Monday, 1 August 2011
U.S.: The labor market lagging behind
The U.S. economy is rebounding, despite some signs of slowdown here and there. In October, the ISM non-manufacturing index was practically unchanged at 50.6. Only one of the four segments of the index declined in the month, while three out of eighteen industries reported some improvement in job numbers. Business activity increased for the third straight month and growth is expected to continue, since both unfilled and new orders moved up for the second straight month supported by the strong export numbers. The manufacturing index rose instead to 55.7 in October. It overcame expectations by growing at the fastest rate in more than three years. Here, again, exports supported the service industry, as thirteen out of eighteen industries performed better than expected. The labor market remains at the contrary the weakest spot. In October, the U.S. economy lost 190,000 positions (-170,000 expected) versus September’s 219,000. The unemployment rate is now at 10.2%, compared to September’s 9.8%. It corresponds to the highest rate of the past 26 years and not to far from the post-war record of 10.8% reached in 1982.
Forex trading margins
A margin deposit is not, as many traditional traders suggest, the payment in cash for purchasing market shares. A margin is in fact a guarantee or a trust deposit, providing protection from losses during a deal? It allows traders to open positions on amounts that greatly exceed their account limits and so increase their buying power. ACM offers a 1% margin (or 1:100 leverage), which means you can control 100 times your deposit in the real market.
If the funds in the account, in the course of trading, fall below the prescribed margin, your positions will be closed automatically without prior notice. Using this system, the client’s account cannot go overdrawn even under volatile, fast-changing market conditions.
The formula for calculating margins is as follows: (account balance + profit/loss) : open position = the margin
If the funds in the account, in the course of trading, fall below the prescribed margin, your positions will be closed automatically without prior notice. Using this system, the client’s account cannot go overdrawn even under volatile, fast-changing market conditions.
The formula for calculating margins is as follows: (account balance + profit/loss) : open position = the margin
Forex currencies quotation system
Currencies are quoted in pairs, for example – EUR/USD or USD/JPY.
The first currency in the pair is called the base currency and the second is called the counter currency.
The base currency is the ‘basis’ for purchases and sales.
For example, if you buy EUR/USD, then you acquire Euros and sell Dollars. You do this if you expect the Euro to grow against the Dollar.
It is also possible for a currency pair to be quoted as USD/EUR, but this method is used extremely rarely.
Each transaction must have 2 sides – a buy and a sell (or a sell and a buy).
By this we mean that it is impossible to buy 100.000 EUR/USD and then exchange it for another currency pair (i.e.: EUR/JPY) without closing the first position.
The first currency in the pair is called the base currency and the second is called the counter currency.
The base currency is the ‘basis’ for purchases and sales.
For example, if you buy EUR/USD, then you acquire Euros and sell Dollars. You do this if you expect the Euro to grow against the Dollar.
It is also possible for a currency pair to be quoted as USD/EUR, but this method is used extremely rarely.
Each transaction must have 2 sides – a buy and a sell (or a sell and a buy).
By this we mean that it is impossible to buy 100.000 EUR/USD and then exchange it for another currency pair (i.e.: EUR/JPY) without closing the first position.
How does the B/S system work?
As with any market, for each currency pair, there are 2 prices. The difference between them is called the spread.
The spread is measured in points or pips – lowest decimal figure in a currency rate.
For a EURUSD a pip equals 0.0001 (or 10 dollars on 100.000), for EURJPY a pip equals 0.01 (or 1000 yen on 100.000).
The spread is measured in points or pips – lowest decimal figure in a currency rate.
For a EURUSD a pip equals 0.0001 (or 10 dollars on 100.000), for EURJPY a pip equals 0.01 (or 1000 yen on 100.000).
Buying/Selling - B/S
If you want to open a position (i.e.: place an order to sell – to make a profit if the exchange rate falls) you have to choose the amount (i.e.: 100.000 EURUSD) from the drop down menu on the platform and then click the mouse on the sell currency button: SELL (if you want to place an order to buy, you should act in reverse).
This will open a position in the market and you will receive an immediate notification of it on your trading station.
To close an open position, you have to do the opposite of the initial operation – in our case buy the 100.000 EURUSD back.
This will open a position in the market and you will receive an immediate notification of it on your trading station.
To close an open position, you have to do the opposite of the initial operation – in our case buy the 100.000 EURUSD back.
How does the foreign exchange market work?
the forex market allows you to buy and sell currencies against each other and speculate on the differences in exchange rates.
Making a transaction on the forex market is simple: the procedures are identical to that of any other market so switching to trading currencies is straightforward for most traders.
Making a transaction on the forex market is simple: the procedures are identical to that of any other market so switching to trading currencies is straightforward for most traders.
Greenback Slumps on Shift to Riskier Assets
he dollar’s respite proved short-lived as traders resumed selling the currency in the Thursday session, pushing it to a fresh one-year low against the Australian dollar at 0.9088 and two-week low against the euro at 1.4816. The equity, commodity and energy markets were in lockstep as spot gold touch record high for its third consecutive session past the $1,055 per ounce level and crude oil edging back above the $70 per barrel level near $72. The major US equity bourses also climbed higher, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq advancing by nearly 1% in the afternoon session.
The economic data released earlier in the session saw weekly jobless claims improve to 521k from 551k a week prior and the August wholesale inventories slip by 1.3% from a 1.4% decline in the previous month. Speaking earlier today was Richmond Fed President Lacker reiterated that the economic outlook remains unchanged from the previous FOMC meeting, adding that the risk of sliding into a recession again in 2010 has diminished substantially. He also quelled speculation of impending rate hikes advising that the Fed should not tighten policy today.
The economic data released earlier in the session saw weekly jobless claims improve to 521k from 551k a week prior and the August wholesale inventories slip by 1.3% from a 1.4% decline in the previous month. Speaking earlier today was Richmond Fed President Lacker reiterated that the economic outlook remains unchanged from the previous FOMC meeting, adding that the risk of sliding into a recession again in 2010 has diminished substantially. He also quelled speculation of impending rate hikes advising that the Fed should not tighten policy today.
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