currency trading

FXMAG.COM: Do you expect any radical moves of EUR/GBP price in the near future? What can cause such fluctuations?  As forex traders keenly observe the EUR/GBP currency pair, there is speculation surrounding the likelihood of substantial price movements in the near future. Examining the underlying factors that can trigger notable fluctuations is essential for making informed decisions in the market.   Macroeconomic indicators, including GDP growth, inflation rates, and employment figures, offer valuable insights into the potential for significant moves in the EUR/GBP price.   Based on the latest available data for Q1 of 2023, Eurozone GDP growth experienced a 1.3% increase, while the UK maintained a stable growth rate of 0.10%. Political developments exert a considerable impact on the EUR/GBP exchange rate. Notably, events such as the recent UK election or updates related to Brexit have proven to be catalysts for volatility.   Staying well-informed about key political developments is crucial, as they can significantly influence the price of this currency pair. Central bank policies play a pivotal role in shaping the EUR/GBP exchange rate.   The European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE) periodically announce monetary policy decisions that affect this currency pair. It is important to keep a close watch on interest rate adjustments, quantitative easing programs, and forward guidance statements.   As of the latest interest rate decision on February 2, 2023, the ECB maintained rates at 3%, while the BoE held rates at 4.5% with a slight increase of 0.25% on May 11, 2023. Global economic trends and market sentiment can also influence the EUR/GBP price.   Trade relations between the Eurozone and the UK, as well as global economic conditions, can cause significant fluctuations. Monitoring geopolitical events, risk appetite indicators, and market sentiment can provide valuable insights into potential radical moves in this currency pair.   Predicting significant shifts in the EUR/GBP price is a complex task. However, analysing key factors such as macroeconomic indicators, political developments, central bank policies, and global economic trends can enhance your understanding of potential fluctuations. As of the latest available data on May 23, 2023, at 12:51, the EUR/GBP exchange rate stands at 0.87057. Stay well-informed about the latest news and events to navigate the market effectively and make informed trading decisions.

GBP/USD: Yesterday, the British pound tried to fall below the MACD line on the daily chart but was pushed back up towards the resistance level at 1.2443. The signal line of the Marlin oscillator is moving up along with the price but is providing noticeable resistance to this movement.     A consolidation above 1.2443 with the oscillator transitioning into positive territory can potentially lead the price to the target level of 1.2583. At the moment, a new level has formed at yesterday's low of 1.2367 (coinciding with the April 21 low, where there was also a sharp rebound). Falling below this level will open up the target of 1.2273. The bearish scenario persists     On the four-hour chart, the price has bounced off the support of the MACD indicator line. Currently, the price is consolidating near the level of 1.2443.   The Marlin oscillator is in the downtrend area. Here, the earliest bearish signal is also the support level at 1.2367, reinforced by the MACD line. We await further developments.          

Expect the US dollar rally to extend    The US dollar broadly weakened across the board, helping majors to take some breather. The dollar index fell back towards its 200-DMA, the EURUSD settles above the 1.09 mark this morning, while Cable bulls eye a further rise toward the 50-DMA, which stands a touch below the 1.28 level. But looking at the US dollar and the real yields, the end of last year's dollar really coincides with a peak in 10-year real yield. Both started retreating in Q3 of last year. The dollar retreated relatively faster. And now that the real yields are on the rise again, there is little reason to keep the USD on a bearish trend for the months ahead.   The dollar rally which started by mid-July should further develop, and there is significant room for further correction before we could technically call the end of the dollar's bearish trend. In numbers, the dollar index will still be in a bearish trend below the 105.40 mark. Until that level is reached, investors don't have much to lose for jumping on the back of a bull.  

