forex trading

Mumbai: Forex reserves rose by a modest $650 million to touch $289.461 billion, for the week ended September 12, due to changes in the value of foreign currencies.

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In the earlier week, forex reserves had declined by a whopping $6.498 billion to touch $288.811 billion.

According to the Reserve Bank of India’s Weekly Statistical Supplement, for the week under review, foreign currency assets increased by $676 million to touch $280.302 billion. Foreign currency assets expressed in US dollar terms include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies such as euro, sterling and yen held in reserves.

Rupee trims losses as stocks rebound

The euro was weak against the dollar in the period under consideration.

Forex reserves at $295.309 b on Aug. 29

Gold reserves and SDRs were unchanged at $8.692 billion and $4 million respectively.

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The reserve position in the IMF fell by $26 million to touch $463 million in the week under review.

Forex News :sify

NEW YORK, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar trimmed gains against the yen on Thursday, after Wall Street shares surrendered some of their gains led by financial stocks.

The dollar cut gains to 104.78, coming off session peaks at 105.57 yen . The euro has also come off about 200 points from its highs of the session. It last traded at $1.4377 , still up though by half a percent from late on Wednesday.

Shares of Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) tumbled on Thursday, dragging overall U.S. equities lower and weighing on the dollar. (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)

Forex news about us dollar :Reuters

How To Find A Forex Broker That Won`t Rob You Blind; It`s not always easy to know what to look for in a forex broker, especially in any market, much less a market as complex as currency. But, if you want to trade in the market you need a good firm to work with. While it might be tempting to simply ask the brokers what they can do for you, you can`t always depend on them to give you a straight answer. So instead, I`ve put together a few things to consider when choosing your forex broker. You will want a forex broker that has low spreads. The spread, which is calculated in pips, is the difference between the price at which a currency can be bought and the price at which it can be sold at any specific point in time. Since forex brokers don`t charge a commission, this difference is how they make money. Low spreads will save you money.

Along with this, you should be looking for a forex broker attached to a reputable institution. Unlike equity brokers, they are usually attached to large banks or lending institutions. The firm should also be registered with the Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) as well as regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Once you`ve narrowed your choices down to brokers that won`t cost you too much, and that are reputable, consider the trading tools that they are offering you. Forex brokers have many different trading platforms for their clients, just like brokers in other markets. These often show real time charts, technical analysis tools, real time news and data, and may even offer support for the various trading systems.

Before you commit to any one company, request free trials of their tools. Brokers generally provide technical as well as fundamental commentaries, economic calendars, and other research to help you make good trades. Shop around until you find a forex broker who will give you everything that you need to succeed.

The next item that you will need to evaluate carefully is the number of leverage options your potential partner has. Leverage is a necessity in forex trading because the price deviations in the currencies are set at fractions of a cent. Leverage is expressed as a ratio between the total capital that is available to be traded and your actual capital. For example, when you have a ratio of 100:1, your forex broker will lend you $100 for every $1 of actual capital you have. Many brokerage firms will offer you as much as 250:1. If you have low levels of capital you will need a brokerage with high levels of leverage to make reasonable profits.

If capital is not a problem, any forex broker that has a wide variety of leverage options would be a good choice for you. A variety of options will let you vary the amount of risk you choose to take. For example, less leverage (and therefore less risk) may be preferable if you are dealing with highly volatile (exotic) currency pairs.

Along with different levels of leverage, look for brokers that offer different types of accounts. Many brokers will offer you two or more types. The smallest account is known as a mini account and it requires you to trade with a minimum of around $300. The mini account also generally offers a high amount of leverage.

The standard account allows you to trade at a variety of different leverages, but it requires minimum initial capital of $2,000. And finally, there are premium accounts, which often require significant amounts of capital. They also generally have different levels of leverage available to the traders who use them, and often offer additional tools and services. You will need to make sure that the partner you choose has the right leverage, tools, and services for the amount of capital that you are able to work with.

A brokerage firm that meets all of these needs should be a good forex broker for you, but you still need to be certain that they are honest. Dishonest brokers can be prone to prematurely buying or selling near preset points (commonly referred to as sniping and hunting) or may indulge in other habits that will cost you money.

