eToro's features:
Visual representation of trades: Monitor your trades with ease by watching creative visualizations of your trading
activity.
Practice mode: Test your skills and strategies by trading with live rates, without risking a cent.
Trading Challenges: Compete against fellow traders for cash prizes - with no entry fees.
Trade: Enjoy immediate and accurate execution with all your trades.
Low Spreads: Save a fortune on eToros super low spreads - as low as 2 pips.
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eToro's Pro Insight: Get a look at what currency pairs eToro's top 100 traders are trading at the moment, and
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
About Forex
The Forex market has quickly become the world's largest financial market, with an estimate daily turnover of $3.2
trillion. It is a market that has great appeal to a financial trader because of its volume which guarantees liquidity.
High liquidity means that a trader can trade whatever currencies he feels like at all times, since there will always
be someone to buy and sell any currency he wants. Another outstanding feature of the forex market is that it is
active 24 hours a day and is closed only on the weekends. This means that unlike the stock market for example,
traders in the forex market don't need to wait for a bell to ring, but can make trading decisions around the clock.
Enter the internet into the equation. Now the forex market is literally at your fingertips. Most brokers offer online
trading facilities which enable you to trade simply by clicking a button, instead of the traditional phone call. The
internet has really revolutionized the industry, making the retail section of the market more dominant than ever.
The Forex market has quickly become the world's largest financial market, with an estimate daily turnover of $3.2
trillion. It is a market that has great appeal to a financial trader because of its volume which guarantees liquidity.
High liquidity means that a trader can trade whatever currencies he feels like at all times, since there will always
be someone to buy and sell any currency he wants. Another outstanding feature of the forex market is that it is
active 24 hours a day and is closed only on the weekends. This means that unlike the stock market for example,
traders in the forex market don't need to wait for a bell to ring, but can make trading decisions around the clock.
Enter the internet into the equation. Now the forex market is literally at your fingertips. Most brokers offer online
trading facilities which enable you to trade simply by clicking a button, instead of the traditional phone call. The
internet has really revolutionized the industry, making the retail section of the market more dominant than ever.
About eToro
eToro is a forex trading platform developed to cater to the emerging retail segment of the forex market. With its
simple style and exciting trade visualizations, eToro is the perfect platform for a novice trader to get his first forex
trading experience. With its great array of professional forex trading and analysis tools, eToro is also the perfect
platform for experts in the field who want to trade comfortably and reliably. eToro has developed a truly intuitive
interface that lets traders concentrate on trading instead of messing around with bulky and overcomplicated
software.
It's important to mention that eToro also offers an educational experience, so novices can gain knowledge of the
forex market and eventually become pros if they're so inclined. eToro offers forex trading guides, forums and video
tutorials to facilitate their traders' progress. eToro also offers an unlimited practice mode where both beginner and
seasoned traders can sharpen their skills and test their strategies with real market rates.
Overall eToro have successfully designed a software that caters to a very wide segment of the forex trading
public. eToro is bound to remain a leader in the forex industry for a long time to come.
eToro is a forex trading platform developed to cater to the emerging retail segment of the forex market. With its
simple style and exciting trade visualizations, eToro is the perfect platform for a novice trader to get his first forex
trading experience. With its great array of professional forex trading and analysis tools, eToro is also the perfect
platform for experts in the field who want to trade comfortably and reliably. eToro has developed a truly intuitive
interface that lets traders concentrate on trading instead of messing around with bulky and overcomplicated
software.
It's important to mention that eToro also offers an educational experience, so novices can gain knowledge of the
forex market and eventually become pros if they're so inclined. eToro offers forex trading guides, forums and video
tutorials to facilitate their traders' progress. eToro also offers an unlimited practice mode where both beginner and
seasoned traders can sharpen their skills and test their strategies with real market rates.
Overall eToro have successfully designed a software that caters to a very wide segment of the forex trading
public. eToro is bound to remain a leader in the forex industry for a long time to come.