The Japanese yen faced considerable losses on Monday as USD/JPY surged to 146.23 during the North American session, marking a 0.57% increase for the day. The US dollar's strength has propelled it dangerously close to pushing the yen below the critical 146 line, a scenario witnessed last week when the robust US dollar drove the struggling yen to a nine-month low. Once synonymous with deflation, the Japanese economy has undergone a significant transformation in the era of high global inflation. With Japan's inflation hovering slightly above 3%, a level that many major central banks would eagerly welcome, the landscape has shifted. Notably, inflation remains relatively high by Japanese standards, as both headline and core inflation have consistently outpaced the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) 2% target. Japan's inflation data is closely scrutinized as the prospect of elevated inflation sparks speculations that the BoJ might need to tighten its lenient policy stance. Although the central bank has maintained that the high inflation is transitory, it's worth remembering that other central banks have made similar claims only to backtrack later. The Federal Reserve (Fed) and the European Central Bank (ECB) come to mind as examples. In the previous week, July's Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained steady at 3.3% year-on-year, while Core CPI experienced a slight dip to 3.1% year-on-year from the previous 3.3%. Looking ahead, Tuesday brings the release of BoJ Core CPI, the central bank's favored inflation metric, which is projected to decrease to 2.7% for July, down from June's 3.0%.   USD/JPY pushes above 146 line Bank of Japan’s Core CPI is expected to ease to 2.7% The Japanese yen has posted significant losses on Monday. USD/JPY is trading at 146.23 in the North American session, up 0.57% on the day. The US dollar has looked sharp and is within a whisker of pushing the yen below the 146 line, as was the case last week when the strong US dollar pushed the ailing yen to a nine-month low. The Japanese economy was once synonymous with deflation, but that has changed in the era of high global inflation. Japan’s inflation is slightly above 3%, a level that other major central banks would take in a heartbeat. Still, inflation is relatively high by Japanese standards and both headline and core inflation have persistently been above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. Japan’s inflation reports are carefully monitored as higher inflation has raised speculation that the BoJ will have to tighten its loose policy. The central bank has insisted that high inflation is transient, but the BoJ wouldn’t be the first bank to make that claim and then backtrack with its tail between its legs. Remember the Fed and the ECB? Last week, July’s CPI remained unchanged at 3.3% y/y. Core CPI dropped to 3.1% y/y, down from 3.3%. On Tuesday, Japan releases BoJ Core CPI, the central bank’s preferred inflation gauge, which is expected to dip to 2.7% in July, down from 3.0% in June. China’s economic troubles have sent the Chinese yuan sharply lower, with the Chinese currency falling about 5% this year against the US dollar. A weak yuan makes Chinese exports more attractive, but this is at the expense of other exporters including Japan. As a result, there is pressure in Japan to lower the value of the yen in order to compete with Chinese exports.   USD/JPY Technical USD/JPY pushed above resistance at 145.54 earlier today. The next resistance line is 146.41 There is support at 144.51 and 143.64    

The euro started the week on a stable note, with little response to the eurozone inflation report released on Friday. In the North American session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0886, reflecting a minor increase of 0.13%. Given the sparse data calendar for Monday, it is expected that the euro will maintain its calm trajectory for the rest of the day. Eurozone Inflation Trends: Headline Falls, Core Remains Unchanged The past week concluded with a eurozone inflation report that brought about a mixed reaction. The euro displayed minimal volatility in response to the data. The headline inflation rate for June was confirmed at 5.3% year-on-year (y/y), down from 5.5% in the previous month. This decline marked the lowest level observed since January 2022, primarily driven by a drop in energy prices.     Markets show little reaction to Friday’s eurozone inflation report Headline inflation falls but core rate unchanged The euro is steady at the start of the week. In the North American session, EUR/USD is trading at 1.0886, up 0.13%. With a very light data calendar on Monday, I expect the euro to remain calm for the remainder of the day.   Eurozone headline inflation falls, core inflation unchanged The week ended with a mixed inflation report out of the eurozone and the euro showed little reaction. Inflation was confirmed at 5.3% y/y in June, down from 5.5% in June. This marked the lowest level since January 2022 and was driven by a decline in energy prices. Core CPI remained unchanged at 5.5% in July, confirming the initial reading. The news was less encouraging from services inflation, which rose from 5.4% to 5.6% with strong wage growth driving the upswing. The labour market remains tight and inflation is still high, which suggests that wage pressure will continue to increase. Inflation has been moving in the right direction but core inflation and services inflation remain sticky and are raising doubts, within the ECB and outside, if the central bank’s aggressive tightening cycle can bring inflation back to the 2% target. The deposit rate stands at 3.75%, its highest level since 2000. The ECB’s primary goal is to curb inflation but policy makers cannot ignore that additional rate hikes could tip the weak eurozone economy into a recession. The ECB meets next on September 14th and there aren’t many key releases ahead of the meeting. ECB President Lagarde has said that all options are open and investors will be listening to any comments coming out of the ECB, looking for clues as to whether the ECB will raise rates next month or take a pause.   EUR/USD Technical EUR/USD tested resistance at 1.0893 earlier. Above, there is resistance at 1.0940 There is support at 1.0825 and 1.0778    