Obviously, no brokerage firm admits to doing things like these, but there are ways to know if they have. The best ways to find out more about your potential forex broker is to talk to fellow traders. There is no list or organization that reports dishonest activity, but a visit to online discussion forums, or a simple conversation will often reveal who is an honest forex broker.

You should also watch to see if a brokerage firm has strict margin rules. Since you are trading with borrowed money, your forex broker has a say in how much risk you are able to take. You agree to this when you sign a margin agreement for your account. This means your firm can buy or sell at his discretion, to cover the brokerage firm's interests, which could have repercussions for you.

Say you have a margin account, and your position takes a headlong nosedive before it begins to rebound to all time highs. Even if you have enough cash to cover it, some brokers will liquidate your position on a margin call at that low point. This action on their part can cost you dearly. You can only find out whether the firm is prone to this kind of activity by talking to other traders. Being informed on all aspects of a forex broker before you make the decision to trade with them will allow you to start trading the forex market with confidence.

by Jimmy Cox

The yen fell on Friday, tumbling to a 10-day low versus the dollar, as steps by U.S. authorities to boost liquidity and shore up confidence in distressed financial markets revived appetite for risk.

News that U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke plan to work with Congress on a comprehensive plan to deal with toxic bank assets choking the financial system pressured the low-yielding yen, which had tapped safe-haven flows from the markets turmoil.

Those losses were extended as the Federal Reserve said it would provide loans to banks and institutions for purchases of high-quality asset-backed commercial paper from money market funds.

"The picture has changed dramatically and the biggest loser is the yen as risk appetite returns," said Ronald Simpson Managing, director global currency analysis at Action Economic in Tampa, Florida.

The dollar rose as high as 108.06 yen , according to Reuters data. It was last up 2.2 percent at 107.87 yen.

The yen dropped 2.5 percent to 155.16 yen , buoying the euro zone single currency against the dollar. The euro was last up 0.4 percent at $1.4409.

While details of the government's toxic-debt plan are sketchy, analysts are hoping the program, as well as steps by other financial authorities, will finally quell some of the turmoil following the collapse of Lehman Brothers (LEH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (LEHMQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and the bailout of U.S. insurer AIG (AIG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) this week.

"It's all part of the program to restore confidence in financial markets. They are absolutely petrified of just a run on financial assets and they came very close to that on Thursday," said Boris Schlossberg, director of currency research at GFT Forex in New York.

"It seems to be working ... Risk aversion for the time being has been stemmed. The devil is in the details, everyone wants to see what the proposal will be like."

Shares on Wall Street surged at the open, with the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI jumping more than 3 percent. European stocks rallied more than six percent at one point.

Higher-yielding currencies such as the Australian dollar also rose as investors regained some confidence.

The Australian dollar gained 3.0 percent to US$0.8261. (Editing by James Dalgleish)

FOREX-Yen tumbles across the board as risk aversion ebbs
By Lucia Mutikani
Reuters

Nice plan is a nice forex make nice life.

8 Basic Tips on choosing Best FOREX Broker;there are some basic notices that you should consider when you want choosing online forex broker.

#1- Spread Amount

The spread, which is calculated in pips, is the difference between how much you can buy or sell a currency at a specific point in time.

Forex currencies are not traded through a central exchange market, so the spread can be different depending on the forex broker you use. Some online forex brokers have variable spread; some of them have two spread amounts that depend to day and night.

Some of them their spread depends to the position of market. When market is quiet the spread is small and when market is busy the spread is high. I prefer forex brokers that have fixed spread, because over the long term fixed can be safer.

#2- Execution

** How fast is the broker's order execution?

** Do they offer automatic execution?

** How much can you trade before having to request a quote?

** Do they trade against their clients?

The best way to find out is to open a demo account and give them a test drive.

#3- Leverage Options

Leverage is expressed as a ratio between the total capital that is available to be traded and your actual capital. For example, when you have a ratio of 100:1, your forex broker will lend you $100 for every $1 of actual capital you have. Leverage is a necessity in forex trading because the price deviations in the currencies are set at fractions of a cent.