Friday, March 26, 2010
WHAT “FOREIGN EXCHANGE” MEANS
“Foreign exchange” refers to money denominated
in the currency of another nation or
group of nations. Any person who exchanges
money denominated in his own nation’s
currency for money denominated in another
nation’s currency acquires foreign exchange.
That holds true whether the amount of the
transaction is equal to a few dollars or to
billions of dollars; whether the person
involved is a tourist cashing a traveler’s check
in a restaurant abroad or an investor
exchanging hundreds of millions of dollars for
the acquisition of a foreign company; and
whether the form of money being acquired
is foreign currency notes, foreign currencydenominated
bank deposits, or other shortterm
claims denominated in foreign currency.
A foreign exchange transaction is still a shift
of funds, or short-term financial claims, from
one country and currency to another.
Thus, within the United States, any money
denominated in any currency other than the
U.S. dollar is, broadly speaking, “foreign
exchange.”
Foreign exchange can be cash, funds available
on credit cards and debit cards, traveler’s checks,
bank deposits, or other short-term claims. It is
still “foreign exchange” if it is a short-term
negotiable financial claim denominated in a
currency other than the U.S. dollar.
But, in the foreign exchange market described
in this book—the international network of major
foreign exchange dealers engaged in high-volume
trading around the world—foreign exchange
transactions almost always take the form of an
exchange of bank deposits of different national
currency denominations. If one bank agrees to
sell dollars for Deutsche marks to another bank,
there will be an exchange between the two parties
of a dollar bank deposit for a DEM bank deposit.
In this book, “foreign exchange” means a bank
balance denominated in a foreign (non-U.S.
dollar) currency.
in the currency of another nation or
group of nations. Any person who exchanges
money denominated in his own nation’s
currency for money denominated in another
nation’s currency acquires foreign exchange.
That holds true whether the amount of the
transaction is equal to a few dollars or to
billions of dollars; whether the person
involved is a tourist cashing a traveler’s check
in a restaurant abroad or an investor
exchanging hundreds of millions of dollars for
the acquisition of a foreign company; and
whether the form of money being acquired
is foreign currency notes, foreign currencydenominated
bank deposits, or other shortterm
claims denominated in foreign currency.
A foreign exchange transaction is still a shift
of funds, or short-term financial claims, from
one country and currency to another.
Thus, within the United States, any money
denominated in any currency other than the
U.S. dollar is, broadly speaking, “foreign
exchange.”
Foreign exchange can be cash, funds available
on credit cards and debit cards, traveler’s checks,
bank deposits, or other short-term claims. It is
still “foreign exchange” if it is a short-term
negotiable financial claim denominated in a
currency other than the U.S. dollar.
But, in the foreign exchange market described
in this book—the international network of major
foreign exchange dealers engaged in high-volume
trading around the world—foreign exchange
transactions almost always take the form of an
exchange of bank deposits of different national
currency denominations. If one bank agrees to
sell dollars for Deutsche marks to another bank,
there will be an exchange between the two parties
of a dollar bank deposit for a DEM bank deposit.
In this book, “foreign exchange” means a bank
balance denominated in a foreign (non-U.S.
dollar) currency.
WHYWE NEED FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Almost every nation has its own national
currency or monetary unit—its dollar, its peso,
its rupee—used for making and receiving
payments within its own borders. But foreign
currencies are usually needed for payments
across national borders. Thus, in any nation
whose residents conduct business abroad or
engage in financial transactions with persons in
other countries, there must be a mechanism for
providing access to foreign currencies, so that
payments can be made in a form acceptable to
foreigners. In other words, there is need for
“foreign exchange” transactions—exchanges of
one currency for another.
currency or monetary unit—its dollar, its peso,
its rupee—used for making and receiving
payments within its own borders. But foreign
currencies are usually needed for payments
across national borders. Thus, in any nation
whose residents conduct business abroad or
engage in financial transactions with persons in
other countries, there must be a mechanism for
providing access to foreign currencies, so that
payments can be made in a form acceptable to
foreigners. In other words, there is need for
“foreign exchange” transactions—exchanges of
one currency for another.
trading foreign exchange: a changing market in a changing world
ALL ABOUT...
