Forex is the most widely traded market in the world, with
more than $5.3 trillion being bought and sold every single day. You can
speculate on the future direction of currencies, taking either a long or
short position depending on whether you think the currency’s value will
go up or down.
In our example, a trader believes that GBP will strengthen (or ‘appreciate’) against the USD and therefore buys GBP. By buying GBP, they’re also simultaneously selling USD on expectations that the exchange price will rise in value.
Should their expectation be proved right, the trader’s profits will rise in line with every increase in the exchange price.
The trader then decides to close the position, selling GBP; in this case with the exchange price higher than when they first bought it, netting them a tidy profit.
Conversely, if the trader is proved wrong and GBP depreciates in relation to USD, the GBP/USD exchange price will fall. This leaves the trader sitting on a loss, as each fall in the exchange price below their open level will net them a loss.
We give you the option of buying or selling currency pairs, so you can make a profit no matter which way the exchange price between the two currencies is moving. Instead of buying GBP, as in the above example, traders can sell GBP should they think its value will fall or that the USD will strengthen, potentially making them a profit if the exchange price then falls.
Please be aware that our fixed spread on GBP/USD is 1.5 pips from 8am until 6.30pm GMT. For the purposes of this example, we have used a 2 pip spread.
It is the first Friday of the month and let’s assume that GBP/USD is currently trading at 1.5686/1.5688.
Traders are concerned about the employment situation in the US. They expect the level of actual non-farm payrolls to come in worse than economist estimates.
You expect that the US dollar will weaken and the British pound will strengthen against the US dollar, and decide to buy (go long) £10,000 on GBP/USD at 1.5688.
The trade size is in units of the first, or base, currency in the pair. For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 50:1.
This requires an initial deposit of (£10,000*1.5688/50) $313.76. Find out more about Leverage.
As you anticipated, the pound strengthens against the dollar, and when it reaches 1.5750 you decide to cash in your profits. Our new price is 1.5750/1.5752 and you sell to close at 1.5750.
Result: You bought at 1.5688 and sold at 1.5750, a rise of 62 pips. This gives you a profit of:
(1.5750 – 1.5688) x 10,000 = $62.
Profit/Loss is calculated (and denominated) in the second, or counter currency of the pair.
Profit/Loss calculation: The difference between the closing price and opening price x size of trade.
Alternative scenario: If however, the actual non-farm payroll data had come in better-than-expected, the US dollar would have strengthened against the pound.
If GBP/USD would have gone down, say, to 1.5630 you would lose (1.5688 - 1.5630) x 10,000 = $58.
Profit/Loss Conversion: To help simplify the trading process, City Index automatically converts trading P&L into the client’s denominated account currency at the prevailing market rate at the time that the trade is closed.
It is mid-July, and let’s say that EUR/USD is trading at 1.3360/1.3361.
Investors remain worried about the impact of the sovereign debt crisis and you expect the euro will fall against the US dollar. You decide to sell (go short) €10,000 on EUR/USD at 1.3360.
For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 20:1. This requires an initial deposit of (€10,000*1.3360/20) $668.00.
You were right. Euro depreciates against the dollar to 1.3251 and you decide to close your trade and take your profits. Our new price is 1.3250/1.3251 and you buy to close at 1.3251.
Result: You sold at 1.3360 and bought at 1.3251, a fall of 109 pips, giving you a profit of: (1.3360 - 1.3251) x 10,000 = $109.
Alternative scenario: If however, a weaker dollar across the board overnight had pushed the Euro up by 130 points to 1.3490, you would have lost (1.3490 – 1.3360) x 10,000 = $130.
The Japanese yen has surged since its worst earthquake in history due to high demand for yen as international businesses attempt to redevelop the devastated areas.
You believe that the yen is too strong and will fall back against the US dollar, i.e. the US dollar will strengthen against the yen. You decide to buy (go long) $10,000 on USD/JPY at 96.40.
For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 25:1. This requires an initial deposit of ($10,000*96.40/25) 38,560 yen. As you predicted, USD/ JPY bounces back to 98.66 and you decide to take your profits. Our new price is 98.66/ 98.67. You sell to close at 98.66.
Result: You bought at 96.40 and sold at 98.66, a rise of 226 pips, giving you a profit of: (98.66 – 96.27) x 10,000 = 23900 yen.
Alternative scenario: If the dollar had continued to weaken against the yen, falling further to a record low of, say, 95.25, you would lose (96.40 – 95.25) x 10,000 = 11500 yen.
A lack of progress in talks aimed at raising the US debt ceiling has weighed down on the US currency.
