Currency Trading Information

Forex Market Overview


"FX" is an abbreviation of "forex" or "foreign exchange." Foreign exchange is the largest and most liquid market in the world trading approximately $2 trillion every day (that's over 30 times the daily volume of NASDAQ and NYSE combined). The forex market is a cash interbank/interdealer market. In simplest terms, this means the foreign currencies traded in the forex market are traded directly between banks, foreign currency dealers and forex investors wishing either to diversify, speculate or to hedge foreign currency risk. The forex market is not a "market" in the traditional sense due to the fact that there is no centralized location for fx trading activity and, therefore, trades placed in the forex market are considered over-the-counter (OTC). Forex trading between parties occurs through computer terminals, exchanges and over telephones at thousands of locations worldwide. CFOS/FX clients can trade through online forex trading platforms and/or over the telephone directly with a forex broker on our trading desk.

Until recently the forex market has not been available to the small speculator. The large minimum foreign currency transaction sizes and financial requirements left this market in the hands of banks, major foreign currency dealers and the occasional large fx speculator. Now, with the ability to leverage large positions with a relatively small amount of capital (margin), the forex market is now more liquid than ever and available to most investors.

Five major currencies dominate trading in the foreign exchange markets: the U.S. Dollar, Eurocurrency, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and British Pound. The foreign currencies are traded in pairs, also known as crosses, in the forex spot market. For example, purchasing the EUR/USD in the forex spot market simply means the purchaser is buying the Eurocurrency and selling the U.S. Dollar in anticipation of the Eurocurrency gaining value in relation to the U.S. Dollar. Similarly, the seller of a EUR/USD contract would be selling the Eurocurrency against the U.S. Dollar. Official figures show the U.S. Dollar is on one side of 83% of all spot foreign exchange transactions. The "spot" market simply refers to a currency contract with a prompt valuation date requiring settlement within two business days.

Over the past several decades, an increase in international trade and foreign investment has made the economies of the world more interrelated. New opportunities for investors have also been created with the fall of communism and the dramatic growth of the Asian and Latin American economies. Today, supply and demand for a particular currency is the driving factor in determining exchange rates. Many factors such as regularly reported economic figures and unexpected news reports, such as disasters or political instabilities, could also alter the desirability of holding a particular currency, thus influencing international supply and demand for that currency. It should come as no surprise that many shrewd investors have already taken advantage of the fluctuation in exchange rates to profit handsomely.

John Nobile - Senior Account Executive
CFOS/FX - Online Forex Spot and Option Brokerage

  


MORE RESOURCES:

stv.tv

Asian currencies mostly down against dollar
Economic Times, India - 5 hours ago
"Players see the yen as a less risky currency as the market is full of suspicion," said Yosuke Hosokawa, head of Chuo Mitsui Trust Bank's forex group. ...
Yen Rises on Speculation Stocks Rout Will Reverse Carry Trades Bloomberg
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Wall Street Journal - Oct 9, 2008
Meanwhile, hedging against foreign-exchange risk has become more difficult as options related to currency trading have become more expensive, Mr. Liu said. ...


The Money Times

Iceland's Krona Currency Trading Halts as Kaupthing Taken Over
Bloomberg - Oct 9, 2008
... a currency analyst in Frankfurt at Commerzbank AG, Germany's second-largest lender. The krona plummeted to 350 per euro this week in trading between ...
Krona falls 45% against euro as financial trading put on hold Irish Times
Iceland suspends trading in bank shares as financial crisis hits ... World Socialist Web Site
As Banking 'Fairy Tale' Ends, Iceland Looks Back to the Sea Wall Street Journal
guardian.co.uk - Bloomberg
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Today's Zaman

Currency exchange remains unseen to many but felt by all
Today's Zaman, Turkey - 15 hours ago
Back at the currency trading floor, pushing through the 60 or so men squeezed in an alley about 30 meters in length and three meters in width, ...
Central Bank to facilitate foreign currency trades Turkish Daily News (subscription)
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Sify

MCX Stock Exchange begins currency trading
Sify, India - Oct 7, 2008
Mumbai: MCX Stock Exchange (MCX-SX) has recorded a turnover of Rs 287.49 crore with 59952 contracts valued at $1000 traded on the first day of currency ...


Growing Fears, High Dollar Demand Engulf FX Market
동아일보, South Korea - Oct 9, 2008
“Unless the market has sufficient foreign currency trading volume to absorb the impact of foreign stock sell-offs, a sharp depreciation cannot be avoided,” ...


• G7 meets as Europe, Asia free fall
Hamilton Spectator, Canada - Oct 10, 2008
... dropping as low as $81.13 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The realignment in the currency markets continued, ...
Video: Overseas Markets Fall on Financial Turmoil Fears AssociatedPress
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Ninemsn

Dollar bounces back
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - Oct 8, 2008
The local currency was trading at $US0.6698 just before the data was released at 11.30am, but fell to $US0.6684 shortly afterwards. ...
$A opens lower after weak Wall St finish The Age
Dollar falls lower, to US66c NEWS.com.au
Dollar closes down, at US66c The Australian
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CanadianBusiness.com

Loonie takes steepest one-day dive ever, trading extremely volatile
The Canadian Press, TORONTO - Oct 10, 2008
However, the volatile trading in the currency makes it difficult for companies and consumers to adapt to such rapid changes. ...
Loonie pounded again, heading for worst week since '71 CBC.ca
Loonie’s tumble continues TheChronicleHerald.ca
Canadian dollar takes steepest one-day dive The Associated Press
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Sify

RBI, Sebi to relax currency trading norms
Hindu, India - Oct 1, 2008
Mumbai (PTI): The Reserve Bank of India and Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) are in discussions to relax the currency trading norms, ...
India Working on Relaxing Currency Trading Rules, Bhave Says Bloomberg
BSE Launches Currency Futures Trading TopNews
RBI, SEBI mull easing currency-trading norms India Infoline.com
Calcutta Telegraph - Thaindian.com
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currency trading - Google News

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