The CHF is the second-best performing major currency against the USD based on a one-month rolling basis. The recent four weeks of up move of USD/CHF has flashed out bullish exhaustion conditions that advocate the potential continuation of its medium-term impulsive down move. 0.8800/8830 is the key resistance zone to watch on the USD/CHF. In the past four weeks, the Swiss Franc (CHF) is the second best-performing major currency against the USD where the CHF just depreciated by -1.40% with the GBP that has come in the first place (-0.67% against the USD) based on a one-month rolling calculation as of 22 August 2023 at this time of the writing.         Fig 1:  Rolling 1-month performance of USD against major currencies as of 22 August 2023 (Source: TradingView, click to enlarge chart) In the lens of technical analysis, the rally of +269 pips that was seen on the USD/CHF from its 27 July 2023 low of 0.8553 to the recent 21 August 2023 high of 0.8828 is likely to be a corrective rebound within a medium-term downtrend that is still intact since its 8 March 2023 due to the emergence of several bullish exhaustion elements.     Daily bearish candlestick emerged right at descending channel resistance     Fig 2:  USD/CHF medium-term trend as of 22 Aug 2023 (Source: TradingView, click to enlarge chart) Yesterday’s price action of USD/CHF has staged a bearish reaction right at the upper boundary of the medium-term descending channel that coincides with the downward-sloping 50-day moving average with both acting as a confluence of resistance at 0.8830.     Started to evolve into a minor downtrend     Fig 3:  USD/CHF minor short-term trend as of 22 Aug 2023 (Source: TradingView, click to enlarge chart) Since its 21 August 2023 high of 0.8828, the price actions of USD/CHF have started to oscillate into a minor downtrend in a series of “lower highs and lower lows”. Watch the 0.8800 key short-term pivotal resistance a break below 0.8755 near-term support (also the 20-day moving average) exposing the next support at 0.8700 (minor swing lows of 4/10 August 2023) in the first step. On the flip side, a clearance above 0.8800 negates the bearish tone to set sight again on the 0.8830 medium-term resistance.      

GBP: Table top mountain The UK rates curve softened by 9-10bp yesterday on comments by Bank of England Chief Economist Huw Pill, that the policy rate profile would look more like a "table mountain" – the inference here is that high rates would be kept for longer than the need to take rates much higher per se. However, the market still prices another 50bp of tightening into next year, which is 25bp too much in our opinion. The risk of re-pricing looks greater for the BoE than the ECB curve and keeps us positive on EUR/GBP. Levels in the 0.8500/8550 area should be good for corporates to hedge GBP receivables or EUR payables.  

