A decentralised network for exchanging currencies
Forex does not operate through one central stock exchange. Transactions take place electronically through a worldwide network of banks, institutions, brokers, businesses and traders.
Build a clearer understanding of currency pairs, market movements, trading platforms, leverage and risk before making trading decisions.
Education can improve understanding, but it cannot remove the possibility of financial loss.
Forex is the global market where one currency is exchanged for another. Understanding how pairs, prices, positions and leverage work is an essential first step before considering live trading.
This example means one euro is valued at 1.0850 U.S. dollars. Market prices continuously change as currencies strengthen or weaken relative to each other.
This example is for education only and does not represent a trade recommendation or live market price.
Forex does not operate through one central stock exchange. Transactions take place electronically through a worldwide network of banks, institutions, brokers, businesses and traders.
The first currency is called the base currency. The second is called the quote currency. The displayed price shows how much of the quote currency is needed to purchase one unit of the base currency.
Leverage allows a trader to control a larger position using a smaller amount of deposited capital. The required portion of capital is commonly called margin.
Different participants exchange currencies for international trade, investment, monetary policy, hedging, speculation and everyday business requirements.
Forex traders use different methods to interpret price movement, economic conditions, market behaviour and changing global events. No single method can predict the market with certainty.
Explore four common ways traders evaluate forex-market opportunities and risks.
Analysis helps organise information, but it cannot guarantee the direction or outcome of a trade.
Technical analysis studies historical price movement, trading activity and recurring chart behaviour. Traders use this information to identify possible trends, levels and entry or exit areas.
Fundamental analysis examines the economic, political and financial forces that can influence demand for a currency and the relative strength of its economy.
Sentiment analysis considers how market participants collectively feel about a currency, economic outlook or level of financial risk.
News, price movement and changing expectations can cause traders to move quickly between cautious and confident behaviour.
Algorithmic trading uses predefined rules or computer programs to identify conditions, manage orders or execute trades without requiring every action to be entered manually.
Currency transactions may also be used to manage business risk or respond to differences between global interest rates.
Businesses and investors may use currency positions to reduce the effect of unfavourable exchange-rate changes on future payments, income or investments.
A carry trade involves funding a position with a lower-yielding currency and gaining exposure to a higher-yielding currency.