A Basic Guide To Forex Trading (2024)

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Foreign exchange trading—also commonly called forex trading or FX—is the global market for exchanging foreign currencies. Forex is the largest market in the world, and the trades that happen in it affect everything from the price of clothing imported from China to the amount you pay for a margarita while vacationing in Mexico.

What Is Forex Trading?

At its simplest, forex trading is similar to the currency exchange you may do while traveling abroad: A trader buys one currency and sells another, and the exchange rate constantly fluctuates based on supply and demand.

Currencies are traded in the foreign exchange market, a global marketplace that’s open 24 hours a day Monday through Friday. All forex trading is conducted over the counter (OTC), meaning there’s no physical exchange (as there is for stocks) and a global network of banks and other financial institutions oversee the market (instead of a central exchange, like the New York Stock Exchange).

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A vast majority of trade activity in the forex market occurs between institutional traders, such as people who work for banks, fund managers and multinational corporations. These traders don’t necessarily intend to take physical possession of the currencies themselves; they may simply be speculating about or hedging against future exchange rate fluctuations.

A forex trader might buy U.S. dollars (and sell euros), for example, if she believes the dollar will strengthen in value and therefore be able to buy more euros in the future. Meanwhile, an American company with European operations could use the forex market as a hedge in the event the euro weakens, meaning the value of their income earned there falls.

How Currencies Are Traded

All currencies are assigned a three-letter code much like a stock’s ticker symbol. While there are more than 170 currencies worldwide, the U.S. dollar is involved in a vast majority of forex trading, so it’s especially helpful to know its code: USD. The second most popular currency in the forex market is the euro, the currency accepted in 19 countries in the European Union (code: EUR).

Other major currencies, in order of popularity, are: the Japanese yen (JPY), the British pound (GBP), the Australian dollar (AUD), the Canadian dollar (CAD), the Swiss franc (CHF) and the New Zealand dollar (NZD).

All forex trading is expressed as a combination of the two currencies being exchanged. The following seven currency pairs—what are known as the majors—account for about 75% of trading in the forex market:

  • EUR/USD
  • USD/JPY
  • GBP/USD
  • AUD/USD
  • USD/CAD
  • USD/CHF
  • NZD/USD

How Forex Trades Are Quoted

Each currency pair represents the current exchange rate for the two currencies. Here’s how to interpret that information, using EUR/USD—or the euro-to-dollar exchange rate—as an example:

  • The currency on the left (the euro) is the base currency.
  • The currency on the right (the U.S. dollar) is the quote currency.
  • The exchange rate represents how much of the quote currency is needed to buy 1 unit of the base currency. As a result, the base currency is always expressed as 1 unit while the quote currency varies based on the current market and how much is needed to buy 1 unit of the base currency.
  • If the EUR/USD exchange rate is 1.2, that means €1 will buy $1.20 (or, put another way, it will cost $1.20 to buy €1).
  • When the exchange rate rises, that means the base currency has risen in value relative to the quote currency (because €1 will buy more U.S. dollars) and conversely, if the exchange rate falls, that means the base currency has fallen in value.

A quick note: Currency pairs are usually presented with the base currency first and the quote currency second, though there’s historical convention for how some currency pairs are expressed. For example, USD to EUR conversions are listed as EUR/USD, but not USD/EUR.

Three Ways to Trade Forex

Most forex trades aren’t made for the purpose of exchanging currencies (as you might at a currency exchange while traveling) but rather to speculate about future price movements, much like you would with stock trading. Similar to stock traders, forex traders are attempting to buy currencies whose values they think will increase relative to other currencies or to get rid of currencies whose purchasing power they anticipate will decrease.

There are three different ways to trade forex, which will accommodate traders with varying goals:

  • The spot market. This is the primary forex market where those currency pairs are swapped and exchange rates are determined in real-time, based on supply and demand.
  • The forward market. Instead of executing a trade now, forex traders can also enter into a binding (private) contract with another trader and lock in an exchange rate for an agreed upon amount of currency on a future date.
  • The futures market. Similarly, traders can opt for a standardized contract to buy or sell a predetermined amount of a currency at a specific exchange rate at a date in the future. This is done on an exchange rather than privately, like the forwards market.

The forward and futures markets are primarily used by forex traders who want to speculate or hedge against future price changes in a currency. The exchange rates in these markets are based on what’s happening in the spot market, which is the largest of the forex markets and is where a majority of forex trades are executed.

