Forex Trading Risk - 3 Risk Management Tips

You can see the claims on some FOREX web sites, implying that FOREX is a risk-free pastime. No investment is risk-free.

In FOREX you are trading substantial sums of money, and there is always a possibility that a trade will go against you. There are several trading tools that can minimize your risk, yes, but eliminate it, no. With caution, and above all education, the FOREX trader can learn how to trade profitably and minimize loss.

The Scams

FOREX scams were fairly common a few years ago. The industry has cleaned up considerably since then. Still, you should exercise caution before signing up with a FOREX broker by checking their background.

Reputable FOREX brokers will be associated with large financial institutions like banks or insurance companies, and they will be registered with the proper government agencies. In the United States, brokers should be registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission or a member of the National Futures Association. You can also check with your local Consumer Protection Bureau and the Better Business Bureau.

The Risks

Assuming you are dealing with a reputable broker, there are still risks to FOREX trading. Transactions are subject to unexpected rate changes, volatile markets and political events.

Exchange Rate Risk: refers to the fluctuations in currency prices over a trading period. Prices can fall rapidly, resulting in substantial losses unless stop loss orders are used (see below).

Interest Rate Risk: can result from discrepancies between the interest rates in the 2 countries represented by the currency pair in a FOREX quote. This discrepancy can result in variations from the expected profit or loss of a particular FOREX transaction.

Credit Risk: is the possibility that 1 party in a FOREX transaction may not honor their debt when the deal is closed. This may happen when a bank or financial institution declares insolvency. Credit risk can be minimized by dealing on regulated exchanges, which require members to be monitored for credit worthiness.

Country Risk: is associated with governments that may become involved in foreign exchange markets by limiting the flow of currency. There is more country risk associated with "exotic" currencies than with major countries that allow the free trading of their currency.

Limiting Your Risk

FOREX trading can be risky, but there are ways to limit risk and financial exposure. Every trader should have a trading strategy; i.e., knowing when to enter and exit the market, and what kind of movements to expect. Developing strategies requires education, which is the key to limiting risk. At all times follow the basic rule: Never use money that you cannot afford to lose.

Every FOREX trader needs to know at least the basics about technical analysis and how to read financial charts. He should study chart movements and indicators and understand how charts are interpreted. There is a vast amount of information on FOREX trading available both on the Internet and in print. If you want to be successful at FOREX, then educate yourself.

Stop-Loss Orders

Even the most knowledgeable traders, however, can't predict with absolute certainty how the market will behave. For this reason, every FOREX transaction should take advantage of available tools designed to minimize loss.

Stop-loss orders are the most common way to minimizing risk. A stop-loss order contains instructions to exit your position if the price reaches a certain point. If you take a long position (expecting the price to rise) you would place a stop loss order below the current market price. If you take a short position (expecting the price to fall) you would place a stop loss order above the current market price.

Stop loss orders can be used in conjunction with limit orders to automate FOREX trading. Limit orders specify that an open position should be closed at a specified profit target.

Forex trading can be a wonderful way to begin investing or to create an additional stream of income. Yes, the forex trading risk is there, but the power of online information has made it possible for just about everyone to understand the basics of Forex, as well as the ability to begin actively working with currency trades. Here are some risk management tips to help you on your journey.

Tip #1: Use Websites For Research

Thanks to the Internet, you do not have to spend a lot of time in a classroom to learn the basics of Forex. There are some excellent web sites that will provide details about the fundamental principles behind foreign exchange. Keep in mind, many websites are backed by forex brokers or trading companies, so be aware of their true intentions when doing your research.

Tip #2: Learn On Demo Accounts

Along with helping you understand the basics, some sites also offer what is known as practice or demo accounts. Essentially, these accounts allow you to experiment with the trading process before you begin to execute real orders. Trying out your wings in this sort of safe environment allows you to set up dummy transactions and then follow the trends in the market in real time. You get to see what would have occurred if you had executed a real order with a given market, and learn from the experience without ever losing one penny.

Tip #3: Never Invest More Than You Can Afford To Lose

This is the ultimate and most important disclaimer. Never risk more than you have available to lose. Even if you have spent a lot of time doing your research, invested in software and training and practiced on a demo account, there is no guarantee that you will always profit from your trades. There is always risk involved when investing on the foreign currency markets.