Currency Trading

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Advantages of Trading FOREX Over Stocks and Commodities


There are many advantages to Trading FOREX as your main income generator. Let's start by something that may be worrying you already.

"Do I need a Diploma or some kind of Certification to trade FOREX?" The answer is this:

When attempting to make more profit than losses on thefluctuation of exchange rates between major currencies(i.e., Trading the FOREX), nobody is going to ask you for adiploma, a formal license or verify the amount of hoursyou've spent studying the Foreign exchange market andbanking industry. All you need is the proper training.

But this is not the only advantage you get when trading FOREX, compared to other ways of investment and speculation; i.e. Stocks and Commodities. You have a whole bunch of advantages over these other options that will be enumerated in the following paragraphs.

The Main Benefits of Trading the FX Spot Market:

1): FOREX is the largest financial market in the world.

With a daily trading volume of over $1.5 trillion, the spotFOREX market can absorb trading sizes that dwarf thecapacity of any other market. In fact, when compared withthe $50 billion daily market for equities or the $30 billionfutures market, it becomes quickly apparent this gives you,and millions of other FOREX traders, almost infinite tradingliquidity and flexibility.

2): FOREX is a TRUE 24-hour market.

The FOREX Market never sleeps. Trading positions can beentered and exited at any moment - around the globe, aroundthe clock, six days a week. There is no waiting for anopening bell as in the case of trading stocks. It is a 24-hour, continuous electronic (ONLINE) currency exchange thatnever closes. This is very desirable for you if you want totrade on a part-time basis, because you can choose when youwant to trade: morning, noon or night.

3): There is never a Bear Market in FOREX.

You can have access to a seamless, mutually-inclusive (two-way) exchange of currencies. Meaning, because currenciestrade in "pairs" (for example, US dollar vs. yen or USdollar vs. Swiss franc), one side of every currency pair(for example, USD/JPY - JPY = YEN) is constantly moving inrelation to the other. Thus, when you buy a particularcurrency, you are actually simultaneously selling the othercurrency in that particular pair. As the market moves, oneof the currencies will increase in value versus the other.Of course, it is up to you to choose the correct currency tobe long or short. Since currency trading always involvesbuying one currency and selling another, there is nostructural bias to the market. This means you have equalpotential to profit in both a rising or falling market.

4): High Leverage - up to 200:1 Leverage.

You are permitted to trade foreign currencies on a highlyleveraged basis - up to 200 times your investment with somebrokers. This is primarily attributed to the higher levelsof liquidity within the currency markets. Standard 100,000-unit currency lots can be traded with as little as 1%margin, or $1,000. Mini FX accounts are permitted to tradewith just 0.5% margin -- in other words, just $50 allows youto control a 10,000-unit currency position. Futures traders,who are accustomed to margin requirements generally equal to5%-8% of the contract value, will immediately recognize thatthe FOREX market provides much greater leverage, and forstock traders, who must post at least 50% margin, thereâ??s nocomparison. If you are looking for an efficient use oftrading capital, this is it!

5): Price Movements Are Highly Predictable.

Although currency prices in the FX market may be volatile,they generally repeat themselves in relatively predictablecycles, creating trends. The strong trends that foreigncurrencies develop are a significant advantage for traderswho use the correct "technical" methods.

Unlike stocks, currencies rarely spend much time in tighttrading ranges and have the tendency to develop strongtrends. Over 80% of volume is speculative in nature and, asa result, the market frequently overshoots and then correctsitself. As a technically-trained trader, you can easilyidentify new trends and breakouts, which provide formultiple opportunities to enter and exit positions.

6:) Commission-free Trading and Low Transaction Cost

When you trade FOREX, through one of our recommended brokers(this info is in our private resources section), you'll doit totally commission-free! These brokers don't chargecommissions to trade or to maintain an account, and thatgoes for all clients trading the FOREX through them,regardless of your account balance or trading volume. EvenMini FX traders can buy and sell currencies online,commission-free.

What about trading fees? There are none of the usual fees towhich futures and equity traders are accustomed -- noexchange or clearing fees, no N_F_A or S_E_C fees. Becausecurrencies trade over-the-counter (OTC), via a globalelectronic network -- in FOREX, what you see is what youget, allowing you to make quick decisions on your tradeswithout having to worry or account for fees that may affectyour profit/loss or slippage.

