What is a Forex Broker?
Eddie Tobey
A Broker is an individual or firm that acts as an intermediary between buyer and seller. Forex brokers are firms that deal in foreign exchange. The foreign exchange market is quite similar to the equity markets, except that typical forex brokers do not charge a commission. However, forex brokers are required to have a license.
Forex brokers earn money from the spread (also called “pip”). The spread is the difference between the prices at which a currency is bought and sold. A pip is the smallest price increment in a currency. For example, in Euro/US Dollar (EUR/USD), a move from 0.9008 to 0.9009 is one pip. In US Dollar/Japanese Yen (USD/JPY), a move from 127.41 to 127.42 is one pip.
Forex brokers can be compared on the basis of the spread they charge. Most forex brokers publish live or delayed prices on their websites so that the investor can compare the spreads. It is, however, necessary to check if the spread is fixed or variable. Variable spreads appear small and attractive when the market is quiet, but when the market gets busy the forex broker widens the spread, meaning that the investor will gain only if the market is favorable.
Forex brokers are usually tied to large banks or lending institutions. This is because of the huge sums of money traded in the foreign exchange markets. Forex brokers are required to register with the Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), and are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
A new trend among forex brokers is the emergence of online forex brokers, who offer trading facilities to “retail traders” using advanced technology. With these facilities, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can trade in the forex markets.
About the Author
Forex Broker Info provides detailed information on forex brokers, forex trading and market makers, and other forex-related topics. Forex Broker Info is the sister site of Incorporating in Florida Web.
The latest information and news on Forex Trading:
[CaRP] Can't open cache file.
[CaRP] Unable to create/open RSS cache file.
Yahoo! News Search Results for forex
Forex Strategy Outlook: US Dollar Rallies Look Promising (Daily FX via Yahoo!...
A strong US Dollar reversal has led our forex trading strategies to go heavily long the resurgent currency, and our bullish dollar bias calls for further gains in said trend-following systems.
Forex Trade Desk Thoughts (TheStreet.com)
Forex values seem less likely to be set on forward growth and interest rate numbers, and far more likely to feed off the risk tolerance/aversion shown each day in equity markets.
Short-Term Forex Technical Outlook: EUR/GBP (Daily FX via Yahoo! Finance)
The British pound continued to weaken against the euro as investors scaled backed expectations for a rate hike by the Bank of England, and the decline in the interest rate outlook may keep the EUR/GBP range-bound over the near-term as market participants weigh the outlook for future policy.
FOREX-Yen retreats as stocks offer risk trades respite (Reuters via Yahoo! Ph...
* Cross/yen rises led by investor short-covering
Short-Term Forex Technical Outlook: GBP/JPY (Daily FX via Yahoo! Finance)
The British pound weaken against the Japanese yen to retrace the advance from the end of July, and the GBP/JPY may continue to hold a broad range throughout the month as investors weigh the outlook for a global recovery.
[CaRP] Can't open cache file.
[CaRP] Unable to create/open RSS cache file.
Yahoo! News Search Results for currencies
CURRENCIES: Dollar, Yen Rise As Stocks, Commodities Tumble (Nasdaq)
Both the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen rose on Monday, as currency traders sought the safe-haven of low-yielding currencies after a slide in Chinese shares and a weaker-than-expected rebound in Japan's economy.
Currencies: Dollar, yen rise as stocks, commodities tumble (Market Watch)
Both the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen rise as currency traders seek the safe-haven of low-yielding currencies after a slide in Chinese shares and a weaker-than-expected rebound in Japan's economy.
CURRENCIES: Dollar And Yen Rise As Equities, Commodities Drop (Nasdaq)
A weaker-than-expected rebound by the Japanese economy and a steep fall by Chinese shares translated into gains for the yen and the U.S. dollar, with both currencies enjoying safe-haven appeal as equity markets added to recent losses, strategists said.
CURRENCIES: Dollar And Yen Rise As Asian Stocks Plunge (Nasdaq)
The dollar and yen got a lift against major rivals in Asian trading Monday, as a regional sell-off led by Chinese shares sent investors into the perceived safety of lower-yielding currencies.
Asian Currencies: Ringgit Climbs on GDP Outlook, Peso Advances (Bloomberg)
Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysia?s ringgit led gains in Asia on speculation exporters sold the greenback after the local currency?s biggest slide in four months.