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Trading Currencies

The most traded currencies in the world account for US$1.5 trillion changing hands every day.

While nearly everybody has had occasion to change money when they travel abroad, forex traders can be dealing in international currency markets every day. Traditionally a marketplace for big banks and fund managers, now it is becoming increasingly accessible for private investors.

These short guides to each major currency look at the key factors influencing currency price in each region. When trading currencies use these insights to understand the relationships between your chosen pairs.

When are the foreign exchange markets open?

Forex is very liquid, meaning it is easy to buy and sell currencies, and the forex market is open all day. The global foreign exchange market for trading currencies opens in Australia on Monday morning, and closes in New York on Friday evening.

How can I trade currencies?

You can trade currency pairs with a Forex or Contract for Differences broker. These are leveraged products which means they involve greater risk. While there is an opportunity to increase your profits, there is also the chance of greater losses.

BrokerMinimum DepositMarketsProducts
Pepperstone
Pepperstone
£0Bonds
Commodities
Currencies
Indices
Stocks & Shares
CFDs
FX
Spread Betting

With a strong focus on the trading experience, industry leading technology, low costs and award-winning client support, we feel that Pepperstone is a good option for the more established high volume day trader.

 
FP Markets
FP Markets
$100Bonds
Commodities
Currencies
Indices
Stocks & Shares
CFDs
FX

FP Markets is an established ASIC, CySEC FSP and CMA regulated broker. They offer access to the industry leading MetaTrader platforms and provide pricing directly from the market meaning fast execution and transparent pricing. A 24/7 multilingual client support service has won recognition through the highly respected Investment Trends awards.

 
FxPro
FxPro
$100Bonds
Commodities
Currencies
Indices
Stocks & Shares
CFDs
FX

FxPro is a fully regulated CFD provider offering Forex, Metals, Indices, Futures, Cryptos and Stocks. Clients have access to over 2000+ financial instruments and the company serves clients in 173 countries worldwide. FxPro was voted ‘Best Forex Provider’ by The Armchair Trader readers for 2024.

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Currencies News & Insight

The UK, US and the Eurozone in the week ahead

The UK, US and the Eurozone in the week ahead

Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell looks at the macroeconomic picture and its effect on the markets in the US, UK and the Eurozone for the week of 8th February

Are you getting value for money from your forex trading and hedging?

Are you getting value for money from your forex trading and hedging?

We talked with Andy Woolmer, CEO of New Change FX, about his work in the area of forex trading to establish a reliable benchmark for forex pricing. And we filmed it too!

What’s happening this week in the US, UK and the Eurozone?

What’s happening this week in the US, UK and the Eurozone?

Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell looks at the macroeconomic picture and its effect on the markets in the US, UK and the Eurozone for the week of 15th July

What’s happening this week in the US, UK and the Eurozone?

What’s happening this week in the US, UK and the Eurozone?

Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell looks at the macroeconomic picture and its effect on the markets in the US, UK and the Eurozone for the week of 24th June

What’s happening this week in the US, UK and the Eurozone?

What’s happening this week in the US, UK and the Eurozone?

Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell looks at the macroeconomic picture and it's effect on the markets in the US, UK and the Eurozone for the week of 17th June  

Investor focus set to return to the Dollar later today

Investor focus set to return to the Dollar later today

The release of the FOMC minutes are likely to shed more light on what US policymakers are planning for the Dollar

More worries for the Pound and the UK economy

More worries for the Pound and the UK economy

Standard & Poors sceptical over UK interest rate hike on the back of weak economic data and falling car sales hit the Pound

The Pound waits nervously for Services PMI data

The Pound waits nervously for Services PMI data

It’s been a tough start to October for the Pound and today is the turn of Services PMI data to provide direction

US tax reform details maintain Dollar momentum

US tax reform details maintain Dollar momentum

The dollar has extended the gains it made yesterday after President Trump presented his tax reforms plans

The Dollar set to steal the spotlight

The Dollar set to steal the spotlight

Bullish comments from US Federal Reserve's Janet Yellen and Trump's plans to cut corporation taxes

The Euro is the main focus for traders this week

The Euro is the main focus for traders this week

Angela Merkel has been elected Chancellor for a fourth consecutive term, but there are some challenges ahead

Currency markets focus on tomorrow’s Fed meeting

Currency markets focus on tomorrow’s Fed meeting

There's little for the markets to process today beyond speculation surrounding tomorrow’s Fed meeting

The Pound remains the focus today with the UK Employment release

The Pound remains the focus today with the UK Employment release

The pound remains at the centre of investors’ attention for the second day in a row ahead of the employment data report

Investors to focus on the Pound with the UK’s Inflation report

Investors to focus on the Pound with the UK’s Inflation report

Today sees the first of three big releases this week with the UK inflation report

Investors to focus on the Pound this week

Investors to focus on the Pound this week

The Bank of England's Rate Decision meeting, UK inflation and the employment data release are all due this week

Investors set to focus on the Euro today

Investors set to focus on the Euro today

The Euro will be in the spotlight leading up to the ECB Rate Decision meeting and Mario Draghi's press conference

Is the Euro likely to reach parity with GBP?

