FXCM Research Team

Both the U.K. and U.S. have made "spoofing" an illegal trading tactic, but why? Learn more about this manipulative strategy and its biggest violators.

The evolution of the financial markets has created an assortment of new questions and challenges for participants. While the core business of an active trader is to buy and sell securities, in recent years the issue of systemic risk has come to the forefront. Whether in the trade of currencies, futures or equities, dramatic volatilities often appear out of nowhere. In the world's capital markets, volatility plays an ever-present role…

In the arena of active trading, a wide range of participants strive to sustain profitability and achieve specific objectives. Whether one is trading equities, futures or currencies, competitors from around the globe implement nearly infinite strategies on a daily basis. One such approach to the marketplace is known as black-box trading. Black-box trading is a rules-based, fully automated method of engaging the financial markets. The term "black-box" alludes to the…

Commonly referred to as the economic lifeblood of a nation, crude oil is a sought-after commodity and popular mode of trade. The global oil markets are premier destinations for traders and investors the world over. Featuring robust liquidity and consistent volatility, oil is an ideal product for individuals interested in capitalising on long- or short-term fluctuations in pricing. While determining crude oil's relative value may be complex, trading it on…

The FIX API is a set of clearly defined rules and methods designed specifically for the electronic transfer of financial data. Developed in 1992 for equities, it has evolved into being one of the industry standards in the markets of securities around the world.

The petroyuan is a crude oil futures contract offered by the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE). It prices crude oil in terms of CNY and is backed by gold. Learn more about the petroyuan at FXCM.

The petrodollar is any U.S. dollar exchanged for oil. Since a 1974 agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, the petrodollar system has been the global standard for the crude oil trade. Accordingly, the U.S. dollar is the official denomination for commerce.

The Volcker rule was implemented in the U.S. in 2013, and was designed as a way to avoid another financial crisis. The rule restricts American banks and foreign banks doing business in the U.S. from specific financial activity. Learn how it works at FXCM.

The Taylor rule was developed to provide guidance to central banks, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, for setting short-term interest rates based on economic conditions, including inflation and the unemployment rate. Learn more about the rule at FXCM.

The Shenzen Stock Exchange (SZSE) is one of the two leading stock exchanges in mainland China. After opening its doors in 1990, the exchange has grown substantially and become the eighth largest in the world. Learn more about the SZSE at FXCM.