Note: Merchandise trade is the sum of exports and imports of goods.
U.S. and World Merchandise Trade, 1970-95
0
300
600
900
1,200
1,500
1970 1980 1990 1995
Billions of dollars
U.S.
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
1970 1980 1990 1995
Billions of dollars
World
F I G U R E 1 - 1
In some ways, this estimate understates the
growth and the present size of the U.S. foreign
exchange market. The $351 billion estimated
daily turnover covered only the three traditional
instruments in the “over-the-counter” (OTC)
market—spot, outright forwards, and foreign
exchange (FX) swaps; it did not include over-thecounter
currency options and currency swaps
traded in the OTC market, which totaled about
$32 billion a day in notional value (or face value)
in 1998. Nor did it include the two products
traded, not “over-the-counter,” but in organized
exchanges— currency futures and exchange-traded
currency options, for which the notional value of
the turnover was perhaps $10 billion per day.1
The global foreign exchange market also has
shown phenomenal growth. In 1998, in a survey
under the auspices of the Bank for International
Settlements (BIS), global turnover of reporting
dealers was estimated at about $1.49 trillion
per day for the traditional products, plus an
additional $97 billion for over-the-counter
currency options and currency swaps, and a
further $12 billion for currency instruments
traded on the organized exchanges. In the
traditional products, global foreign exchange
turnover, measured in current exchange rates,
increased by more than 80 percent between
1992 and 1998.
The expansion in foreign exchange turnover,
in the United States and globally, reflects the
continuing growth of international trade and
the prodigious expansion in global finance
and investment during recent years. With
respect to trade, the dollar value of United
States international transactions in goods and
services—the sum of exports and imports—
tripled between 1980 and 1995 to around 15 times
its 1970 level. International trade in the global
economy also has expanded at a rapid pace.World
merchandise trade is now more than 2½ times its
1980 level
ALL ABOUT...
Note: Merchandise trade is the sum of exports and imports of goods.
U.S. and World Merchandise Trade, 1970-95
0
300
600
900
1,200
1,500
1970 1980 1990 1995
Billions of dollars
U.S.
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
1970 1980 1990 1995
Billions of dollars
World
F I G U R E 1 - 1
In some ways, this estimate understates the
growth and the present size of the U.S. foreign
exchange market. The $351 billion estimated
daily turnover covered only the three traditional
instruments in the “over-the-counter” (OTC)
market—spot, outright forwards, and foreign
exchange (FX) swaps; it did not include over-thecounter
currency options and currency swaps
traded in the OTC market, which totaled about
$32 billion a day in notional value (or face value)
in 1998. Nor did it include the two products
traded, not “over-the-counter,” but in organized
exchanges— currency futures and exchange-traded
currency options, for which the notional value of
the turnover was perhaps $10 billion per day.1
The global foreign exchange market also has
shown phenomenal growth. In 1998, in a survey
under the auspices of the Bank for International
Settlements (BIS), global turnover of reporting
dealers was estimated at about $1.49 trillion
per day for the traditional products, plus an
additional $97 billion for over-the-counter
currency options and currency swaps, and a
further $12 billion for currency instruments
traded on the organized exchanges. In the
traditional products, global foreign exchange
turnover, measured in current exchange rates,
increased by more than 80 percent between
1992 and 1998.