Forex Terms to Know

Each market has its own language. These are words to know before engaging in forex trading:

  • Currency pair. All forex trades involve a currency pair. In addition to the majors, there also are less common trades (like exotics, which are currencies of developing countries).
  • Pip. Short for percentage in points, a pip refers to the smallest possible price change within a currency pair. Because forex prices are quoted out to at least four decimal places, a pip is equal to 0.0001.
  • Bid-ask spread. As with other assets (like stocks), exchange rates are determined by the maximum amount that buyers are willing to pay for a currency (the bid) and the minimum amount that sellers require to sell (the ask). The difference between these two amounts, and the value trades ultimately will get executed at, is the bid-ask spread.
  • Lot. Forex is traded by what’s known as a lot, or a standardized unit of currency. The typical lot size is 100,000 units of currency, though there are micro (1,000) and mini (10,000) lots available for trading, too.
  • Leverage. Because of those large lot sizes, some traders may not be willing to put up so much money to execute a trade. Leverage, another term for borrowing money, allows traders to participate in the forex market without the amount of money otherwise required.
  • Margin. Trading with leverage isn’t free, however. Traders must put down some money upfront as a deposit—or what’s known as margin.

What Moves the Forex Market

Like any other market, currency prices are set by the supply and demand of sellers and buyers. However, there are other macro forces at play in this market. Demand for particular currencies can also be influenced by interest rates, central bank policy, the pace of economic growth and the political environment in the country in question.

The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week, which gives traders in this market the opportunity to react to news that might not affect the stock market until much later. Because so much of currency trading focuses on speculation or hedging, it’s important for traders to be up to speed on the dynamics that could cause sharp spikes in currencies.

Risks of Forex Trading

Because forex trading requires leverage and traders use margin, there are additional risks to forex trading than other types of assets. Currency prices are constantly fluctuating, but at very small amounts, which means traders need to execute large trades (using leverage) to make money.

This leverage is great if a trader makes a winning bet because it can magnify profits. However, it can also magnify losses, even exceeding the initial amount borrowed. In addition, if a currency falls too much in value, leverage users open themselves up to margin calls, which may force them to sell their securities purchased with borrowed funds at a loss. Outside of possible losses, transaction costs can also add up and possibly eat into what was a profitable trade.

On top of all that, you should keep in mind that those who trade foreign currencies are little fish swimming in a pond of skilled, professional traders—and the Securities and Exchange Commission warns about potential fraud or information that could be confusing to new traders.

Perhaps it’s a good thing then that forex trading isn’t so common among individual investors. In fact, retail trading (a.k.a. trading by non-professionals) accounts for just 5.5% of the entire global market, figures from DailyForex show, and some of the major online brokers don’t even offer forex trading.

What’s more, of the few retailer traders who engage in forex trading, most struggle to turn a profit with forex. CompareForexBrokers found that, on average, 71% of retail FX traders lost money. This makes forex trading a strategy often best left to the professionals.

Why Forex Trading Matters for Average Consumers

While the average investor probably shouldn’t dabble in the forex market, what happens there does affect all of us. The real-time activity in the spot market will impact the amount we pay for exports along with how much it costs to travel abroad.

If the value of the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to the euro, for example, it will be cheaper to travel abroad (your U.S. dollars can buy more euros) and buy imported goods (from cars to clothes). On the flip side, when the dollar weakens, it will be more expensive to travel abroad and import goods (but companies that export goods abroad will benefit).

If you’re planning to make a big purchase of an imported item, or you’re planning to travel outside the U.S., it’s good to keep an eye on the exchange rates that are set by the forex market.

I'm an expert in the field of foreign exchange trading, commonly known as forex trading or FX. I bring not only a theoretical understanding of the concepts but also practical experience in navigating the intricacies of the global forex market.

Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:

1. What Is Forex Trading?

  • Forex trading involves exchanging foreign currencies globally.
  • It's the largest market, influencing prices of imported goods and travel expenses.
  • Traders buy one currency and sell another, with exchange rates fluctuating based on supply and demand.
  • The market operates 24/5, over the counter (OTC), with no physical exchange.

2. How Currencies Are Traded

  • Currencies have three-letter codes (e.g., USD, EUR).
  • Major currencies include USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, NZD.
  • Forex trading is expressed as currency pairs (e.g., EUR/USD).
  • Major currency pairs (majors) account for about 75% of trading.

3. How Forex Trades Are Quoted

  • Each currency pair represents the exchange rate.
  • Interpretation example: EUR/USD at 1.2 means €1 buys $1.20.
  • Base and quote currencies, and understanding rate changes.

4. Three Ways to Trade Forex

  • Spot market: real-time trading based on supply and demand.
  • Forward market: private contract for future exchange rates.
  • Futures market: standardized contract on an exchange for future transactions.

5. Forex Terms to Know

  • Currency pair, pip (percentage in points), bid-ask spread, lot size.
  • Leverage for trading large lots without significant upfront money.
  • Margin: upfront deposit for leveraged trades.

6. What Moves the Forex Market

  • Market influenced by supply, demand, interest rates, central bank policy, economic growth, and political environment.
  • Open 24/5, allowing quick reactions to news impacting currencies.

7. Risks of Forex Trading

  • Leverage magnifies both profits and losses.
  • Small currency fluctuations require large trades for profit.
  • Risk of margin calls and transaction costs.

8. Why Forex Trading Matters for Average Consumers

  • Impact on travel expenses and costs of imported goods.
  • Exchange rates affect purchasing power in international transactions.

