Sunday, July 26, 2009

Basic Things To Know About Forex Options


Occasionally I will post some things that are intended for those who are getting started in Forex trading, because there are plenty of beginners out there who still need to know the basics.Over at investopedia.com there is a very informative article that will help clarify the difference between traditional forex options and alternative options. The main advantage of trading options is that they limit the amount of risk that one takes and increase the potential for profit.The first type, which is call/put, is an option that gives the buyer the opportunity to purchase with no obligation whatsoever. The only risk involved with this type of option is the loss of the premium (in the case that the forex value drops below the original price).The other type, which is SPOT (single payment options trading), works a little differently. In this case, a trader will create a scenario where a certain currency value will change in a certain amount of time. If the scenario successfully takes place, then the forex option is automatically changed into a cash payout.Check out the article by visiting www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/04/101304.asp. Options are a great way to play the game without risking your entire savings, so be sure to do your research and start enjoying forex options with your fellow traders.

Forex Trading Education Articles


Before you take a look at this website that I found, remember to keep an open mind and to not believe everything that you read. The site that I found has a decent list of articles that relate to forex trading education, and it is safe to say that most of the information is valid. However, in this game it is important to do extensive research so that you can make smart decisions with your money. Once you find that certain information is consistent, then you can start to put a little more faith into it.Some of these articles break down forex trading to its basics, while others put more emphasis on certain parts of the game. For example, there are at least three articles that are considered "quick forex guides" while there are some other articles that explain specifics such as choosing a broker, swing trading strategies, mapping time frames, and more.The articles located at this website are great for beginners who have not yet invested any money into the forex market, but would like to educate themselves first. Most veteran traders will already be familiar with the strategies presented in these articles but it still cannot hurt to take a look at them. Visit www.solerinvestments.com/Online-Trading/Currency-Trading-Education.htm and begin the learning process.

Information And Tips on Forex Markets Worldwide



Forex is also considered by the name foreign market exchange or FX. Those people and business organizations dealing in the foreign markets are normally the largest, most wealthy business organizations and banks from around the world. Their transactions include multiple monies from various countries to produce that balance between those who will gain and those who fall down. The basics of forex are similar to that of most countries, but on a much larger, grander scale. Forex trading involves individuals, monies and transactions from all across the globe in just about any country.The rates of currency are constantly shifting so what the value of the dollar may be one day could be shifted the next. The trading on the forex market is one that you have to watch closely or if you are investing huge amounts of money, you could be risking all of it. The prime hubs for forex trading are in Tokyo London, and New York and in many other hub spots around the globe.The types of currency that are commonly traded are the Swiss franc, the Australian dollar, the British pound, the United States dollar, the Eurozone euro and the Japanese yen. You can cross-trade currencies as well as mixing the trades between currencies to acquire extra money and daily interest.The times when forex exchange will open at a certain time and then close while other markets are opening. The same variations can be seen in the global markets as some time zones are actioning transactions and trading during different time frames. The results of any forex trading in one country could have results and differences in what happens in additional forex markets as nations run on alternate time zones. Rates of exchange will be different from a forex exchange to another, and brokers and day traders alike will want to know what the rates are on a given day before making any trades.The stock market is generally based on various products and their value as well as other financial factors that will shift the share values at any time. If someone knows what is going to happen before the general public, it is often known as inside trading, using business secrets to make trades based on these findings — which is an illegal venture. There is very little, this kind of illegal activity the forex exchange. The monetary trades, buys and sells are all a part of the forex market but very little is based on business secrets, but rather it depends on the state of currencies and economies around the world.Every currency that is traded on the forex market has a three letter code associated with that currency so there cannot be any confusion regarding the country or money one is investing with at the time. The name of the euro is EUR and USD stands for the US dollar. The GBP is the British pound and the Japanese yen is known as the JPY. If you want to get involved in the forex market and want to contact a brokerage you can find many online where you can review the company, information and transactions before putting your money into the forex stock exchange.

What is Foreign Currency Exchange?


