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How Forex Trading Works

Trading currencies in a 24-hour market

Learn how traders buy and sell currencies, what currency pairs mean, and how the market operates.

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The Basics of Currency Trading 

After her trip to Japan, Anika keeps thinking about exchange rates: “If the pound’s value changed while I was away, could someone have profited from that shift?”  

That’s when she discovers Forex trading: a global market where anyone can buy one currency while selling another.  

The goal? Predict how exchange rates will move. If the rate shifts in your favor, you profit.  

Anika starts to wonder if she could’ve earned from the pound’s shift too, sparking her journey into the fast-paced world of Forex trading.

What Is a Currency Pair? 

In Forex, currencies are always traded in pairs — because buying one means selling another at the same time. 

 Here are some commonly traded currency pairs: 

  • EUR/USD – Euro vs. US dollar: most traded, highly liquid, tight spreads
  • USD/JPY – US dollar vs. Japanese yen: fast-moving, often volatile
  • GBP/USD – British pound vs. US dollar: known as “cable”
  • EUR/CHF – Euro vs. Swiss franc: used in times of uncertainty

 Each pair shows the value of one currency relative to another, helping traders spot opportunities.

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Understanding base and quote 

To trade confidently, it’s important to understand how currency pairs are structured. The first currency in the pair is the base, and the second is the quote. 

For example: 

GBP/JPY = 205.00 means1 British pound equals 205 Japanese yen.   

Anika thinks: “_So, when I “buy” GBP/JPY, I'm buying pounds and selling yen at the same time!_” 

After her Japan trip, she has ¥200,000 left. She waits to exchange it, watching the rate. 

UK GDP data surprises on the upside, while the central bank of Japan signals slower rate hikes. The pound strengthens against the yen.

Anika’s First Trade  

Curious to learn more, Anika tries a demo trading app — no real money, just practice. 

She notices EUR/USD trading at 1.1000 and predicts the euro will strengthen.  

She “buys” one thousand euros, and a few hours later, the rate rises to 1.1200, meaning her euros are now worth more dollars.  

She “sells” for a small virtual profit.  

Forex traders often aim to catch short-term price moves. 

Anika realizes: “It’s not about holding currency for months; it’s about anticipating movement and timing trades right.”

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Who Trades in the Forex Market? 

The Forex market involves many players, each with different goals. 

  • Central banks set interest rates and influence currencies through policy and intervention.
  • Corporations trade currencies for global business, payroll, and hedging. 
  • Institutional investors, like hedge funds and asset managers, trade large volumes to manage risk or seek returns.
  • Retail traders are individuals like Anika, trading through online platforms.

Each group plays a role in the supply and demand that moves currencies.

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