Before choosing an online forex broker notice that what is their leverage. Many brokerages offer a flexible margin that allows you to choose the leverage that's right for you.

#4- Account Types

Notice the forex broker you choose has mini account or not. Mini account is designed for those new to online currency trading and those with limited investment capital. There is a smaller deposit required to start trade of just $300 or less.

#5- Trading Platform

Good trading software will show live prices that you can actually trade at, not just indicative quotes. It will offer Limit and Stop orders, and ideally will let you attach these to your entry order. One-Cancels-Other orders are another useful feature ** they mean you can set up your trade and then leave the software to get on with it.

#6- Dealing tools and value-added services

Find out online forex broker that offers the best resources and information to help you make the smartest trading decisions. A good company should offer real-time charts, technical analysis tools, real-time news and data, and software or website support. Be weary of any company that refuses to share information or trial versions before opening up an account. You will want to try out their system before you choose to invest money in it.

#7- Support

Forex is a 24 hour market, so your online forex broker should offer 24 hour support. You should also check if you can close positions over the phone ** essential in case your PC or internet connection crash at a critical moment. You could contact to their Internet help desks to see how quickly they respond to enquiries.

#8- Get Referrals

Ask around and read forex forums to find out which forex brokers other people use and why they selected a specific broker.

by Mostafa Soleimanzadeh

How to Save Yourself from Forex Scam;Forex trading is one of the best home based online business opportunity you can find today. The Big Sharks know that and use the demand for information about Forex market to get every possible dollar in their hands.

Who are they? The answer is always easy : Follow the Money. There is one player on currency market (and in every other market) who never loses his share in every single trade. Brokerage service on Forex trading is claimed to be commission free, right? But you always pay your minimum 3 to 10 pips fee on each trade. Where those 3 to 10 pips go? Make your best guess!

There is almost no chance for a person who has no idea for the forces driving the Info market to save himself from being robbed and abused by those well advertised money machines. You can see their banners on your e-mail provider. You can watch their infomercials on every TV channel.

Be aware about the presence of those Big Sharks and be sure that the information they will try to sell to you is always available for free online. Most of the time the quality and the real value of that free information is much better than the one you will be asked to pay for.

Here is the story of a good friend of mine. He was very excited about Forex when he first time heard about it. That happened to be on one of those popular free seminars, organized by one of the Big Sharks on that field. So he got the bite without paying attention for the hook in it. He went to the next level — two days training for $1,995, only.

He came back more excited. He opened Forex trading account on that seminar, using a special form provided by the Big Shark Company. They honestly declared that by doing that the broker agrees to pay them one pip from each trade made by the customer recruited by them.

My friend started real trading, constantly increasing the amount of his investment until he put all of his savings into that Forex trading account. Everything was fine until one beautiful day of October. On that day he got the news: his broker filed under chapter 11.

He was broke. I asked him how successful was his trading? His answer was that he actually lost 30% of his investment, from trading, only. He was able to realize know that the training was completely inefficient and not even close enough to start trading with real money.

Something big was missing here. He was missing the big picture in the entire game. His trading experience was very frustrating. After each trade he felt like just hit the wall with a car flying with 100 miles per hour.

A few days ago my friend called me on the phone. He was very enthusiastic about a new Forex training package, just delivered to him. I decided to check it by myself, too.

The package is very detailed. All the missing information about the big picture is there. More than 20 hours of free videos are revealing all you need to know about that business. Zooming towards Forex trading is very smooth and on the level every beginner and advanced trader will tremendously benefit of.

The one unbeatable and shocking advantage of this package is that it delivers information, priced from between $3,000 and $10,000, for free.

Finally we got something valuable about Forex trading, very professionally developed, for free.

Probably, that will put the Big Sharks business on hold for awhile, for the good sake to all of us.

So, be careful and keep an eye on the Internet unlimited free resources if you want to self yourself from the Forex scam.