Analysis of transactions and tips for trading EUR/USD Further decline became limited because the test of 1.0681 coincided with the sharp downward move of the MACD line from zero. This happened even though several Fed representatives hinted at the possible continuation of the rate hike cycle and the lesser chance of a reduction in borrowing costs. Today, CPI data for Germany and retail sales report for the eurozone will come out, but it will not have much impact on the market. Instead, the speech of ECB Executive Board member Philip Lane will generate interest, as well as the speech of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.     For long positions: Buy when euro hits 1.0700 (green line on the chart) and take profit at the price of 1.0730. Growth will occur after protecting the support at 1.0680. However, when buying, make sure that the MACD line lies above zero or rises from it. Euro can also be bought after two consecutive price tests of 1.0681, but the MACD line should be in the oversold area as only by that will the market reverse to 1.0700 and 1.0730. For short positions: Sell when euro reaches 1.0681 (red line on the chart) and take profit at the price of 1.0656. Pressure will increase after an unsuccessful attempt to hit the daily high, as well as weak data from the eurozone. However, when selling, make sure that the MACD line lies under zero or drops down from it. Euro can also be sold after two consecutive price tests of 1.0700, but the MACD line should be in the overbought area as only by that will the market reverse to 1.0681 and 1.0656.     What's on the chart: Thin green line - entry price at which you can buy EUR/USD Thick green line - estimated price where you can set Take-Profit (TP) or manually fix profits, as further growth above this level is unlikely. Thin red line - entry price at which you can sell EUR/USD Thick red line - estimated price where you can set Take-Profit (TP) or manually fix profits, as further decline below this level is unlikely. MACD line- it is important to be guided by overbought and oversold areas when entering the market   Important: Novice traders need to be very careful when making decisions about entering the market. Before the release of important reports, it is best to stay out of the market to avoid being caught in sharp fluctuations in the rate. If you decide to trade during the release of news, then always place stop orders to minimize losses. Without placing stop orders, you can very quickly lose your entire deposit, especially if you do not use money management and trade large volumes.

The world of foreign exchange, more commonly known as Forex, is a dynamic and intricate marketplace where currencies are traded globally. At the helm of this vast financial ecosystem are Forex brokers, playing a pivotal role in facilitating transactions and providing a gateway for traders to navigate the turbulent waters of the currency market. Understanding the Forex Broker: A Key Player in the Market A Forex broker acts as an intermediary between retail traders and the interbank forex market. Essentially, they link buyers with sellers and vice versa, executing trades on behalf of their clients. While the concept may seem straightforward, the significance of a Forex broker in the trading process cannot be overstated.   The Forex Broker's Functionality: More Than Just a Middleman 1. Execution of Trades One of the primary functions of a Forex broker is to execute trades swiftly and efficiently. With the click of a button, traders can buy or sell currency pairs, capitalizing on market fluctuations. The efficiency of this process relies heavily on the broker's technological infrastructure. 2. Market Analysis and Research Tools To navigate the intricate Forex market successfully, traders rely on accurate and up-to-date information. Forex brokers often provide a suite of tools and resources, including real-time charts, technical analysis, and market research, enabling traders to make informed decisions. 3. Leverage and Margin Facilities Forex trading often involves leveraging, allowing traders to control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital. Brokers provide leverage, but it's essential for traders to use it judiciously, as it amplifies both potential gains and losses. 4. Risk Management Services Managing risk is a critical aspect of Forex trading. Experienced brokers offer risk management tools such as stop-loss orders to help traders limit potential losses and protect their capital.     Selecting the Right Broker: Navigating the List of Forex Brokers Given the crucial role Forex brokers play, selecting the right one is paramount for traders. The internet is flooded with a myriad of options, making the process seem overwhelming. To streamline this decision-making, traders often refer to a list of Forex brokers – a comprehensive directory that outlines the key features and offerings of various brokers. Considerations When Choosing a Forex Broker: Regulation and Compliance: Ensure the broker is regulated by a reputable financial authority, enhancing trust and security. Trading Platform: Assess the broker's trading platform for user-friendliness, stability, and the availability of essential tools. Transaction Costs: Evaluate the broker's fee structure, including spreads, commissions, and overnight financing costs. Customer Support: Responsive customer support is invaluable. Test their responsiveness before committing to a broker. Educational Resources: A good broker provides educational resources to empower traders with knowledge.   Conclusion: Sailing Smoothly with the Right Forex Broker In the vast sea of Forex trading, a reliable broker acts as a compass, guiding traders through the complexities and helping them navigate market trends. The importance of due diligence when selecting a broker cannot be emphasized enough. By referring to a well-researched "list of Forex brokers" and considering the key factors mentioned, traders can set sail confidently into the world of Forex, armed with the support they need to navigate and succeed in this dynamic market.    