In conclusion, while forex trading may not be common among individual investors, its impact on global markets makes it crucial for understanding economic dynamics and its ripple effects on everyday consumer activities.

A Basic Guide To Forex Trading (2024)

FAQs

What should a beginner do in forex trading? ›

Trading Forex for beginners summarized
  1. Learning the basics (currency pairs)
  2. Learn the software (MT4, MT5)
  3. Learn with demo accounts.
  4. Find a reliable service provider.
  5. Use the service provider's resources such as tools and guides.
  6. Read books on trading and watch videos online.
  7. Learn various trading strategies and test them.
Nov 1, 2023

How do I teach myself to trade forex? ›

Preparing for Your First Forex Trade
  1. Step 1: Learn About the Forex Market. ...
  2. Step 2: Choose How You Want to Trade Forex. ...
  3. Step 3: Choose a Broker. ...
  4. Step 4: Open a Trading Account. ...
  5. Step 5: Prepare a Trading Plan. ...
  6. Step 6: Choose a Forex Pair to Trade. ...
  7. Step 7: Analyse the Market. ...
  8. Step 8: Buy or Sell.

Is $100 enough to start forex? ›

Overall, while it is possible to start trading forex with just $100, it is important for traders to approach it with caution and to have a solid understanding of the market and their own risk tolerance.

Is $500 enough to trade forex? ›

This forex trading style is ideal for people who dislike looking at their charts frequently and who can only trade in their free time. The very lowest you can open an account with is $500 if you wish to initiate a trade with a risk of 50 pips since you can risk $5 per trade, which is 1% of $500.

Is $1000 enough to start forex? ›

In conclusion, $1000 is enough to start trading Forex. However, it's important to have a realistic trading plan and manage your risk carefully. A $1000 Forex trading plan should include setting trading goals, determining risk tolerance, and choosing a suitable trading strategy.

How much money do I need to start forex? ›

Answer - You can start trading with as little as $10 or invest more, like $100, $1,000, or even $15,000. Higher investments can potentially lead to higher profits in forex. However, it often requires substantial investments to achieve significant gains.

Can you learn forex alone? ›

The amount of time it takes to master forex trading on your own will vary depending on your dedication and commitment to learning. Some traders may be able to grasp the basics within a few weeks, while others may take several months or even years to become consistently profitable.

How much do forex traders make a month? ›

Forex Trader Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$192,500$16,041
75th Percentile$181,000$15,083
Average$101,533$8,461
25th Percentile$57,500$4,791

How long does it take to learn forex? ›

It depends on factors such as your learning style, time dedication, and ability to apply effective trading strategies. On average, it may take several months to a few years to become consistently profitable.

Can forex make one a millionaire? ›

It must be described in detail because it involves a lot of factors and also because, while it is possible to become a millionaire through Forex trading, some tips that come from over 12 years of trading experience must be acted upon and the time frame one must give himself.

How much can you make with $1000 in forex? ›

With a $1000 account, you're looking at an average of $200 per year. On a $1m account, you're looking at an average of $200,000 per year. On a $10m account, you're looking at an average of $2,000,000 per year. This is the same strategy, same risk management, and same trader.

How to turn $100 into $1000 in forex? ›

Your $100 will become $1000 to purchase this stock if you use a leverage ratio of 1:10. In this instance, you contribute 10% of the total trade amount of 100%, with your broker covering the remaining 90%. If you are looking for a trustworthy and reliable Forex broker then you should try HFM.

How much can forex traders make a day? ›

On average, a forex trader can make anywhere between $500 to $2,000 per day. However, this figure can vary significantly depending on market conditions, trading strategy, and risk management techniques. Some traders may make more than $2,000 in a single day, while others may make less or even incur losses.

How many forex trades can I make in a day? ›

Scalping vs day trading forex

Whereas day traders typically open anywhere from one to five positions a day, scalpers could make dozens or even more trades in that time. Often, they'll use automated systems to react to movement faster than humanly possible. Learn more about trading styles in the FOREX.com Academy.

Can I day trade with 50 dollars? ›

$50 is theoretically the least amount of capital you should start day trading with. But, there are some problems with this. If you have a few losing trades, you now have less than $50, yet you still have to risk about $0.50 on a trade. This means you're now risking more than 1% of your account.

Can a beginner make money in forex? ›

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.

Is forex trading profitable for beginners? ›

Many beginners are attracted to forex trading because of the potential for high profits. However, it is important to understand that forex trading is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It requires knowledge, skills, and discipline to be successful, and there is no guarantee of making profits.

Is forex trading easy for beginners? ›

Forex trading is a risky investment activity for beginners, which requires certain knowledge and skills to be able to trade effectively. However, forex trading can also be a very profitable investment if the investors carefully learn to master it, and adopt reasonable risk control measures.

Is forex trading hard for beginners? ›

Often perceived as an easy moneymaking career, forex trading is actually quite difficult, though highly engaging. The foreign exchange market is the largest and most liquid market in the world, but trading currencies is very different from trading stocks or commodities.

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