The basic term, foreign currency exchange, is used to explain the exchange of one country’s currency for another’s. If you’ve every traveled out of the country, you probably cashed in your American dollars to find that the trade was nowhere near equal.Forex is the same thing on a much larger scale – it’s similar to the market except it deals in liquid assets at all times. It’s the process of buying and selling cash from nations around the world.[Why ForexGen]1. Lowest spreads in the market with 0-1 pips in 10 pairs, no commissions, no swaps and instant account Activation.2. Scandinavian quality with Swiss precision, funds secured and local agents in 18+ countries.3. ForexGen offers Forex trading in the major currency pairs and crosses.4. Low capital start, with $250 as a minimum account size.5. Liquidity and 24/5 availability are the characteristic factors of the Forex market compared with other financial markets.6. ForexGen offers a free trial Forex [demo account] that allows you to test your skills and practice without risking real money.We consider every client as a special case, a VIP and a partner. A client's profit is our success and a client's loss is a significant call of action for us. Customer care is the heart of our business, we know every client on personal bases as we provide 24/7 customer support.We keep contact with our clients to ensure that we are on the right track. Leading our client relationship to success is our focus.Let [ForexGen] prove to you that you have taken the right step by choosing our partnership.

How Can Foreign Currencies Be Traded?



Currency exchanges can be handled on three different levels. You will need to use a broker or a brokerage firm that allows trades through one of the following:
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
There is also what is called the off-exchange (over-the-counter) market. An example of this would be that you return from your vacation from Canada and trade your cash in for American dollars. This is only on a retail level or corporate level. Off-exchange trading is subject to very limited regulatory oversight.

How Much Money Do I Need to Trade Forex?


It depends on the Forex dealer. Brokers concentrated in the Forex market can set their own minimum accounts and are allowed to set their own fees and rate schedules. You’ll need to ask your dealer how much money it’s going to cost you initially.Many dealers will require a security deposit (a “margin”) to cover future transaction fees. When you choose a broker, make sure that you look over the fees and schedules carefully before you deposit any money. It is important to understand your broker’s capabilities, as well, before handling any transactions through their firm.These are just a few basic facts about the Forex market to get you started. Trading foreign currencies can be an exhilarating experience when you’ve begun making money, but it is important to get an education before you start out. This website has a wealth of information for the new Forex trader, including tips and strategies. It is highly encouraged that you read up to explore the possibilities of trading in a worldwide environment.

What is traded on the Foreign Exchange market?

The simple answer is money. Forex trading is the simultaneous buying of one currency and the selling of another. Currencies are traded through a broker or dealer, and are traded in pairs; for example the euro and the US dollar (EUR/USD) or the British pound and the Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY).
Because you're not buying anything physical, this kind of trading can be confusing. Think of buying a currency as buying a share in a particular country. When you buy, say, Japanese Yen, you are in effect buying a share in the Japanese economy, as the price of the currency is a direct reflection of what the market thinks about the current and future health of the Japanese economy.In general, the exchange rate of a currency versus other currencies is a reflection of the condition of that country's economy, compared to the other countries' economies.
Unlike other financial markets like the New York Stock Exchange, the Forex spot market has neither a physical location nor a central exchange. The Forex market is considered an Over-the-Counter (OTC) or 'Interbank' market, due to the fact that the entire market is run electronically, within a network of banks, continuously over a 24-hour period.
Until the late 1990's, only the "big guys" could play this game. The initial requirement was that you could trade only if you had about ten to fifty million bucks to start with! Forex was originally intended to be used by bankers and large institutions - and not by us "little guys". However, because of the rise of the Internet, online Forex trading firms are now able to offer trading accounts to 'retail' traders like us.
All you need to get started is a computer, a high-speed Internet connection, and the information contained within this site.
BabyPips.com was created to introduce novice or beginner traders to all the essential aspects of foreign exchange, in a fun and easy-to-understand manner.

Which Currencies Are Traded?

The most popular currencies along with their symbols are shown below:
Symbol
Country
Currency
Nickname
USD
United States
Dollar
Buck
EUR
Euro members
Euro
Fiber
JPY
Japan
Yen
Yen
GBP
Great Britain
Pound
Cable
CHF
Switzerland
Franc
Swissy
CAD
Canada
Dollar
Loonie
AUD
Australia
Dollar
Aussie
NZD
New Zealand
Dollar
Kiwi
Forex currency symbols are always three letters, where the first two letters identify the name of the country and the third letter identifies the name of that country’s currency.

