What is forex trading and how to trade forex?

Forex /
Milan Cutkovic
 Forex
 Trading
 Guide

What is forex?
Forex, short for ‘foreign exchange,’ refers to the global market where currencies are
bought and sold. In simple terms, forex means changing one currency for another.
For example, if you have ever taken an overseas holiday and swapped the currency
you normally use for the local currency of the place you are visiting, that’s a forex
transaction in action!
Of course, forex (also known as ‘FX’) is much more than just holiday money. In fact,
the forex market is the largest and most liquid financial market in the world, with
trillions of dollars flowing through it every day. From international business payments
to individuals ordering online goods from overseas, foreign exchange is one of the
keys to global commerce and investment across every country and currency, from
the Baht to the Yuan.
What is the forex market?

The forex trading market is not a physical marketplace. Instead, it is a decentralised

global network that operates 24 hours a day, five days a week. In the forex market,
traders buy and sell currency pairs based on how much value they have in relation to
one another.
For example, if you live in the USA and are travelling to Europe, you will use your US
dollars (USD) to buy euros (EUR). In the forex market, that transaction is
represented by the symbols EUR/USD.
Because the forex market operates on a decentralised model with no physical
control point or central exchange, no one person or organisation controls it. Instead,
electronic transactions take place directly between two parties; this is called an ‘over
the counter’ (OTC) market. You can think of it as a vast digital network where
transactions flow freely between banks, financial institutions, and individuals around
the world.
A wide number of factors influence the value of currencies on the foreign exchange
market; inflation, economic growth, consumer confidence in a particular country,
unemployment data, and even house prices can all contribute to where a currency
sits on the market.
To help understand the movements of the forex market, you can refer to a forex
economic calendar and see how price changes correlate with events like news
releases and the publication of economic data.
The global nature of the forex market means it operates 24 hours a day, with the
busiest times for transaction volume shifting between major financial centres across
different time zones.
What are the different types of forex markets?

The three types of FX markets available for trading are as follows:

 Forex spot market: This is the largest market in the world, and you may have
been a part of it without even knowing it. Any time someone goes to a bank to
exchange currencies, they participate in the forex spot market.
 Forex futures market: A currency pair of a predetermined size is bought or
sold under a futures contract at a specific time and date. This market operates
on futures exchanges around the world, where the contracts are traded.
These are legally binding contracts, allowing the seller to take on the risk that
the price of the currency will fluctuate in the spot market before the contract’s
end date.
 Forex forwards market: This market operates between a customer and a
bank, or between two banks. Unlike futures, where they have standardised
features in size and date, forward contracts are flexible and customised to fit a
trader’s requirements.
What causes the price of currencies to move in forex markets?

In today’s highly interconnected and globalised economy, the prices of trading

instruments, including forex pairs, are constantly moving and fluctuating.
Trading volume and transactions in the FX markets are always affected by supply
and demand, and, like any other financial market, the higher the demand for a
currency, the higher its price will move. But there are also many other key factors
that can affect the prices of currency pairs. Some of these include:
 Central bank decisions: Central banks across the globe are responsible for
setting interest rate levels for each country. In the forex trading market,
traders generally prefer currencies with high-interest rates compared to other
currencies. If trading forex, it’s a good idea to monitor the central banks
related to the ‘major’ currency pairs: the US Federal Reserve, Bank of
England (BoE), Bank of Canada (BoC), European Central Bank (ECB),
Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Bank of Japan (BoJ), Swiss National Bank
(SNB), and Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ).
 Economic data: Employment numbers, gross domestic product (GDP) levels,
inflation, business sentiment, and consumer sentiment, all tend to affect the
movement in currency pairs. Monitoring the economic calendar and market
trends on your online trading platform helps keep you up to date with major
economic data releases.
 Trading sessions: It is commonly known that trading volumes and activities
can be ‘thin’ or slow during the market open in the Japan/Asia time zone.
Trading volumes and activities usually increase when the UK/Europe session
begins, and liquidity will be at its peak towards the close of the UK and the
open of the US session. The London and New York sessions are usually the
most active due to the time overlap between these major financial hubs.
During certain forex market hours, some currencies are more liquid, e.g.,
JPY during the Tokyo session or GBP during the London session.
 Geopolitical factors: Wars, political crises, global unrest, and other related
events can also impact the foreign exchange markets. Some currencies tend
to do well when there is an elevated level of uncertainty in the markets, while
others go in the opposite direction.
What time do forex markets open?

