Foreign exchange market

The foreign exchange (currency or forex or FX) market exists wherever one currency is traded for another. It is by far the largest financial market in the world, and includes trading between large banks, central banks, currency speculators, multinational corporations, governments, and other financial markets and institutions. The average daily trade in the global forex markets currently exceeds US$ 2 trillion. Retail traders (individuals) are a small fraction of this market and may only participate indirectly through brokers or banks

The foreign exchange market is unique because of:

* its trading volume,
* the extreme liquidity of the market,
* the large number of, and variety of, traders in the market,
* its geographical dispersion,
* its long trading hours - 24 hours a day (except on weekends).
* the variety of factors that affect exchange rates,

Exchange-traded forex futures contracts were introduced in 1972 at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and are actively traded relative to most other futures contracts. Forex futures volume has grown rapidly in recent years, but only accounts for about 7% of the total foreign exchange market volume, according to The Wall Street Journal Europe (5/5/06, p. 20).

Average daily global turnover in traditional foreign exchange market transactions totaled $2.7 trillion in April 2006 according to IFSL estimates based on semi-annual London, New York, Tokyo and Singapore Foreign Exchange Committee data. Overall turnover, including non-traditional foreign exchange derivatives and products traded on exchanges, averaged around $2.9 trillion a day. This was more than ten times the size of the combined daily turnover on all the world’s equity markets. Foreign exchange trading increased by 38% between April 2005 and April 2006 and has more than doubled since 2001. This is largely due to the growing importance of foreign exchange as an asset class and an increase in fund management assets, particularly of hedge funds and pension funds. The diverse selection of execution venues such as internet trading platforms has also made it easier for retail traders to trade in the foreign exchange market. [2]

Because foreign exchange is an OTC market where brokers/dealers negotiate directly with one another, there is no central exchange or clearing house. The biggest geographic trading centre is the UK, primarily London, which according to IFSL estimates has increased its share of global turnover in traditional transactions from 31.3% in April 2004 to 32.4% in April 2006.

The ten most active traders account for almost 73% of trading volume, according to The Wall Street Journal Europe, (2/9/06 p. 20). These large international banks continually provide the market with both bid (buy) and ask (sell) prices. The bid/ask spread is the difference between the price at which a bank or market maker will sell ("ask", or "offer") and the price at which a market-maker will buy ("bid") from a wholesale customer. This spread is minimal for actively traded pairs of currencies, usually only 0-3 pips. For example, the bid/ask quote of EUR/USD might be 1.2200/1.2203. Minimum trading size for most deals is usually $100,000.

These spreads might not apply to retail customers at banks, which will routinely mark up the difference to say 1.2100 / 1.2300 for transfers, or say 1.2000 / 1.2400 for banknotes or travelers' checks. Spot prices at market makers vary, but on EUR/USD are usually no more than 3 pips wide (i.e. 0.0003). Competition has greatly increased with pip spreads shrinking on the major pairs to as little as 1 to 2 pips.

How to trade Forex?

Trading foreign exchange is exciting and potentially very profitable, but there are also significant risk factors. It is crucially important that you fully understand the implications of margin trading and the particular pitfalls and opportunities that foreign exchange trading offers. On these pages, we offer you a brief introduction to the FX markets as well as their participants and some strategies that you can apply. However, if you are ever in doubt about any aspect of a trade, you can always discuss the matter in-depth with one of our dealers. They are available 24 hours a day on the Saxo Bank internet trading system, SaxoTrader.

The benchmark of its service is efficient execution, concise analysis and expertise - all achieved whilst maintaining an attractive and competitive cost structure. Today, Saxo Bank offers one of Europe's premier all-round services for trading in derivative products and foreign exchange. We count amongst our employees numerous dealers and analysts, each of whom has many years experience and a wide and varied knowledge of the markets - gained both in our home countries and in international financial centres. When trading foreign exchange, futures and other derivative products, we offer 24-hour service, extensive daily analysis, individual access to our Research & Analysis department for specific queries, and immediate execution of trades through our international network of banks and brokers. All at a price considerably lower than that which most companies and private investors normally have access to.

The combination of our strong emphasis on customer service, our strategy and trading recommendations, our strategic and individual hedging programmes, along with the availability to our clients of the latest news and information builds a strong case for trading an individual account through Saxo Bank.

Terms of trading are agreed individually depending on the volume of your transactions, but are generally much lower in cost when compared to banks and brokers. Your margin deposit can be cash or government securities, bank guarantees etc. Large corporate or institutional clients may be offered trading facilities on the strength of their balance sheet. The minimum deposit accepted for an individual trading account depends on the account type. Trade confirmations and realtime acount overview are built into SaxoTrader, while further account information can be produced in accordance with your specific requirements.

terms used in forex trading

• Appreciation

An increase in the value of a currency.

