Every day, traders from all corners of the world engage in over 5 trillion dollars worth of financial transactions on the foreign exchange market – making it the largest, most active financial market in the world today. Given its scale, therefore, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that there are multiple factors that can
According to recorded statistics, the foreign exchange market saw an average daily turnover of $5.1 trillion in 2016 – thereby defining it as the world’s largest and most liquid financial market. As a result of its significant size and 24/5 accessibility, regulating this market presents unique challenges – after all, how do you go
With a mammoth $5 million traded on average each and every day on the forex market, it’s no surprise that the world’s most liquid and volatile market can, at times, pose a significant financial risk to its participants. As such, a solid understanding of how and why such risk is so frequently present is
Born in around 775 AD when silver pennies (otherwise known as ‘sterlings’) were the dominant currency in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, the Great British pound has been around for approximately 1200 years, making it the oldest currency still in circulation today. The official currency of the United Kingdom, the pound sterling – familiarly and affectionately referred to
Particularly true for those first starting out in the currency trading market, although equally as important for veteren traders too, is the need for traders to focus their efforts on process over profits. The view is that a disciplined trader has a higher likelihood of turning the odds in their favour due to them
Not to be confused with impulsive, emotive trading, trusting your instincts in forex trading requires so much more than simply placing a trade because you inherently feel like you should. In fact, it demands a calculated decision-making process born from experience, strategy and a solid understanding of risk versus reward. In this blog post, therefore,
Welcome to the exciting world of forex trading. Whether you’re a novice looking to explore the forex market for the first time or a seasoned veteran looking to sharpen up your knowledge and skills, you’ve no doubt got a lot of questions about this increasingly popular global trading platform – luckily, that’s where we
A crucial component in any traders arsenal is the ability to confidently experiment with their forex strategy. Not only will it cure any potential boredom that goes hand-in-hand with carrying out the same strategy day in day out – but, ultimately, it will help you become a more experienced, well-rounded forex trader well-equipped to
Whether you’re a trading veteran or a novice in the world of forex, understanding the basic fundamentals of placing a trade is vital to learning how to trade forex successfully. That’s why today, we’re providing a comprehensive guide on the basics of placing a trade. By bypassing fancy industry jargon and specialist terminology in
When it comes to the highly competitive forex market, choosing a forex broker that suits both your trading habits and personal lifestyle can be crucial to the success and potential profitability of your trades. However, with the news that the average trading value on the forex market was $5.067 trillion in 2016, in recent
When it comes to receiving a forex education, one of the first things you’ll be taught is the importance of understanding risk. After all, as the world’s most liquid market, the possibility of big wins in forex is naturally contradicted by the possibility of big losses. As such, understanding how to reduce your exposure
Forex sentiment is the overall feeling of which market participants perceive the performance of a currency pair. This will ultimately determine their consequent trading decisions regarding placing, buying or selling orders. Sentiment is an important component of what drives movements in the forex market, so having the know-how is vital to best forex
Set to launch in 2020, Libra is an upcoming digital cryptocurrency to be accessed by users through apps in order to make payments and transfer money to each other. Designed to streamline the process of transferring money over the company’s social media platforms, Libra has been backed by firms and organisations including Spotify,
Low volatility trading is nothing new. To the experienced trader, embracing this type of trading in their forex strategy is, in fact, incredibly frustrating, as the amount of opportunity to make significant – or ‘good’ – trades diminishes. However, part of knowing how to trade forex successfully is understanding how to adapt to changing market
As with most things in life, like working out and dieting, money management is something that most traders preach but few, in fact, actively practise in real life. Why? Just like watching what you eat and hauling yourself from the sofa to the gym, regularly managing your money in forex can seem like a burden
As a globally interconnected, 24/5 digital trading market, taking it back to basics with a pen and a piece of paper could well be one of the most effective forex secrets there is. Why? Well, today, we’ll be answering exactly that – detailing 3 reasons you should be keeping a trading journal, regardless of your
With numeracy playing an integral role in today’s society – both in regards to personal and professional financing – it may come as a surprise to you to learn that 49% of adults in the working-age population of England have the same level of maths skills as those in primary school education. That’s right, almost
When it comes to strategy, reversal trading is a tried and tested method proven, when executed correctly, to be one of the best ways to trade forex. But what is this popular trading approach and how can you incorporate this useful weapon into your daily forex arsenal? Luckily, today we’re showing you how by helping