Forex markets are open 24 hours a day, five days a week. The official hours are
from 5 p.m. EST on Sunday until 4 p.m. EST on Friday. EST refers to the time zone
that is occupied by cities including New York, Boston, Atlanta, and Orlando in the
US, and Ottawa in Canada.
You will also see the ‘UTC’ time zone mentioned whenever forex is discussed. This
stands for “Coordinated Universal Time,” and it is aligned with what used to be GMT
or Greenwich Mean Time. London, UK, is on UTC.
Since there is no ‘lead’ market, forex trading hours are based on when trading is
open in a participating country. The London and New York trading sessions have
some overlap, so there is often a lot of trading volume during that time of day.
Foreign exchange rates are determined for the next 24-hour period at 4 p.m.
London/UTC time.
How is the forex market regulated?

Even though it operates in over 180 countries, no single organisation is responsible

for regulating the forex market. However, there are more than 50 governing and
independent bodies around the world that supervise forex trading to ensure
transparency and accountability.
Some top regulatory bodies overseeing foreign exchange activity include the
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Financial Conduct
Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore
(MAS). These regulatory bodies set standards for all financial services providers to
abide by, such as regarding registration, licencing, and audit requirements, and can
step in if a provider is found to be in breach of laws or regulations.
As a result of these authorities, forex traders have a higher degree of assurance that
the trading service they subscribe to is fair and ethical.

What are the main forex currency pairs to trade?

The most well-known and most traded currency pairs are the 'majors'. This is a
combination of the US dollar (USD) being traded against one of seven other major
currencies: the Euro (EUR), British pound (GBP), Swiss franc (CHF), Japanese yen
(JPY), Canadian dollar (CAD), Australian dollar (AUD), or New Zealand dollar (NZD).
The four most popular currency pairs by volume are EUR/USD, USD/JPY,
GBP/USD, and USD/CHF.
Currency pairs outside that group – mainly those that do not involve the US dollar –
are considered 'minors' or 'exotics'. These pairs can still have high value and
significant trading volume, but it is typically less when compared with the majors.
Note that there is no right or wrong currency pair to trade. While the majors are
characterised by having the highest liquidity, the markets fluctuate in many ways,
often because of economic news that is specific to a country or currency. As a result,
this will be reflected in market pricing. Traders should therefore be in the habit of
monitoring overall market conditions to find an opportunity that is best for them and
their trading style and strategy.
Additionally, traders should be aware that not all currencies are traded nonstop
despite markets being open seven days a week. Allowances should also be made
for local public holidays that can put a pause on trading. An economic calendar is
useful for helping prepare for scheduled market closures, while live spread tables
provide a concise rundown of current market pricing.
Forex currency pairs comparison: Majors vs. Minors vs. Exotics
Major currency pairs Minor currency pairs Exotic currency pairs
EUR/USD EUR/GBP EUR/TRY
USD/JPY EUR/JPY USD/HKD
GBP/USD GBP/JPY USD/ZAR
USD/CHF GBP/CAD JPY/NOK
USD/CAD CHF/JPY NZD/SGD
AUD/USD EUR/AUD GBP/ZAR
NZD/USD NZD/JPY AUD/MXN
What is forex trading?

Forex trading is the act of buying and selling currencies. Just as you exchange
physical money using a forex transaction on an overseas holiday, forex trading
involves buying one currency while simultaneously selling another. A key difference
is that forex trading is done specifically to try to generate profit from the exchange.
All forex trades involve two currencies. As the prices of currencies fluctuate in the
open market, for example, due to supply and demand factors, traders will
speculate that the value of one currency will appreciate or depreciate relative to
another. If the trader anticipates the market direction correctly, they can make a
profit. If not, they will take a loss. Fundamentally, generating a profit by trading FX is
as simple as buying low and selling high, or vice versa.
This multi-directional profit-taking is possible because, unlike traditional investing,
forex trading does not involve the purchase or ownership of the underlying
currencies. Instead, traders only speculate on price changes using a type of
derivative called a Contract for Difference (CFD). The major advantage of CFD
trading is that traders can potentially generate a profit by speculating on a falling
price, unlike stocks or physical assets, where it is only possible to profit if a price
increases above the level you paid for it.
How does forex trading work?