Analysis of transactions and tips for trading GBP/USD The test of 1.2449 took place when the MACD line moved downward from zero, prompting a signal to sell. This resulted in a price decrease of over 50 pips. The sharp decline in UK inflation led to a sell-off in pound in the morning. Then, it intensified after the release of strong retail sales data from the US. The empty macroeconomic calendar today will give pound the chance of continuing its decline in line with yesterday's trend. Meanwhile, the speech of Bank of England MPC member Swati Dhingra will not have much impact to the market.     For long positions: Buy when pound hits 1.2402 (green line on the chart) and take profit at the price of 1.2449 (thicker green line on the chart). Growth will occur as long as the daily low remains protected. When buying, ensure that the MACD line lies above zero or just starts to rise from it. Pound can also be bought after two consecutive price tests of 1.2385, but the MACD line should be in the oversold area as only by that will the market reverse to 1.2402 and 1.2449. For short positions: Sell when pound reaches 1.2385 (red line on the chart) and take profit at the price of 1.2337. Pressure will continue until trading goes below today's high. When selling, ensure that the MACD line lies below zero or drops down from it. Pound can also be sold after two consecutive price tests of 1.2402,, but the MACD line should be in the overbought area as only by that will the market reverse to 1.2385 and 1.2337.     What's on the chart: Thin green line - entry price at which you can buy GBP/USD Thick green line - estimated price where you can set Take-Profit (TP) or manually fix profits, as further growth above this level is unlikely. Thin red line - entry price at which you can sell GBP/USD Thick red line - estimated price where you can set Take-Profit (TP) or manually fix profits, as further decline below this level is unlikely. MACD line- it is important to be guided by overbought and oversold areas when entering the market Important: Novice traders need to be very careful when making decisions about entering the market. Before the release of important reports, it is best to stay out of the market to avoid being caught in sharp fluctuations in the rate. If you decide to trade during the release of news, then always place stop orders to minimize losses. Without placing stop orders, you can very quickly lose your entire deposit, especially if you do not use money management and trade large volumes. And remember that for successful trading, you need to have a clear trading plan. Spontaneous trading decision based on the current market situation is an inherently losing strategy for an intraday trader.  

CAD: Macklem turns dovish The Canadian dollar is lagging other pro-cyclical currencies at the start of this week after Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said in a TV interview yesterday that he expects rates to be cut next year. This is a surprise statement by Macklem, who only two weeks ago reiterated the hawkish bias in the BoC policy statement. Offering a timeline for rate cuts appears inconsistent with the BoC's claim that it “remains prepared to raise the policy rate further if needed” and likely validates the market’s pricing for 100bp of easing next year – despite Macklem’s caveats on the disinflation progress. Despite our view of a dollar decline and outperformance of pro-cyclical currencies next year, we expect the Canadian dollar to underperform other commodity currencies as the BoC cuts rates aggressively (we estimate 150bp in 2024) on a grim economic outlook and as the loonie suffers from its correlation with US economic data.

COT reports on the British pound show that the sentiment of commercial traders has been changing quite frequently in recent months. The red and green lines, representing the net positions of commercial and non-commercial traders, often intersect and, in most cases, are not far from the zero mark. According to the latest report on the British pound, the non-commercial group closed 10,000 buy contracts and 4,200 short ones. As a result, the net position of non-commercial traders decreased by 5,800 contracts in a week. Since bulls currently don't have the advantage, we believe that the pound will not be able to sustain the upward movement for long . The fundamental backdrop still does not provide a basis for long-term purchases on the pound.   The non-commercial group currently has a total of 58,800 buy contracts and 44,700 sell contracts. Since the COT reports cannot make an accurate forecast of the market's behavior right now, and the fundamentals are practically the same for both currencies, we can only assess the technical picture and economic reports. The technical analysis suggests that we can expect a strong decline, and the economic reports have also been significantly stronger in the United States for quite some time now.   On the 1H chart, GBP/USD is making every effort to correct lower, but the uptrend remains intact. We believe that the British pound doesn't have any good reason to strengthen in the long-term. Therefore, at the very least, we expect the pair to return to the level of 1.2513. However, there are currently no sell signals, so the uptrend is still intact. On Tuesday, there are few reasons for the pair to show volatile movements. We may see a flat phase, a downtrend, or an uptrend (intraday), so we need to purely rely on technical analysis. We expect the pound to consolidate below the trendline, and in that case, we can consider selling while aiming for the Senkou Span B line. A n upward movement is theoretically possible today, but we see no reason for it, so you shouldn't consider buying at the moment. As of January 2, we highlight the following important levels: 1.2215, 1.2269, 1.2349, 1.2429-1.2445, 1.2513, 1.2605-1.2620, 1.2726, 1.2786, 1.2863, 1.2981-1.2987. The Senkou Span B line (1.2646) and the Kijun-sen (1.2753) lines can also be sources of signals. Don't forget to set a breakeven Stop Loss to breakeven if the price has moved in the intended direction by 20 pips. The Ichimoku indicator lines may move during the day, so this should be taken into account when determining trading signals. Today, the UK and the US will release their second estimates of business activity indices in the manufacturing sector for December. These are not significant reports so it is unlikely for traders to react to them. Description of the chart: Support and resistance levels are thick red lines near which the trend may end. They do not provide trading signals; The Kijun-sen and Senkou Span B lines are the lines of the Ichimoku indicator, plotted to the 1H timeframe from the 4H one. They provide trading signals; Extreme levels are thin red lines from which the price bounced earlier. They provide trading signals; Yellow lines are trend lines, trend channels, and any other technical patterns; Indicator 1 on the COT charts is the net position size for each category of traders; Indicator 2 on the COT charts is the net position size for the Non-commercial group.  