For many, the strongest appeal of the forex market is its accessibility. Open 24/5, traders can enter and exit the market at times convenient to them, allowing them to work their trading around their normal day-to-day life. For the experienced trader, this enables them to spend as little as 30 minutes a day on the
Welcome to the Learn To Trade industry glossary – your comprehensive, go-to guide for all things forex, detailing an array of definitions for the most commonly used words, terms and phrases within the world of foreign exchange trading. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P
Forex currency pairs are the bread and butter of currency trading, forming the foundation of every trade and serving as the measuring posts for potential profit and loss. But what exactly is a currency pair and how exactly does this means of currency trading work? Let’s take a closer look… An introduction to currency trading
Risk management is of fundamental importance to a trader’s success on the forex market. In a risky and volatile trading environment, the ability to minimise the likelihood of losses can make all the difference, often being the defining factor that separates the proverbial men from the boys. That’s where hedging comes in. In today’s
As one of the leading trading educators in the world, our voice can have an impact. The way we talk about forex trading and who we talk about it to, has a huge influence on the type of people that end up walking through our doors, and even the doors of our competitors. This
The ‘open all hours’ 24/5 aspect of the forex market can be one of its greatest appeals, but to inexperienced trading novices, the desire to hit the market running right away can be their immediate downfall. Though it may be tempting to trade all day and night, this strategy can not just deplete a
Brexit. As we fast approach the impending leave date of 29th March, the very mention of the word is enough to conjure up an erratic frenzy in citizen and politician alike. But with the future of the UK’s relationship with the European Union still very much up in the air, what does that mean
As a globally interconnected digital market, you’d be forgiven for assuming forex is a relatively recent development in the world of finance. In fact, the history of foreign exchange trading can be traced back way further than you may think – though not in the format we’re familiar with today. That’s why, in today’s
Whether you’re a veteran trader or learning how to start forex trading for the first time, having a thorough understanding of trading psychology is of vital importance to success on the trading market. Before you begin to understand the logistics of currency trading, you must first understand the characteristics and skills required to profit in
One of the key factors that influences foreign exchange trading is the day-to-day geopolitical context of our time, which plays a pivotal role in the value of a given currency. As such, the occurrence of any significant world event that causes a rise or fall in currency value can, and indeed will, wreak havoc
Whether you’re a veteran trader or just figuring out how to start forex trading, a fundamental part of success on this market is an optimised work environment. As an easily accessible 24/5 market, foreign exchange can be traded from the comfort of your own home, making it tempting to trade from your smartphone or
One of the most exciting things about foreign exchange trading is that, throughout the week, the market is open all hours. Open 24/5 to accommodate the various global time zones, the key to forex success is keeping your ear to the ground and trading whenever and wherever the opportunity arises – so being able to
While profitable investment in the forex market relies on a commitment to the market, the continuous refinement of your forex trading strategies and a thorough awareness of the wider contextual factors, the 24/5 working life of a forex trader can mean an exciting and potentially profitable lifestyle. Today, we’ll take a look at a typical
Trading on the forex market is a difficult thing to do, requiring a lot of time and patience, and an analytical eye. Some forex traders are naturally better than others at this – and it all comes down to a certain skill set that we’ll explain in this post. Skill #1: An analytical mind When
Foreign exchange, more commonly referred to as forex within the trading industry, is the biggest trading market in the world – with over $5 trillion dollars worth of currency traded globally every day. This makes it a highly dynamic liquid market, allowing you to profit from fluctuations in currency exchange rates by speculating on whether
Breaking news: the US consumer is fighting for its life, long live the US consumer. The latest retail sales report from the US was unimpressive, retail sales, when you exclude auto sales and gas, were flat for September, and the August figure was revised down to just 0.1%. This is big news, the US consumer’s
The big move in FX overnight was the pound, which was the second worst performer in the G10- space, just behind the Swedish krona. The driver was none other than Brexit and more reports about deadlocked talks and slipped deadlines. The facts around Brexit haven’t changed at the start of a new week: there is
The US labour market data for September will be released on Friday 5th October at 1330 BST. The market’s official expectation is for a headline Non Farm Payroll figure of 185k for September, down from August’s reading of 201k. However, with a recent spate of spectacular economic data out of the US, and positive sentiment
The trading week may have been determined by the US Non Farm Payrolls last week and the sharp rise in US Treasury yields, but some key fundamental events are taking place this week which may also trigger volatility in financial markets. We are looking at three key events for financial markets this week. Chinese