The expansion in foreign exchange turnover,
in the United States and globally, reflects the
continuing growth of international trade and
the prodigious expansion in global finance
and investment during recent years. With
respect to trade, the dollar value of United
States international transactions in goods and
services—the sum of exports and imports—
tripled between 1980 and 1995 to around 15 times
its 1970 level. International trade in the global
economy also has expanded at a rapid pace.World
merchandise trade is now more than 2½ times its
1980 level
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Euromarket
A major catalyst to the acceleration of Forex trading was the rapid development of the Eurodollar market; where US dollars are deposited in banks outside the US. Similarly, Euromarkets are those where assets are deposited outside the currency of origin. The Eurodollar market first came into being in the 1950s when Russia’s oil revenue - all in dollars - was deposited outside the US in fear of being frozen by US regulators. That gave rise to a vast offshore pool of dollars outside the control of US authorities. The US government imposed laws to restrict dollar lending to foreigners. Euromarkets were particularly attractive because they had far less regulations and offered higher yields. From the late 1980s onwards, US companies began to borrow offshore, finding Euromarkets a beneficial center for holding excess liquidity, providing short-term loans and financing imports and exports.
London was, and remains the principal offshore market. In the 1980s, it became the key center in the Eurodollar market when British banks began lending dollars as an alternative to pounds in order to maintain their leading position in global finance. London’s convenient geographical location (operating during Asian and American markets) is also instrumental in preserving its dominance in the Euromarket.
A major catalyst to the acceleration of Forex trading was the rapid development of the Eurodollar market; where US dollars are deposited in banks outside the US. Similarly, Euromarkets are those where assets are deposited outside the currency of origin. The Eurodollar market first came into being in the 1950s when Russia’s oil revenue - all in dollars - was deposited outside the US in fear of being frozen by US regulators. That gave rise to a vast offshore pool of dollars outside the control of US authorities. The US government imposed laws to restrict dollar lending to foreigners. Euromarkets were particularly attractive because they had far less regulations and offered higher yields. From the late 1980s onwards, US companies began to borrow offshore, finding Euromarkets a beneficial center for holding excess liquidity, providing short-term loans and financing imports and exports.
London was, and remains the principal offshore market. In the 1980s, it became the key center in the Eurodollar market when British banks began lending dollars as an alternative to pounds in order to maintain their leading position in global finance. London’s convenient geographical location (operating during Asian and American markets) is also instrumental in preserving its dominance in the Euromarket.
The Euromarket
A major catalyst to the acceleration of Forex trading was the rapid development of the Eurodollar market; where US dollars are deposited in banks outside the US. Similarly, Euromarkets are those where assets are deposited outside the currency of origin. The Eurodollar market first came into being in the 1950s when Russia’s oil revenue - all in dollars - was deposited outside the US in fear of being frozen by US regulators. That gave rise to a vast offshore pool of dollars outside the control of US authorities. The US government imposed laws to restrict dollar lending to foreigners. Euromarkets were particularly attractive because they had far less regulations and offered higher yields. From the late 1980s onwards, US companies began to borrow offshore, finding Euromarkets a beneficial center for holding excess liquidity, providing short-term loans and financing imports and exports.
London was, and remains the principal offshore market. In the 1980s, it became the key center in the Eurodollar market when British banks began lending dollars as an alternative to pounds in order to maintain their leading position in global finance. London’s convenient geographical location (operating during Asian and American markets) is also instrumental in preserving its dominance in the Euromarket.
A major catalyst to the acceleration of Forex trading was the rapid development of the Eurodollar market; where US dollars are deposited in banks outside the US. Similarly, Euromarkets are those where assets are deposited outside the currency of origin. The Eurodollar market first came into being in the 1950s when Russia’s oil revenue - all in dollars - was deposited outside the US in fear of being frozen by US regulators. That gave rise to a vast offshore pool of dollars outside the control of US authorities. The US government imposed laws to restrict dollar lending to foreigners. Euromarkets were particularly attractive because they had far less regulations and offered higher yields. From the late 1980s onwards, US companies began to borrow offshore, finding Euromarkets a beneficial center for holding excess liquidity, providing short-term loans and financing imports and exports.
