Forex (Foreign Exchange) is the international financial market used for trade of world currencies. It has been working since 70s of the 20th century - from the moment when the biggest world nations decided to switch from fixed exchange rates to floating ones.
Daily volume of Forex trade exceeds 4 trillion United States dollars, and this number is always growing.
Main currency for Forex operations is the United States dollar (USD).
Main Forex market participants:
- Central banks of countries;
- Commercial banks;
- Investing banks;
- Brokers, dealers;
- Pension funds;
- Insurance companies;
- International corporations;
- Individuals.
Unlike stock exchanges, Forex market doesn't have any fixed schedule or operating hours - it's open 24 hours per day, 5 days per week from Monday to Friday, since buy/sell orders are performed by world banks any time during the day or night (some banks even work on Saturdays and Sundays). Just like any other exchange, Forex market is driven by supply and demand of a particular tool. For instance, there are buyers and sellers for "Euro vs US dollar".
Exchange rates at Forex are changing constantly, and fluctuations may happen many times per second - this market is very liquid.
Exchange rates are influenced by:
- Economical factors (economical indicators of countries at the moment, politics of Central banks, changing interest rates, behaviour of importers and exporters, etc);
- Political factors (speeches of political leaders, president elections, etc);
- Market participants' mood and feelings, their expectations, rumours, etc;
- Force-major events (terroristic acts, accidents, catastrophes, etc).
Nevertheless, Forex market is much more stable than stock exchanges - it is not subject to huge surges, even if one currency is declining, another one is improving.
One of big advantages of the market is its' close relation with latest information technologies. Clients from different parts of the planet may connect to Internet and start trading. Even big banks tend to use electronic trading - it's the most common way of trading now. At this moment, Forex is at the rapid developing phase, and it's expected to grow more and more in the future.
Some of the advantages of Forex market over stock markets and/or other equities include:
- Traders can make profits both on declining and developing economies;
- Traders can make very short-term orders - with some other markets there are certain regulations;
- Thanks to retail centers like "Forex 4 You", it's much easier to join Forex market - virtually no minimum capital, quick registration, etc;
- Market is not regulated;
- There are no broker commissions or they are very low;
- Much higher leverages are provided;
- Market works non-stop 24 hours.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Forex Market :- forex history
Historically the value of goods was expressed through some other goods, for example - a barter economy where individuals exchange goods. The obvious disadvantages of such a system encouraged establishment of more generally accepted and understanded means of goods exchange long time ago in history - to set a common scale of value. In different places everything from teeth to jewelry has served this purpose but later metals, and especially gold and silver, were introduced as an accepted means of payment, and also a reliable form of value storage.
Originally, coins were basically minted from the metal, but stable political systems introduced a paper form of IOUs (I owe you) which gained wide acceptance during the Middle Ages. Such paper IOUs became the basis of our modern currencies.
Before First World War most central banks supported currencies with gold. Even though banknotes always could be exchanged for gold, in reality this did not happen that often, developing an understanding that full reserves are not really needed.
Sometimes huge supply of banknotes without gold support led to giant inflation and hence political instability. To protect national interests foreign exchange controls were introduced to demand more responsibility from market players.
Closer to the end of World War II, the Bretton Woods agreement was signed as the initiative of the USA in July 1944. The Bretton Woods Conference rejected John Maynard Keynes suggestion for a new world reserve currency in favour of a system built on the US dollar. Other international institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) were created in the same period as the emerging victors of WW2 searched for a way to avoid the destabilising monetary crises which led to the war. The Bretton Woods agreement resulted in a system of fixed exchange rates that partly reinstated the gold standard, fixing the US dollar at USD35/oz and fixing the other main currencies to the dollar - and was intended to be permanent.
The Bretton Woods system came under increasing pressure as national economies moved in different directions during the sixties. A number of realignments kept the system alive for a long time, but eventually Bretton Woods collapsed in the early seventies following president Nixon's suspension of the gold convertibility in August 1971. The dollar was no longer suitable as the sole international currency at a time when it was under severe pressure from increasing US budget and trade deficits.
The following decades have seen foreign exchange trading develop into the largest global market by far. Restrictions on capital flows have been removed in most countries, leaving the market forces free to adjust foreign exchange rates according to their perceived values.
But the idea of fixed exchange rates has by no means died. The EEC (European Economic Community) introduced a new system of fixed exchange rates in 1979, the European Monetary System. This attempt to fix exchange rates met with near extinction in 1992-93, when pent-up economic pressures forced devaluations of a number of weak European currencies. Nevertheless, the quest for currency stability has continued in Europe with the renewed attempt to not only fix currencies but actually replace many of them with the Euro in 2001.
The lack of sustainability in fixed foreign exchange rates gained new relevance with the events in South East Asia in the latter part of 1997, where currency after currency was devalued against the US dollar, leaving other fixed exchange rates, in particular in South America, looking very vulnerable.
