A Brief Explanation On What Currency Trading Really Is

By Cedric Welsch

Forex trading is unchartered territory for many people looking to earn from an investment. Many treat it as a financial transaction that is too exotic (and risky) for their taste. The truth is that forex trading is actually a type of investment that is well understood by traders around the world. To give you a better understanding about how forex works, here is forex trading explained:

What is forex trading?

Forex trading is simply the trading of the world’s currencies as they change in value. It is akin to pitting one currency against another and benefiting from their difference. The term ‘forex’ comes from the words Foreign Exchange and is generally used to refer to the foreign exchange market. Because currencies are exchanged or traded in order for countries to be able to do business with each other, traders can leverage the differences in the currencies to earn a profit.

Forex trading began in the 1970s and has grown to be the largest market in the world, with trade amounting to at least US$1 trillion dollars everyday. That is the kind of money that gets moved on a daily basis.

Forex trading is usually done through a broker, although there are also facilities that allow trading to be done online by the investors themselves.

How forex trading works

Foreign exchange requires the trading of currency pairs, such as the US$ against the Euro or the US$ against the Japanese Yen. A EUR/USD pair may have a currency quote of say, 1.312. In this pair, Euro is the base currency and is worth 1 unit while the US dollar is the quote currency. Using the above example, 1Euro will buy 1.312 US$. To make money, the investor will have to wait until one currency appreciates or depreciates relative to the other. If the Euro appreciates to 1.313 and the trader invested $100,000, he or she can earn a profit of $100. If, for example, the Euro fell, he or she will lose the equivalent amount.

Many people prefer trading in forex instead of stocks because the forex market offers more flexibility. It is a 24-hour market that usually begins on Sunday and trades until Friday. This availability allows people to trade as often as they like and to change their trading schedule as they see fit. It is also a very liquid market, allowing traders to open positions and close them in just a few seconds since there is no absence of sellers and buyers. Since virtually any currency can be traded, investors and individuals can choose which currency combinations they want.

A caveat: while it may seem very easy, forex trading can be quite complicated and it is recommended that you learn everything you can about the market before buying or selling anything. This will help improve your chances, use your knowledge for leverage and earn a profit.

About the Author

Do not belittle the capacity of the forex industry to make you a rich business person someday.
There is certain magic in fx trading that makes even the commoner to amass profits quick.