London was, and remains the principal offshore market. In the 1980s, it became the key center in the Eurodollar market when British banks began lending dollars as an alternative to pounds in order to maintain their leading position in global finance. London’s convenient geographical location (operating during Asian and American markets) is also instrumental in preserving its dominance in the Euromarket.
The Bretton Woods Agreement was also aimed at preventing currency competition and promoting monetary co-operation among nations. Under the Bretton Woods system, the IMF member countries agreed to a system of exchange rates that could be adjusted within defined parities with the US dollar or, with the agreement of the IMF, changed to correct a fundamental disequilibrium in the balance of payments. The per value system remained in use from 1946 until the early 1970s.
The United States, under President Nixon, retaliated in 1971 by devaluing the dollar and forcing realignment of currencies with the dollar. The leading European economies tried to counter the US move by aligning their currencies in narrow band and then float collectively against the US dollar.
Fortunately, this currency war did not last long and by the first half of the 1970’s leading world economies gave up the fixed exchange rate system for good and floated their currencies in the open market. The idea was to let the market decide the value of a given currency based on the demand and supply of the currency and the economic health of the currency’s nation. This market is popularly known as the International Monetary Market or IMM. This IMM is not a single entity. It is the collection of all financial institutions that have any interest in foreign currencies, all over the world. Banks, Brokerages, Fund Managers, Government Central Banks and sometimes individuals, are just a few examples.
This is very much the present system of exchange of foreign currencies. Although the currency’s value is dependent on the market forces, the central banks still try to keep their currency in a predefined (and highly confidential) fluctuation band. They accomplish this by taking one or more of various steps.
The International Trade Organization that had been planned in the Bretton Woods Agreement could not be realized in the form initially envisaged - the US Congress would not endorse it. Instead, it was created later, in 1947, in the form of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was signed by the US and 23 other countries including Canada. The GATT would later become known as the World Trade Organization. In recent years, the two international institutions created at Bretton Woods the World Bank and the IMF have faced a major challenge in helping debtor nations to get back on stable financial footing.
The United States, under President Nixon, retaliated in 1971 by devaluing the dollar and forcing realignment of currencies with the dollar. The leading European economies tried to counter the US move by aligning their currencies in narrow band and then float collectively against the US dollar.
Fortunately, this currency war did not last long and by the first half of the 1970’s leading world economies gave up the fixed exchange rate system for good and floated their currencies in the open market. The idea was to let the market decide the value of a given currency based on the demand and supply of the currency and the economic health of the currency’s nation. This market is popularly known as the International Monetary Market or IMM. This IMM is not a single entity. It is the collection of all financial institutions that have any interest in foreign currencies, all over the world. Banks, Brokerages, Fund Managers, Government Central Banks and sometimes individuals, are just a few examples.
This is very much the present system of exchange of foreign currencies. Although the currency’s value is dependent on the market forces, the central banks still try to keep their currency in a predefined (and highly confidential) fluctuation band. They accomplish this by taking one or more of various steps.
The International Trade Organization that had been planned in the Bretton Woods Agreement could not be realized in the form initially envisaged - the US Congress would not endorse it. Instead, it was created later, in 1947, in the form of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was signed by the US and 23 other countries including Canada. The GATT would later become known as the World Trade Organization. In recent years, the two international institutions created at Bretton Woods the World Bank and the IMF have faced a major challenge in helping debtor nations to get back on stable financial footing.
History of the Forex
Money, in one form or another, has been used by man for centuries. At first it was mainly Gold or Silver coins. Goods were traded against other goods or against gold. So, the price of gold became a reference point. But as the trading of goods grew between nations, moving quantities of gold around places to settle payments of trade became cumbersome, risky and time consuming. Therefore, a system was sought by which the payment of trades could be settled in the seller’s local currency. But how much of buyer’s local currency should be equal to the seller’s local currency?
The answer was simple. The strength of a country’s currency depended on the amount of gold reserves the country maintained. So, if country A’s gold reserves are double the gold reserves of country B, country A’s currency will be twice in value when exchanged with the currency of country B. This became to be known as The Gold Standard. Around 1880, The Gold Standard was accepted and used worldwide.