Happy Forex trading!

by Teo Gee

How To Spot Forex Fraud,As the popularity of Forex increases so do the number of scam artists attempting to cash in on the Forex gravy train. Since Forex involves trading money internationally, often over the Internet, a whole new breed of scams have come about. Ironically many of these scam artists are finding their marks through newspaper, television or other print media advertisements.

While these scams are generally easily spotted by experienced traders, new speculators may have problems knowing the difference between what is real and what isn't. It is absolutely essential to thoroughly research Forex trading, and any potential companies you may trade with before making an initial investment. The last thing you need is to find out that the company you have invested with is under investigation by the SEC for fraud. In this type of circumstance it can often be impossible to retrieve your money as the claims from all fraud of participants will be higher than the total payouts the government can guarantee.

One way to spot a scam on Forex is when someone promoting a Forex system guarantees no risk. It is a fact that there is risk with Forx trading, and generally anyone who claims otherwise is a liar, or more likely a criminal. Trading in Forex successfully requires knowledge, discipline, and a trading strategy. But there is no magic software or no risk way to assure that you will make money.

Another red flag indicating a sure sign of a Forex scam is a web site that guarantees profits. Nobody can guarantee profits and Forex trading. It is up to you as an investor to perform. If it were possible to guarantee profits in Forex trading then nobody would need to start a business showing others how to make guaranteed profits. The profit potential for anyone who could guarantee profits would be so enormous in Forex trading, that they would quickly become a billionaire by trades. So why would they waste time teaching others?

Another common tactic of Forex scam artists is to promise employment opportunities for people using their system. This is usually a trick to get you to spend your money with them. They are fishing for people with capital who can fund their enterprise. They typically promise to offer firm money to people using their system. But why would they do this? Instead what happens is they lure people into their training systems and convince people that they have done so well in the training session that they should start using their real money in order to make a fortune.

All reputable Forex trading web sites will be a member of the CFTC or the NFA. Make sure to check the company's claims out and assure that they are members of one of these organizations before dealing with them.

Keep in mind that Forex is a relatively unregulated system of exchanging money. In many cases Forex scams can become highly technical, involving brokers manipulating prices in ways that cannot be tracked by the average trader. Because of this is essential that you not become a mark for such brokers.

In the United States the CFTC is the federal agency responsible for regulating the trade of Forex currency. If you suspect that you have been a victim of some type of fraud contact the CFTC. They have jurisdiction for investigating and enforcing the laws.

by Willie Reynolds

Forex Software : Choosing The Best,When it comes to forex trading the forex software you choose is essential. There are so many forex trading companies all competing for your business that choosing the right forex software can be quite a difficult task. Most of the forex software products available offers live online forex trading platforms but what other components are vital when it comes to your forex software.

Key Elements For Your Forex Software

Before purchasing any forex software there are a few essential items that should be included. The most important is security and your online forex trading software should include a 128 bit SSL encryption which will prevent hackers from accessing any of your personal details and information such as your account balance, transaction history, etc.

Providing the best security for your forex trading will include a company that provides 24 hour technical server support for your forex software, 24 hour maintenance should anything go wrong, daily backups of all information, and a security system that has been designed to prevent any unauthorized access. Along with these security protocols there are also some forex trading companies that use smart cards and fingerprint scanners to ensure that only their employees can have access to their servers.

Another important factor when it comes to choosing your forex software is to check what the company's downtime is like. When it comes to trading forex and particularly your online forex trading you need to ensure that the forex software you choose is reliable and available 24 hours a day. The forex software you choose for your forex trading should also have technical support available at all times should your session be cut short.

Ensuring that all the above features are listed in the forex software you choose will help to ensure your forex trading success.Anyway, a forex software is a must have if you want to earn money.

by Oliver Turner

Choosing A Forex Broker,With currency trading becoming ever more popular, the number of brokers is growing at a rapid rate. What should one look at when deciding which broker to open an account with? These are the important points to consider.