But while commercial companies have had to face a much more volatile currency environment in recent years, investors and financial institutions have found a new playground. The size of foreign exchange markets now dwarfs any other investment market by a large factor. It is estimated that more than USD 3,000 billion is traded every day, far more than the world's stock and bond markets combined.
Originally, coins were basically minted from the metal, but stable political systems introduced a paper form of IOUs (I owe you) which gained wide acceptance during the Middle Ages. Such paper IOUs became the basis of our modern currencies.
Before First World War most central banks supported currencies with gold. Even though banknotes always could be exchanged for gold, in reality this did not happen that often, developing an understanding that full reserves are not really needed.
Sometimes huge supply of banknotes without gold support led to giant inflation and hence political instability. To protect national interests foreign exchange controls were introduced to demand more responsibility from market players.
Closer to the end of World War II, the Bretton Woods agreement was signed as the initiative of the USA in July 1944. The Bretton Woods Conference rejected John Maynard Keynes suggestion for a new world reserve currency in favour of a system built on the US dollar. Other international institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) were created in the same period as the emerging victors of WW2 searched for a way to avoid the destabilising monetary crises which led to the war. The Bretton Woods agreement resulted in a system of fixed exchange rates that partly reinstated the gold standard, fixing the US dollar at USD35/oz and fixing the other main currencies to the dollar - and was intended to be permanent.
The Bretton Woods system came under increasing pressure as national economies moved in different directions during the sixties. A number of realignments kept the system alive for a long time, but eventually Bretton Woods collapsed in the early seventies following president Nixon's suspension of the gold convertibility in August 1971. The dollar was no longer suitable as the sole international currency at a time when it was under severe pressure from increasing US budget and trade deficits.
The following decades have seen foreign exchange trading develop into the largest global market by far. Restrictions on capital flows have been removed in most countries, leaving the market forces free to adjust foreign exchange rates according to their perceived values.
But the idea of fixed exchange rates has by no means died. The EEC (European Economic Community) introduced a new system of fixed exchange rates in 1979, the European Monetary System. This attempt to fix exchange rates met with near extinction in 1992-93, when pent-up economic pressures forced devaluations of a number of weak European currencies. Nevertheless, the quest for currency stability has continued in Europe with the renewed attempt to not only fix currencies but actually replace many of them with the Euro in 2001.
The lack of sustainability in fixed foreign exchange rates gained new relevance with the events in South East Asia in the latter part of 1997, where currency after currency was devalued against the US dollar, leaving other fixed exchange rates, in particular in South America, looking very vulnerable.
But while commercial companies have had to face a much more volatile currency environment in recent years, investors and financial institutions have found a new playground. The size of foreign exchange markets now dwarfs any other investment market by a large factor. It is estimated that more than USD 3,000 billion is traded every day, far more than the world's stock and bond markets combined.
forex :- Inventories released by the US
The Wholesale Inventories released by the US Census Bureau captures sales and inventory statistics from the second stage of the manufacturing process. The sales figures do not move the market as they do not reflect personal consumption while wholesale inventories may change the aggregate inventory profile which can influence the GDP forecast. A high inventory suggests economic slowing in the US, that is seen as negative (or bearish) for the USD, whereas a low reading is seen as positive (or bullish).
forex :- Germany consumer price index
The Germany consumer price index released by the Statistiches Bundesamt Deutschland measures the average price change for all goods and services purchased by households for consumption purposes. CPI is the main indicator to measure inflation and changes in purchasing trends. A high reading is positive (or Bullish) for the EUR, while a low reading is negative (or bearish).
forex in july :- forex and JPY :- Japanese currency
The Japanese currency remained within the market’s range of interest as a currency shelter, though the Yen’s strengthening to the US Dollar was much less essential than at the previous sessions. The disenchanting ADP data on the US Payrolls occurred to be the main trouble spot for the investors. Less intensive purchases of the Yen may obviously be explained with the investors’ current expectances of the publication of the most important weekly data the Main Labor Report in the USA, which may render more precise trading checkpoints. The Yen mainly goes ahead upturning at the current session. Probably, it’s a result of the today published optimistic economic data. As represented, the Tankan Report for the 2nd quarter stated the advance to 1 from -14 in the 1st quarter. The indexes, which are included in this report and depict the affairs of various economic branches, have also demonstrated the significant advance. The nearest prospects for the currency of “The Land of Rising Sun” will obviously be grounded on the narrow volatile trading amidst the expectances of the information from the USA, though with the intents to advance due to the investors’ dull inclination to risk at the same time.