During the first WORLD WAR, in order to fulfill the enormous financing needs, paper money was created in quantities that far exceeded the gold reserves. The currencies lost their standard parities and caused a gross distortion in the country’s standing in terms of its foreign liabilities and assets.
After the end of the second WORLD WAR the western allied powers attempted to solve the problem at the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire in 1944. In the first three weeks of July 1944, delegates from 45 nations gathered at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The delegates met to discuss the postwar recovery of Europe as well as a number of monetary issues, such as unstable exchange rates and protectionist trade policies.
During the 1930s, many of the world’s major economies had unstable currency exchange rates. As well, many nations used restrictive trade policies. In the early 1940s, the United States and Great Britain developed proposals for the creation of new international financial institutions that would stabilize exchange rates and boost international trade. There was also a recognized need to organize a recovery of Europe in the hopes of avoiding the problems that arose after the First World War.
The delegates at Bretton Woods reached an agreement known as the Bretton Woods Agreement to establish a postwar international monetary system of convertible currencies, fixed exchange rates and free trade. To facilitate these objectives, the agreement created two international institutions: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank). The intention was to provide economic aid for reconstruction of postwar Europe. An initial loan of $250 million to France in 1947 was the World Bank’s first act.
Under the Bretton Woods Exchange System, the currencies of participating nations could be converted into the US dollar at a fixed rate, and foreign central banks could convert the US dollar into gold at a fixed rate. In other words, the US dollar replaced the then dominant British Pound and the parities of the world’s leading currencies were pegged against the US Dollar.
Money, in one form or another, has been used by man for centuries. At first it was mainly Gold or Silver coins. Goods were traded against other goods or against gold. So, the price of gold became a reference point. But as the trading of goods grew between nations, moving quantities of gold around places to settle payments of trade became cumbersome, risky and time consuming. Therefore, a system was sought by which the payment of trades could be settled in the seller’s local currency. But how much of buyer’s local currency should be equal to the seller’s local currency?
The answer was simple. The strength of a country’s currency depended on the amount of gold reserves the country maintained. So, if country A’s gold reserves are double the gold reserves of country B, country A’s currency will be twice in value when exchanged with the currency of country B. This became to be known as The Gold Standard. Around 1880, The Gold Standard was accepted and used worldwide.
During the first WORLD WAR, in order to fulfill the enormous financing needs, paper money was created in quantities that far exceeded the gold reserves. The currencies lost their standard parities and caused a gross distortion in the country’s standing in terms of its foreign liabilities and assets.
After the end of the second WORLD WAR the western allied powers attempted to solve the problem at the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire in 1944. In the first three weeks of July 1944, delegates from 45 nations gathered at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. The delegates met to discuss the postwar recovery of Europe as well as a number of monetary issues, such as unstable exchange rates and protectionist trade policies.
During the 1930s, many of the world’s major economies had unstable currency exchange rates. As well, many nations used restrictive trade policies. In the early 1940s, the United States and Great Britain developed proposals for the creation of new international financial institutions that would stabilize exchange rates and boost international trade. There was also a recognized need to organize a recovery of Europe in the hopes of avoiding the problems that arose after the First World War.
The delegates at Bretton Woods reached an agreement known as the Bretton Woods Agreement to establish a postwar international monetary system of convertible currencies, fixed exchange rates and free trade. To facilitate these objectives, the agreement created two international institutions: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank). The intention was to provide economic aid for reconstruction of postwar Europe. An initial loan of $250 million to France in 1947 was the World Bank’s first act.
Under the Bretton Woods Exchange System, the currencies of participating nations could be converted into the US dollar at a fixed rate, and foreign central banks could convert the US dollar into gold at a fixed rate. In other words, the US dollar replaced the then dominant British Pound and the parities of the world’s leading currencies were pegged against the US Dollar.
