What Is The Forex Market And How Does It Differ From The Stock Market?

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Many are turning to financial markets in search of easy profits. After all, these sectors of the world economy make it possible to trade, practically, with any resources, even the finances themselves. On how to dispose of the funds on the Forex market and what the forex market is, I will describe in detail below. And at the same time, we will find out what are his differences from the stock exchange.

When did the Forex market appear?

The seventies of the last century were marked by the emergence of a powerful financial market. In many countries, this has become possible due to the transition to a floating exchange rate of national currencies.

International finance has become the object of buying and selling, along with all other goods. Their value has become determined by a free market instrument, namely, the fluctuation of supply and demand.

Therefore, soon, despite its “youth”, the Forex market quickly became a favorite platform for investors to trade. After all, to make a profit, they no longer needed to invest finances in a little-known business or promote some moss-covered goods.

In addition, for the trade of the national currency of any country did not require special skills. However, at first, everyone timidly combined their stay on Forex with trading on the classic stock exchange.

The principle of the Forex market

The aforementioned investors were attracted not so much by the possibility of obtaining huge profits, as by the absence of any restrictions on trading. The number of transactions made on the foreign exchange market grew annually, while it did not exceed the same indicators of the same stock exchange ten times.

For example, at the moment, the indicator of daily trading volume is almost 5 trillion dollars. This allowed all competitors in the global financial arena to leave far behind.

Another point that attracts private traders is the ability to enter the market with the minimum amount. After all, subject to certain knowledge of foreign exchange trading, it can be easily and quickly increased. In addition, you can always use the so-called “leverage” to increase the deposit.

And in order to better understand the principle of the foreign exchange market, consider its key advantages:

  • High liquidity - since it is the currency that has the highest rate;
  • 24-hour trading - allows you to join the workflow at any time of the day;
  • Low entry fee threshold - a small amount is enough to become a full participant in the market;
  • Low fees - one of the significant differences from the stock exchange;
  • Leverage is so large that the amount of the transaction can be hundreds of times the deposit of a trader.

The disadvantages of the market include the following points:

  • Fraud unscrupulous  brokers ;
  • Trading on a collision course with the same broker (when earning income with one entails a decrease in profit from another);
  • High competition;
  • High probability of loss of the starting deposit (may be due to improper work with leverage).

If you abstract from the advantages and disadvantages of Forex, then you may find that it does not have a specified place for trading.

Almost all operations are performed remotely. However, the legislative bodies of most countries still strive to regulate the market.

What is the forex market?

The question can be divided into two parts: why this market is needed at all, and why specifically the trader?  The answers will be pretty simple.

In the first case we are talking about currency exchange (which happens more often, the more the rate changes).

And in the second - about the potential possibility of obtaining super profits. It is hardly possible to find something simpler and at the same time legal, allowing to instantly enrich themselves. In the lottery, few people believe.

Owing to free trade on the international market, the need for banknotes of a particular country regularly arises. The forex market allows you to buy them extremely quickly.

Who controls the Forex market?

Due to the lack of a fixed platform for trading and the unpredictability of the monetary policy of a particular country, the forex market does not and cannot have a host.

No company can be directly responsible for setting the price of assets, only indirectly. Formation of value occurs by itself, under the influence of changes in supply and demand. The key players are huge corporations and banks capable of billions of dollars in transactions.

 What is the difference between the stock exchange?

The difference between them is very significant. And the main difference is the subject of trade. If the stock exchange operates exclusively with securities, then the market we are considering is highly liquid.

Entering the first market is much more difficult, since traders need impressive start-up capital to acquire various stocks, and brokers need a license. However, these difficulties, which Forex is deprived of, help to protect the investor from all sorts of risks.

Because of the lack of market regulation entails the risk of losing money without legal chances for their return.

The stock exchange provides depository services to investors, and Forex provides only the hope of profit. This is significant because leverage sometimes goes to crazy numbers. If on the stock exchange the ratio of capital to the amount of the transaction rarely exceeds 1 to 7, then forex allows you to get into huge debts, which is quite risky.

Another point that is worth paying attention to is the lack of stability in the foreign exchange market. There are no investments in reliable assets, which even after years will bring dividends. On the contrary, the situation changes too often.

At the stock exchange, you can buy shares whose profitability will only increase over time. Of course, if the company issuer will manage stupid people.

Thus, the difference in the rate of profit becomes obvious. In Forex, transactions are carried out much faster, and instead of investor brokers, so-called dealing centers lead.

The latter independently affect the transaction quotes. However, they are interested in losing their client and often do not have a license. Unlike the same broker who lives at the expense of the commission from a large number of transactions.

However, the opportunities of an investor in the Forex market are somewhat greater, since he can make money even on a fall in the exchange rate. While the participant of the stock market is forced to wait for the offer of a good price for the assets purchased earlier.

The other differences in the markets have already been mentioned above: this is also a temporary factor (the session model for the stock and the clock for Forex), and the absence of a fixed place for making deals.

Conclusion

There are more differences between the two considered markets than similarities. Forex is more suitable for those traders who are not accustomed to waiting long for results.

Because momentary profit is only possible there. However, the stock exchange can boast of long-term investments, when the latter (with the right calculation and successful combination of circumstances) will be profitable for many more years.