Spread

Because currencies, unlike futures and stocks, are not traded through a central exchange, the spread can be different depending on the broker you use, so it's well worth checking a few out before you open an account. Most forex brokers publish live or delayed prices on their websites so you can compare spreads, but check if the spread is fixed or variable. A fixed spread means exactly that — it will always be the same no matter what time of day or night it is. Some brokers use a variable spread, which might appear to be nice and small when the market is quiet, but when things get busy they can widen the spread which means the market must move more in your favor before you start to make a profit. Fixed spreads are generally slightly wider than the variable spreads are when at their narrowest, but over the long term fixed can be safer.

Execution

Some brokers will show live prices on their trading platform, but will they honor them when it comes to pushing the Buy or Sell button? The best way to find out is to open a demo account and give them a test drive. This will also give you the opportunity to see what the speed of execution is like — when you want to buy, you want to buy now, not sit around waiting for ten minutes whilst your order is confirmed!

Trading Platform

Good trading software will show live prices that you can actually trade at, not just indicative quotes. It will offer Limit and Stop orders, and ideally will let you attach these to your entry order. One-Cancels-Other orders are another useful feature — they mean you can set up your trade and then leave the software to get on with it. And the most important feature of all — can you actually understand the platform? Having all the bells and whistles is of no use if you can't use them, so again, get a demo account and give it a go.

Support

Forex is a 24 hour market, so your broker should offer 24 hour support. You might not be trading at 3am, but that could be what time it is in your brokers head office on the other side of the planet, so make sure there will be somebody there to pick up the phone if things go wrong. You should also check if you can close positions over the phone — essential in case your PC or internet connection crash at a critical moment.

Backing

Finally, before opening an account do a little homework and find out about the company. Forex brokers are regulated, but that doesn't mean they all have equal backing. If the market collapses, you want to know that they've got the reserves to cope with it and will still be around when you decide to withdraw your cash. If a broker is elusive when it comes to questions about their parentage and financial backing, then steer clear.

In Conclusion

Choosing a forex broker isn't difficult, but don't rush the decision. Check out a few, and always get a demo account first to make sure you're happy with the way everything works before sending off your opening balance.

by Geoff Turnbull

Crude prices have plunged through Monday's session. Capping the day at a $7.18 drop, that easily cleared the centennial mark, WTI crude prices were trading down at $94 at the end of the US session. The benchmark commodity is now testing lows that haven't been seen since February 19th. What's more, prices for the necessary good can certainly be said to be in a bear market, as with today's tumble oil is off over 36 percent from the record highs set in July. Naturally, these extreme moves have rekindled the correlation between the commodity and USDCAD. This was the key component in keeping USDCAD bouyant through Monday's session. Can the pair hold through the rest of this week? That will depend on whether oil can continue selling off and/or the financial markets are set for bigger troubles over the coming days

Written by John Kicklighter

Forex traders will find significant event risk this week, as the Federal Reserve will announce their rate decision on Tuesday. Not to be ignored, inflation figures will be released from the UK, Euro-zone, and US, but the British pound will be particularly vulnerable to the minutes from the Bank of England’s most recent meeting and UK retail sales.

• UK Consumer Price Index – September 16
On Tuesday at 4:30 EDT, UK consumer price growth in August is expected to accelerate even faster to a 4.6 percent annual pace, which would mark the sharpest rise since May 1992. Inflation remains of great concern to the Bank of England, especially as the Bank’s Governor Mervyn King forecasts that CPI will rocket above 4 percent. However, the BOE has a dual mandate to maintain price stability and to promote sustainable growth and employment. The UK has already seen indications of a broad economic slowdown, but adding the fragile nature of the UK’s financial sector to the mix puts the Bank of England in a particularly precarious position, as a rate increase meant to fight inflation could easily push the UK into recession and trigger a severe credit crisis. As a result, the UK's MPC will likely continue to sound hawkish on inflation in order to contain consumer inflation expectations, but when it comes down to it, their bark may be bigger than their bite as the Bank of England is highly unlikely to actually raise rates, especially as overnight index swaps actually price in over 75bps worth of rate cuts within the next year. Nevertheless, very strong UK CPI figures could lead the British pound to rally upon release, while soft reading could weigh the currency down.

