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The Benefits of Forex Trading

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The Benefits of Forex Trading

Looking to diversify your portfolio beyond stocks and bonds? Many investors are now turning to the excitement, profit potential, and 24/7 accessibility of the $6.6 trillion per day forex trading market. Foreign exchange, or forex, is all about speculating on the rise and fall of international currencies. With high leverage allowing you to control large positions for a small upfront investment, forex draws in newcomers and seasoned traders alike hoping to capture sizable profits. Intrigued to learn more? Read on to explore the allure of forex and why it’s becoming an ever-more appealing asset class for retail traders across the globe. Whether you trade on your lunch break or in the late hours of the night, forex offers opportunities for traders with any schedule or skill level.


Accessibility for All


One of the most appealing aspects of forex trading is that it can accommodate traders both big and small. Unlike trading stocks or other assets, you do not need thousands of dollars in start-up capital to open a forex trading account. Most retail forex brokers only require a minimum deposit between $100-500 to open an account. This makes getting started in forex trading extremely affordable for new traders. 


Additionally, you do not have to worry about paying commission fees like you would with stock, futures or options trading. The transaction costs are built directly into the dealing spread - the difference between the buying and selling price of a currency pair. With most brokers offering very competitive spreads, even mini lot trades can be conducted very efficiently. So if you are hesitant to start trading because you think you need a large amount of capital, rest assured you can start small in forex and still enjoy competitive dealing spreads.


Trade Anytime, Anywhere


The forex market is open 24 hours a day, five days a week. This gives traders in every time zone the flexibility to trade when it's convenient for them. Whether you prefer to trade when you wake up, during your lunch break, or before you go to bed, the forex market has you covered. You can also trade from anywhere with an internet connection using your laptop, tablet or mobile app. Your trading opportunities aren't limited to the confines of a physical exchange.


Profit Potential During Up and Down Markets


The forex market allows you to profit whether currencies are rising or falling in value relative to one another. If you think a currency will go up, you can buy it. If you anticipate it will drop, you can short sell it. There are always trading opportunities in bull and bear markets. You aren't limited only to buying stocks with the hopes they'll rise in value like in the equities market. This gives forex traders more flexibility to create profitable trades no matter economic conditions.


Leverage Gives You Greater Exposure


With leverage offered by forex brokers, you can open much larger positions than you could if you were only putting up the full trade amount yourself. Leverage of 50:1, 100:1 and even 250:1 is not uncommon in the retail forex market. This means for every $1 you put down, you can control a position worth 50 times that amount. While leverage does increase risk, it also presents the opportunity for amplified profits if the trade moves in your favor. Managing risk properly allows traders to juice their profit potential with leverage.


Hedge Against Inflation and Currency Risks


Inflation can erode the purchasing power of currencies over time. By trading forex, you can profit from the rising costs of goods and services and the falling value of currencies experiencing high inflation. Investors and businesses also use forex trading as a hedge against currency risks. If you are making an international payment in the future, locking in an exchange rate now prevents you from losing money due to unfavorable currency fluctuations down the road. Forex trading offers various tools to neutralize inflation risk and currency exposure.


Technical Analysis Can Uncover Opportunities


Unlike stock trading where it can be difficult to determine true value, forex trading allows you to rely on technical analysis to profit. By studying price trends and chart patterns, day traders and short-term scalpers can profit dozens of times per day without worrying about a company's financials or market valuation. All the information you need to make trading decisions is contained within the price action for a given currency pair. This makes technical analysis extremely popular among forex traders.


Choose from Major and Exotic Currency Pairs 


The forex market presents the opportunity to trade high volume major pairs like EUR/USD and USD/JPY or choose from over 65 exotic currency pairs. If you think emerging market currencies in Asia and South America will outperform European currencies, you can express your opinion by selling EUR/BRL or EUR/TRY. Active currency markets with volatile exchange rates present limitless trading opportunities. You can choose major crosses or smaller exotic pairs—it's completely up to your trading plan.


No Shortage of Actionable Information


There is no shortage of information about forex trading online and in print publications. Analyst research, real-time news feeds, economic data releases and 24-hour TV business channels are just some resources available to currency traders. You'll never feel lost sorting out a position with daily commentary the market is providing. Transparency over economic and geopolitical issues affecting currency valuations mean there are constantly opportunities to profit from data surprises.


Conclusion


Accessible minimum capital requirements in world stock index, tight transaction costs, 24-hour trading and high leverage attract all skill levels to the forex market. Traders also enjoy favorable profit potential whether currencies are rising or falling and the abundance of technical analysis resources. Major and exotic currency pairs allow you to choose trading opportunities that match your interests and style. Managing risk through stops and limits ensures one lost trade won't wipe out your account. As you can see, the benefits certainly stack up which explains why forex is the most actively traded market in the world.

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