Let's look at a simple example to demonstrate how a forex trade works:

Suppose you believe the euro (EUR) will strengthen against the US dollar (USD); in
other words, you think the value of the EUR will increase relative to the USD.
You open a trading account online and decide to buy 10,000 units of the EUR/USD
currency pair at the current exchange rate of 1.1000. The total size of your CFD
trade position will be:
10,000 EUR x 1.1000 = $11,000
Now that your trade is open, let’s say the EUR/USD exchange rate rises to 1.1200
and you decide to close your trade position. At that point, the difference between the
opening and closing exchange rates is 0.0200 (1.1200 – 1.1000). You traded 10,000
units, so your profit calculation looks like this:
0.0200 x 10,000 = $200
Because the value of the EUR has gone up, you make a $200 profit.
However, if the exchange rate had moved against your prediction, you would have
incurred a loss. For example, if the price of EUR went down from 1.1000 to 1.0900 (a
0.0100 difference), your loss would be calculated as follows:
0.0100 x 10,000 = $100
These examples show the difference that small fluctuations in pricing can make, so
when trading forex, it’s important to only risk what you can afford to lose.
What is the difference between buying and trading forex?

 Buying forex: This usually refers to exchanging one physical currency for
another. This could be in cash or digital form (e.g., currency or credit card),
but buying forex usually happens when you need to use a foreign currency
immediately, such as when taking an overseas holiday where you need to pay
for expenses like food or accommodation by using the local currency.
 Trading forex: This involves speculating on the price movements of currency
pairs with the intention of profiting from price fluctuations. Forex trading is
done through intermediaries, such as online brokers, using derivative
products (i.e., CFDs). When trading forex, traders do not physically own the
currencies but instead enter into contracts that reflect the price movements of
the underlying currency pairs. The aim is to buy a currency pair at a lower
price and sell it at a higher price (or vice versa) to generate a profit. Forex
trading is conducted electronically on trading platforms, and positions can be
opened and closed within seconds or held for longer periods, depending on
the trading strategy.
Why trade forex?

The main reason to trade forex is the potential to generate profits by trading currency
pairs.
Forex trading is a popular way to start investing with relatively small amounts of
capital and combined with the use of leverage, gain exposure to trades of larger
value. Additionally, because forex trading is done as a CFD product, traders don’t
have to worry about the costs involved in taking ownership of an underlying asset;
with FX trades, all you are doing is trading the real-time price movements of the
underlying asset in the open market. Note that while leveraged trading offers the
potential for higher returns, it can also amplify losses.
The 24-hour FX markets also offer a lot of convenience and flexibility, allowing you to
trade during various hours of the day. This can be particularly beneficial for anyone
already in full- or part-time employment, as trading can be done outside of normal
work hours.

How to trade forex?

Brokers provide a full range of products, tools, and services that allow you to trade
currencies online.
To do this, forex traders use free trading software, which is usually provided by the
broker, to speculate on the change in the value of one currency relative to another.
Unlike traditional stocks, which must increase in value compared to the initial
investment, FX traders can speculate on whether a price will rise or fall, so they may
have a profit or loss in either market direction.
The FX market can be accessed easily by anyone with an internet connection and a
trading account, and trades can be made from anywhere in the world at any time the
markets are open. Below is a suggestion for how to start trading forex with an online
broker.
Demo accounts can be a great way to practise trading without risking your own
money, and once you are ready to transition to live trading, start with a small amount
to reduce the risk if the trade goes against you.
1. Choose your broker: The key things to look for are regulation, reputation,
trading tools and platforms, the range of products offered, and what support
and educational resources are available.
2. Open an account: You will have a choice of accounts depending on the
trading conditions you need (for example, a standard vs. a professional
account), but all online forex trading accounts should be free to open. The
application process should be straightforward but note that security and fraud
protection measures mean a reputable broker will verify your ID before your
account can be confirmed. During this process, you should be given access to
the trading platform/software.
3. Add funds: Once your account has been opened and you have access, make
your first deposit so you have money available to trade with. During your
account setup, you should be given the option of choosing the currency you
prefer to use (e.g., USD, EUR, or GBP).
4. Choose a currency pair to trade: After your account has been funded, it is
time to consider which forex currency pair(s) you want to trade. All brokers will
offer major currencies like USD, EUR, CHF, GBP, AUD, CAD, and more, while
some also offer minor or exotic currencies.
5. Pick a trading strategy: Before you place your first trade, it is important to
consider your goals and how you intend to reach them. Things to consider
include the currencies you will choose, the size of your trades, how much you
are prepared to risk on a given trade, and whether to use stop-loss and take-
profit limits. Technical and fundamental analysis can be beneficial at this point
too.
6. Place your trade: After deciding your trading strategy, it is time to place your
trade. This involves confirming the currency pair you want to trade, choosing
how much you want to invest, the direction of the trade (buy or sell), and
setting stop-loss and take-profit levels.
7. Monitoring: Once your trade has been opened, you will need to check to
make sure it is tracking as intended. If the market is not going in your favour,
you have the option to close your trade at any time, either to lock in profits or
to limit losses.
Technical and fundamental analysis in forex trading

