FOREX GLOSSARY
Ask The quoted price at which a customer can buy a currency pair. Also referred to as the 'offer', 'ask price', or 'ask rate'.
Base Currency For foreign exchange trading, currencies are quoted in terms of a currency pair. The first currency in the pair is the base currency. For example, in a USD/JPY currency pair, the US dollar is the base currency. Also may be referred to as the primary currency.
Bid The quoted price where a customer can sell a currency pair. Also known as the 'bid price' or 'bid rate'.
Bid/Ask Spread The point difference between the bid and ask (offer) price.
Call A call option gives the option buyer the right to purchase a particular currency pair at a stated exchange rate.
Counterparty The counterparty is the person who is on the other side of an OTC trade. For retail customers, the dealer will always be the counterparty.
Cross-rate The exchange rate between two currencies where neither of the currencies are the US dollar.
Currency pair The two currencies that make up a foreign exchange rate. For example, USD/YEN is a currency pair.
Dealer A firm in the business of acting as a counterparty to foreign currency transactions.
Euro The common currency adopted by eleven European nations (i.e., Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) on January 1, 1999.
European-style option An option contract that can be exercised only on or near its expiration date.
Expiration This is the last day on which an option may either be exercised or offset.
Forward transaction A true forward transaction is an agreement that expects actual delivery of and full payment for the currency to occur on a future date. This term may also be used to refer to transactions that the parties expect to offset at some time in the future, but these transactions are not true forward transactions and are governed by the federal Commodity Exchange Act.
Interbank market A loose network of currency transactions negotiated between financial institutions and other large companies.
Leverage The ability to control large dollar amount of a commodity with a comparatively small amount of capital. Also known as 'gearing'.
Margin See Security Deposit.
Offer See ask.
Open position Any transaction that has not been closed out by a corresponding opposite transaction.
Pip The smallest unit of trading in a foreign currency price.
Premium The price an option buyer pays for the option, not including commissions.
Put A put option gives the option buyer the right to sell a particular currency pair at a stated exchange rate.
Quote currency The second currency in a currency pair is referred to as the quote currency. For example, in a USD/JPY currency pair, the Japanese yen is the quote currency. Also referred to as the secondary currency or the counter currency.
Rollover The process of extending the settlement date on an open position by rolling it over to the next settlement date.
Retail customer Any party to a forex trade who is not an eligible contract participant as defined under the Commodity Exchange Act. This includes individuals with assets of less than $10 million and most small businesses.
Security deposit The amount of money needed to open or maintain a position. Also known as 'margin'.
Settlement The actual delivery of currencies made on the maturity date of a trade.
Spot market A market of immediate delivery of and payment for the product, in this case, currency.
Spot transaction A true spot transaction is a transaction requiring prompt delivery of and full payment for the currency. In the interbank market, spot transactions are usually settled in two business days. This term may also be used to refer to transactions that the parties expect to offset or roll over within two business days, but these transactions are not true spot transactions and are governed by the federal Commodity Exchange Act.
Spread The point or pip difference between the ask and bid price of a currency pair.
Sterling Another term for British currency, the pound.
Strike price The exchange rate at which the buyer of a call has the right to purchase a specific currency pair or at which the buyer of a put has the right to sell a specific currency pair. Also known as the 'exercise price'.
before you get on board.
Lately, currencies have been on a rollercoaster ride with record breaking highs and lows. The world of foreign exchange is dominating news headlines; but what does it mean, and more importantly, what do you need to know before you get on board?
First of all, it's important that you understand that trading the Foreign Exchange market involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of losing money. Any investment in foreign exchange should involve only risk capital and you should never trade with money that you cannot afford to lose.
You may have noticed that the value of currencies goes up and down every day. What most people don't realize is that there is a foreign exchange market - or "Forex" for short - where you can potentially profit from the movement of these currencies. The best known example is George Soros who made a billion dollars in a day by trading currencies. Be aware, however, that currency trading involves significant risk and individuals can lose a substantial part of their investment. As technologies have improved, the Forex market has become more accessible resulting in an unprecedented growth in online trading. One of the great things about trading currencies now is that you no longer have to be a big money manager to trade this market; traders and investors like you and I can trade this market.
The Forex market is the largest financial market on Earth. Its average daily trading volume is more than $3.2 trillion. Compare that with the New York Stock Exchange, which only has an average daily trading volume of $55 billion. In fact, if you were to put ALL of the world's equity and futures markets together, their combined trading volume would only equal a QUARTER of the Forex market. Why is size important? Because there are so many buyers and sellers that transaction prices are kept low. If you're wondering how trading the Forex market is different then trading stocks, here are a few major benefits.
