There are still issues with maintaining a consistentpower supply and fully-functioning Internet facilities, but I still commend the evolution of our technology with regards to Internet accessibility and progress of trading devices. With the advent of mobile Internet packages provided by the ISP, more traders have access to the Internet at lower costs.

Technology is not being treated as a luxury anymore, but as the basic tool for trading and business growth that it is. To avoid increasing your trading risk, it is extremely important that you select a fully regulated and reputable broker —one that will ensure fair treatment and security of your funds. Beware of those brokers who offer unfair Terms of Agreement.

Choose a broker with a clear policy of transparent risk management and a reliable technology base so that stop orders and the placement of trades are as accurate as possible.

Networking with other traders for mutual benefits turns colleagues into potential partners. Prior to social media —particularly Facebook —becoming popular in Nigeria, it was difficult for traders to even begin interacting with each other for mutual benefits. But now there are huge opportunities to meet up with others and exchange ideas. A number of trading groups have emerged that promote networking among traders, such as the weekly Interactive Forum at the FXTM Nigeria office.

They provide an environment for traders to exchange trading strategies and share ideas about the market. Positive word-of-mouth about growth and career development would spread from these initiatives if more groups were created. The first step local traders should take in managing the abovementioned challenges is to select a fully regulated online broker that is committed to providing: a trustworthy and transparent service, engaging educational resources, and a high-quality trading platform with fast execution speeds.

They have shown that they have what it takes to develop the discipline and money management skills needed for the rapidly-growing forex markets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Copyright © - FINANCIAL WATCH. November 10, TOP STORIES. Home LATEST NEWS Understanding Online Forex Trading. Understanding Online Forex Trading. About Haruna Magaji Articles.

Haruna Magaji is a journalist, foreign policy expert and closet musician. He is a graduate of ABU Zaria and a member of the Nigerian union of journalists. Set up a brokerage account: You will need a forex trading account at a brokerage to get started with forex trading.

Forex brokers do not charge commissions. Instead, they make money through spreads also known as pips between the buying and selling prices.

For beginner traders, it is a good idea to set up a micro forex trading account with low capital requirements. Such accounts have variable trading limits and allow brokers to limit their trades to amounts as low as 1, units of a currency.

For context, a standard account lot is equal to , currency units. A micro forex account will help you become more comfortable with forex trading and determine your trading style. Develop a trading strategy: While it is not always possible to predict and time market movement, having a trading strategy will help you set broad guidelines and a road map for trading.

A good trading strategy is based on the reality of your situation and finances. It takes into account the amount of cash that you are willing to put up for trading and, correspondingly, the amount of risk that you can tolerate without getting burned out of your position.

Remember, forex trading is mostly a high-leverage environment. But it also offers more rewards to those who are willing to take the risk. Always be on top of your numbers: Once you begin trading, always check your positions at the end of the day. Most trading software already provides a daily accounting of trades.

Make sure that you do not have any pending positions to be filled out and that you have sufficient cash in your account to make future trades. Cultivate emotional equilibrium: Beginner forex trading is fraught with emotional roller coasters and unanswered questions.

Should you have held onto your position a bit longer for more profits? How did you miss that report about low gross domestic product GDP numbers that led to a decline in overall value of your portfolio? Obsessing over such unanswered questions can lead you down a path of confusion. That is why it is important to not get carried away by your trading positions and cultivate emotional equilibrium across profits and losses. Be disciplined about closing out your positions when necessary.

The best way to get started on the forex journey is to learn its language. Here are a few terms to get you started:. Remember that the trading limit for each lot includes margin money used for leverage. This means that the broker can provide you with capital in a predetermined ratio.

The most basic forms of forex trades are a long trade and a short trade. In a long trade, the trader is betting that the currency price will increase in the future and they can profit from it. Traders can also use trading strategies based on technical analysis, such as breakout and moving average , to fine-tune their approach to trading.

Depending on the duration and numbers for trading, trading strategies can be categorized into four further types:. Three types of charts are used in forex trading. They are:. Line charts are used to identify big-picture trends for a currency.

They are the most basic and common type of chart used by forex traders. They display the closing trading price for the currency for the time periods specified by the user. The trend lines identified in a line chart can be used to devise trading strategies. For example, you can use the information contained in a trend line to identify breakouts or a change in trend for rising or declining prices.

While it can be useful, a line chart is generally used as a starting point for further trading analysis. Much like other instances in which they are used, bar charts are used to represent specific time periods for trading.

They provide more price information than line charts. Each bar chart represents one day of trading and contains the opening price, highest price, lowest price, and closing price OHLC for a trade. Colors are sometimes used to indicate price movement, with green or white used for periods of rising prices and red or black for a period during which prices declined. Candlestick charts were first used by Japanese rice traders in the 18th century.

