Forex is the world’s most heavily traded financial market, dwarfing the combined total of stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrency trading by a long margin. According to industry sources (Statista daily turnover of global foreign exchange market with 39 different currencies from 2001 to 2022)) the total daily turnover in 2022 amounted to $7,506 billion, with the USD comprising the lion’s share at $6,639 billion. Other dominant currencies include the EUR, JPY, GBP, CNY, AUD, CAD, and CHF.
Daily trade volumes in Forex are measured every three years, and the world’s reserve currency – the greenback – dominates most trading activity. There are three primary designations: major, minor and exotic currency pairs. The major currency pairs include the USD and are incredibly popular among forex traders. Most new forex traders pick major pairs such as the USD/JPY, GBP/USD, EUR/USD, USD/CHF, USD/CAD, or NZD/USD to trade.
The minor currency pairs, by contrast, are known as cross pairs. They typically involve trading any two large currencies, such as the EUR/GBP, EUR/CHF, AUD/JPY, or GBP/JPY. The absence of the USD is notable, and these currency pairs provide diversification options for traders. There is inherently more risk in minor currency pairs due to wider spreads and limited liquidity. Exotic currency pairs include a major currency with a developing country’s currency. Think of the USD/ZAR pair as a case in point. Other countries include Mexico, Brazil, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, et cetera
Selecting the Right Forex Trading Platform
With an understanding of currency pairs, it’s imperative to scour the literature in search of the right Forex trading platform. The leading FX platforms offer guidance on how to start trading Forex online.
The best brokers offer comprehensive educational tools and resources designed to maximise understanding of market mechanics while providing the know-how for navigating the trading platform. It’s important to pick a broker that utilises an industry-respected Forex trading platform, such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), or a credible proprietary trading platform.
Price movements can boost or break trades in the high-risk Forex trading arena. Forex trading is considered volatile, given the extreme sensitivity of currency cross rates to macroeconomic, geopolitical, fiscal and monetary policies, etc.
It’s always wise to pick a familiar currency pair to trade before branching out into complementary or alternative options. Forex trading necessitates access to real-time pricing, instant trade executions, mobile functionality, and leveraged selections. Whether it’s MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, demo access is imperative.
Nowadays, contrarian options are incredibly popular among traders. For starters, CFD trading (contracts for difference) delivers on expectations by providing bullish or bearish possibilities on currency pair movement. With CFDs, there is inherently more risk. Traders do not own the underlying financial instrument with CFDs – the forecast is on the price movement of the said asset, such as the USD/GBP (cable) or the USD/ZAR, etc.
The price movement should be predicated on sound analysis. This includes technical analysis and fundamental analysis of the market factors capable of influencing a specific currency relative to another.
The leading platforms offer a resource kit for trading possibilities, including demo accounts, browser-based trading, expert advisers, leveraged trades, low minimums and high maximums. Again, a caveat is in order, given the volatility of Forex trading.
Leverage and margin – two sides of the same coin – can work in your favour when the forecast is correct, but they can go against you, resulting in indebtedness if trades move in the opposite direction. Many Forex trading platforms in the UK, continental Europe, and beyond provide many useful features, functions, and options – it’s entirely up to the trader to make the appropriate selection.
Education Is Your Best Resource for Success
While good fortune is integral to successfully trading Forex, it is not the bedrock of a successful trader’s toolkit. That falls squarely on extensive reading, understanding, and implementing tactical and strategic trading practices. It’s always important to start trading in demo mode.
Then, once you’re comfortable with the market mechanics of forex CFD trades, open a real money account with a small budget and start trading. Implement a commonsense approach to all your trading activity, remain emotionally detached, and focus on the long game. Many traders encounter losses in Forex trading, but overall, the winning trades should outperform the losing trades in value, not necessarily in number. Much the same is true for contrarian trading options.
Small investments are a great place to start. As you grow in confidence and success, budgets move accordingly. Every trader has a specific risk preference – risk-seeking, risk-neutral, or risk-averse. Determine where you fit on the spectrum and tailor your trading strategy accordingly. Throughout, remain intently focused on global economic trends, news events, and insights.
Economic calendars, central bank announcements, and geopolitical concerns (war, economic tension, etc.) can play outsized roles in your success with currency pairs trading. Always set realistic expectations, particularly while you are learning the ropes. It’s a long road to successful Forex trading, but the more you learn, the more likely you are to succeed.