When Can Currencies Be Traded?



The spot FX market is unique within the world markets. It’s like a Super Wal-Mart where the market is open 24-hours a day. At any time, somewhere around the world a financial center is open for business, and banks and other institutions exchange currencies every hour of the day and night with generally only minor gaps on the weekend.
The foreign exchange markets follow the sun around the world, so you can trade late at night (if you’re a vampire) or in the morning (if you’re an early bird). Keep in mind though, the early bird doesn’t necessarily get the worm in this market - you might get the worm but a bigger, nastier bird of prey can sneak up and eat you too…
Time Zone
New York
GMT
Tokyo Open
7:00 pm
0:00
Tokyo Close
4:00 am
9:00
London Open
3:00 am
8:00
London Close
12:00 pm
17:00
New York Open
8:00 am
13:00
New York Close
5:00 pm
22:00
The Forex market (OTC)
The Forex OTC market is by far the biggest and most popular financial market in the world, traded globally by a large number of individuals and organizations. In the OTC market, participants determine who they want to trade with depending on trading conditions, attractiveness of prices and reputation of the trading counterpart.
The chart below shows global foreign exchange activity. The dollar is the most traded currency, being on one side of 86% of all transactions. The euro’s share is second at 37%, while that of the yen is third at 16.5%.

Why Trade Foreign Currencies?

There are many benefits and advantages to trading Forex. Here are just a few reasons why so many people are choosing this market:
No commissions.
No clearing fees, no exchange fees, no government fees, no brokerage fees. Brokers are compensated for their services through something called the bid-ask spread.
No middlemen.
Spot currency trading eliminates the middlemen, and allows you to trade directly with the market responsible for the pricing on a particular currency pair.
No fixed lot size.
In the futures markets, lot or contract sizes are determined by the exchanges. A standard-size contract for silver futures is 5000 ounces. In spot Forex, you determine your own lot size. This allows traders to participate with accounts as small as $250 (although we explain later why a $250 account is a bad idea).
Low transaction costs.The retail transaction cost (the bid/ask spread) is typically less than 0.1 percent under normal market conditions. At larger dealers, the spread could be as low as .07 percent. Of course this depends on your leverage and all will be explained later.
A 24-hour market.
There is no waiting for the opening bell - from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon EST, the Forex market never sleeps. This is awesome for those who want to trade on a part-time basis, because you can choose when you want to trade--morning, noon or night.
No one can corner the market.
The foreign exchange market is so huge and has so many participants that no single entity (not even a central bank) can control the market price for an extended period of time.
Leverage.
In Forex trading, a small margin deposit can control a much larger total contract value. Leverage gives the trader the ability to make nice profits, and at the same time keep risk capital to a minimum. For example, Forex brokers offer 200 to 1 leverage, which means that a $50 dollar margin deposit would enable a trader to buy or sell $10,000 worth of currencies. Similarly, with $500 dollars, one could trade with $100,000 dollars and so on. But leverage is a double-edged sword. Without proper risk management, this high degree of leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains.
High Liquidity.
Because the Forex Market is so enormous, it is also extremely liquid. This means that under normal market conditions, with a click of a mouse you can instantaneously buy and sell at will. You are never "stuck" in a trade. You can even set your online trading platform to automatically close your position at your desired profit level (a limit order), and/or close a trade if a trade is going against you (a stop loss order).
Free “Demo” Accounts
, News, Charts, and Analysis. Most online Forex brokers offer 'demo' accounts to practice trading, along with breaking Forex news and charting services. All free! These are very valuable resources for “poor” and SMART traders who would like to hone their trading skills with 'play' money before opening a live trading account and risking real money.
“Mini” and “Micro”
Trading: You would think that getting started as a currency trader would cost a ton of money. The fact is, compared to trading stocks, options or futures, it doesn't. Online Forex brokers offer "mini" and “micro” trading accounts, some with a minimum account deposit of $300 or less. Now we're not saying you should open an account with the bare minimum but it does makes Forex much more accessible to the average (poorer) individual who doesn't have a lot of start-up trading capital.