Is the Euro likely to reach parity with GBP?

Is parity a real possibility?

European PMI data to provide direction this morning

European PMI data to provide direction this morning

Investors are set to focus on European PMI Services

Political tensions in Korea dominate sentiment

Political tensions in Korea dominate sentiment

Heightened political tension in the Korean Peninsular sees the major European indices sharply lower in early trading

The Jackson Hole Symposium main event to take place this evening

The Jackson Hole Symposium main event to take place this evening

Currency traders will be keeping a close eye on the Dollar and the Euro as both Yellen and Draghi are set to speak this evening

Major currencies in focus as world’s central bankers meet

Major currencies in focus as world’s central bankers meet

Currency traders will shift their attention today to the monetary policy guidance expected from the central bankers at Jackson Hole

A positive start while investors set to focus on the Euro

A positive start while investors set to focus on the Euro

Investors will be looking to the ZEW Survey as a stronger Euro dampens business sentiment

US GDP to offer direction for the Dollar next week

US GDP to offer direction for the Dollar next week

US Gross Domestic Product figures today will dictate the price action leading up to next week's Non-Farm Payrolls report

Pound benefits from yesterday’s FOMC update

Pound benefits from yesterday’s FOMC update

Investors focus on the central bank’s comments about weak inflation as the pound hits 9 month high against the Dollar

European currencies set to take the spotlight

European currencies set to take the spotlight

Investors will be focusing on UK June Retail Sales and the European Central Bank meeting

Investor attention turns to the Euro

Investor attention turns to the Euro

The European Central Bank's rate decision on Thursday will provide the focus this week

US dollar under pressure following Yellen’s comments

US dollar under pressure following Yellen’s comments

US equity markets rallied following Fed Chair Yellen’s testimony to Congress, reacting favourably to her less hawkish tone

Pound drops as hopes of an interest rate rise are dampened

Pound drops as hopes of an interest rate rise are dampened

The Pound fell overnight following Bank of England Deputy Governor, Ben Broadbent's comments yesterday that he doesn't see a rate hike soon

Pound under pressure as Conservative talks with DUP continue

Pound under pressure as Conservative talks with DUP continue

Theresa May continues talks with DUP leader Arlene Foster on a ‘confidence and supply agreement’ this week

UK inflation figures set to keep spotlight on the Pound

UK inflation figures set to keep spotlight on the Pound

The British Pound will continue to make headlines today in light of the release of the inflation figures

UK opinion polls driving the Pound

UK opinion polls driving the Pound

The UK election appears to be driving trading this morning, with the pound falling following publication of the latest opinion polls

Inflation data to set the tone for the FTSE and Pound

Inflation data to set the tone for the FTSE and Pound

Analysts are expecting the figure to hit 3.5% - adding to the pricing squeeze for consumers

Euro in the spotlight as ECB President set to speak

Euro in the spotlight as ECB President set to speak

ECB President Mario Draghi will be speaking on the impact of ECB monetary policy later today

Investors relieved as Macron wins

Investors relieved as Macron wins

The French Presidential Election result provided an emphatic win for Emmanuel Macron over the more controversial far right candidate, Marine Le Pen

French Election results boost the Euro

French Election results boost the Euro

The Euro reacted positively to the news, jumping 1.4-1.5% against both the dollar and the pound

Politics to set the agenda for investors today

Politics to set the agenda for investors today

Investors will be focusing on continued analysis of this weekend's French first round Presidential election and the UK's snap general election

US Healthcare vote set to determine next week’s sentiment

US Healthcare vote set to determine next week’s sentiment

A last minute postponement of the key congressional Healthcare vote until later today is likely to determine sentiment for next week

A quiet start following yesterday’s events in Westminster

A quiet start following yesterday’s events in Westminster

The European markets got off to an understandably quiet start following yesterday's events in Westminster

European indexes a sea of red following US equity markets yesterday

European indexes a sea of red following US equity markets yesterday

Concerns about the pace of President Trump's fiscal reform are weighing on market sentiment

UK inflation rockets to 2.3%, sends pound soaring

UK inflation rockets to 2.3%, sends pound soaring

Everyone knew inflation would rise in February but last month's jump has surprised investors