forex in july :- forex and GBP
Generally speaking, the British Pound incurred pressure all over last session and so completed the day with significant loss to the US Dollar. Obviously, the first impression of the GfK data on the consumer confidence in Great Britain, which were worse than before, was influencing the whole day. Furthermore, the general market layout never encouraged the raise of the inclination to risk. Moreover, the later published economic data from the “Isles”, which demonstrated positive, failed to change the environment greatly, but caused the transient “cable” purchases influxes only. The consumer confidence index fell down to -19 points from -18 in May i.e., exceeded the forecasts. That might be caused by the expectances of the state expenditures retrenchment and also fiscal tightening. However, the British home prices up-rocketed in June as compared to the previous month, though with slowdown. The home price index grew up for 0.1% m/m and 8.7% y/y, whereas it was +0.5% m/m and 9.8% y/y in May. The business investment also rose up: it was stated 7.8% q/q and -7.7% y/y of the upturn in the 1st quarter, despite the presumed +6.0% q/q and -11.0% y/y. Today the publicizing of the British business activity “triptych” is going to start. The market is looking forward for the announcement of the manufacturing activity – the PMI for this branch is like to slide down to 57.6 from 58.0. Besides, the Bank of England Quarterly Credit Conditions Report for the 2nd quarter will also attract attention. Neither special negative nor essential positive is expected. So, the news is going to make no influence, in fact. That’s why the Sterling will stay within the ranges with the inclination to slight loss to the “buck” amidst the expectances of the tomorrow US Main Labor Report.
forex in july :- forex and EUR
The common European currency slightly advanced at the last session due to the support from the ECB tender of three-month crediting. The demand for the liquidities turned out to be worse than forecasted as the Banks were interested in 133.933 Billion only, while the analysts expected the loans in amount of about 250 Billion of euro. The assets’ capacity wasn’t limited. Actually, the Bank could get the necessary amount at interest of 1.0%. That’s why the result of the kind was considered as a justification of the absence of problems of assets’ deficiency at the Euro zone financial institutions. That also meant the latter were able to fulfill their obligations without any supplemental assistance. Of course, it became a good reason for optimism, so the Euro occurred in the forefront of purchasing increase amidst the upturn of the European stick indexes. However, the common fears about the economic increase together with the data from the USA, in particular the ADP report, and finally, still acute debts troubles of the Euro zone countries suppressed the common currency, which lost some part of recently got positions and kept a little gain to the US Dollar only. The publication of the Euro zone’s economic statistics made no influence, because the result was quite predictable: the number of the German jobless decreased for 21 thousand, despite the forecasts of -23 thousand, so the unemployment rate kept the previous mark of 7.7%. The consumer inflation fell down a little all over the Euro zone as the consumer price index occurred at 1.4% after 1.6% in May. The today news is going to represent the ISM data on the manufacturing of the Euro zone in general, Germany and some other leading countries of the block. The June PMI is foreseen remained at the value of the advanced estimation in Germany, France and in the Euro zone in general, while the Italian one is predicted sagging. Besides, the data on the retail sales in Germany will also arouse interest due to the probability of the essential increase: 0.5% m/m and -0.6% y/y thereupon -0.5% m/m and -3.1% y/y before. Also possible, the Euro would get a support by reason of this publication, but for a short while only, as it seems, because the anticipation of the data from the USA has already begun to make their impact on the market and will have kept tension till tomorrow.
forex and profit :- making profit using forex :- How do I make a profit using Forex?
Forex and profit :- making profit using forex :- How do I make a profit using Forex?
Again, the answer is obvious: just as with any market, you make money by buying cheaper and selling more expensive! Buy for less, sell for more! All you do is take advantages of fluctuations in the relative values of world currencies. Each currency's value changes every day in the currency exchange market. All you have to do is use these fluctuations to your advantage.
forex:- what exactly is Forex
It's a market. That simple.
More precisely, FOREX is a currency trading market, and it's one of the largest and most rapidly developing markets on the planet. Over 2.5 trillion dollars are turned over on Forex every single day. That's more than 100 times more than the amount turned over daily on NASDAQ. If you're intrigued, you can click here and get more detailed market information from Forex4you.
So, what's a market? Simple: it's a place where goods are traded. Forex is no different, but with one little twist: the goods traded on Forex are the national currencies of the world's countries. For example, on Forex you might pay in American dollars and buy some Canadian dollars. Or, you could sell your Euros for Japanese Yen. There's nothing more to it than that.
More precisely, FOREX is a currency trading market, and it's one of the largest and most rapidly developing markets on the planet. Over 2.5 trillion dollars are turned over on Forex every single day. That's more than 100 times more than the amount turned over daily on NASDAQ. If you're intrigued, you can click here and get more detailed market information from Forex4you.
So, what's a market? Simple: it's a place where goods are traded. Forex is no different, but with one little twist: the goods traded on Forex are the national currencies of the world's countries. For example, on Forex you might pay in American dollars and buy some Canadian dollars. Or, you could sell your Euros for Japanese Yen. There's nothing more to it than that.
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