There are two main types of analysis used in trading: technical and fundamental.
 Technical analysis: This is the use of a collection of methods that look for
chart patterns that may predict future behaviour. Technical analysis assumes
that all the information related to a currency pair is already “priced in.”
Therefore, the theory is that if a particular pattern has been repeated in the
past, recognising that pattern can help the trader predict the immediate future.
 Fundamental analysis: FX traders use fundamental analysis to consider
the underlying economic or policy reasons for a currency’s price fluctuations.
The main idea behind the analysis is that if the currency’s underlying
economy is predicted to do better compared to other countries, the value of
that currency will go up, and vice versa.

What types of charts are used most in forex trading?

There are several types of charts that can be used when analysing the forex
market, so deciding which chart to use usually depends on the trading style or type
of analysis required. Here are three of the most popular chart types used by forex
traders:
 Line charts: Line charts give a clear, simplified view of the current market
situation and work best for people who want a quick glimpse of where the
market is heading. They simply show the close price at a given period,
typically represented by a continuous curved line that connects dots that
represent the changes in price over certain intervals of time.
 Bar charts: Bar charts are an upgraded version of the line chart. They offer
information on the Open, High, Low and Close prices, so they are also known
by the abbreviation ‘OHLC’ chart.
 Candlestick charts: Although candlestick charts look complicated at first,
they are actually quite simple to read. Candlesticks represent four main price
points within a particular period. This period can usually be set to 1 minute, 5
minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, daily, weekly, monthly, etc. The main body of the
candle will be coloured green (or it will be empty) if the closing price is higher
than the opening price of that period (i.e., the price has increased). If the body
is coloured red (or filled in black), the price has decreased within the period.
The ability to read candlestick charts and understand candlestick patterns is
the first step before using more advanced analysis tools.

Advantages of trading forex

Forex trading offers key advantages when viewed against other forms of investment,
like stocks. These include:
 24-hour trading: The forex market operates around the clock, meaning you
can jump in and out of the markets when it suits you. This can be especially
helpful for those looking to generate a side income while working another job,
particularly with help from trading robots (also known as Expert Advisors, or
EAs) which can run trades automatically and reduce the need for manual
intervention.
 Leverage: With forex trading, you can take advantage of leverage to control
larger value positions with a relatively small amount of capital. However, you
must remember that leverage increases both potential profits and losses, so it
should be used with caution.
  High liquidity: The forex market’s large size and liquidity ensure you can
enter and exit trades quickly at current market prices with a reduced risk of
slippage.
 Diversification: There are a lot of different global currency pairs to pick from,
which means the forex market provides a wide range of trading opportunities.
Whatever the trend and whatever market events are taking place, there is
always a currency in play.
 Find opportunities in any market direction: Because forex trading is done
through CFDs and you only trade price movements rather than invest in the
underlying product, you can trade when the price of a currency pair is going
up or down.
 Accessibility: If you have a computer or mobile device and an internet
connection, it is likely you can access what you need to start trading forex.
Online brokers offer user-friendly trading platforms, educational resources,
and demo accounts.
 Learning and development: Learning to trade forex can be a mentally
stimulating and rewarding activity. From analysis techniques to market
dynamics, the effects of geopolitics on prices, and algorithmic coding, there is
always something to learn.

