Close to $2 trillion is exchanged each day in the forex market and it comprises the largest market in the world. With more than three quarters of deals surviving less than a week forex trading is, for the most part, a high-risk, short-term, highly volatile market. It is a highly fluid market, a good deal more so than equities, with the many traders worldwide and the very high daily turnover rate.
The top ten most active traders, however, are responsible for nearly three quarters of total dealing volume. The trading activity that happens within the interbank market, which is formed by international banks, provide the market with bid and ask prices that are far closer than retail customers can get.
In 1972, at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, forex futures contracts, that are derivatives, were introduced and now make up around seven percent of the all foreign exchange volume.
Something else that has also taken hold and is another popular hedging strategy is foreign exchange options. Investors often buy these derivatives, which are contracts to purchase currency at a certain price on a future date, to counterbalance the decline in the price of a currency and any possible losses they might endure.
An additional means by which traders are capable of mitigating risk is through an exchange, in which both parties agree to switch one currency for another for a set period of time, and will then reverse the transaction after the period runs out.
Amongst financial markets the foreign exchange market is without competition and is a fast-paced, international currency exchange. International companies, prominent banks and financial organisations will ensure its huge popularity continues and its growth is guaranteed into the future.
The top ten most active traders, however, are responsible for nearly three quarters of total dealing volume. The trading activity that happens within the interbank market, which is formed by international banks, provide the market with bid and ask prices that are far closer than retail customers can get.
In 1972, at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, forex futures contracts, that are derivatives, were introduced and now make up around seven percent of the all foreign exchange volume.
Something else that has also taken hold and is another popular hedging strategy is foreign exchange options. Investors often buy these derivatives, which are contracts to purchase currency at a certain price on a future date, to counterbalance the decline in the price of a currency and any possible losses they might endure.
An additional means by which traders are capable of mitigating risk is through an exchange, in which both parties agree to switch one currency for another for a set period of time, and will then reverse the transaction after the period runs out.
Amongst financial markets the foreign exchange market is without competition and is a fast-paced, international currency exchange. International companies, prominent banks and financial organisations will ensure its huge popularity continues and its growth is guaranteed into the future.
