What Is Forex

What is Forex Trading?

what is forexThe question comes up frequently because people hear of a wonderful investment that requires very little capital, can be accomplished from home, and has the possibility of huge returns on very little cash. Thus, they wonder what is Forex Trading?

 

In effect, Forex is the currency market, and it is sometimes called the Foreign Exchange because that’s really what it accomplishes. As currency moves, gaining or losing in value, so does the Forex market – it fluctuates.

 

Why do rates fluctuate?

The Forex rates fluctuate when something happens in the world that influences them to change. A good example has been the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Do I need a broker?

Ordinarily trades are usually accomplished through a broker. There are many online brokers such as Easy Forex, Plus500, eToro, AVAFX, ForexYard and CKFX.

How to learn?

Those interested in knowing more can actually open up a free demo account. There they can learn how to make trades, how to recognize where rates are going, and what influences the rates to change. In addition, there are many online tutorials available for learning. There are also many highly informative webinars available on Forex trading.

Where does information come from?

Whereas Forex used to deal only with large banks buying and selling on the Foreign Exchange, the Internet has brought live quotes to the ordinary investor. This has allowed many investors to be able to get into the lucrative world of the Forex trading.

How much do I need?

Those who are interested in the Forex market can actually begin to invest with as little as $100 and this can be paid through a credit card such as MasterCard, Visa or even through PayPal if you prefer. Of course, you do not do this until you know all there is to know about Forex investment. Not only, are there extremely small start up costs and undersized investments required, but many are shocked to hear that the Forex market besides has the lowest per transaction costs yet the most leverage obtainable of any other capital markets.

Please also read our Forex FAQ page

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Forex Trading Hours

Forex Trading Hours Are Important In The Forex Market

Although Forex trading is influenced by a tremendous amount of variables, there is one specific constant though that most investors need to be aware of, and that is Forex trading hours. Theoretically currencies are traded constantly on a 24/7 basis, even though it actually works from Sunday afternoon, on Eastern Standard Time, until Friday afternoon, again EST. What happens in actuality though is that as one market closes, essentially another opens somewhere on earth. In this respect actual Forex trading hours extend beyond or overlap others, so that you can trade continuously.

Thus it is a 24/7 market opportunity, however some trading hours offer superior opportunities. Superior opportunities equals better profits, of course.

forex trading hoursExperienced traders will tell you that the best entrance time in the various Forex markets is when the larger volumes of currencies are actually being traded. Therefore this time is when numerous countries are in the act of actively trading. Now, no matter what time zone one is speaking of, all Forex markets function from 8 am until 4 pm. You may have garnered by now, that the best Forex trading hours are when the different countries’ markets overlap.

Actually this is when the Forex market is extremely active, thus the traders have a better likelihood of making significant profit since that is when large volumes of trades occur, thus the biggest pip movements occur as well. World clocks, that are available free online, serve to allow us to compare the various markets to delineate the most profitable times. For instance, again using EST time zones, London and New York overlap from 8 am to 12 am (EST). Another instance is that Tokyo and Sydney overlap from 7 PM to 2 AM  (EST). See the table below.

Forex traders will also tell you that trading is rather active from 1 AM to 3 AM EST., seeing that the European markets are just waking up as the Asian markets are finishing, which in turn are opening up excellent trade opportunities. The same applies to the 7 pm to 10 pm EST time phase, when the Australian and Asian markets overlap.

All successful active traders are always highly knowledgeable as to what time overlaps are available, and everyone agrees that London is the financial center as far as Forex trading is concerned. Keep in mind that slower markets always offer less chances of making profits, thus you can see why Forex trading hours are of extreme importance in the Forex market.

Note: Best Forex Trading Hours
The busiest trading volume occurs when US and London markets are trading, overlapping between 8:00AM and 12:00 noon EST, these hours are recommended to trade.

Forex Trading Hours In Some Countries

Australian – Forex Trading Hours
- Sydney trades between 5.00 PM to 2.00 AM EST, Sydney Stock Exchange overlaps with Tokyo.

Tokyo – Forex Trading Hours
- Tokyo opens from 7.00 PM to 4.00 AM EST and overlaps with London for one hour.

London – Forex Trading Hours
- London is one of the busiest forex trading market, big volume of money are trading during their sessions. London trades between 3.00 AM to 12.00 PM EST.

New York – Forex Trading Hours
- New York trades between 8.00 AM until 5.00 PM EST and overlaps with London for 4 hours.

Forex Trading Hours Chart

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
London
New York-
Sydney Sydney
Tokyo Tokyo

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