How to Get Started in Forex Trading The easyMarkets Way (2024)



How to Get Started in Forex Trading The easyMarkets Way

Published Otober 19th, 2018. By easyMarkets

The foreign exchange (Forex) market is one of the world's largest financial markets, where trade opportunities are available throughout 24 hours a day.

Are you interesting in becoming a Forex trader who rides on the waves of currency pairs, and makes money from home 24 hours on 5 business days a week?

This article will help you to understand the basics and learn how to get started in Forex trading.

How to Get Started in Forex Trading The easyMarkets Way (2)

Understanding Forex Trading Basics

To get started in Forex trading, you need to understand basic Forex terminology. Below is the cheat sheet:

  • Base & quote currency: Every currency pair contains a base currency and a quote one. The first currency appearing in a currency pair quotation is the Base currency. The second part of the quotation is the Quote currency.
For example, in the EUR/USD pair, the EUR is the Base currency, while the USD is the Quote currency.
  • Exchange rate: The exchange rate is the price that you have to spend in quote currency to buy base currency.
  • Long position: When opening a long position (so-called “go long”), you buy the base currency and sell the quote currency.
  • Short position: When opening a short position (so-called “go short”), you buy the quote currency and sell the base currency.
  • Bid: The Bid price is the price at which your broker is prepared to buy base currency in exchange for quote currency.
  • Ask: The Ask price is the price at which your broker is prepared to sell base currency in exchange for quote currency.
  • Spread: A spread is the difference between the bid and ask prices
    .
  • Leverage: This is a tool used to increase purchasing power. For example, if you use 1:400 leverage, your $1 can be traded as if it were $400.
  • Margin: When you use leverage in trading, your broker will extend to you an amount of credit. This amount is called Margin.
  • Pip: Being short for Point in Percentage, Pip is the unit of measurement presenting the change in value between two currencies.

    Getting Started in Forex Trading
    1. Deciding Your Initial Trading Capital
    To get started as a Forex trader, you should foremost consider how much you want to invest.

    Differing from brokers in other markets, Forex brokers often require low minimum deposits (for example, at easyMarkets, you can start trading with just 100 USD).

    With that said, your amount of capital will greatly affect your returns. A Dailyfx recent survey involving more than 10,000 Forex market participants showed that traders with large account balances tend to be profitable on a higher percentage of trades.

    While traders who make consistently small deposits usually witness unhappy trading results.

    How to Get Started in Forex Trading The easyMarkets Way (3)

    No matter how much you decide to invest in the FX market, remember not to risk more than you can afford to lose.

    2. Choosing a Forex Broker
    The broker is like a companion in your Forex trading career. Hence, picking a good companion will bring you many advantages. Below are the criteria that you should consider when choosing your forex broker:

  • Being regulated: Your funds and personal details will be safe and secure if you trade with a licensed broker. That’s why you need to put the regulation factor on top when researching a Forex broker.
  • Offering low spreads: Trading with a broker offering low spreads will save you lots of money.
  • Offering a wide range of financial assets: Having multiple assets to trade, you will find multiple opportunities to strike and profit.
  • Providing good trading platforms: The broker’s platforms should have sufficient functions supporting you in trading, such as real-time charts, news & data, and analytical tools. The broker should also offer mobile platforms compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
  • Providing various types of accounts: Many FX brokers offer traders three or more account types to choose from. Each type of account carries different services; higher-level accounts often deliver larger benefits such as lower spreads, faster order execution, or additional tools. Therefore, choosing a broker offering multiple types of accounts will bring you more options with your starting capital.
  • Having a professional and responsive support team: Do you want to wait weeks for a reply to your question/issue? If not, select a broker with a professional and responsive support team.
  • Offering high leverage: Leverage helps to multiply your purchasing capability. Therefore, high leverage will be very helpful if you have limited capital.


  • 3. Defining Your Trading Strategy
    Now you have decided your initial trading capital and your Forex broker. It’s time to define your trading strategy.

    There are two popular strategies in the FX market: fundamental analysis and technical analysis. Below are the details about these strategies:

  • Fundamental Analysis: This is a trading strategy based on fundamental indicators of currency values such as Non-farm Payrolls, Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Unemployment Rate, Retail Sales, or Durable Goods. Besides these reports, meetings of Central Bankers also affect the Forex market strongly.
  • Most traders use Fundamental Analysis to predict long-term trends of currencies; nonetheless, some traders also perform short-term trades on economic data releases.
  • Technical Analysis: This is a trading strategy based on price action and volume to analyze trends of currencies. In Forex, some of the most prevalent forms of technical analysis include Parabolic SAR, Pivot points, The Elliott Waves, and Fibonacci studies.
  • You can also use technical indicators to analyze trends; some of the most common technical indicators include Moving Averages, Relative Strength Index (RSI), and Moving Average Convergence-Divergence (MACD). Note that these indicators can be combined to make more accurate trades.

    No matter which strategy you use, don’t expect for instant results. Both fundamental analysis and technical analysis are effective in trading as long as they are used correctly. Therefore, pick one that suits you best, and spend time developing and perfecting it. You can also combine both strategies to make better predictions.