In the equities markets, you must pay both a commission andexchange fees. The over-the-counter structure of the FXmarket eliminates exchange and clearing fees, which in turnlowers transaction costs.

So, if FOREX broker don't charge commissions, how do theymake money? Like all traded financial products, over-the-counter currency trading involves a bid/ask spread, whichrepresents the prices at which your counterparty is willingto trade. Because the currency market offers round-the-clockliquidity, you receive tight, competitive spreads bothintra-day and night. Stock traders can be more vulnerable toliquidity risk and typically receive wider trading spreads,especially during after-hours trading.

7): Instantaneous Order Execution and Market Transparency.

Market transparency is highly desired in any tradingenvironment. The greater the market transparency, the moreefficient the market becomes. Unlike other markets wheretransparency is compromised (like in the Enron scandal),FOREX markets are highly transparent (i.e., analyzingcountries, and having access to real-time research / news,is easier than companies).

Because of this transparency, as an FX trader, you will beable to exercise risk management strategies in accordance tothe fundamental and technical indicators we teach atRapidForex.com

The FX market offers the highest level of markettransparency out of all the financial markets. Because ofthis, order execution and fill confirmation usually occur injust 1-2 seconds. Markets that do not offer executableprices and force traders to absorb slippage obviouslycompromise the trader's profit potential considerably.

In the forex world, order execution is all-electronic andbecause you'll be trading via an Internet-based platform,instantaneous execution is routine. There are no exchanges,no traditional open-outcry pits, no floor brokers, andconsequently, no delays.

http://www.1-forex.com

Omar Vargas
Forex trader and freelance writer
http://www.1-forex.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Chicago Mercantile, banks may team up for currency trading
Economic Times, India - Jul 23, 2008
MUMBAI: India’s two major stock exchanges — the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange — may have to ready themselves to take on a new ...


Understanding the Bid/Ask Spread
Forex Hound, NY - 4 hours ago
In our last lesson we looked at what an increase or decrease in the quote for a particular currency pair means to us as traders of the forex market. ...


Currency Trading Market Conditions Difficult, Can the Euro ...
Daily FX, NY - Jul 14, 2008
Currency trading markets have seen a major pickup in volatility through the past several days of trading, but relatively limited follow-through makes it ...


Top Currency Trading Ideas for the Week of July 14, 2008
Daily FX, NY - Jul 14, 2008
Our USD bearish stance has been proved correct to this point and we think there is a good deal of weakness going forward. The EURUSD is still the best ...


National Australia Falls Most Since 1987 on CDO Loss (Update1)
Bloomberg - 11 hours ago
The company has struggled to win back investor confidence after a currency trading scandal in 2004 and $2.2 billion of writedowns from the acquisition of ...


Maktoob Business (press release)

Dollar pares gains vs. euro, slips vs. yen
MarketWatch - 20 hours ago
"Thursday's currency trading looks like a contest of which currency has the worst economic fundamentals, as the euro, sterling and kiwi are all falling ...
Dollar support tested International Business Times
Dollar Trades Near Two-Week High on Paulson, Plosser's Comments Bloomberg
Dollar Rises Versus Euro on Comments From Paulson, Fed Official Bloomberg
Bloomberg
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Subprime bullet bites confidence in bank
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 5 hours ago
Having been appointed 4½ years ago to steer NAB through the foreign currency trading scandal that almost brought the bank to its knees, Mr Stewart has been ...


Currency Trading Markets Likely to Offer Profitable Range Trades
Daily FX, NY - Jul 7, 2008
Currency market volatility has dipped once again through the past week of trade. An earlier spike in our DailyFX 3-Month Volatility Index quickly reversed ...


The Associated Press

Japan stocks drop on overnight US losses
The Associated Press - 9 hours ago
In currency trading, the dollar bought 106.66 yen midafternoon in Tokyo, down from 107.29 yen late Thursday in New York. The euro rose to $1.5720, ...
Japanese market closes sharply higher on Wall Street gains, weaker yen RTT News
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Top Currency Trading Ideas for the Week of June 30, 2008
Daily FX, NY - Jun 30, 2008
Expect a dollar rally to begin the week. This opportunity should be used to establish / add to long standing USD bearish positions. ...

Currency-Trading - Google News

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