There will be traders who are worried that they have missed the recent good run for the loonie. We think that there could be more gains to come, and the Canadian dollar is one currency that could do well vs. the USD in the coming weeks. We think this for four reasons: 1, The US-Mexico-Canada
The big news on Tuesday is that Italian bond yields are lurching higher once more and have tested the air above 3.4% earlier today. This is spooking the markets, with European stocks a sea of red and safe-haven currencies benefitting. The markets have seen a Eurozone debt crisis unfold before: first one country goes down
As we start a new quarter, investors will be watching some key economic data releases in the coming days that could set the tone for FX and stock markets in the coming weeks and months. Below we point out three key events to watch out for this week. 1, Japanese Tankan Index: Q3 Early on
The Fed may have raised its GDP projection for 2018, however, bad omens for US growth are starting to mount. The Markit PMI report for September saw a steep decline in the composite index, which fell to its lowest level since June 2017. As you can see in chart 1 below, the Markit PMI index
Italy’s new government faces its first real test today: can the fragile coalition of radicals and centrists present a coherent budget that is palatable to the EU and won’t break the bank? If the results of this morning’s Italian debt auction are anything to go by, then the market is confident a crisis can be
The Federal Reserve hiked rates as expected and pointed to a further rate hike in December; however, expectations for rates in 2019 remained unchanged. On the growth front, the 2018 GDP projection was raised from 2.8% to 3.1%, the 2019 expectation for GDP was raised a touch to 2.5% from 2.4%. However, this wasn’t enough
This is a busy week for financial markets, with plenty that could drive asset prices. Below, we look at three key events to watch for this week. 1, The Italian Budget After months of discussions and market nervousness, the deadline for the fragile Italian coalition government to deliver its inaugural budget is Thursday 27th September.
As we approach the end of the week the political rhetoric that has been impacting volatility in recent weeks has started to calm down. Rather than lurch from political comment to political comment, traders are able to sit back and take a broader view of the markets. This, dare I say it, noise-free day in
All eyes will be on British PM Theresa May as she makes her way to Salzburg today to address EU leaders over dinner this evening. This informal summit is considered a turning point for Brexit: will the UK be able to pull the ultimate deal (single market access and frictionless trade, minus free movement of
Bond, stock and FX markets have all experienced some big moves today on the back of a deluge of central bank meetings and some weak US economic data, which weighed heavily on the dollar. The question now is whether today’s events will prove to be a watershed moment for markets with the pound making its
The deluge of central bank decisions has begun, with the BOE and CBRT in Turkey both releasing their decisions. Looking at Turkey first, the CBRT has delivered a mega rate hike to 24% from 17.75%; the market had expected 21%. This has triggered an immediate 8% jump in the TRY vs. the USD as the
European markets are basking in the glow of a fresh Chinese liquidity injection this morning, with markets a sea of green as we head into London lunchtime. Today’s move by the PBOC has also given some respite to the struggling Aussie dollar, which has managed to find some temporary support at 0.7120, which is just
As we move into the autumn months, it’s worth looking more closely at the US stock market, which appears to have disconnected from other risk markets. For example, Amazon made a fresh record high on Tuesday and became another trillion-dollar company. In contrast, the South African rand is close to a record low and
Emerging markets are in focus for another day. The South African rand made a fresh 2-year intraday low versus the USD and is now more than 4% lower since Monday. Contagion has taken hold, and emerging market FX is a sea of red today, this has also spread to the emerging market equity space,
Hundreds of people come through the doors of Learn to Trade every month looking to learn to trade, we recently spoke to Clive, Senior Trader at Learn to Trade, about life as a trader and the characteristics that make a good one. How did you get into trading? After leaving school I went straight
Markets across the board are struggling with uncertainty on Thursday, and US equity futures are all pointing lower at the time of writing. Events weighing on investors include, the continuing trade dispute between the US and China, which has flared its head once again, and the as yet unsigned Nafta deal is also leaving
US stock index futures have turned lower even though the second reading of Q2 GDP was revised higher to 4.2% from 4% initially. Personal consumption slipped a little, to 3.8% from 4%, however private investment and trade helped to boost the overall GDP report. Trump’s trade tariffs pay dividends already The impact of
What do you do if you want a currency to move 100 pips in 24 hours in mid-August? The answer is simple; wait for a President to talk down his currency and criticize his central bank. No, this is not Turkey, this is the US, where President Trump pulled a ‘President Erdogan’ and told
Finance Monthly UK caught up with our Trading Floor Manager, Simon Garner, recently about what he views as important to understand when trading. Consideration of strategy through your trade expectancy can make all the difference in quality trade over quantity… Read on to get further insight at Finance Monthly UK