• US Consumer Price Index – September 16
The US headline consumer price index for the month of August is expected to go unchanged upon release at 8:30 EDT on Tuesday, while the annual rate of growth is forecasted to slip for the first time since April to 5.5 percent from 5.6 percent. On the other hand, the core CPI measure is anticipated to rise 0.2 percent to an annual rate of 2.6 percent, which would mark an 18-month high. If any of these figures surprise to the upside or downside, the markets will respond accordingly and the moves could be dramatic. On the other hand, if CPI is posted in line with expectations, US markets may prove unresponsive ahead of the Federal Reserve Rate decision at 14:15 EDT the same day.

• Federal Reserve Rate Decision – September 16
On Tuesday at 14:15 EDT, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is widely expected to leave rates at 2.00 percent, though as of Friday fed fund futures are pricing in a slight chance of a 25bp cut. However, the thing to watch will be the FOMC’s policy statement as a gauge of their bias going forward. The minutes from their August meeting said that “members generally anticipated that the next policy move would likely be a tightening,” but if this policy statement suggests that the Committee foresees an easing in price pressures – eliminating the need for tightening – the US dollar could fall significantly. Furthermore, there is potential for bearish comments on the financial markets given the bankruptcy of Lehman and sale of Merrill Lynch. On the other hand, persistently hawkish commentary could reignite the greenback’s rally.

• Bank of England September Meeting Minutes – September 17
The Bank of England’s meeting minutes tend to be a huge market-mover for the British pound, and this time is unlikely to be any different. During the August meeting, the minutes revealed that there was a 7-1-1 vote for the second consecutive month to leave rates at 5.00 percent, with one dissent in favor of a 25bp hike and one in favor of a 25bp cut. The vote this time around could easily be split again, as indicators of growth continue to deteriorate and inflation figures reflect persistent price pressures. However, given the substantial downside risks to growth, I think there’s some potential for additional Monetary Policy Committee members to have voted for a rate cut. Indeed, a 6-2-1 or 7-2 vote count could weigh heavily on the British pound on Wednesday morning, but if there is sufficiently hawkish rhetoric contained within the minutes and votes in favor of increasing rates, the UK currency could actually surge.

• UK Retail Sales – September 18
UK consumer spending is anticipated to have slowed in August, as retail sales are forecasted to fall 0.5 percent upon release at 4:30 EDT on Thursday, dragging the annual rate to a more than two year low of 1.6 percent. The latest BRC retail sales numbers support the case for such a move, as their measure of same-store sales plunged 1.0 percent in August from a year earlier. However, this is not the most reliable leading indicator: last month, the BRC’s figures reflected a 0.9 percent decline from a year earlier, while the UK government’s statistics showed a 0.8 percent monthly gain and a 2.1 percent annualized rise. That said, the Bank of England has said in the past that they may focus more on private surveys over government statistics, as the latter tends to be extremely volatile. As a result, traders should keep in mind that regardless of this upcoming number, the BOE likely still holds a bearish view of UK consumer spending.

Written by Terri Belkas,

Forex Brokers,Most FOREX traders use a broker to handle their transactions. What exactly is a broker? Strictly speaking, a broker is an individual or a company that buys and sells orders according the investor's decisions. Brokers earn money by charging a commission or a fee for their services.

A FOREX broker needs to be associated with a large financial institution such as a bank in order to provide the funds necessary for margin trading. In the United States a broker should be registered as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as protection against fraud and abusive trade practices.

Before trading FOREX you need to set up an account with a FOREX broker. You may feel overwhelmed by the number of brokers who offer their services online. Deciding on a broker requires a little bit of research on your part, but the time spent will give you insight into the services that are available and fees charged by various brokers.

The best advertising is word-of-mouth advertising, and this is just as valid in FOREX trading as it is for any other type of business. Talk to friends and associates to see who they are dealing with and find if they have any complaints or difficulties in dealing with a particular broker.

You could try selecting a few online brokers and contact their Internet help desks to see how quickly they respond to enquiries and whether or not they answer questions to your satisfaction. Keep in mind, however, that pre-sales service may be better than after sales service. This can be true for any online business, not just FOREX brokers.

