What is forex trading and how does it work?

When you hear the term trading, you may think of a traditional stock exchange where trading orders are loudly called out in a hectic environment. But today it is often much easier to trade. One option is currencies, which can be traded with the help of a broker. The Forex Factory review on trusted-broker-reviews.com provides you with all necessary information.

What is forex trading?

The Forex, or foreign exchange market, can be explained as a network of buyers and sellers who transfer currencies between each other at an agreed price. It is the process by which individuals, businesses, and central banks exchange one currency for another – if you have ever traveled abroad, it is likely that you have engaged in a foreign exchange transaction. While many foreign currencies are used for more practical purposes, the vast majority of currency conversions are done for the purpose of making a profit. The amount of currency converted each day can make the price movements of some currencies extremely volatile. It is this volatility that can make currency trading so attractive to traders: It offers a greater chance of high profits, but at the same time increases the risk.

Are forex trading and FX trading the same thing?

Forex trading and Forex (FX) which stands for Foreign Exchange are actually the same thing. When trading with Forex, two currencies are traded against each other: The purchase of one currency results in the simultaneous sale of another. Currencies are always traded in pairs, which is why they are also called currency pairs.

How does forex trading work?

As companies continue to expand into markets around the world, the need to complete transactions in the other currencies will continue to increase. Currency values fluctuate constantly, and this puts companies at risk when purchasing goods or services outside their borders. The Forex market provides means of hedging this risk by setting a price at which transactions can be completed at a later date. Investors speculate on the market when trading forex in the hope that the traded currencies will gain or lose value, resulting in a profit. There are several products that can be traded, and it is important to do as much research as possible before you begin. 

Spread

In the financial world, the spread is the difference between the buy (bid) and sell price of an asset. Like many other financial markets, the Forex market offers you two prices when opening a position. If you want to open a long position, you trade at the buy price (bid price), which is slightly higher than the current market price. If you want to open a short position, you trade at the selling price, also called the ask price. This is slightly lower than the current market price.

Leverage

Leverage allows you to increase your exposure to the market many times over without spending additional investment capital. How leverage works in Forex trading depends on the derivative you use to trade. When you buy options, you pay upfront for the full risk of your trade. As a rule, this costs much less than buying the underlying asset directly, because it gives you access to leverage. When trading CFDs (Contract For Difference), you make a smaller deposit – also called margin – to open your position. When you close a position with a margin, your profit or loss is based on the total size of the trade. While leverage trading magnifies your profits, it also brings the risk of amplified losses, including those that may exceed your margin. Therefore, learning how to manage your risk is extremely important for a safe approach to leverage trading.

The pros and cons of forex trading

When dealing with Forex trading, it is important to consider the various advantages and disadvantages in advance.

Pros of forex trading

• Long trading hours
• Low minimum stakes
• Help through trading robots
• Trading on a mobile device and also online
• Acquire knowledge

Long trading hours

Traders regularly deal with current economic and political situations and study trends and historical developments of various foreign exchange rates. So it is important for forex traders to always stay up to date. It is possible to trade currencies on the Forex market almost around the clock. This allows traders to make their decisions more flexibly and not have to limit themselves to a small time frame.

Low minimum stakes

Although the minimum stakes in Forex are comparatively low, it is possible to increase one’s investment by making an agreement with a broker. Thus, a higher investment can be made, even if it is only a smaller sum, without having to raise a large amount.

Help through trading robots

Trading robots enable automated trading and can even be programmed to do it themselves. This is an exciting topic that is worth exploring.

Trading on a mobile device and also online

Trading can also be done on a mobile device quite easily at home in your own living room. Whereas the MetaTrader platform was originally developed for Windows, today there is also mt4 for Mac. Online trading can also be done with numerous options and tools.

Acquire knowledge

Traders regularly deal with current economic and political situations and study trends and historical developments of various forex rates. So it is important for forex traders to always stay up to date.

Cons of forex trading

• High losses
• Unpredictable market
• Dubious brokers

High losses

But if you are wrong, you will have to book high losses in the future. Especially if risk-reducing instruments are not used. Trading with foreign exchange may be promising, but only if one estimates the development correctly. The risk that one takes here should not be underestimated in any case.

Unpredictable market

Of course, there are forecasts, but in the end, the market can also move in the completely opposite direction. This is primarily due to unpredictable events that can cause quite a bit of chaos here. So you should never feel too safe; anyone who trades forex should always be cautious, no matter how promising one or another forecast may be.

Dubious brokers

Unfortunately, there are some “black sheep”, so you have to be especially careful when you are looking for a broker. In addition to a direct broker comparison, it is therefore advisable to also take into account test and experience reports, so that you get an insight into whether it is a reputable broker or you should better keep your hands off it.

Conclusion  – Forex Trading is unpredictable

In addition to money, luck and expertise, it is also advisable to have a good amount of patience and discipline in order to be successful as a Forex trader. Because you often have to wait a long time for good trading situations.