You expect USD/CAD will decline further and decide to sell (go short) $10,000 on USD/CAD at 1.0320.
You were right. The US dollar continues to weaken against the Canadian dollar and reaches a low of 1.0234. You decided to take your profits at this point. Our new price is 1.0230/1.0234 and you can therefore buy to close at 1.0234.
Result: You sold at 1.0320 and bought at 1.0234, a drop of 86 pips. This gives you a profit of: (1.0320 – 1.0234) x 10,000 = CAD86.
Alternative scenario: If the dollar had bounced back against the Canadian dollar to 1.0400, you would have lost (1.0400 – 1.0320) x 10,000 = CAD80.
Traders are bracing themselves for the worst, ahead of the release of UK Q2 GDP figures.
You expect the pound will depreciate against the Euro, i.e. the Euro will strengthen against the pound, and decide to buy (go long) €10,000 on EUR/GBP at 0.8852.
For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 20:1. This requires an initial deposit of (€10,000*0.8852/20) £442.60.
As anticipated, the British pound goes down against the Euro. EUR/GBP rises to 0.8880 and you decide to cash in your profits. Our new price is 0.8880/0.8882. You sell to close at 0.8880.
Result: You bought at 0.8852 and sold at 0.8880, an increase of 28 pips. This gives you a profit of: (0.8880 – 0.8852) x 10,000 = £28.
Alternative scenario: The actual UK Q2 growth rate meets expectations, thus pushing the pound up against the euro. EUR/GBP declines to 0.8823. In this case, you would lose (0.8852 - 0.8823) x 10,000 = £29.
How does FX trading work?
When it comes to trading FX, most currencies come in pairs. Take for example GBP/USD (sterling vs US dollar) - the fluctuations in the exchange rate between these two is where a trader looks to make their profit.In our example, a trader believes that GBP will strengthen (or ‘appreciate’) against the USD and therefore buys GBP. By buying GBP, they’re also simultaneously selling USD on expectations that the exchange price will rise in value.
Should their expectation be proved right, the trader’s profits will rise in line with every increase in the exchange price.
The trader then decides to close the position, selling GBP; in this case with the exchange price higher than when they first bought it, netting them a tidy profit.
Conversely, if the trader is proved wrong and GBP depreciates in relation to USD, the GBP/USD exchange price will fall. This leaves the trader sitting on a loss, as each fall in the exchange price below their open level will net them a loss.
We give you the option of buying or selling currency pairs, so you can make a profit no matter which way the exchange price between the two currencies is moving. Instead of buying GBP, as in the above example, traders can sell GBP should they think its value will fall or that the USD will strengthen, potentially making them a profit if the exchange price then falls.
How can I trade FX?
There are three unique ways to trade on the foreign exchange markets with City Index, winner of FX provider of the year, as voted by UK Forex 2014:- Spread betting allows you to speculate on currency markets 24-hours a day. Take advantage of tight, fixed spreads from just one pip and profit completely tax-free* in the UK. Discover more about spread betting
- CFD trading enables you to speculate on the forex markets with no expiry date on your positions. Like spread betting, there's no stamp duty to pay but gains are liable for CGT in the UK*. Learn more about CFDs.
- MT4 is one of the world’s most used FX trading
platforms and comes with enhanced features exclusively available to City
Index clients. Trade FX with expert advisors, customisable leverage by
market symbol and price tolerance. Read more about MT4.
Forex Trading Example
Going Long on GBP/USD (Sterling/US dollar)
Please be aware that our fixed spread on GBP/USD is 1.5 pips from 8am until 6.30pm GMT. For the purposes of this example, we have used a 2 pip spread.
It is the first Friday of the month and let’s assume that GBP/USD is currently trading at 1.5686/1.5688.
Traders are concerned about the employment situation in the US. They expect the level of actual non-farm payrolls to come in worse than economist estimates.
You expect that the US dollar will weaken and the British pound will strengthen against the US dollar, and decide to buy (go long) £10,000 on GBP/USD at 1.5688.
The trade size is in units of the first, or base, currency in the pair. For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 50:1.
This requires an initial deposit of (£10,000*1.5688/50) $313.76. Find out more about Leverage.
As you anticipated, the pound strengthens against the dollar, and when it reaches 1.5750 you decide to cash in your profits. Our new price is 1.5750/1.5752 and you sell to close at 1.5750.
Result: You bought at 1.5688 and sold at 1.5750, a rise of 62 pips. This gives you a profit of:
(1.5750 – 1.5688) x 10,000 = $62.