Disadvantages of trading forex

As well as advantages, there are also some potential disadvantages to forex trading,
including:
 Volatility: While many forex traders enjoy high volatility due to the potential
for fast profits, the downside is that the market can turn against you very
quickly. To mitigate this, try using a stop-loss order to limit any losses to a
manageable size.
 Leveraged trading: The key thing to remember about leverage is that it
amplifies both profits AND losses. Any time you apply leverage, you must
consider what would happen if the trade were to go against you.
 Complexity: Although the principles of forex trading are simple, improving
your skills requires the use of economic indicators, technical analysis tools,
 trading platforms, and an understanding of geopolitical events that influence
currency prices. This all takes time and effort to learn.
 Emotional challenges: Because there is money at stake, forex trading can
evoke strong emotions, especially fear and greed. This can lead to impulsive
and irrational decisions, which means emotional discipline is an essential
requirement for long-term success.
Remember, forex trading involves risks, and it is crucial to approach it with a
disciplined mindset, proper risk management, and continuous learning. Start with
small trade sizes, gradually increase your exposure as you gain experience, and
only trade what you can afford to lose.

What is the best forex trading strategy?

There are many different forex strategies to follow, each with a different
methodology, level of risk, and timeline. Picking the best strategy for forex traders
often depends on the individual trader’s goals and abilities.
As traders gain more knowledge of how forex trading works and a greater
understanding of the markets, several overarching strategies can be used
concurrently across multiple trading products to build a more comprehensive trading
profile that is responsive to market conditions and specific objectives.
While no one strategy is guaranteed to work every time, here are some
popular forex trading strategies:
 Short-term trading: Short-term trading involves making multiple trades
throughout the day to capitalise on short-term price fluctuations. Traders who
employ this strategy typically use technical analysis and rely on charts,
indicators, and patterns to identify potential entry and exit points.
 Day trading: Day trading is a trading strategy that involves buying and selling
financial instruments within the same trading day. Unlike short-term trading,
day traders may hold positions for longer periods of time, ranging from a few
minutes to several hours.
 Swing trading: Swing trading is a longer-term strategy where a trader may
hold positions open for days, weeks, or longer. It is less affected by daily price
fluctuations and more concerned with overall trends.
  News trading: This is a strategy in which the trader tries to profit from a
market move that has been triggered by a major news event. This could be
anything from a scheduled event like a central bank meeting or economic data
release, to an unexpected event like a natural disaster or escalating
geopolitical tensions.
 Price action trading: Price action trading is a strategy that focuses on
making decisions based on the price movements of a certain instrument
instead of incorporating technical indicators, which become only a
supporting tool.
 Trend trading: These strategies involve identifying trade opportunities in the
direction of the trend with the anticipation that the trading instrument will
continue to move in its current direction (up or down).
 Range trading: Range traders look for trading instruments that are not
trending but are consolidating in a certain range – anything from 20 pips to
several hundred pips – where prices are holding within support and resistance
lines.
 Position trading: The aim of position trading is to find opportunities from
long-term trend moves while ignoring the short-term noise occurring day to
day. Traders utilising this type of trading style might hold positions open for
weeks, months, and, in rare cases, years!

Risk management in forex

Many professionals and successful traders around the world believe that risk
management is one of the principal factors in their trading success. Here are some
key considerations for a forex risk management strategy aimed at improving the
long-term success of your forex trading.
 Know your risk profile: Are you a big risk-taker? Or do you want to take
smaller, more calculated risks? Knowing your own risk profile, or “appetite for
risk,” is vital to managing forex trades. Depending on your level of risk-taking,
you can adjust your trading strategy accordingly.
 Position sizing: How much you allocate to each trade can have a significant
impact on your risk exposure. The bigger your position size, the bigger the
potential wins AND losses. The reverse is also true. The smaller the position
size, the more manageable the trade is, though it may mean a smaller
potential for wins and losses. Understanding appropriate position sizing
 techniques can go a long way, ensuring you can preserve your trading
capital for the long term.
 Stop loss: One of the benefits of modern trading platforms is that they give
you the ability to set stop-loss levels. This is a predetermined price at which
your trade will automatically close to prevent further losses. Setting a stop
loss for each of your trades is one of the simplest and most effective ways of
managing trading risks, so use a stop loss to your advantage.
 Leverage: Like a stop loss, you can pre-set or change the level of leverage
you want to apply to your forex trades. Leverage allows you to extend a small
amount of capital to gain exposure to larger trade positions and magnify
profits, but you must be aware that it will also magnify losses.
 Trading psychology: Like knowing your own risk profile, it is also important
to know your own trading psychology. This means being honest with yourself
when faced with big profits or losses in the markets. Did you suffer a loss,
then overtrade trying to make your money back? Did you have a winning
streak and then make a bad trade because you got overconfident? If you
know your own psychology and understand how you deal with different
market conditions, you will be in a great position to prepare for various
situations.
 The 1% rule: Some experienced traders use a rule of thumb where they
never risk more than 1% of their trading capital. This can be particularly
helpful as it means an unforeseen loss will not wipe out your account and you
will be able to continue trading.

