of a currency, while the lower portion indicates the closing price and lowest price point. A down candle represents a period of declining prices and is shaded red or black, while an up candle is a period of increasing prices and is shaded green or white.
The formations and shapes in candlestick charts are used to identify market direction and movement. Some of the more common formations for candlestick charts are hanging man and shooting star.
Largest in terms of daily trading volume in the world
Traded 24 hours a day, five and a half days a week
Starting capital can rapidly multiply
Generally follows the same rules as regular trading
More decentralized than traditional stock or bond markets
Leverage can make forex trades very volatile
Leverage in the range of is common
Requires an understanding of economic fundamentals and indicators
Less regulation than other markets
No income generating instruments
Forex markets are among the most liquid markets in the world. So, they can be less volatile than other markets, such as real estate. The volatility of a particular currency is a function of multiple factors, such as the politics and economics of its country. Therefore, events like economic instability in the form of a payment default or imbalance in trading relationships with another currency can result in significant volatility.
Forex trade regulation depends on the jurisdiction. Countries like the United States have sophisticated infrastructure and markets for forex trades. Forex trades are tightly regulated in the U.S. by the National Futures Association (NFA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). However, due to the heavy use of leverage in forex trades, developing countries like India and China have restrictions on the firms and capital to be used in forex trading. Europe is the largest market for forex trades. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) monitors and regulates forex trades in the United Kingdom.
Currencies with high liquidity have a ready market and exhibit smooth and predictable price action in response to external events. The U.S. dollar is the most traded currency in the world. It is paired up in six of the market's seven most liquid currency pairs. Currencies with low liquidity, however, cannot be traded in large lot sizes without significant market movement being associated with the price.
For traders—especially those with limited funds—day trading or swing trading in small amounts is easier in the forex market than in other markets. For those with longer-term horizons and more funds, long-term fundamentals-based trading or a carry trade can be profitable. A focus on understanding the macroeconomic fundamentals that drive currency values, as well as experience with technical analysis, may help new forex traders become more profitable.
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