Profit/Loss is calculated (and denominated) in the second, or counter currency of the pair.
Profit/Loss calculation: The difference between the closing price and opening price x size of trade.
Alternative scenario: If however, the actual non-farm payroll data had come in better-than-expected, the US dollar would have strengthened against the pound.
If GBP/USD would have gone down, say, to 1.5630 you would lose (1.5688 - 1.5630) x 10,000 = $58.
Profit/Loss Conversion: To help simplify the trading process, City Index automatically converts trading P&L into the client’s denominated account currency at the prevailing market rate at the time that the trade is closed.
Going short on EUR/USD (Euro/US dollar)
It is mid-July, and let’s say that EUR/USD is trading at 1.3360/1.3361.
Investors remain worried about the impact of the sovereign debt crisis and you expect the euro will fall against the US dollar. You decide to sell (go short) €10,000 on EUR/USD at 1.3360.
For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 20:1. This requires an initial deposit of (€10,000*1.3360/20) $668.00.
You were right. Euro depreciates against the dollar to 1.3251 and you decide to close your trade and take your profits. Our new price is 1.3250/1.3251 and you buy to close at 1.3251.
Result: You sold at 1.3360 and bought at 1.3251, a fall of 109 pips, giving you a profit of: (1.3360 - 1.3251) x 10,000 = $109.
Alternative scenario: If however, a weaker dollar across the board overnight had pushed the Euro up by 130 points to 1.3490, you would have lost (1.3490 – 1.3360) x 10,000 = $130.
Going long on USD/JPY (US dollar/Japanese yen)
It is mid-March 2011 and USD/JPY is trading at 96.39/96.40.The Japanese yen has surged since its worst earthquake in history due to high demand for yen as international businesses attempt to redevelop the devastated areas.
You believe that the yen is too strong and will fall back against the US dollar, i.e. the US dollar will strengthen against the yen. You decide to buy (go long) $10,000 on USD/JPY at 96.40.
For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 25:1. This requires an initial deposit of ($10,000*96.40/25) 38,560 yen. As you predicted, USD/ JPY bounces back to 98.66 and you decide to take your profits. Our new price is 98.66/ 98.67. You sell to close at 98.66.
Result: You bought at 96.40 and sold at 98.66, a rise of 226 pips, giving you a profit of: (98.66 – 96.27) x 10,000 = 23900 yen.
Alternative scenario: If the dollar had continued to weaken against the yen, falling further to a record low of, say, 95.25, you would lose (96.40 – 95.25) x 10,000 = 11500 yen.
Going short on USD/CAD (US dollar/Canadian dollar)
It is mid-summer and let’s say USD/CAD is trading at 1.0320/1.0324.A lack of progress in talks aimed at raising the US debt ceiling has weighed down on the US currency.
You expect USD/CAD will decline further and decide to sell (go short) $10,000 on USD/CAD at 1.0320.
You were right. The US dollar continues to weaken against the Canadian dollar and reaches a low of 1.0234. You decided to take your profits at this point. Our new price is 1.0230/1.0234 and you can therefore buy to close at 1.0234.
Result: You sold at 1.0320 and bought at 1.0234, a drop of 86 pips. This gives you a profit of: (1.0320 – 1.0234) x 10,000 = CAD86.
Alternative scenario: If the dollar had bounced back against the Canadian dollar to 1.0400, you would have lost (1.0400 – 1.0320) x 10,000 = CAD80.
Going long on EUR/GBP (Euro/Sterling)
Let’s say EUR/GBP is trading at 0.8850/0.8852 at the moment.Traders are bracing themselves for the worst, ahead of the release of UK Q2 GDP figures.
You expect the pound will depreciate against the Euro, i.e. the Euro will strengthen against the pound, and decide to buy (go long) €10,000 on EUR/GBP at 0.8852.
For this trade, you choose a leverage scale of 20:1. This requires an initial deposit of (€10,000*0.8852/20) £442.60.
As anticipated, the British pound goes down against the Euro. EUR/GBP rises to 0.8880 and you decide to cash in your profits. Our new price is 0.8880/0.8882. You sell to close at 0.8880.
Result: You bought at 0.8852 and sold at 0.8880, an increase of 28 pips. This gives you a profit of: (0.8880 – 0.8852) x 10,000 = £28.
Alternative scenario: The actual UK Q2 growth rate meets expectations, thus pushing the pound up against the euro. EUR/GBP declines to 0.8823. In this case, you would lose (0.8852 - 0.8823) x 10,000 = £29.
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