    Important Notes to Remember As a Forex Trader
    Below are some tips from Forex experts that you should keep handy at all times:

  • Don’t start trading on a real account until you make a consistent profit on a demo account. Take your time to learn, test your strategies and practice trading elaborately with virtual money first.
  • Don’t let emotion affect your trading activity. Whenever you are in a bad temper, stay off trading.
  • Remember that the trend is your friend. Trading towards the trend increases the likelihood of success, hence, don’t try to go against the trend unless you have a good reason.

  • The Bottom Line

    Forex trading is an interesting and potentially rewarding activity, but it also requires lots of time and effort to master.

    To become a professional trader, you may have to spend a long time learning and practicing trading. “Practice makes perfect,” so don’t rush.

    If you start with the most basic steps mentioned above, then keep learning and sharpening your trading skills over time, you’ll set yourself up for the best chance of success.

    Remember not to give up and stay focused, and one day you will become a successful Forex trader.


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    FAQs

    What is the easiest way to trade forex? ›

    For beginners, an automated trading program is considered the best way to break into forex trading, at least until there is a greater level of comfort with trading procedures. However, there's no guarantee that you'll make a profit due to the volatile nature of currency markets.

    How do I start forex trading for beginners? ›

    Trading forex step-by-step guide
    1. Open a spread betting or CFD trading account. ...
    2. Start researching to find the FX pair you want to trade. ...
    3. Based on your research, decide if you want to buy or sell. ...
    4. Follow your strategy. ...
    5. Place your forex trade. ...
    6. Close your trade and reflect.

    How do I teach myself to trade forex? ›

    Preparing for Your First Forex Trade
    1. Step 1: Learn About the Forex Market. ...
    2. Step 2: Choose How You Want to Trade Forex. ...
    3. Step 3: Choose a Broker. ...
    4. Step 4: Open a Trading Account. ...
    5. Step 5: Prepare a Trading Plan. ...
    6. Step 6: Choose a Forex Pair to Trade. ...
    7. Step 7: Analyse the Market. ...
    8. Step 8: Buy or Sell.

    What is the minimum deposit for easyMarkets? ›

    Account types
    easyMarkets Web/App and TradingView
    Minimum deposit10,000 USD25 USD
    Max leverage1:301:30
    Commission00
    Account Fees00
    9 more rows

    Can I trade forex with $100 dollars? ›

    Overall, while it is possible to start trading forex with just $100, it is important for traders to approach it with caution and to have a solid understanding of the market and their own risk tolerance.

    Is $500 enough to trade forex? ›

    This forex trading style is ideal for people who dislike looking at their charts frequently and who can only trade in their free time. The very lowest you can open an account with is $500 if you wish to initiate a trade with a risk of 50 pips since you can risk $5 per trade, which is 1% of $500.

    Is $1000 enough to start forex? ›

    In conclusion, $1000 is enough to start trading Forex. However, it's important to have a realistic trading plan and manage your risk carefully. A $1000 Forex trading plan should include setting trading goals, determining risk tolerance, and choosing a suitable trading strategy.

    How much money do I need to start forex? ›

    Answer - You can start trading with as little as $10 or invest more, like $100, $1,000, or even $15,000. Higher investments can potentially lead to higher profits in forex. However, it often requires substantial investments to achieve significant gains.

    How long does it take to learn forex? ›

    It depends on factors such as your learning style, time dedication, and ability to apply effective trading strategies. On average, it may take several months to a few years to become consistently profitable.

    What should I learn first in forex trading? ›

    Tips for forex trading beginners
    • Know the markets.
    • Make a plan and stick to it.
    • Practice.
    • Forecast the 'weather conditions' of the market.
    • Know your limits.
    • Know where to stop along the way.
    • Check your emotions at the door.
    • Keep It slow and steady.

    Which type of trading is best for beginners? ›

    Overview: Swing trading is an excellent starting point for beginners. It strikes a balance between the fast-paced day trading and long-term investing.

    How much do forex traders make a month? ›

    Forex Trader Salary
    Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
    Top Earners$192,500$16,041
    75th Percentile$181,000$15,083
    Average$101,533$8,461
    25th Percentile$57,500$4,791

    How do I withdraw money from easyMarkets? ›

    In order to make a withdrawal we require a proof of identity (such as passport or ID card) and proof of address (such as utility bill or bank statement). Please note that the proof of address cannot be older than 6 months and must show your full name and residential address.

    What is the minimum withdrawal from easyMarkets? ›

    For withdrawals to credit/debit cards and eWallets there is no minimum withdrawal amount. For withdrawals to bank accounts, a minimum amount of USD 50 is required.

    What's the most profitable way to trade forex? ›

    In conclusion, while there are various forex trading strategies available, scalping is considered to be the most profitable due to its high potential returns and low risk.

    What is the most accurate way to trade forex? ›

    An effective forex trading strategy requires several components: Selecting the market: Traders must determine what currency pairs they want to trade and become experts at reading them. Position sizing: Traders must determine how large each position is to control for the amount of risk taken in each individual trade.

    What is the fastest way to make money in forex? ›

    The way to make money fast in forex, is to understand the power of compound growth. For example, if you target 50% a year in your trading, you can grow an initial $20,000 account, to over a million dollars, in under 10 years. Break the norm, and gain more. Follow some of these tips and make your way into the big gains!

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