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This information is not to be construed as a recommendation; or an offer to buy or sell; or the

solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security, financial product, or instrument; or to participate in
any trading strategy. It has been prepared without taking your objectives, financial situation, or needs
into account. Any references to past performance and forecasts are not reliable indicators of future
results. Axi makes no representation and assumes no liability regarding the accuracy and
completeness of the content in this publication. Readers should seek their own advice.

FAQ

Is forex trading risky?

Like any form of investment, forex trading carries inherent risk. The volatility of currency
markets can lead to significant price fluctuations, which can result in potential gains or losses.
Traders can help mitigate risk by using well-defined trading strategies, appropriate risk
management techniques, a disciplined approach, and a sound understanding of the financial
markets and market conditions.
What are the different types of forex brokers?
Retail traders access the forex market by using a broker, a business that facilitates a
specialised trading service that includes access to liquidity, trading platforms, and support. In
general, there are three main types of brokers:
 Market makers act as a counterparty to retail traders. In this
arrangement, a trader’s loss is a broker’s gain, and vice versa.
 Electronic Communications Network (ECN) is used by major
banks and financial institutions that provide price feeds to an ECN
liquidity “pool.” Brokers access this ECN pool, pass on the best bid,
and offer prices, which often results in low spreads for traders.
 Straight Through Processing (STP) brokers work similarly to
ECN brokers by connecting traders to liquidity providers. The main
difference is that STP brokers have individual connections to
liquidity providers.

Do I need a large amount of capital to start trading forex?

No, you do not need to invest a large amount of money to start forex trading. It is possible to
start trading forex with as little as $10. However, some platforms do require a higher amount
of capital, sometimes up to a minimum of $500.
The reason you can get started with lesser amounts is because you can use leverage to
increase your initial investment. Leverage can be used to take small positions and gain
exposure to positions with a larger total value. However, you must be aware that while
leverage increases the potential for larger profits from a smaller investment, it also increases
the potential for larger losses. The higher the leverage you use, the higher the risk, but
ultimately, the amount you choose to trade is up to you.

How much money can forex traders make?

While there are technically no limits to how much money you can make on the foreign
exchange market, the reality is that you will not make money on every trade; nobody can
always predict how markets will behave.
There are so many variations in forex trading, ranging from economic outlook and trader
sentiment to the strategies you follow and your approach to risk, that it is impossible to say
how much an individual can make (or lose).
Your chances of profiting from foreign exchange will increase as you trade more and learn
more about how currencies fluctuate. Additionally, you will have a better idea of what your
prospective and achievable earnings goals are.

Can I trade forex part-time while working a full-time job?

Yes, forex trading offers flexibility and can be done part-time alongside other commitments,
including a full-time job. The forex market operates 24 hours a day, five days a week,
allowing most traders to choose trading hours that suit their schedule. While modern trading
apps and trade management tools make it easier to do analysis at your convenience, sufficient
time should be factored in for trade analysis, monitoring, market updates, and other key
responsibilities.
How long does it take to become a successful forex trader?
The time it takes to become a successful forex trader varies from person to person. Factors
include the individual's commitment to learning, their trading knowledge and experience, the
effectiveness of their trading strategies, and how much time they can dedicate to meeting
their trading goals. Success in trading is considered a long-term exercise, requiring
continuous practise, learning, and adapting to market conditions. Being able to learn from
failures is also a significant factor contributing to long-term success.

