Brokerage

There are many FOREX brokers to choose from. Here are some things to look for: Lower spreads save you money. The spread, calculated in "pips", is the difference between the price at which a currency can be purchased and the price at which it can be sold at any given point in time. FOREX brokers don't charge a commission, so this difference is how they make money. In comparing brokers, you will find that the difference in spreads in FOREX is as great as the difference in commissions in the stock arena. Make sure your broker is backed by a reliable institution. Unlike stock market brokers, FOREX brokers are usually tied to large banks or lending institutions because of the large amounts of capital required (leverage they need to provide). Also, FOREX brokers should be registered with the Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) and regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). You can find this and other financial information and statistics about a FOREX brokerage on its website. Find a broker who will give you what you need. Forex brokers offer many different trading platforms for their clients - just like brokers in other markets. These trading platforms often feature real-time charts, technical analysis tools, real-time news and data, and even support for trading systems. Before committing to any broker, be sure to request free trials to test different trading platforms. Brokers usually also provide technical and fundamental commentaries, economic calendars and other research. Choose the appropriate account type. Many brokers offer two or more types of accounts. The smallest account is known as a mini account and requires you to trade with a minimum of $250, offering a high amount of leverage, which you need in order to make money with so little initial capital. The standard account lets you trade at a variety of different leverages, but it requires a minimum initial capital of $2,000. Finally, premium accounts, which often require significant amounts of capital, let you use different amounts of leverage and often offer additional tools and services.