• Ask

The price requested by the trader. This usually indicates the lowest price a seller will accept.

• Base currency

The currency that the investor buys or sells (i.e. EUR in EURUSD ).

• Bear

Someone who believes prices are heading down. A bear market is one in which there is a sustained fall in prices and which does not look like it will recover quickly.

• Bid

The price offered by the trader. This usually indicates the highest price a purchaser will pay.

• Bid/Ask

The Bid rate is the rate at which you can sell. The Ask (or offer) rate is the rate at which you can buy.

• Bull

Someone who is optimistic about the market. A bull market is characterised by enthusiastic and sustained buying.

• cross

When trading with currencies, the investor buys one currency with another. These two currencies form the cross: for example, EURUSD .

• Cross rate

An exchange rate that is calculated from two other exchange rates.

• Depreciation/decline

A fall in the value of a currency.

• Exchange rate

What one currency is worth in terms of another, for example the Austrialian dollar might be worth 58 US cents or 70 yen. Currencies traded freely on foreign-exchange markets have a spot rate (applying to trades settled 'spot', ie, two working days hence) and a forward rate. Countries can determine their exchange rates in a variety of ways. 1. A floating exchange rate system where the currency finds its own level in the market. 2. A crawling or flexible peg system which is a combination of an officially fixed rate and frequent small adjustments which in theory work against a build-up of speculation about a revaluation or devaluation. 3. A fixed exchange-rate system where the value of the currency is set by the government and/or the central bank.

• EURUSD

Means that you trade EUR against dollars. If you buy Euro you pay in dollars and if you sell Euro you receive dollars.

• FX, Forex, Foreign Exchange

All names for the transaction of one currency for another, e.g. you buy £100.00 with USD 150.25 or sell USD 150.25 for £100.00.

• Interbank

Short-term (often overnight) borrowing and lending between banks, as distinct from banks' business with their corporate clients or other financial institutions.

• Interest rate differential

The yield spread between two otherwise comparable debt instruments denominated in different currencies.

• Leverage (gearing)

In this case leverage means that the investor only funds part of the amount traded.

• Long

To buy.

• Long position

A position that increases its value if market prices increase.

• Liquid (-ity)

The capacity to be converted easily and with minimum loss into cash. A liquid market is one in which there is enough activity to satisfy both buyers and sellers. Ultra-short-dated treasury notes are an example of a liquid investment.

• Margin

The deposit required when entering into a position as well as to hold an open position. Your margin status can be monitored in the Account Summary.

• NYSE

The New York Stock Exchange.

• Open position

A position in a currency that has not yet been offset. For example, if you have bought 100,000 USDJPY , you have an open position in USDJPY until you offset it by selling 100,000 USDJPY , thus "closing" the position.

• “Over the counter”

When trading takes place directly between two parties, rather than on an exchange. Over the counter trades can be customised whereas exchange-traded products are often standardised.

• Pips

A pip is the smallest unit by which a Forex cross price quote changes. So if EURUSD bid is now quoted at 0.9767 and it moves up 2 pips, it will be quoted at 0.9769.

• Position

Traders talk of 'taking a position' which simply means buying or selling currency cross. 'Position' can also refer to a trader's cash/securities/currencies balance, whether he or she is short of cash, has money to lend, is overbought or oversold in a currency, etc.

• Risk

Trying to control outcomes to a known or predictable range of gains or losses. Risk management involves several steps which begin with a sound understanding of one's business and the exposures or risks that have to be covered to protect the value of that business. Then an assessment should be made of the types of variables that can affect the business and how best to protect against unwelcome outcomes. Consideration must also be given to the preferred risk profile - whether one is risk- averse or fairly aggressive in approach. This also involves deciding which instruments to use to manage risk, and whether a natural hedge exists that can be used. Once undertaken, a risk-management strategy should be continually assessed for effectiveness and cost.

• Secondary currency (variable currency or counter currency)

The currency that the investor trades the base currency against (i.e. USD in EURUSD ).

• Short position

A position that benefits from a decline in market prices.

• Short

To sell.

• Speculative

Buying and selling in the hope of making a profit, rather than doing so for some fundamental business-related need.

• Spot

A Spot rate is the current market price of an asset.

• Spot market

The part of the market calling for spot settlement of transactions. The precise meaning of 'spot' will depend on local custom for a commodity, security or currency. In the UK, US and Australian foreign-exchange markets, 'spot' means delivery two working days hence.

• Spread

The difference between the bid and the ask rate.