The Magic of Leverage

Currency rate changes are very very small and measured in pips. If you wish to make large profits in foreign exchange a large sum of money must be invested.
As most of the larger amounts invested are only available to banks and and large financial institutions and corporations, a private individual must use a FOREX broker.

These brokers are allied with the large financial institutions and lend to individuals as leverage and is also called the margin.
The difference between loaned capital and invested capital is known as leverage
(margin) and this is the key to smaller investors entering the markets.

If you have $100 to invest with then the ratio of leverage is 100:1. This means that your $100 will allow you to trade with $10000 through your broker. As discussed previously because of the minute movements ( PIPS ) larger funds are needed to make significant profits and leverage via the brokers allows this to happen.

This is where education and extreme caution should be placed as you can make good profits or lose all your money. Forex brokers have margin agreements to put stop orders on leveraged funds allowing both them and you protection from losing your shirt !

Study the margin agreement your broker sends you, thoroughly and understand all the details you have signed up for. This is for your protection.

Factors Influencing Forex Market Trends

Factors Influencing Forex Market Trends

The largest market today for stock trading is the FOREX market, and it grows continually as more and more people are investing in it. It can be very inconsistent even volatile however, as promising as this market may be when it comes to profit.

It is preferred that you be familiar with certain factors that influence trends in the Forex market if you are deciding to join this area of investing. Acquaint yourself with the many different scenarios that can cause currencies to go up or down. This will certainly help you a lot in making decisions for when to buy or sell in the market.

Three major factors affect the Foreign Exchange –a country’s economy, political conditions and market psychology.


Economy

Basic things that create changes in a country’s currency are economic factors. When a country has economic conditions such as a budget deficit or surplus, there will probably be reactions in the market and it will reflect on values of the currencies. Inflation trends, and the general economic growth of the country are also other conditions that will reflect in the FX market.

A prosperous economy in a country is a good sign that investors will be able to adhere to doing trade with a more positive attitude. Indicators such as growth in a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP),high employment levels and retail sales among others will basically attract more investors resulting in a nation’s currency value being likely to rise.


Political Conditions

Conditions of a country’s political sector are another very important factor that influence trends in Forex. Political instability or turmoil can sometimes create negative fluctuations in an economy. But if a country can rise above political obstacles, the opposite may occur and the economy may improve.

Events in a region causing instability can create negative or positive interest among investors for a nation’s currency. And as such, conditions will influence the trends for demands and prices of a that particular country's currency.


Market Psychology

The perception of traders and investors will greatly influence the Foreign Exchange market in many ways.The market is highly dependent on whether or not investors would want to gamble on a country’s economy in order to determine whether currency prices will go up or down.

For example, such conditions where unsettling international events happen, under the “flight of quality” rule, investors would look for a safe haven for their funds. Whenever there is a higher demand in a country’s economy, then a higher price will be given to buyers and the currency’s value will rise becoming stronger.

Other events that contribute to traders’ perceptions may be long-term trends and history of a currency where people invest based on what they have noted over a long period of time, and even where people may base their investments on economic numbers depending on what numbers show a greater value.

The market in Foreign Exchange is often volatile, unpredictable and fluctuating. So if you are interested in trading in this market, make sure that you take the time to be educated and knowledgeable about good strategies that can help you keep your funds safe and even gain profit. If you know what you are doing in this market it is indeed very profitable. In other words ....EDUCATE yourself before committing funds.