What is a base currency and a quote currency?

Every currency has its own three-digit currency code (e.g., GBP for the Great British Pound
and USD for the US dollar). A forex trade involves two currencies, referred to as a currency
pair. The price of the first currency is expressed in terms of the second.
Once you have decided which two currencies you want to trade, calculate how much of the
quoted (second) currency is needed to purchase one unit of the base (first) currency.
For example, assume one Australian dollar (AUD) at the current market price is equal to
$1.04 Singapore dollars (SGD). Your trade is represented as AUD/SGD, where AUD is the
base currency and SGD is the quote currency.

How do I learn to trade forex?

Many traders acquire the skills necessary to trade forex by combining self-education,
practise, and ongoing learning. To learn the fundamentals of forex trading and how the
markets function, you can use instructional tools like tutorials, webinars, videos, how-to
articles, and analysis. These materials, many of which are free, can be used as a starting point
for deeper research into specialised fields such as market analysis, trading techniques, risk
management, and trading psychology.
In addition to educational materials, traders can benefit from free demo accounts that let them
trade with virtual money in a risk-free environment. The risk of losing any real money is
eliminated while still allowing you to familiarise yourself with the trading platform, explore
different trading strategies, and put the knowledge and skills you are gaining elsewhere to
use.

What is a pip in forex trading?

Short for ‘Percentage in Points’, the ‘pip’ is a change in the value of a currency that is
reflected in the fourth decimal point. For example, if the SGD is valued at $0.9630 and
increases by two ‘pips’, it will then be valued at $0.9632 against the Australian dollar. Learn
more about pips here.

What is a lot in forex trading?

A ‘lot’ in forex trading refers to the number of units of a base currency. A standard lot is
equal to 100,000 units of the base currency in a forex trade pair. You can also trade mini,
micro, and nano lots, which are 10,000, 1,000, and 100 units, respectively. For example, trade
a standard lot in Australian dollars, and the value of the trade would be AUD $100,000.
 Lot = 100,000 currency units
 Mini lot = 10,000 currency units
 Microlot = 1,000 currency units
 Nanolot = 100 currency units

What is leverage in forex trading?

Leverage in forex trading allows you to accept trades with a higher value than the quantity of
money in your trading account. If the leverage ratio is 5:1, for example, it indicates that you
can trade with 5 times the capital you have deposited. For instance, if the account has $1,000
in it, the trader could execute trades worth a total of $5,000.
This configuration has the potential to maximise returns while simultaneously amplifying
losses. In the end, you decide how much leverage to use on every given trade, and you can
adjust the amount of leverage you plan to use on a trade before you place it.
It’s important to note that when trading with leverage, you are also subjected to margin
requirements. If your balance falls below the margin requirement, your positions will
automatically close at a loss.

What is margin in forex trading?

Margin is effectively a downpayment on a leveraged trade. You can think of it as being like
purchasing a home with a mortgage, where you need to put down a percentage of the total
amount to make the purchase.
To use leverage on a forex trade, you may need to put down a margin of a few percent. For
example, your FX broker may offer 10:1 leverage if you agree to put down a $1,000 margin.
So, the trade can take place using only 10 percent of your own money to trade a standard lot
of 100,000 units.
In this case, the trader would need to deposit money into their margin account before any
trades could be made.

What is spread in forex trading?

The ‘spread’ in forex is a small cost built into the buy (bid) and sell (ask) prices of every
currency pair trade, also known as ‘markup.’
You will see a separate purchase price and a sell price when you plan to make a trade on your
trading platform. Simply deduct the ask/sell price from the bid/buy price to determine the
spread. The difference is typically extremely slight; for instance, a currency pair's buy price
might be 1.1529 while its sale price might be 1.1523. As a result, the spread will be 6 pips, or
0.0006. Traders favour brokers who pass on the smallest spreads.

What is the difference between a long or short position in forex?