- Many firms don't charge commissions – you pay only the bid/ask spreads.
- There's 24 hour trading – you dictate when to trade and how to trade.
- You can trade on leverage, but this can magnify potential gains AND losses.
- You can focus on picking from a few currencies rather then from 5000 stocks.
- Forex is accessible – you don't need a lot of money to get started.
The mechanics of a trade are virtually identical to those in other markets. The only difference is that you're buying one currency and selling another at the same time. That's why currencies are quoted in pairs, like EUR/USD or USD/JPY. The exchange rate represents the purchase price between the two currencies.
Example: the EUR/USD rate represents the number of USD one EUR can buy.
If you think the Euro will increase in value against the US Dollar, you buy Euros with US Dollars. If the exchange rate rises, you sell the Euros back, and you cash in your profit. Please keep in mind that forex trading involves a high risk of loss.
If you're interested in Forex trading, we recommend FXCM. They have over 500 professionals on hand to help you out 24-7. They offer a lot of FREE information to get you started, access to services with an array of technical and fundamental analysis tools, and for less then twenty dollars, you can learn trading skills from professional instructors through the FX Power Course. Plus, if you just want to mess around and simply test your trading skills without a serious commitment, you can open a Free Demo Account with absolutely no risk.
You can start trading forex with as little as US $25 with FXCM - XE's prefered broker. Learn more
Finally, it cannot be stressed enough that trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for everyone. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. Remember, you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment, which means that you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. If you have any doubts, we recommend that you seek advice from an independent financial advisor.
Do you know what tools and techniques professional traders use?
In Currency Trading, traders often use technical language that can be intimidating when you're just starting out. When you see a word you don't understand, you should refer to the Commonly Used Forex Terms. As you familiarize yourself with the language, you'll find that your understanding of Forex concepts as a whole will improve.
To develop a strategy, traders use a variety of tools and techniques. Some traders perform Technical Analysis by usingCurrency Charts to study the market. This technique assumes that past market movements will help predict future activity. The effectiveness of Technical Analysis makes it a very popular trading technique.
Other traders use Fundamental Analysis for their trading strategy. They follow the effect of economic, social and political events on currency prices. Reading specialized Forex News can help keep you in touch with the Forex community to find out how events might affect currency prices.
Every trader makes mistakes, so it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with a trading environment before you invest your money. To improve your trading skills, try opening a free demo trading account with a Forex company. FXCM, for example, has professional traders on-hand 24 hours a day to answer any of your questions – even during your free trial, so make the most of it! They even have an online FX Powercourse that costs less then 20 dollars; but don't let the price fool you. You get live 24 hour access to professional traders that can teach you advanced skills that can make you a better trader.
You can start trading forex with as little as US $25 with FXCM - XE's prefered broker. Learn more
Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for everyone. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. Remember, you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment, which means that you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. If you have any doubts, it is advisable to seek advice from an independent financial advisor.
Discover how you can improve your trading skills in SIX steps:
Strategize, Analyze and Diarize
Successful professional traders do three things that amateurs often forget. They plan a trading strategy, they follow the markets, and they diarize, track, and analyze each of their trades.
- Plan How You Will TradeYou may have heard the adage, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail." This is particularly true in Forex speculation.
Successful traders start with a sound strategy and they stick to it at all times. - Choose the currency pairs that are right for you.Some currency pairs are volatile and move a lot intra-day. Some currency pairs are steady and make slow moves over longer time periods. Based on your risk parameters, decide which currency pairs are best suited to your trading strategy.
- Decide how long you plan to stay in a position.Based on your currency pair selection, plan how long you want to hold your positions: minutes, hours, or days. Remember that depending on your account type, having open positions at 5:00pm Eastern Time may incur rollover charges.
- Set your targets for the position.Before you take a position you should establish your exit strategy. If the position is a winner, at what rate will you cash out? If the position is a loser, at what rate will you cut your losses? Then, place your stops and limits accordingly.
- Follow the Forex MarketUse Forex charts and Forex news to monitor market information and technical levels that affect your positions.
- Use Forex ChartsCharts are an indispensable tool to improve trading returns. You can easily recoup the money spent on a charting package from a single well-placed trade based on the analysis from professional charts. Check out XE Charts. Please keep in mind that forex trading involves a high risk of loss, and no guarantee is made that the investment on the charting applications will be recouped.
- Follow Forex NewsXE Forex News provides breaking Forex news on economic reports and political events that influence the currency market. You can access detailed market commentary and trading strategies from experienced Forex traders.
