The Foreign Exchange Market is the largest financial market in the world. As of 2014, overall daily volume traded across the global market exceeded $5.3 trillion. It is an astounding figure, which cannot be matched by any other exchange in the world. One of the main factors contributing to the large volume traded on a daily basis, is the ease of access to the market and its tradable assets. Traders from practically anywhere with an internet connection can access their trading portfolios at any time, without limitation, and most importantly they control every facet of their trading strategy.
The Forex market has rapidly expanded over the past decade. In the past, those intrigued by trading currencies would be forced to trade through large exchanges, which included large commissions and fees, while the execution of trades would be far slower than in the modern world of innovative technology. Now, with the push of a button, you can open, close, or modify your position, as you react to live changes to market behavior. This accessibility is what has attracted such large sums of funds to be invested. Moreover, the development of the market to include CFD trading has opened a new spectrum through which practically all financial exchanges can be accessed in one convenient location. CFD trading allows traders to trade purely on the speculation of the prices of certain assets, including commodities, stock indexes, shares, and futures. Individual traders are able to maintain a diversified portfolio, with positions taken across various markets in one account.
While the advantages of the Foreign Exchange Market are obvious, it is important to understand the functionality of the market, and the way in which it differs from trading through an exchange. First, the lack of high fees attracts a great deal of traders. Additionally, the leverage provided by Forex brokers far exceeds that provided by similar institutions in alternate markets. The higher leverage allows for the increased profitability through a smaller initial investment by individual traders. However, leverage is important to understand, for while it offers higher profits, it also carries greater risk. It is critical to the success of any portfolio to not overextend one’s capabilities, and to not enter into a high-risk position.
Overall, the foreign exchange market is often a safe haven for most traders. Full control of all trades is a perk seen only in this market, and therefore provides traders with a competitive advantage. Since the Forex market is open for trading 24 hours a day without interruption, it can be traded comfortably from any time zone in the world.