In the world of forex trading, it's essential to grasp the concepts of lots, mini lots, and micro lots before diving into the market. Let's break down these fundamental terms to provide a comprehensive understanding for both novice and experienced traders. What is a Lot? Forex trading involves currency pairs, such as EUR/USD. The value of a currency pair, say EUR/USD at 1.1500, implies that to hold 1 euro, you need to spend 1.15 dollars. Transactions involve buying one currency while selling the other. Lots are units used to measure the amount of money invested in a specific currency pair. One lot equals 100,000 units of the base currency. For instance, buying 100,000 euros against dollars is referred to as purchasing 1 lot of EUR/USD. It's crucial to note the existence of leverage in forex trading, allowing investors to trade more significant amounts than the funds available. With a 1:100 leverage, possessing only 1,000 USD enables trading with 100,000 USD. Mini Lots and Micro Lots While a standard lot is the basic trading unit, traders have the flexibility to open positions in smaller increments. This leads us to the concepts of mini lots and micro lots. Mini Lot: One-tenth of a standard lot, equal to 10,000 units of the base currency. Micro Lot: The smallest tradable amount at most brokers, constituting 1/100 of a lot or 1,000 units of the base currency. Especially for beginners, starting with micro lots is advisable before advancing to mini and standard lots. Lot in Trading Practice With this knowledge, let's delve into a practical example of buying and selling currencies. Consider the EUR/USD pair, assuming an upward trend. Opting to buy 1 lot of EUR/USD at a rate of 1.1505/1.1537 with a target at 1.1880 and a protective stop order at 1.1450, we can calculate the potential profit. In summary: EUR/USD: 1.1505/1.1537 Ask: 1.1537 Take Profit: 1.1880 Stop Loss: 1.1450 Calculating potential profit for 1 lot: (1.1880−1.1537)×10���=3430���(1.1880−1.1537)×10USD=3430USD For a mini lot, the profit would be 343 USD, and for a micro lot, it would be 34.30 USD. Considering potential loss in this example: (1.1537−1.1505)×10���=320���(1.1537−1.1505)×10USD=320USD The loss for a mini lot would be 32 USD, and for a micro lot, it would be 3.20 USD. As illustrated, trading volume significantly impacts both potential gains and losses. Beginning with smaller volumes allows traders to consider not only potential profits but also potential losses, fostering a prudent approach to forex trading.