- Keep a Forex DiaryMost traders fail because they make the same mistakes over and over. A diary can help by keeping track of what works for you and what doesn't. Used consistently, a well-kept diary is your best friend. When keeping your diary, make sure that it contains at least the following:
- The date and time you took the position.
- The rate at which you took the position.
- The reason you took the position.
- Your strategy for the position.
- The date and time you exited the position.
- The rate at which you exited the position.
- Your profit/loss on the position.
- Why you exited the position. Did you follow you strategy?
Once you learn to recognize successful trading patterns, you will be able to spot them when they return.
STEP 2:
Learn to Manage Your RiskIn our experience, the most successful traders are not simply the ones who take the best positions. They are the ones that are smartest about risk management and disciplined in their strategy. They are never emotional about gains or losses. They set their profit target and loss limits for their positions, and use Limit Orders and Stop/Loss Orders to lock them in.
Limit Orders
A limit order instructs the system to automatically exit a position when your target profit has been achieved. This enables you to "lock in" your desired profit on a winning position.Stop/Loss Orders
A stop/loss order instructs the system to automatically exit a position when your maximum loss limit has been hit. This enables you to cap your losses on a losing position.Trading Discipline
Professional Traders use Limit Orders and Stop/Loss Orders as the cornerstone of a disciplined trading strategy. By setting both on all their positions, they have removed emotion from the equation and are letting the market work for them.Amateurs, on the other hand, dont use Limit Orders and Stop/Loss Orders. They stay glued to their screens, trying to juggle all their positions in real time. They miss critical action points, and they let emotion rule their decisions.
Setting Limit and Stop/Loss Orders
As a general rule of thumb, you your Stop/Loss Orders should be set closer to the opening position price than your Limit Orders. If you do this, then you can be successful while being right less than 50% of the time.For example, if you use a 100 pip Limit Order with a 30 pip Stop/Loss Order on all your positions, then you only to be right 1/3 of the time to make a profit.
Where you place your Limit and Stop/Loss Orders will depend on your risk tolerance. However, you need to be smart when setting them. If a Stop/Loss Order is too close to the opening position price, it can be triggered by normal market volatility. This means that a temporary dip can knock out a position before it has a chance to retrace. Similarly, if a Limit Order is set too far from the opening price, potential profit may never be realized.
STEP 3:
Choose Your ApproachThere are two basic approaches to analyzing the Forex market. It is important to understand how they can be used successfully.
Technical Analysis
Technical Analysis focuses on the study of price movements, using historical currency data to try to predict the direction of future prices. The premise is that all available market information is already reflected in the price of any currency, and that all you need to do is study price movements to make informed trading decisions.The primary tools of Technical Analysis are charts. Charts are used to identify trends and patterns in an attempt to find profit opportunities. Those who follow this approach look for trending tendencies in the Forex markets, and say that the key to success is identifying such trends in their earliest stage of development.
Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental Analysis focuses on the economic, social, and political forces that drive supply and demand. The premise is that macroeconomic indicators such as economic growth rates, interest rates, inflation, and unemployment can be used to make informed trading decisions. Information about economic data can be found using XE Forex News, which is free to use.There is no single set of beliefs that guide Fundamental Analysis. Different traders look to different indicators, and weigh various indicators in different ways.
What should I use - Technical or Fundamental Analysis?
Traders using Technical Analysis follow charts and trends, typically following a number currency pairs simultaneously. Traders using Fundamental Analysis must sort through a great deal of market data, and so typically focus on only a few currency pairs. For this reason, many traders prefer Technical Analysis.In addition, many traders choose Technical Analysis because they see strong trending tendencies in the Forex market. They look to master the fundamentals of Technical Analysis and apply them to numerous time frames and currency pairs.
Next: Step 4 - Chart Your Course with Technical Analysis
STEP 4:
Chart Your Course
with Technical AnalysisTechnical Analysis uses charts to try to forecast future currency prices by studying past market movements. Using this technique, a trader has the ability to simultaneously monitor multiple currency pairs by evaluating how others are trading a particular currency. In our experience, because so many traders use technical analysis, and their reaction to market activity tends to be similar, the validity of this technique is strengthened. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that feeds on itself, increasing the reliability of the signals generated from this analysis.
Support & Resistance
Perhaps the most effective and therefore the most popular form of technical analyses is the use of "support" and "resistance". Support is the "floor" or lower boundary that a currency pair has trouble breaching. Resistance, on the other hand, is simply the opposite: it is the upper boundary that a currency pair has trouble penetrating.Support and Resistance are important in range bound markets because they indicate the boundaries where the market tends to change direction. When and if the market breaks through these boundaries, it is referred to as a "breakout" and is usually followed by increased market activity.