Customer satisfaction and safety are just part of the story. You want to find a broker who executes orders quickly and with minimum slippage. All online brokers should offer automatic execution and have clear policies regarding slippage. They should be able to tell you how much slippage can be expected in both normal and fast-moving markets.

Next you want to know the fees involved. What is the spread? Is spread fixed or variable according to the type of account? Are mini accounts subject to wider spreads? Are there any other charges? Smaller spreads mean more profit for the trader, but there may be a trade-off between spread and service. Look at the overall picture before deciding to go with a particular broker.

Margin accounts are the lifeblood of FOREX trading, so be sure you understand the broker's margin terms before setting up an account. You need to know the margin requirements and how margin is calculated. Does margin change according to the currency traded? Is it the same every day of the week? Some brokers may offer different margins for mini and standard accounts.

Trading software is very important for the online FOREX trader. Get a feel for the options that are available by trying out a demo account at a few online brokers. Above all, you are looking for reliability and the ability to perform well in fast-moving markets. The software should offer automatic trading and may have special features such as trailing stops and trading from the chart. Some features may only be available at an extra cost, so be sure you understand what your trading needs are and how much the broker charges to provide them.

Other information to find out about includes the broker's policy regarding minimum account balances, interest payments on account balances, which currencies can be traded and whether or not non-standard sized lots can be traded. You should also find out whether clients' funds are insured and the extent of that insurance.

by Simon Harris

Forex Software Packages
If you plan to start trading FOREX online you will of course be using a software system. This system will make it easy for you to get information quickly about market prices and make trades. There are two types of FOREX software available, client based and web based.

As the FOREX market is a fast moving market and you will need up to the minute information to make informed transactions, it is up to you to see you have a high speed internet connection. Dial up internet access will absolutely not work for this. Another consideration could be the location of the servers used by your broker. If your broker's servers are located quite a distance from you, say in another country, this could potentially slow down your transmissions. If you plan to trade online you will need a modern computer and high speed internet connection.

The next consideration would be which type of software, client based or web based? Web based software is housed on your brokers website. You will not have to install any software on your own computer. A web based software program will allow you to log in from any computer that has an internet connection. A client based software program, or one that you download into your own computer will limit you to transactions only on the computer it is downloaded on. Web based software programs are preferred by most brokers who think they are more safe and reliable. Web based software tends to be less vulnerable to attack from viruses and hackers during transmissions than client based software.

Any FOREX software should offer you real-time quotes and offer means to quickly enter and exit the market. These are minimal requirements of any trading software. Upgraded software packages are usually offered at an extra monthly fee by brokers.

Generally brokers will have client information housed on two severs kept in two different locations. This is to guarantee client data is kept as safe as possible. If there is a power failure or a problem with one server the data is sent back and forth from the second secure server and you will not notice an interruption. Regular back ups of these servers is another way that brokers keep financial data safe in case of server failure.

by Ryan Larson

Forex Broker Involvement Optional
To trade on the forex market, the largest financial market on the planet, one must use a forex broker. Not unlike a stock broker, a forex broker can also makes suggestions about which moves to make when exchanging foreign currency. Some forex brokers even supply technical analysis to some of their clients and offer tips on research to improve their success as forex traders.

Typically in the forex market a forex broker is a banking institution who may buy up large amounts of a certain currency. For years, banks were the only ones who had access to the forex markets. But today with the Internet, any forex trader, who subscribes with a forex broker, can access the market 24 hours a day.

Today, as with stock brokers, the brick and mortar institutions, such as banks, are less of an option for the individual forex trader who works from home, monitoring the news and gaining insight into certain technical information to help with his or her trading decisions.

Choosing a forex broker may depend on your needs. If you are new to the field, there are houses, or online forex brokers who may cater to your needs, providing in-depth research, ample time to demo their product and so on. Other forex brokers are geared toward the experienced online forex trader. They too offer advice, but may be less likely to offer instructional help with the information, assuming that you may already know how it may or may not benefit you when you read it. It is advisable to read about and even run a demo on several different online forex brokers before going with one.

by Jay Moncliff