Forex trading revolves around currency pairs, and a closer examination of a popular pair like EUR/USD provides valuable insights. If the exchange rate for the euro to the dollar is, for instance, 1.1500, it implies that acquiring 1 euro requires an expenditure of 1.15 dollars. In practical terms, initiating a buy order for EUR/USD involves purchasing euros while selling dollars, and vice versa. This fundamental interplay between two currencies defines a currency pair. A "lot" serves as the yardstick for quantifying the amount of money invested when trading a particular currency pair. It denotes a transaction valued at 100,000 units of the base currency. For instance, envision a scenario where you wish to buy 100,000 euros using dollars, designating it as a purchase of 1 lot of EUR/USD. The base currency always takes the lead in the pair, with the second currency being the quote currency. This pairing illustrates the amount of the quote currency needed to obtain a single unit of the base currency. Crucially, the forex market incorporates a financial leverage feature, allowing traders to invest amounts exceeding their account balances. With a leverage ratio of 1:100, a trader possessing only $1,000 can engage in transactions equivalent to $100,000. Mini Lots and Micro Lots While a standard lot provides the baseline unit for trading, traders aren't constrained to opening positions solely with a minimum value of 1 lot. Enter the concepts of "mini lots" and "micro lots." A mini lot equals 1/10 of a standard lot, translating to 10,000 units of the base currency. Conversely, a micro lot represents the smallest tradable amount at most brokers, constituting 1/100 of a standard lot or 1,000 units of the base currency. Especially for beginners, venturing into trading with micro lots is often recommended before progressing to mini or standard lots. In Practice: Calculating Profits and Losses Armed with this knowledge, let's analyze a hypothetical trade in the EUR/USD pair. Suppose a bullish trend prompts a decision to buy 1 lot of EUR/USD at a rate of 1.1505/1.1537, with a profit target set at 1.1880 and a protective stop order at 1.1450. In this scenario, each pip movement – the smallest price change – equates to $10 for a 100,000 EUR/USD transaction. The potential profit calculation involves considering the difference between the entry and target prices, resulting in a pip movement of 343 pips and a potential profit of $3,430. Scaling down to a mini lot, the potential profit would be $343, while for a micro lot, it would amount to $34.30. Conversely, evaluating potential losses for a standard lot entails examining the difference between the entry and stop-loss prices, amounting to a loss of $320 for this trade. For a mini lot, the loss would be $32, and for a micro lot, it would be $3.20. Conclusion: Trading Wisdom This brief exploration underscores that, beyond the allure of potential profits, traders must conscientiously consider potential losses when determining the size of their transactions. Beginning with smaller volumes, such as micro lots, allows traders to acclimate themselves to the intricacies of forex trading, mitigating risks and fostering a more sustainable approach to market participation. In conclusion, the understanding of lots is an integral aspect of a trader's journey, contributing not only to effective risk management but also to the overall comprehension of trade dynamics. As traders navigate the forex market, the judicious selection of lot sizes aligns with the principles of strategic trading, ensuring a balance between risk and reward in this intricate financial landscape.    

ECB leaves rates on hold Lagarde still eyeing summer rate cut EURUSD consolidating after correction The European Central Bank left interest rates on hold on Thursday and claimed inflation is progressing towards its target while giving no clear guidance on when interest rates will start falling. We came into the new year with markets pricing in a March rate cut and that is now looking increasingly difficult. Even with a late pivot – which was always likely the strategy of the central bank – policymakers would have to signal that a rate cut is a live possibility over the next six weeks in appearances made between meetings. That’s not impossible but it’s arguably not particularly transparent. The data is unlikely to surprise to that degree. President Christine Lagarde and some colleagues have previously indicated a rate cut in summer may be appropriate but investors are not convinced we’ll have to wait that long. Lagarde stuck with that today while suggesting demand was weaker, as is the economy, and inflation is falling. Perhaps this is her way of leaving the door slightly ajar for March or maybe the usual lack of clear guidance has left everyone desperately looking for something that isn’t there. I get the feeling Lagarde and her colleagues wanted to give absolutely nothing away today, instead opting for an array of vague, uninformative statements that buy them six more weeks before they may have to say or do something. A bullish correction or sideways continuation?   The euro has drifted lower after the announcement and press conference but it hasn’t broken out of the range it’s traded in over the last week or so. EURUSD Daily Source – OANDA The correction we’ve seen since the turn of the year appears to be running on fumes but there’s still a question of whether this is just that, and will turn higher and look to break the highs, or just a continuation of the longer term sideways trend. There are some important support levels between 1.07 and 1.0850 which could tell us which is the case.