Using Support & Resistance
We can use these support and resistance levels in many ways. A range trader would want to buy above support and sell below resistance while breakout. Trend traders, on the other hand, would buy when the price breaks above a level of resistance and sell when it breaks below support.The concept is still the same as we stated earlier. We want to buy a currency pair if we anticipate the market moving up and then sell it at higher price. We can also sell a currency pair if we anticipate the market moving down and then buy it at a lower price.
Next: Step 5 - Be In The Know with Fundamental Analysis
STEP 5:
Be In The Know
with Fundamental AnalysisWhat influences prices in the currencies market?
Traders use fundamental analysis to try to forecast the effect that economic, social, and political events will have on currency prices. Prices in the currency market are affected by macroeconomic factors such as inflation, unemployment and industrial production. Based on the analysis of economic data, traders will take positions on the market with the objective of making a profit.Finding information about economic data is relatively easy. XE Forex News, for example, provides streaming news and market commentary and is available for free.
Traders should focus on three main macroeconomic factors when analyzing foreign exchange rates:
Interest Rates
Each currency has an overnight lending rate determined by that country's central bank. If inflation is deemed too high, a central bank may raise the interest rate to cool down the economy. Conversely, if economic activity is sluggish, a central bank may reduce interest rates to stimulate growth. Lower interest rates usually depreciate the value of a currency – in part, because it attracts carry-trades. A carry-trade is a strategy in which a trader sells a currency with a low interest rate and buys a currency with a high interest.Employment
The unemployment rate is a key indicator of economic strength. If a country has a high unemployment rate, it means that the economy is not strong enough to provide people with jobs. This leads to a decline in the currency value.Geopolitical Events
These key international political events affect the foreign exchange market, as well as all other markets.ExampleIn May of 2005, there was growing anticipation that France would vote against accepting the European Union Constitution. Since France was vital to Europe's economic health (and the value of the Euro), traders sold the Euro and bought the dollar; this pushed the Euro down so far that many traders thought it couldn't go any lower.But, they were wrong. When France actually voted against the constitution, the EUR/USD currency pair fell by more than 400 pips in three days. Traders who bought the Euro lost thousands. On the other hand, traders selling the Euro made thousands.
Next: Step 6 - Beware of Psychological Pitfalls
STEP 6:
Beware of Psychological PitfallsMany traders take shopping more seriously than trading. Few people would spend $500 without carefully researching and examining a product. But many traders take positions that cost them well over $500 based on little more than a hunch.
This cannot be stressed enough. Most traders fail because they lack discipline. Be sure that you have a plan in place before you start to trade. Your analysis should include the potential downside as well as the expected upside. So for every position you take, you should place both a Limit Order and a Stop/Loss Order.
Set Smart Trade Limits
For each trade, choose a profit target that will let you make good money on the position without being unachievable. Choose a loss limit that is large enough to accommodate normal market fluctuations, but smaller than your profit target. Lock these in using Limit Orders and Stop/Loss Orders.This simple concept is one of the most difficult to follow. Many traders abandon their predetermined plans on a whim, closing winning positions before their profit targets are reached because they grow nervous that the market will turn against them. But those same traders will hang on to losing positions well past their loss limits, hoping to somehow recover their losses.
Sometimes traders see their loss limits hit a few times, only to see the market go back in their favor once they are out. This can lead to mistaken belief that this will always keep happening, and that loss limits are counterproductive. Nothing could be further from the truth! Stop/Loss Orders are there to limit your losses.
No trader makes money on every trade. If you can get 5 trades out of 10 to be profitable, then you are doing well. How then do you make money with only half of your positions being winners? By setting smart trade limits. When you lose less on your losers than you make on your winners, you are profitable.
Don't Marry Your Trades
People are emotional. It is easy to do objective analysis before taking a position. It is much harder when you've got money invested. Traders holding positions tend to analyze the market differently in the hope that it will move in a favorable direction, ignoring changing factors that may have turned against their original analysis. This is especially true when losses are being taken on a position. Traders tend to "marry" a losing position, disregarding signs that point towards continued losses.Don't Bet the Farm
Do not over trade. A common mistake made by new traders is over-leveraging an account. Just because one lot (100,000 units) of currency only requires $1000 as a minimum margin deposit, it does not mean that a trader with $5000 in his account should be able to trade 5 lots. One lot is $100,000 and should be treated as a $100,000 investment and not the $1000 put up as margin. Most traders analyze the charts correctly and place sensible trades, yet they tend to over leverage themselves. As a consequence of this, they are often forced to exit a position at the wrong time. A good rule of thumb is to trade with 1-10 leverage or never use more than 10% of your account at any given time. Trading currencies is not easy (if it were, everyone would be a millionaire!).
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