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How Forex Trading Actually Works

How Forex Trading Actually Works

Forex trading sounds complicated at first, but the core idea is simple: you are exchanging one currency for another, aiming to profit from price movements.

Let’s break it down some more.

What Is Forex Trading?

Forex trading is one of the most actively traded financial markets globally. Forex (foreign exchange) trading is the buying and selling of currencies. These currencies are sold or traded in pairs, one against another. For example:

  • EUR/USD (Euro vs US Dollar)
  • GBP/USD (British Pound vs US Dollar)
  • USD/JPY (US Dollar vs Japanese Yen)

When you trade a currency pair, you are:

  • Buying new currency
  • Selling another at the same time

You make a profit if the currency you buy increases in value relative to the one you sell. That is the core idea! Sometimes, you might not be buying or selling currencies – it might be a currency and a metal or other instruments.

These instruments are often grouped under forex trading because they use the same global trading infrastructure and follow the same buy-and-sell concept. Examples are;

  • XAU/USD (Gold vs US Dollar)
  • XAG/USD (Silver vs US Dollar)

How a Forex Trade Works

Consider this: EUR/USD is trading at 1.1000

  • You believe the euro will strengthen
  • You place a buy trade
  • If the price moves to 1.1050, you make a profit
  • If it moves down, you take a loss

What role does a trading platform like GivTrade play?

The platform handles execution, pricing, and settlement in the background. At GivTrade, we do the following:

  • Show live prices
  • Execute your trades
  • Manage margins and leverage
  • Process deposits and withdrawals

This is why platform reliability matters and why GivTrade prioritises execution, customer support, ease of payment and compliance to allow all our clients focus on only their trades. In fast-moving markets, execution speed and system stability directly affect outcomes.

 

The above is quite simple right? You now have a good understanding of how forex actually works in less than 3 minutes!


But, you want more information like, why is it forex markets move? That is a good question.

Forex prices move because of:

  • Interest rate changes
  • Economic data (inflation, jobs, GDP)
  • Global events and market sentiment

Since global currencies are always in demand, the forex market operates usually 24 hours a day, five days a week.


These fundamentals are key to starting your trading experience strongly and positively.

It is also critical to understand that forex trading involves risk. Prices can move quickly, especially during volatile market conditions. We will address risk in another blog. Visit our FAQs to learn more, or explore our blog for beginner trading guides. Also remember to like and subscribe on our social media handles for more forex trading explained nuggets!

Trade forex online with GivTrade, your best forex trading platform.

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