They are visually more appealing and easier to read than the chart types described above. The upper portion of a candle is used for the opening price and highest price point used by a currency, and the lower portion of a candle is used to indicate the closing price and lowest price point. A down candle represents a period of declining prices and is shaded red or black, while an up candle is a period of increasing prices and is shaded green or white.

The formations and shapes in candlestick charts are used to identify market direction and movement. Some of the more common formations for candlestick charts are hanging man and shooting star. Forex markets are the largest in terms of daily trading volume in the world and therefore offer the most liquidity. This makes it easy to enter and exit a position in any of the major currencies within a fraction of a second for a small spread in most market conditions.

The forex market is traded 24 hours a day, five and a half days a week—starting each day in Australia and ending in New York. The broad time horizon and coverage offer traders several opportunities to make profits or cover losses. The major forex market centers are Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Zurich. The extensive use of leverage in forex trading means that you can start with little capital and multiply your profits.

Forex trading generally follows the same rules as regular trading and requires much less initial capital; therefore, it is easier to start trading forex compared to stocks. The forex market is more decentralized than traditional stock or bond markets. There is no centralized exchange that dominates currency trade operations, and the potential for manipulation—through insider information about a company or stock—is lower.

Even though they are the most liquid markets in the world, forex trades are much more volatile than regular markets. Banks, brokers, and dealers in the forex markets allow a high amount of leverage, which means that traders can control large positions with relatively little money of their own.

Leverage in the range of is not uncommon in forex. A trader must understand the use of leverage and the risks that leverage introduces in an account. Trading currencies productively requires an understanding of economic fundamentals and indicators. A currency trader needs to have a big-picture understanding of the economies of the various countries and their interconnectedness to grasp the fundamentals that drive currency values.

The decentralized nature of forex markets means that it is less accountable to regulation than other financial markets. The extent and nature of regulation in forex markets depend on the jurisdiction of trading. Forex markets lack instruments that provide regular income, such as regular dividend payments, which might make them attractive to investors who are not interested in exponential returns. Companies and traders use forex for two main reasons: speculation and hedging.

The former is used by traders to make money off the rise and fall of currency prices, while the latter is used to lock in prices for manufacturing and sales in overseas markets. Forex markets are among the most liquid markets in the world. Hence, they tend to be less volatile than other markets, such as real estate. The volatility of a particular currency is a function of multiple factors, such as the politics and economics of its country. Therefore, events like economic instability in the form of a payment default or imbalance in trading relationships with another currency can result in significant volatility.

Forex trade regulation depends on the jurisdiction. Countries like the United States have sophisticated infrastructure and markets to conduct forex trades. Hence, forex trades are tightly regulated there by the National Futures Association NFA and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission CFTC. However, due to the heavy use of leverage in forex trades, developing countries like India and China have restrictions on the firms and capital to be used in forex trading.

Europe is the largest market for forex trades. The Financial Conduct Authority FCA is responsible for monitoring and regulating forex trades in the United Kingdom. Currencies with high liquidity have a ready market and therefore exhibit smooth and predictable price action in response to external events. The U. dollar is the most traded currency in the world. It features in six of the seven currency pairs with the most liquidit y in the markets.

Currencies with low liquidity, however, cannot be traded in large lot sizes without significant market movement being associated with the price. Such currencies generally belong to developing countries. When they are paired with the currency of a developed country, an exotic pair is formed. For example, a pairing of the U. Next, you need to develop a trading strategy based on your finances and risk tolerance.

Finally, you should open a brokerage account. Today, it is easier than ever to open and fund a forex account online and begin trading currencies. 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 larger funds, long-term fundamentals-based trading or a carry trade can be profitable. A focus on understanding the macroeconomic fundamentals that drive currency values, as well as experience with technical analysis, may help new forex traders to become more profitable.

Bank for International Settlements. Federal Reserve History. Guide to Forex Trading. Company News Markets News Cryptocurrency News Personal Finance News Economic News Government News. Your Money. Personal Finance. Your Practice. Popular Courses. Table of Contents Expand. Table of Contents. What Is the Forex Market? A Brief History of Forex. An Overview of Forex Markets. Uses of the Forex Markets. How to Start Trading Forex. Forex Terminology. Basic Forex Trading Strategies.

Charts Used in Forex Trading. Pros and Cons of Trading Forex. The Bottom Line. Key Takeaways The foreign exchange also known as forex or FX market is a global marketplace for exchanging national currencies.

Because of the worldwide reach of trade, commerce, and finance, forex markets tend to be the largest and most liquid asset markets in the world.

