Forex 101 - Foreign Currency Exchange Trading

Summary: Nearly everyone enjoys making money. More often than not, the more money we make the better we feel and the more confidence we have. These are good things as long as making money doesn't get too emotional. If investing is treated like a business and most of the emotion is left behind, many people can do well with their investments. Forex Trading, also known as FX Trading is another way you can make money in a trading environment. Everyone has heard of the New York St...

Nearly everyone enjoys making money. More often than not, the more money we make the better we feel and the more confidence we have. These are good things as long as making money doesn't get too emotional. If investing is treated like a business and most of the emotion is left behind, many people can do well with their investments. Forex Trading, also known as FX Trading is another way you can make money in a trading environment. Everyone has heard of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), each featuring either stock trading or options and futures trading. Forex Trading involves the buying and selling of currencies instead of stocks, bonds, options or futures. It is also different in that there is no physical floor or exchange area like there is in New York or Chicago where the above mentioned exchanges are located. The Foreign Exchange Market (FOREX) can only be accessed by phone or by electronic network. The advantage of not having a central location, but instead having an electronic network, is that the Forex can operate 24 hours a day. In fact, it is open for trading all day and night during work days, roughly 5 days a week. Since the Spot Forex Market is the largest financial market in the world, it is also the most liquid. This means it is easy to get in and out of a position whenever you want. The more liquid a market is, the easier it is to initiate and fulfill a transaction. Of course, the objective when trading in any market is to buy low and sell high. With Online Forex Trading, a person buys and sells the currencies of other nations. If one believes the U.S. Dollar will strengthen against the EURO, for instance, they can buy Dollars now and sell them later at a profit. Currencies are traded in currency pairs and each currency is represented by a 3 letter code. Therefore, a rate, which consists of a pair of currency codes, will end up being a 6 letter code. For instance, USD/GBP is considered a currency pair with each containing three letters for a total of 6 in a rate. Your objective as a Forex trader is to make sure you can correctly identify the current trend in the currencies you are trading and to make sure you are buying a currency which is appreciating in value and selling a currency which is depreciating. Slightly different than stock trading, you will utilize special software programs which allow you to participate in Online Forex Trading. You can also participate in Forex Trading Education at many Forex Trading company websites, and some allow you to test your Forex Trading Strategy in a "practice mode" before you actually use your own money. Forex or FX Currency Trading can be an exciting alternative to the stock, bond, option or precious metals markets. To some it is a simpler way to trade and profit. To others it is a welcome break from disappointing corporate news that can drive a stock down dramatically in seconds. Whatever your reasons, Forex Trading may be just the break you need from other investments you may be tiring of.