subject: How to Understand the Foreign Exchange Market As a Beginner [print this page] How to Understand the Foreign Exchange Market As a Beginner
Trying to understand the foreign exchange market as a beginner can be difficult. If you have no experience in the Forex market and you'd like to understand how it works, here are a few basics for you to keep in mind.
How Money is Made in Foreign Exchange
In the foreign exchange market, money is made by trading currencies and hoping that your currency appreciates in value compared to the other currency. The exchange rate fluctuates all the time and while you are in a trade, this can make you money or it could cost you some money.
Currency Pairs
When you trade the Forex market, you have to deal with Forex currency pairs. Each currency is paired with another one when you make a trade. Every time you trade the market, you will buy one currency and sell the other. For example, if you buy the GBP/USD pair, you are actually buying the GBP currency and selling the USD.
Forex Brokers
To access the Forex market, you have to open an account with a Forex broker. Forex brokers are available in practically every country and they give you the ability to trade currencies.
When trading with a Forex broker, you have to use leverage to place a trade. Otherwise, you would not be able to make any money when the currencies fluctuate with the exchange rate. For example, a typical leverage for a Forex account is 100:1.
When choosing a Forex broker, it is important to make sure that you choose one that is reputable. Some brokers are nothing more than a scam and you need to pick one that will not take your money and run. Before opening an account with a broker, you need to find out who regulates it and what their reputation in the industry is. This way, you can feel more comfortable about leaving your money with the broker. Otherwise, you might end up making a bad choice and losing your investment.
Trading Strategies
To make money in the Forex market consistently, you have to have a winning trading strategy. Some traders use manual trading strategies while others use an automated Forex trading system. Regardless of what type of strategy you choose to use, you have to make sure that you choose a reputable system. Check out the company or person who markets it to make sure that you are dealing with a program that actually works.
