The forex market is an over-the-counter or decentralized marketplace for the trading of foreign currencies. This marketplace determines international exchange rates for each currency involved in the transaction. It includes all parts of the buying, selling, and exchanging of currencies either at present or at agreed or future prices. The market also takes into consideration factors such as supply and demand, currency speculations, and political events that may affect the value of a particular currency. The transactions are usually conducted through electronic means, including by phone, fax, Internet, or cable, with cash as a form of payment.
Forex trading involves purchasing one currency at a time and then selling it to another investor at a later time. This can be done in different currencies, although the most commonly traded are the U.S. dollar/Japanese yen (USD/JPY), British pound/Swiss franc (GBP), and Eurodollar (EUR). When traders purchase currency, they usually buy a quantity of that currency that will be traded at a later date for a profit. Those who sell currency to buy a quantity of that currency that will be sold later for a profit.
There are many different factors that may affect the value of a currency in the forex market. One of these factors is interest rates. Interest rates are what allow investors to make money by lending money to those in need of it. If the interest rate is low, it allows more money to be lent out and received, which in turn causes the currency to increase in value. Another factor that influences the value of a currency is the political condition of that country. When a country is in turmoil, investors may choose to move their money out of the country entirely, causing a drop in the value of the currency in which they had their funds invested.
Trading in forex is similar to trading in the stock markets, except in the case of form there are two currencies involved. The two currencies involved are the one being traded and the one that are being bought and sold. There are numerous pairs of currencies that can be traded on the forex market; however, the most popular are the USD/CAD (U.S. dollar/Japanese yen) and the CAD/USD (U.S. dollar / Canadian dollar). Other pairs of currencies are usually traded as well.
The process of forex trading is much like the process used by speculators in the stock market. Speculators, or people who make their living buying and selling financial instruments, trade forex to try and find a profit. In forex, you can buy one currency, known as a spot market, and try to find a buyer who is willing to pay a certain amount of money for that particular currency based on its current value. You do this by selling your existing currency. The difference between your selling price and the current value is your profit. If you were right about your prediction, you will make a profit; if you were wrong, then you will have lost money.
As a trader in the forex market, you will also need to know something about the currencies markets themselves. Just like stocks, in the forex market you want to buy when it is low and sell it when it is high. The same holds true for interest rates. When the interest rates go up in one country, you want to purchase, and when they go down, you want to sell off your assets to minimize your losses.
