Trading

FOREX Greeks and FOREX Options

No Comments 01 February 2012

Photo courtesy of www.binaryoptionstrategy.com

Traders and investors who want to participate in the foreign exchange market make use of several options when trading, options that can be applied to either the stock market or the currency market. With these trading options, ‘the Greeks’ are very useful in determining risks and evaluating options positions.

FOREX options are tools that provide exposure to the movements of rates in some of the currencies that are most commonly traded. Traders use FOREX options in limiting risks and increasing the potential for profit. Traditional FOREX options provide buyers with the right to buy an option at a time and price that is predetermined. SPOT FOREX options make it possible for traders to guess the price activity on a specified future date. If the trader’s guess is correct, then he will be able to earn a profit or cash payout.

FOREX Greeks are one of the most important analysis techniques that are used when options trading. The most popular Greek, Delta, is used to measure the price sensitivity of an option. This sensitivity is related to the underlying changes in the asset’s price. Delta is normally shown as a value that is between 0.0 & 1.0 (call options) or 0.0 & -1.0 (put options). The Greek Vega is used to measure the speed and amount at which a price moves either down or up. Vega is most commonly based on the changes in the latest lowest and highest historical price in a currency pair. The Greek Gamma is used to measure the Greek Delta’s sensitivity. Gamma specifies the changes Delta will make, relative to every one percent change in the underlying rate.

These are just three of the Greeks that are used in FOREX options. These Greeks can be useful tools in identifying, as well as avoiding, risks in options positions. However, to utilize this effectively, a trader should first have thorough knowledge about what these are and how they can be used to maximize trading in foreign exchange.

 

Trading

Your Options in the Foreign Exchange Market

No Comments 17 January 2012

Photo courtesy of cloudfront.net

New investors who are trying their hand in the foreign exchange market should know that they have several options when trading. These FOREX options give investors/retailers a number of opportunities to reduce their risk or increase their profit.

Basically, there are two types of foreign exchange options: the call/put option (which is the more traditional option), or the SPOT option (single payment option trading). While the call/put option is more traditional, the SPOT option is what retailers would call a more flexible option.

In traditional options, the buyer is allowed the right to buy something from the seller at a fixed time and price. For instance, a FOREX trader might buy two lots of EUR/USD at 1.300 in a month. This is what is called the “EUR call/USD put.” If the EUR/USD price goes below 1.300, the buyer loses the premium because the contract expires and becomes worthless. However, if the price is higher than 1.300, then the buyer can use this option and have two lots for 1.300. He can then sell these lots for profit.

In the SPOT option, the trader offers a scenario (“EUR/USD for 1.300 in twelve days”), gets a premium quote, and then gets a payout if that specific scenario takes place. Basically, the SPOT option will automatically convert the trader’s option to cash if the trade is successful, giving the trader a payout.

While FOREX options are a good way of profiting in the market without increasing risks, a trader will still need to understand thoroughly how these options work, even to the smallest detail. In that way, they are fully prepared in whatever option they plan to use.

Trading

Mistakes to Avoid When Day Trading

No Comments 23 December 2011

Photo credits to investopedia.com

Day trading is a common practice in the foreign exchange market. In the currency market, day trading can become a high-leverage game, which when coupled with misguided practices, can lead a trader to lose all of his assets.

One common mistake day traders make is averaging down. Although this might be something that is not intentional in the beginning, these traders oftentimes end up doing it anyway. In averaging down, what is being held is a losing position because the trader will potentially sacrifice both money and time. Inevitably, the practice of averaging down will lead to large losses because a trend can last longer than a trader can be liquid.

Another common mistake day traders commit is to pre-position for news. Although traders in general know of news events that will affect the movement of the market, they do not know the direction of this movement in advance. For instance, a trader may be confident about a certain news announcement, like the Federal Reserve raising interest rates, but he still will not be able to predict the market’s reaction to this news. Oftentimes, there are additional figures, or statements made by the news, that makes these movements become illogical. By using this strategy, traders who rely on news announcements to make a position end up jeopardizing their chances for success.

These are just two of the most common situations that are to be avoided by day traders if they do not want to lose a significant part of their assets. In their eagerness to increase their returns, they might end up getting lower returns if they commit these mistakes.

Trading

Basic Knowledge About the Currency Market

No Comments 14 October 2011

photo credits to hansafx

The currency market is another term for the foreign exchange market. It is a global financial market for the purpose of trading currencies. The currency market establishes the different currencies’ relative values.

The basic purpose of a currency market is to help international investment and trade. This is being done by allowing businesses from different countries to convert native currencies to foreign currencies. The currency market also supports direct theories in the currencies’ value, as well as the speculations on the interest rate change between two currencies.

Normally, in a currency market transaction, one party buys a certain quantity of one currency and pays for it using a certain quantity of a different currency. The modern currency market began to be formed in the 1970s after 30 years of restrictions from governments on transactions involving foreign exchange. This was a time when countries slowly converted, from the “fixed exchange rates” to “floating exchange rates.”

What makes the currency market unique is that it is geographically dispersed and is in continuous, 24-hour operation (except on weekends). Trading in the currency market starts from Sunday, GMT 20:15 until Friday, GMT 22:00. This market offers the implementation of leverage in order to enhance margins for profit or loss, based in account size. Also, the currency market is unique in that it has a variety of factors that affect the rates of exchange between currencies. The market also has a vast trading volume that represents the largest class of assets worldwide. For these reasons, the currency market has been referred to as a market that is closest to perfect competition, despite currency interventions made by different central banks.

Forex Trading: Taking Your Time to Learn

Trading

Forex Trading: Taking Your Time to Learn

No Comments 04 February 2011

Forex trading is a very promising business. Traders around the world have been making a living by spending merely a couple of hours a day trading forex, and you can do the same as well. What it takes is a correct point of view. Forex trading is not just some get-rich-quick scheme; in fact, it is totally the opposite. There is no such thing like making easy money in forex trading. The actual process of trading and taking profits may look simple, but the amount of efforts put to reach that position is big.

In order to be successful in forex trading, you need to learn. Take your time, and learn about different aspects of forex trading before actually sitting in front of a trading platform and make real trades. Learn how to use technical indicators to help you make better trades. Rushing through the learning process will only get your money lost in one bad judgment call. After you are familiar with technical indicators, learn about fundamental analysis. You need to be able to translate current happenings into market movements; this is what sets great traders from the average ones.

Last but not least, make sure you create a trading plan before making real trades. Set limits, determine how much profit you are targeting on a single trade, and learn about bankroll management to keep you on the safe side at all times. If you feel the need to test the water, make small trades and see if you are making good trades.


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