Currencies trade against each other as exchange rate pairs. Forex markets exist as spot cash markets as well as derivatives markets, offering forwards, futures, options, and currency swaps. Market participants use forex to hedge against international currency and interest rate risk, to speculate on geopolitical events, and to diversify portfolios, among other reasons.

Pros and Cons of Trading Forex Pros Forex markets are the largest in terms of daily trading volume in the world and therefore offer the most liquidity. Automation of forex markets lends itself well to rapid execution of trading strategies.

Cons Even though they are the most liquid markets in the world, forex trades are much more volatile than regular markets. Extreme amounts of leverage have led to many dealers becoming insolvent unexpectedly. Why Do People Trade Currencies? Are Forex Markets Volatile? Are Forex Markets Regulated? Which Currencies Can I Trade in? How Do I Get Started With Forex Trading? Article Sources. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work.

These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts.

This article will act as a Forex Trading for Beginners Guide , covering everything you need to know about the forex market. Are you looking to get started trading the forex market right away?

To be able to make money with forex , you need to begin with having a deep understanding of how forex trading works. Forex trading is the process of exchanging one currency for another through the financial markets.

This can be as simple as exchanging pounds for euros before you go on holiday — but when we discuss forex trading in an investment sense, it tends to refer to the process of speculating on currency values for potential gains.

According to The Tokenist , the forex market is the largest and most liquid market on earth, with over currencies being traded worldwide. Due to the size and accessibility of this market, retail traders worldwide will enter the market every day and attempt to make returns on their capital.

Notably, retail traders only make up a tiny percentage of global trading volume — most of which comprises banks and large financial institutions. This may seem confusing at first, but it simply means you are trading one pair against another.

There are many currency pairs to trade, ensuring traders have lots of variety in the market. Major pairs are the most liquid and are the ones that are most traded by both retail and professional traders. In addition, minor pairs are less traded but can also showcase some great opportunities. Finally, exotics are currency pairs that are rarely traded and have pretty low liquidity — meaning these are best saved for advanced traders. The forex market operates 24 hours per day, five days per week.

As the market is global, there will be certain times when markets are slow or certain days over the weekend where markets are closed. The forex market opens at 5pm EST on Sunday afternoons and closes at 4pm EST on Friday afternoons. These relate to the time of day for each location and the level of trading activity that corresponds.

There are numerous ways to trade the forex market, ensuring that every investor type is catered to. The list below summarises some of the main ones:.

Forex trading for beginners means understanding what pips are and what the spread is. Put simply, pips are just a unit of measurement used to determine the change in the value of a currency. For example:. Spreads are the difference between the bid and ask prices offered by a broker.

Spreads can widen or narrow during trading hours, depending on volatility and liquidity levels. Leverage and margin are vital elements to understand when it comes to forex trading for beginners. This increases potential profits and increases potential losses, so you must be sensible when using leverage. Leverage is quoted as a ratio — for example, some brokers may offer leverage when FX trading.

Another thing to understand is margin. Margin refers to the amount of money you have to keep in your account to facilitate a leveraged trade. Margin requirements differ depending on where you reside and the broker you use and can be expressed as a percentage or ratio.

Trading forex can be an extremely profitable endeavour; however, to get to this level will take time and discipline. Becoming a profitable trader requires developing and sticking to an effective trading strategy and becoming incrementally better over time. Managing your risk is one of the critical components of becoming a profitable trader. Overall, although it might seem a daunting challenge to learn forex trading, the potential results make it worthwhile.

Experienced forex traders can make consistent double-digit returns each month. With the power of compounding, this can really grow your account balance exponentially over time. Like all investments, there is an element of risk when trading the forex markets.

The forex markets are so popular because of their inherent volatility, yet this volatility can potentially work against you and cause you to experience losses. There are various types of risk to consider, but one of the main types you will experience relates to news or data releases. Overall, the forex market is inherently risky, but if you employ a proper strategy and correct risk management, you can significantly mitigate this risk.

When you first start forex currency trading, you must have a game plan for entering the markets. Trading the forex market without a strategy is a sure-fire way to lose money — so determining a plan beforehand is one of the foundational forex basics for new traders. Although there are many different trading strategies out there, the three mentioned below are some of the most popular amongst FX traders.

Scalping is a trading strategy where traders will open a position in a currency for a brief period before closing for a small profit. Scalpers typically trade off of the lower timeframes, such as the 5-minute or even the 1-minute charts. Unlike other strategies, scalpers are only looking to make a couple of pips profit rather than banking pips per trade. Scalpers may even trade various market events such as forex news or data releases, trying to grab a quick couple of pips amongst the volatility.

