Brokers and Online Trading: What Does A Broker Do?

Forex broking is invariably an online business in the same manner as trading is much unlike the very early years. Different countries have norms that require forex brokers to register with some governmental agency to begin their broking business upon meeting certain educational and business qualification.

In the United States of America a forex trader must be registered with the Commodity Trading Commission as a Futures Commission Merchant. Futures Commission Merchant, FCM, can be an organization or an individual that accepts and handles futures orders on behalf of clients.

There are over 5000 forex broking institutions which include banks, financial institutions and certain other broking houses which all provide internet based trading facility. The forex brokers do not operate on the commission basis but on what is known as the spread in the community parlance. Spread means the difference amount between the buying and selling price of any currency.

A forex broker, like a stock broker advises the clients on different strategies of trading in foreign currencies along side giving out tips on the hot currencies based on technical analyses and fundamental researches aimed at maximizing the clients’ trading performances. The more seasoned and reputable forex broking houses offer to manage small investors’ trades to reduce exposure to risks with their extensive knowledge and years of experience, of course for an additional fee.

Usually forex brokers facilitate a practice account for no upfront fee payment so that a new trader can gain insights of the market and the features of such trading softwares. Retail investors may, in order that they evaluate different supports and software features, try out practice accounts with a few brokers before they open a final trading account.

Most of the forex broking houses, including the individual brokers, provide what is known as leveraged account facility. The leveraged account means if you paid a deposit amount of, say, US$100 you will get to trade upto an exposure of US$100,000. You may also try out a mini-account which lets you to open and operate forex trading for as low as US$100.

Forex brokers are classified as
1. Market Operators -Large banks, minimum lot size is $1,000,000
2. Small Brokers - Cater mainly to individual traders and settle deals with market makers.
3. Market Makers - Let small brokers and individuals trade with thereabouts of $50,000
4. Kitchens - Scrupulous operators who thrive on the belief that most of the clients lose money and that the revenue of kitchen is the clients’ losses.

Keep in mind, choosing forex brokers is to pay highest importance to your needs than theirs.

By: Jason Uvios