The Turkish lira is the worst performing currency in the FX space today after a spokesman for the German Chancellor ruled out financial assistance for Erdogan’s government. Considering today sees the final tranche of bailout money handed out to Greece, it is unlikely to be one in, one out on the bailout front if
Learn to Trade is delighted to announce it will be running a number of free trading taster workshops in Oxford in August for the first time, in response to growing demand across the UK in people wanting to learn to trade. The sessions will introduce people to forex trading, otherwise known as foreign
By Greg Secker I don’t think it would be any surprise to anyone who knows me, that my biggest passion in life are my children and family. They are the driving force behind everything I do and bring me a level of joy that cannot be measured. So, as we enter into August and the
The Bank of England will reveal its third Inflation Report of the year on Thursday 2nd August at 1200 BST. The market is pretty much convinced that the BOE will hike rates, the GBP Overnight Index Swaps market is pricing in a rate hike this week with a 91% probability. Usually when the market
Apple will announce its earnings at 2130 BST this evening, and it is easily the biggest event for stock markets today, even this week. After some big earnings misses from the likes of Netflix, Facebook and Twitter, the heat is on for Apple to deliver at least the $2.18 earnings per share that the
Inflation may become the hot new topic for financial markets as we move into the latter stages of the summer months. The July CPI rate for the Eurozone came in stronger than expected at 2.1%, the fastest rate of price growth since 2012. Core prices are also rising, albeit at a slower pace, to
As we reach the end of July it is worth looking at volatility, which can be notoriously hard to predict in the summer months. The Vix index is close to its average of the last 12 months, at 13.48, the average of the past year is 13.68. However, it is worth noting that since
Central banks and data deluge to drive August markets As we start a new week the Vix index (Wall Street’s fear gauge) is sitting at 13.45, a notch below the average of the past 12 months, which comes in at 13.68. However, this figure is worth watching, as it could end the
After last week’s 12-month high in the dollar index, you might wonder who or what cut short the rally. The dollar index has stalled this week and is down some 100 pips from Friday’s high. Trump puts his oar into the FX market, again Part of the reason for the decline is the Trump
European stocks are recouping Monday’s losses as investors become more comfortable with holding risk. The turnaround is down to better PMIs in the Eurozone as well as strong US earnings, and growing expectations that the US Q2 GDP report will beat expectations after White House advisors have said that they expect a 5% annualised
Two key events are dominating the FX world this morning: the first is the Reuters report that the Bank of Japan will alter its stimulus programme. The yen is the top performing currency in the G10 this morning, which reverses a month-long period of weakness for JPY. The report suggests that the
The S&P 500 may have made a fresh 4-month high this week, but we have seen more tentative moves from investors – one day up, one day down. The daily price moves remain small, which is why the Vix (volatility index) remains at a low level. The index is hovering around the 2,800 level,
By Greg Secker Recently Rachel and I were invited to Paris by Louis Vuitton on an all-expenses paid trip to the launch of their new designer Virgil Abloh’s new collection. As the only invited clients from the UK it was quite the honour and an incredible experience. The fashion show itself was like something out
The UK retail sales report was much weaker than expected, with headline sales falling 0.6% in June, the annual rate of sales growth slowed to 3% from 4.4% in May. Although retail sales figures can be volatile, there is a growing sense that the UK economy is slowing down sharply, and with the political
An £100,000 salary is the kind of money that many people can only dream of earning. With those that do find themselves within the top 5 per cent of earners in the UK, it is well out of reach for most of us. In this article we take a look at how much
The pound’s sensitivity to Brexit-inspired political discord has flared up once again. On Tuesday GBP is dipping on the back of fears that Theresa May’s government could face defeat in the Commons if Labour sides with pro-European MPs and calls for the UK to remain in the Customs Union if there is no trade deal
The latest UK labour market report for May/ June was more of the same: the unemployment rate remains at a record low of 4.2%, yet wage data stubbornly refuses to go anywhere. The bright spot is job creation, which continues to defy expectations. The UK economy has created more jobs than expected in the
The FTSE 100 is the worst performer in the European equity space so far today as it faces a perfect summer storm of a stronger pound, weak energy prices and some notable under-performers including Debenhams. Not even a government announcement of investment in the aerospace sector, can boost the index. However, the aerospace news
Hundreds of people come through the doors of Learn to Trade every month looking to learn to trade, we recently spoke to Henry Ward, an FX and indices market trader and mentor at Learn to Trade, about being a trader and the characteristics that make a good one. How did you get into
It’s never too early to start teaching your children about their finances – after all, financial skills are essential to navigating life, and can help steer your children away from running up debt during their working and later years. That’s why, in today’s post, we’re offering advice on giving financial education from pocket money to
