Day Trading Etrade

Introduction To Foreign Currency Trading

The Foreign Exchange market (Forex) is truly the largest exchange in the world. The amount of dollars traded on the Forex market on a daily basis is in the trillions. Most of this currency trading takes place between between large banks, central banks, currency speculators, multinational corporations, governments, and other financial markets and institutions. However, individual traders are starting to get in the mix, using internet discount brokers such as Etrade to participate in the currency exchange market.

There is no central exchange or meeting place for the Forex. All trading is done over computer networks between traders in different parts of the world. Also, unlike the stock market, the foreign exchange market is open 24 hours per day, because it is a global market. A trader in Hong Kong may be exchanging currency with a trader in Australia while an American trader is sleeping.

There are several different markets within the Forex exchange system. First, there is the spot market. The spot market deals with trades that are based on the current values of currencies. One person trades a certain amount of currency with another trader in exchange for an equivalent amount of a different foreign currency. Spot trades take two days for settlement.

The other two types of foreign exchange markets are the forward and futures markets. In the forward market, the buyer and seller agree on an exchange rate and a transaction date is set for a specific time in the future, at which point the trade is executed regardless of what the rates are at that time. On the futures market, futures contracts are bought and sold based upon a standard contract size and maturity date. Futures trades take place on public commodities markets.

A currency quote is listed differently from a stock quote. Stocks are quoted in terms of price per share. Currency exchange prices are listed as either a direct quote or an indirect quote. A direct quote uses the domestic currency as the base and the foreign currency as the quote. An indirect quote works the exact opposite way.

So, if you were to view a quote in an American newspaper that said USD/JPY = 75, that would be a direct quote and would mean that $1 of U.S. currency is equal to 75 Japanese yen. If that same quote appeared in that same American newspaper and was listed as JPY/USD = 0.013, that would be an example of an indirect quote.

As with stock prices, currency exchange prices have a bid and ask spread. The current bid is the amount of foreign currency that someone is willing to spend in order to buy $1 U.S. base currency. The ask is the amount of foreign currency that someone is demanding in order to be willing to sell $1 U.S. base currency.

The Forex markets are generally considered to be less volatile than then stock market because within the course of a trading day, it is highly unlikely for the value of a single currency to move all that much. With equities, it is not uncommon for a trader to buy a stock, and then a negative press release causes the stock to lose considerable value within a day or even a couple of hours. Sometimes, however, the Forex can be volatile. If there is a significant economic or political development with a certain country, the currency of that country can lose value quickly.

There is a higher degree of liquidity on the currency exchange then there is on the stock exchange because the currency exchange is open 24 hours per day and because the very nature of currency exchange is to bet on when certain currencies will go up or down; so, it is easy to sell your position in a certain currency even when the value of that money is going down. A plummeting stock is more difficult to unload, but not impossible.

If you want to begin currency tranding, try to set aside some money and open an account with an online broker. Start slowly, then as you get the hang of it, work your way up to larger trades and higher volume. However, do not gamble your nest egg on currency trading because inexperienced traders can lose everything they have rather quickly in spite of the relative safety of the Forex market.

About the Author

Jim Pretin is the owner of http://www.forms4free.com, a service that helps programmers make an HTML form

Futures Trading Secrets Trading Course – Video Training, Step-by-Step $1,497.00 The Futures Trading Secrets Trading Course teaches how to MAKE MONEY TRADING w/step-by-step, signal-by-signal analysis explained in CD video tutorials, instructional manual, + live trading videos. The system works for Futures, Forex, commodities, and Day Trading. Professional traders and new traders, OK. Developed by trader, Bill McCready. Course materials are straight to the point, no fluff. Co…

A Day Trader’s Little Instruction Book: Wit and Wisdom for the Online Investor $2.99 Trading in the stock market is not easy. It demands a major investment of hard work, focused intelligence, and capital. There is also, quite often, a significant “tuition” charge for your training period, before you begin making money: you should not be surprised to lose $50,000 or $100,000 during this training period, depending on what you are putting on the table. This little book may not make y…

Short-Term Trading in the New Stock Market $9.14 In an uncertain market, can traders and investors find profits in short-term stock movements?Bestselling author and trader Toni Turner teaches readers the techniques and strategies needed to trade in today’s up-and-down stock market. The book begins with “Seven Steps to Trading Success,” which outlines the logistics needed to establish a trading career. In an upbeat, clear, and lively style,…

Martin Pring’s Introduction to Technical Analysis: A CD-ROM Seminar and Workbook $28.91 Martin Pring’s Introduction to Technical Anaylsis: A CD-ROM Seminar and Workbook, produced by leading technical analyst and author Martin Pring, explains and demonstrates tools used by the world’s foremost technical analysts to evaluate emerging trends. This technically state-of-the-art package then goes further, to provide specific steps you can take to turn these analyses into profit-producing t…

Day Trading for Dummies (Paperback) $33.95 In an ever-changing market, get the advantage of trading for yourself Day trading is undoubtedly the most exciting way to make your own money. Before you begin, you need three things: patience, nerves of steel, and a well-thumbed copy of Day Trading For Dummies?the low-risk way to find out whether day trading is for you. This plain-English guide shows you how day trading works, identifies its all-too-numerous pitfalls, and gets you started with an action plan. From classic and renegade strategies to the nitty-gritty of daily trading practices, it gives you the knowledge and confidence you`ll need to keep a cool head, manage risk, and make decisions instantly as you buy and sell your positions. Advice on choosing an online broker Updated examples reflect current market and economic conditions and the latest information on SEC rules and regulations (and tax laws) Other titles by Logue: Hedge Funds For Dummies, Socially Responsible Investing For Dummies, and Emerging Markets For Dummies Read Day Trading For Dummies and get the tips, guidance, and solid foundation you need to succeed in this thrilling, lucrative, and rewarding career!

Professional Day Trading $67 Professional Day Trading provides a complete blueprint for trading success by showing you how to apply the E=MC2 method of Price Action, Big Picture, Volume, and Multiple Timeframe analysis within the context of a comprehensive trading plan that includes realistic trading goals and expectations.The E=MC2 trading method is the result of many years of studying, and actually trading the markets working with just about every approach to trading there is, and experiencing just about every type of trading success and failure imaginable. E=MC2 is the end of a learning curve from working at the floor the exchange, to experimenting with many trading methods already in existence.Professional Day Trading shows you how to uncover the best trades according to (1)Short vs. Long Timeframe Consideration (2)Volume Confirmation (3)Entry Location (4)Trade Management while highlighting other key trading principles included in hundreds of charts, illustrations, case studys, track record results (over 5000 trades), and real time examples applying the method including account statements.Professional Day Trading is a fully disclosed, and entirely original approach to trading. In the end you will walk away with a sound level of understanding of how to become a successful trader, with an approach that you can use, and apply to the markets, for a lifetime Author: Nussbaum, Steven Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 270 Publication Date: 2010/09/20 Language: English Dimensions: 9.70 x 7.40 x 0.70 inches