Introduction
Description of the Forex
The Forex market, established in 1971, was created when floating exchange rates began to materialize. The Forex market is not centralized, like in currency futures or stock markets. Trading occurs over computers and telephones at thousands of locations worldwide.
The Foreign Exchange market, commonly referred as FOREX, is where banks, investors and speculators exchange one currency to another. The largest foreign exchange activity retains the spot exchange (i.e.., immediate) between five major currencies: US Dollar, British Pound, Japanese Yen, Eurodollar and the Swiss Franc. It is also the largest financial market in the world. In comparison, the US stock market may trade $10 billion in one day, whereas the Forex market will trade up to $2 trillion in one single day. The Forex market is an opened 24 hours a day market where the primary market for currencies is the 24-hour Interbank market. This market follows the sun around the world, moving from the major banking centres of the United States to Australia and New Zealand to the Far East, to Europe and finally back to the Unites States.
Until now, professional traders from major international commercial and investment banks have dominated the FX market. Other market participants range from large multinational corporations, global money managers, registered dealers, international money brokers, and futures and options traders, to private speculators.
There are three main reasons to participate in the FX market. One is to facilitate an actual transaction, whereby international corporations convert profits made in foreign currencies into their domestic currency. Corporate treasurers and money managers also enter the FX market in order to hedge against unwanted exposure to future price movements in the currency market. The third and more popular reason is speculation for profit. In fact, today it is estimated that less than 5% of all trading on the FX market is actually facilitating a true commercial transaction.
The FX market is considered an Over The Counter (OTC) or ‘Interbank’ market, due to the fact that transactions are conducted between two counterparts over the telephone or via an electronic network. Trading is not centralized on an exchange, as with the stock and futures markets. A true 24-hour market, Forex trading begins each day in Sydney, and moves around the globe as the business day begins in each financial center, first to Tokyo, London, and New York. Unlike any other financial market, investors can respond to currency fluctuations caused by economic, social and political events at the time they occur - day or night.
Description of the Forex
The Forex market, established in 1971, was created when floating exchange rates began to materialize. The Forex market is not centralized, like in currency futures or stock markets. Trading occurs over computers and telephones at thousands of locations worldwide.
The Foreign Exchange market, commonly referred as FOREX, is where banks, investors and speculators exchange one currency to another. The largest foreign exchange activity retains the spot exchange (i.e.., immediate) between five major currencies: US Dollar, British Pound, Japanese Yen, Eurodollar and the Swiss Franc. It is also the largest financial market in the world. In comparison, the US stock market may trade $10 billion in one day, whereas the Forex market will trade up to $2 trillion in one single day. The Forex market is an opened 24 hours a day market where the primary market for currencies is the 24-hour Interbank market. This market follows the sun around the world, moving from the major banking centres of the United States to Australia and New Zealand to the Far East, to Europe and finally back to the Unites States.
Until now, professional traders from major international commercial and investment banks have dominated the FX market. Other market participants range from large multinational corporations, global money managers, registered dealers, international money brokers, and futures and options traders, to private speculators.
There are three main reasons to participate in the FX market. One is to facilitate an actual transaction, whereby international corporations convert profits made in foreign currencies into their domestic currency. Corporate treasurers and money managers also enter the FX market in order to hedge against unwanted exposure to future price movements in the currency market. The third and more popular reason is speculation for profit. In fact, today it is estimated that less than 5% of all trading on the FX market is actually facilitating a true commercial transaction.
The FX market is considered an Over The Counter (OTC) or ‘Interbank’ market, due to the fact that transactions are conducted between two counterparts over the telephone or via an electronic network. Trading is not centralized on an exchange, as with the stock and futures markets. A true 24-hour market, Forex trading begins each day in Sydney, and moves around the globe as the business day begins in each financial center, first to Tokyo, London, and New York. Unlike any other financial market, investors can respond to currency fluctuations caused by economic, social and political events at the time they occur - day or night.
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