Trades will usually only last a few minutes, with specific entry and exit rules being employed by the trader. Scalping is a relatively risky strategy, as the FX market can turn against you in an instant — thereby rendering your trade a loss. Another method of trading forex is through day trading. This strategy involves capitalising on intraday moves within the market, usually holding a position anywhere between 15 minutes to 8 hours. Typically, day traders will try to close out their position before the market closes so that they are not holding their trade overnight.

Day traders often use technical analysis to inform their trading decisions, using the charts to identify buy or sell opportunities. Much like scalpers, day traders may also use market events as a jumping-off point to open positions. Day trading forex can be a potentially lucrative avenue to explore — although it does take discipline and dedication to master. This strategy usually means holding trades for days or even weeks in the hope of capturing a large number of pips.

Swing traders will often use a combination of technical and fundamental analysis to identify a potential opportunity and then set a wide stop loss so that the trade has room to breathe. One of the most important steps when starting your trading journey is to choose a suitable broker.

The best forex brokers will allow you to trade the forex market in a streamlined and low-cost manner. Furthermore, many of them will offer a dedicated forex trading app that will enable you to trade on the go. Our top pick when it comes to forex currency trading is eToro. eToro is the favoured broker of over 20 million people worldwide, thanks to its extensive regulation and low-cost fee structure. In terms of the former, eToro is regulated by tier-one entities such as the FCA and CySEC.

This means that they must adhere to the strictest security standards, ensuring traders can operate in the markets safely and securely. eToro does not charge any commissions when you place a trade — ideal for traders who are active in the markets. Aside from their low fees, eToro also offers a whole host of valuable features. One of the best features they offer is an innovative CopyTrader feature, which allows you to view and automatically copy the trades of experienced eToro users in real-time.

This feature is ideal for beginner traders as it will enable them to learn the markets whilst still making a return — ensuring eToro are one of the best social trading platforms on the market. The great thing is that eToro does not charge anything to make a deposit — and charges no withdrawal or monthly account fees either.

Many forex traders wish to use the super-popular MT4 or MT5 platforms to conduct their forex trading. If this applies to you, then Avatrade might be worth checking out. Avatrade is regulated by multiple top entities such as CySEC and ASIC, ensuring they use the strictest security policies. Much like eToro, this MT4 broker does not charge any commissions when you place an FX trade — instead, Avatrade incorporates its fee into the tight spreads it offers.

As Avatrade offers full support for both MT4 and MT5, this allows users to conduct extensive technical analysis through custom indicators. Furthermore, users can even utilise various forex robots if they wish to automate their trading. com is an excellent option for newbies looking to trade forex as they offer a user-friendly platform with a great fee structure.

com has been in operation since and is regulated by the FCA and CySEC. Notably, Capital. com primarily focuses on CFD trading, allowing users to speculate on currencies without actually owning them. Due to this, Capital. com offer up to leverage — enabling you to boost your position size and potential profits. com does not charge any commissions, and the spreads they offer are competitive and you would like to know that this broker also has one the best no deposit forex bonuses.

Another great feature of Capital. com is the extensive library of educational material that they offer. Users can read various guides and articles and even use the Capital.

com TV feature, which analyses current market events. Finally, Capital. This selection may seem daunting at first — but most of them are very simple to understand. The list below presents the various forex accounts you can choose from:. Below are two of the best methods of increase potential profits through forex automated trading. One of the best forex tools that traders can use is forex signals. These help semi-automate forex currency trading by providing well-researched trade opportunities that only require the trader to place the trade.

These signals will usually specify the currency to be traded, along with an entry point, exit point, and stop-loss level. These robots are specially designed pieces of software that integrate with MT4 or MT5 and will place trades on your behalf. Using forex robots is ideal for people who do not have the time to trade the markets but still wish to try and make a return on their capital.

Forex robots are usually sold by 3 rd party providers and only require a quick installation before being ready to use. Notably, these robots will need access to your trading capital to automate your trading fully — so make sure the one you choose is from a reputable source before proceeding. Trading the forex market can be lucrative — however, it can also be precarious if you begin trading unprepared. Here are five top tips that you can use to ensure you trade effectively and optimally.

Next, enter a valid email address and choose a password for your account. A stronger dollar resulted in a much smaller profit than expected. The tourist has to exchange the euros for the local currency, in this case the Egyptian pound, at the current exchange rate. The other ninety five percent are involved in financial speculation for profit which is the category most of us are in. For example, the leverage ratio for forex trades is higher than for equities, and the drivers for currency price movement are different from those for equity markets. It also depends on whether you are spread betting or using CFDs. Currencies are important because they allow us to purchase goods and services locally and across borders.

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