FXCM Research Team

The term "fintech" has become a buzzword for companies specialising in the provision of cutting-edge, digital financial services. The sector's modern incarnation may be traced back to the early 1990s and a Citigroup project dubbed the "Financial Services Technology Consortium." At its core, fintech is the promotion of technological cooperation within the world of finance. Although the fintech sector has been around for decades, its presence in the business world…

In the contemporary marketplace, technical analysis is the preferred methodology for countless forex, futures, debt and equities traders. By utilising a vast array of indicators and tools, market technicians attempt to secure profitability by studying price action. Among the most popular devices implemented in technical analysis are chart patterns. A chart pattern is a visually discernible formation in price. Patterns offer insight into past and present market states, and are…

In forex trading, there are many types of orders that traders use to enter and exit the market. Among the most popular are stop, limit and market orders. Each offers unique functionality and a collection of strategic uses. No matter what the trader may be tasked with, it's important to understand how these three order types work and how to maximise their efficiency in live market conditions. The Three Primary…

For active forex traders, properly locating orders is a key part of conducting day-to-day business. Understanding order functionality and how different types impact trade execution is critical to interacting within the market competently. If not, untimely mistakes can lead to lost opportunity, or worse, lost capital. On the buy-side of the equation, there are two order types that market participants need to be familiar with: buy limits and buy stops.…

In forex trading, selecting the proper order type for the job is an important task. No matter if one is a short-term scalper or long-term investor, the way in which the market is entered and exited plays a key role in sustaining profitability. After all, achieving optimal trade execution depends greatly upon how efficiently one interacts with the market itself. Types Of Forex Orders The world's financial markets are competitive…

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…

Within the financial markets, there are a wide variety of participants whose primary goal is to make money. While brokerage firms, retail traders and institutional capital outlets all hope to achieve sustainable profitability, one group also seeks influence. Known as activist investors, such entities engage the markets to invoke corporate and sectoral change. What Is An Activist Investor? Activist investors are entities that tactically focus their capital to gain control…

The U.S. presidential election of 2020 was a hotly-contested battle between two candidates with very different ideologies. Among the key areas of contrast were views toward climate change and energy production. Accordingly, the electoral cycle was defined by conflicting policies from pro-energy incumbent President of the United States (POTUS) Donald Trump and environment-friendly challenger Joe Biden. Upon Biden securing a 306 to 232 victory in the Electoral College, U.S policies…

As an exotic currency, the South African rand (ZAR) has been historically sensitive to world events. One of the primary reasons behind the rand's responsiveness is the lack of consistent market depth. When compared to the global majors and minors, the ZAR typically exhibits a much smaller daily traded volume. According to the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) Triennial Survey 2019, the South African rand accounts for 1% of total…

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, volatility is "a tendency to change quickly and unpredictably." As it pertains to the world of finance, volatility is best described as sudden and significant fluctuations in asset pricing. Periodic volatilities impact the trade of all securities, including forex, futures, debt and equities products. View Live Chart Updates for VOLX To measure the activity in the American equities markets, the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE)…