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What is Currency Trading?
How does the market place for currency trading operate?
Although no formal currency trading market exists similar to the vast
international clearing houses that regulate the markets for stocks and
options, the currency trading markets are able to function quite well.
Currency trading also known as FX trading is simply controlled by the
use of credit agreements and self regulation. Also, credible retail
dealers in the U.S. are members of the National Futures Association
(NFA).
This organization provides its members with binding arbitration
services. In essence, the currency trading market represents the largest
and most liquid market in the world.
It literally trades 7 days per
week on a 24 hour around the clock basis. The daily total U.S. $ volume
of transactions amounts to approximately $2 trillion per day.
How to generate profits through currency trading?
Assuming that you are trading currencies for your own account, the
simplest description of what you are doing can be viewed in the context
of valuating 1 currency purchased or sold against another currency.
For
example, if you believe that the value of the U.S. $ will decrease
relative to the EURO, you would want to buy EUROS from the currency
dealer at the highest rate possible relative to the U.S. $.
To
illustrate, assume that you buy EUR 100,000 at an exchange rate of 1.8
EUROS to the U.S. $. In this example, you would need to give the
currency dealer U.S. $55,555.55. Let us further assume that in 7 days,
the value of the U.S. $ decreases relative to the EUR to an exchange
rate of 1.5 EUROS.
This would mean that if you were to sell your EUROS
back to the currency dealer at that rate, you would receive U.S.
$66,666.66 for a realized profit of U.S. $11,111.11. Of course the exact
opposite scenario would hold true if you believe that the U.S $ will be
going up in value.
Aside from the U.S. $ and EURO, there are 6 major currencies that are
generally traded. They are the Japanese Yen (JPY), Swiss Franc (CHF),
Australian Dollar (AUD), British Pound (GPD), Canadian Dollar (CAN) and
New Zealand Dollar (NZD).
How are commissions and fees recognized from currency trading?
Currency dealing companies are not brokers and as such they do not
charge commissions. On the contrary, they are dealers who assume risks
from inventory and trade initiation.
Aside from the profits derived from
their own trading activities or strategies, they charge their customers
a differential principal price known as basis points (bps) which are
added to the acquisition or sales price of the particular foreign
currency being dealt with. The basis points are expressed in terms of
points to the base of 100 (i.e. 5 bps = 5/100).
The above explanations are meant to provide you with useful information
and to define the role that currency trading plays within the financial
markets.