Have you ever heard of Forex trading? If not, then it’s definitely time to find out what it is and how you can get started. But before we go any further, let’s talk about Forex in the simplest way possible so that even if you have no trading background, you’ll be able to understand it just fine. Also known as FX, Forex (or foreign exchange) trading takes place on the currency market.

What Is Forex Trading?

Despite what you might have heard about foreign exchange (or forex) trading, it’s not as dangerous or complicated as you might think. Simply put, forex trading is about getting a good deal on currencies around the world. Now that you know what forex trading is, how does it work? It works in basically two steps: first, a buyer and seller agree to a price for one currency; then they trade in that currency for another.

A Quick Guide to the Foreign Exchange Market

The foreign exchange market (forex, FX, or currency market) is a global decentralized financial market for trading currencies. This market determines the foreign exchange rate—the price at which one currency will be exchanged for another. For example, an American who plans to travel to Europe can purchase euros before departure to avoid having to use more expensive U.S. dollars when traveling in Europe.

How Does the Foreign Exchange Market Work?

To understand forex trading, it helps to know what currency is and how exchange rates affect international trade. The foreign exchange market (forex or FX) is a global decentralized market for trading currencies. It’s similar to stock markets in that it brings together buyers and sellers, but instead of different stocks being sold, different currencies are traded.

The U.S. dollar might be bought with Japanese yen, euros might be sold for British pounds—it all depends on who’s buying and selling at any given time, which ultimately determines that day’s prices. As with stocks, supply and demand play important roles: An increase in demand may push currency prices up, while an increase in supply may drive them down; likewise, if demand drops while supply remains high (or vice versa), price will go down accordingly.

Choosing Your Broker

If you’re interested in getting into forex trading, one of your first steps will be to select a reputable broker. A simple Google search can uncover broker reviews and rankings, but it’s also worth checking out our guide to choosing a broker. In addition to transparency, you’ll want to look for brokers that offer competitive spreads and liquidity levels.

Trade Station offers low latency execution, which reduces slippage and provides tighter bid/ask pricing. It’s also important to confirm that your broker is on an approved list at CFTC.gov—this is an indication they are operating legally under US regulations. The 2 Main Types of Orders – Buy Stop, Sell Stop, Buy Limit, Sell Limit:

The four main types of trading orders in forex are buy limit, sell limit, buy stop and sell stop. A trader can use any one or combination of these orders to trade a currency pair. Here’s how each order works: Buy Limit Order – A buy limit order specifies a price that is below current market value. This type of order can only be executed at or below your specified limit price. Sell Limit Order – A sell limit order indicates a price that is above current market value. This type of order can only be executed at or above your specified limit price.

What Currency Pairs Should I Trade?

Learning how to trade forex can be daunting because there are so many currency pairs to choose from. But not all currency pairs are created equal. You’ll want to stick with major currency pairs—the main currencies that represent most global trade, including the U.S. dollar (USD), Japanese yen (JPY), euro (EUR), British pound (GBP) and Swiss franc (CHF).Those currencies alone account for more than 80 percent of worldwide foreign exchange trading. The good news is these pairs tend to have less volatility than their lesser-known counterparts.

How Much Capital Do I Need To Start Trading?

Before you jump in, it’s important to know how much capital you need to start trading and have some level of financial safety net. You don’t want to be stuck in a situation where you can’t pay for your rent because your positions are going against you, so make sure you understand exactly how much capital is required for your strategy and then build an emergency fund that can sustain at least 6 months without earning any money.

What are the Pros and Cons of Forex Trading?

Some people think forex trading is a get-rich-quick scheme, but that’s simply not true. Like any market, the forex market has its risks and rewards. For example, there’s an element of risk in buying currencies because their values can change rapidly. If you don’t know what you’re doing or don’t have time to learn, then you might make some bad trades that put your money at risk. However, if you are careful about which currency pairs you trade, who provides your brokerages services, and how much capital you use for each trade, then forex trading can be a viable way to build wealth. Forex trading offers many opportunities for both profit and loss; understand these risks before getting started.

Conclusion

Start trading with these basics in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to success. The forex market is a powerful tool for generating profits, but it’s not without its risks—and your journey toward becoming a pro trader will always start with education.

It may seem like an intimidating process at first, but once you start to learn how forex trading works and what it takes to succeed, you’ll be amazed by just how lucrative it can be.