If you’ve decided to get into the trading business, trading with forex can turn out to be an amazing idea. It seems like more and more people decide to get into forex trading and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t think about doing the same. However, if you want to trade forex successfully, you first need to learn the basics. And a great way to start is to learn what a forex broker is and why you need one? That said, here’s everything you need to know about forex brokers.
The definition of a forex broker
If you want to trade with foreign currencies, you first need to know what a forex broker is. Basically, it’s an entity between you and the “interbank.” And in case you’re wondering what the interbank is, it’s a term used for networks of banks that trade with each other. The job of a forex broker is to offer you a price from these banks as they have lines of credit and access to foreign exchange liquidity. Usually, an FX broker will use a number of banks for pricing in order to offer you the best deal possible.
Opening your account with a forex broker
One of the things you can’t trade forex without is an account with a forex broker. Think of it as opening a bank account. Just like with bank accounts, you need to deal with a lot of paperwork and identity checks in order to get your account. Luckily, the entire process shouldn’t take more than a few days. If you’re not sure whether you have what it takes for trading with forex, most forex brokers out there offer demo accounts that allow you to practice trading foreign currencies before you decide to open an actual account.
Why do I need a forex broker?
Typically, the only way a forex trader can access the market is through a broker. You are able to exchange any currency without a broker, but you’d have to do it at a bank that exchanges currencies. This means you wouldn’t get a good rate and trading with forex wouldn’t make any sense. On the other hand, a good FX broker will be able to offer you a good spread, which means that you can make money with forex trading. On top of this, it’s up to your FX broker to offer you fast execution, which is another important aspect of forex trading.
What is leverage?
Leverage is the ability to control large amounts of money using little to no money of your own and borrowing the rest. Take a look at it this way, if you want to control a $100,000 position, the broker is going to set aside $1,000 from your account. In this case, your leverage is 100:1. There are both pros and cons of leverage since it allows you to make an exponential profit but you can also lose money. According to law, it’s up to your FX broker to disclose this. If you want to avoid the negative aspect of leverage, make sure you think your each move through and avoid blowing your account too quickly.
What other services brokers offer?
We’ve already talked about why you need an FX broker and how they can help you get into forex trading business. However, there are some other services brokers are able to offer you. For example, if you want to be able to trade with forex successfully, you’ll need to stay on top of the latest news related to forex. Luckily, your broker should be able to provide you with all the information and news feeds you need in order to trade with forex safely. On top of this, your broker might be able to offer you a chance to get all the education you need in order to start trading with forex.
The bottom line is, trading with forex does make a lot of sense but if you want to be able to do it, you need to make sure you have a good FX broker. Without a broker, you won’t be able to connect with banks that are buying and selling currencies nor would you get rates that would earn you profit.