To "go long" means you are buying a currency pair in anticipation that the price will rise.
"Going short" on a currency pair means you are selling it, hoping the market price will
decline.
What is a stop-loss and take-profit order?
Due to the fluctuating nature of the forex market, there is an inherent risk that a trade could
go against you. To help reduce that risk and protect your capital, there are two key tools
commonly used by traders.
 Stop-loss is a predetermined threshold at which a transaction will
automatically shut down. It is set by the trader at the time the order
is placed. This can aid traders in avoiding losses that exceed what
they are willing to accept.
 Rather than protecting against losses, take-profit orders are meant
to lock in profits after a predefined objective has been reached.
Taking a profit sooner may prevent you from claiming even bigger
earnings, but it will help lock in profits once your acceptable level is
reached.

What is a limit order?

On the forex market, a ‘limit’ order dictates buying or selling at a specific price or a better
price.
For example, you can place a ‘buy limit’ to only buy at or below a specific price. A ‘sell
limit’ can be set to sell at or above a specific price. When these prices are reached on the
platform, your orders are executed automatically.

What are gaps in forex trading?

Although the foreign exchange market is not open seven days a week, prices can still change
over the two days when trading does not take place. Sudden price changes can also occur,
usually because of a major economic or environmental event that drastically influences the
value of a currency.
Within these “gaps” in normal trading, currency values can still go up or down, so some
traders create strategies specifically aimed at taking advantage of this occurrence.

What is the swap rate?

In forex, a ‘swap rate’ is also known as a rollover rate. It is the amount either added to or
subtracted from your overnight holding position.
The swap rate changes based on several factors, mainly associated with current interest rates.
Day traders do not have to worry so much about swap rates, but it is a cost to consider if you
are using longer-term strategies, as it may put you ahead or behind in terms of profits.

What are safe-haven currencies?

There is a small group of currencies that are informally known in the forex trading markets as
‘safe haven’ currencies. These include the Japanese yen (JPY), the pound sterling (GBP), the
US dollar (USD), the euro (EUR), and the Swiss franc (CHF).
They are considered ‘safe’ as they are historically stable and most likely to retain their value
when compared to other currencies during volatile market conditions. Like gold, which is
known as a safe-haven asset, currencies in this group will attract more trading activity,
especially during times of high market volatility. Similarly, some of the most volatile forex
currency pairs are also frequently traded due to the opportunities they provide traders.

How do I know when major forex news is announced?

An online economic calendar can be used to monitor scheduled economic events around the
world that may affect the movement of the whole market or individual currencies. A good
economic calendar will include news such as inflation numbers, employment data, interest
rate announcements, retail sales reports, export data, and GDP growth.

Why is an economic calendar important for forex trading?

Economies around the world are constantly changing and are influenced by factors such as
changes in government, trade deals, resources, consumer confidence, and conflicts. Events
such as unemployment figure announcements in Canada and the latest mortgage application
numbers in the UK can impact the foreign exchange market. A speech made by the US
President can impact the foreign exchange rate, as can property price changes in Australia.
Knowing about major announcements beforehand can help you succeed as a trader because
the events may provide clues as to how certain currency pairings will move.

What software do you use to trade forex online?

After signing up with an online broker, you will have access to the tools and software
required to be able to trade forex online.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is the world’s most popular trading platform and offers functions
including live price charts, price alerts, custom indicators, and analysis tools. The MT4 app,
available across most major mobile devices, provides users with the ability to keep up to date
with markets in real time, wherever they are.
MT4 also enables its users to develop Expert Advisors (also known as ‘trading robots’),
custom indicators, and scripts using the MQL4 programming language, developed by
MetaQuotes, the developer of MT4.
The wide-ranging functionality of MT4 makes it suitable for both beginners and advanced
traders.

Milan Cutkovic
Milan Cutkovic has over eight years of experience in trading and market analysis across
forex, indices, commodities, and stocks. He was one of the first traders accepted into the Axi
Select programme which identifies highly talented traders and assists them with professional
development.
As well as being a trader, Milan writes daily analysis for the Axi community, using his
extensive knowledge of financial markets to provide unique insights and commentary. He is
passionate about helping others become more successful in their trading and shares his skills
by contributing to comprehensive trading eBooks and regularly publishing educational
articles on the Axi blog, His work is frequently quoted in leading international newspapers
and media portals.
Milan is frequently quoted and mentioned in many financial publications, including Yahoo
Finance, Business Insider, Barrons, CNN, Reuters, New York Post, and MarketWatch.
Find him on: LinkedIn

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