How does forex trading work?
In the forex market, you buy or sell currencies.
Placing a trade in the foreign exchange market is simple. The mechanics of a trade are very similar to those found in other financial markets (like the stock market). So if you have any experience in trading, you should be able to pick it up pretty quickly.
The objective of forex trading is to exchange one currency for another in the expectation that the price will change.
More specifically, that the currency you bought will increase in value compared to the one you sold.
Here’s an example:
| Trader’s Action | EUR | USD |
| You purchase 10,000 euros at the EUR/USD exchange rate of 1.1800 | +10,000 | -11,800* |
| Two weeks later, you exchange your 10,000 euros back into U.S. dollar at the exchange rate of 1.2500 | -10,000 | +12,500** |
| You earn a profit of $700 | 0 | +700 |
*EUR 10,000 x 1.18 = US $11,800
** EUR 10,000 x 1.25 = US $12,500
An exchange rate is simply the ratio of one currency valued against another currency.
For example, the USD/CHF exchange rate indicates how many U.S. dollars can purchase one Swiss franc, or how many Swiss francs you need to buy one U.S. dollar.
How to Read a Forex Quote
Currencies are always quoted in pairs, such as GBP/USD or USD/JPY.
The reason they are quoted in pairs is that, in every foreign exchange transaction, you are simultaneously buying one currency and selling another.
