Forex

The foreign currency exchange, or forex (FX), is a decentralised, electronic marketplace. It's the world's single largest trading venue and includes a wide variety of participants from every corner of the earth. Institutional investors, retail traders and liquidity providers engage the forex on a 24/5 basis, generating average daily volumes upwards of US$6 trillion. The robust participation promotes consistent liquidity and volatility, two attributes conducive to the creation of hedging…

Over the course of human history, certain periods of time have proven especially tumultuous. Racial divides, famine, pandemic and political upheaval all pose unique challenges. In some cases, these events stimulate extreme social conflict. From the late-18th century French Revolution to the end of South African aparthied 200 years later, civil unrest has been a disrupter of financial markets, economic systems and the global currency exchange. Although the forex is…

ZARUSD Currency Pair The rand (ZAR) has been the official currency of South Africa since 1961 when the country first became a republic. As the biggest US trade partner in Africa, in 2018 South Africa traded a dual value of US$14 billion. United States is the third-largest trading partner to South Africa, and a dual bilateral trade agreement has been in existence since 1994. History Of ZARUSD In 1789 the…

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, emerging market (EM) currencies faced a collection of unprecedented challenges. As a result, many EM currencies experienced a swift devaluation due to falling commodity prices and a large-scale migration to financial safe-havens. Although renowned for their volatility, these currencies encountered extreme forex turbulence as COVID-19 brought the global economy to a standstill. What Is An Emerging Market Currency? An EM currency is one that…

The South African rand (ZAR) is a free-floating currency, local to Africa's second-largest economy. Operating without a commodity or currency peg, the rand's value is relative to evolving levels of supply and demand. As individuals, banks, corporations and foreign nations stockpile the rand, it appreciates in value. Conversely, a perceived lack of worth depresses demand, leading to bearish pressure being placed on the ZAR's forex performance. According to the Bank…

According to the Bank of International Settlements' (BIS), the foreign exchange market accounts for US$6.6 trillion in aggregate daily turnover. Monies of all types contribute to this enormous figure, making the forex the largest marketplace in the world. Among the most prominent are the major, minor, exotic and commodity currencies. By definition, a commodity currency (also known as "commodity dollar" or "comdoll") is one that exhibits a quantifiable correlation to…

Despite having the second-largest economy in Africa and a wealth of natural resources, South Africa's currency, the rand (ZAR), has been in a nearly 30-year downtrend with some notable peaks and valleys against the U.S. dollar (USD). These have been largely due to seemingly endemic government corruption, frequent electric power outages around the country, a strong USD, and periodic investor uncertainties about emerging markets. Over the past five years or…

Historically, the outbreak of a rapidly spreading and life-threatening virus can quickly send global markets into chaos. Negative economic consequences are typically felt as trade and travel restrictions, as well as increased social welfare costs, spike investor trepidation. 2020 brought a harsh reminder of how devastating a viral outbreak can be with introduction of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Disease Outbreaks And The Markets According to the World Health Organization (WHO),…

As the world's largest financial market, the forex attracts millions of participants from around the globe on a daily basis. The result is a highly liquid, diverse trading venue that caters to the needs of retail and institutional investors alike. Whether you're a forex market newcomer or professional, the ultimate goal of active trade is the same: sustain consistent profitability. So, is it possible to actually make money trading currencies…

Achieving success in the foreign exchange (forex) marketplace can be challenging. Nonetheless, traders from around the globe, both experienced and novice, attempt to do exactly that on a daily basis. Given the above-average failure rate of new entrants to the market, one has to wonder how long-run profitability may be attained via forex trading. Among the many ways that forex participants approach the market is through the application of technical…