Recently, I see that more and more traders are starting to switch from Forex to binary options. This is understandable, because it is easier to trade binary options, and profitability, of course, is also higher. In general, I myself gave up Forex in favor of binary options 6 years ago. But since the topic is so relevant now, let's figure out which is better – Forex or binary options, comparing the pros and cons of both types of earnings.Forex and binary options: a brief comparisonGet and sign up: profitabilitySo, let's start our comparison with such an important point as profitability. When trading binary options, the profit ranges from 75 to 95% of the invested investments. In Forex, the profit is unlimited. However, in order to get a high percentage of earnings on Forex, you will have to correctly predict large price fluctuations, whereas only 1 point is enough on binary options. I think there is no need to explain that binary options trading is more profitable in the long run.Read more: What are binary options?Is risk a noble cause? What is the difference between Forex and binary options?The next difference between binary options and forex is the risks themselves. Forex trading involves constant manual work with risks due to the correct placement of orders for opening and closing transactions (stop losses and take profits). On the one hand, this is convenient, since it is always possible to rearrange orders and wait for the very moment when it will be possible to make a profit or breakeven… But on the other hand, as a rule, a Forex trader needs to have an impressive deposit in order to withstand long drawdowns. In addition, the trader is constantly experiencing psychological pressure (whether he closed the deal on time, whether he placed orders correctly, etc.). It is also important to say that traders who do not have large deposits are forced to use the broker's leverage, which multiplies not only the profits received, but also, of course, losses.Binary options brokers relieve traders of psychological responsibility for placing orders. It is enough for a trader to decide on:the size of the bet (as a rule, its size ranges from $5 to $25),the end time of the transaction.Thus, all work with risks consists in trading with a minimum percentage of the deposit. So, in fact, Forex differs from binary options only by a risk management system. It is not enough for a forex trader to open a deal in the right direction, he also needs to calculate how many points the chart will pass and where to put a stop loss / take profit correctly.Read more: What is Forex in simple wordsAnalysis is the mainThe same tools are used for analysis and forecasting in both types of trading: indicators, news, volumes, price patterns, etc. It turns out that, other things being equal, it is easier to do analysis for binary options, since it is enough to correctly predict only the direction of the price. In Forex, in addition to the direction, as I wrote above, you need to determine the approximate number of points in order to correctly place orders to close transactions.Time is moneyThis point can be interpreted in two ways. For someone, it is important how much time trading takes in total, for someone this moment is not fundamental. In any case, it is clear that Forex takes much more time than binary options. After all, you need to constantly work with orders to influence the outcome of the transaction.Number of assetsThe most popular assets on binary options and Forex are currency pairs and precious metals (in particular, EUR/USD and Gold). However, if the choice is limited for a Forex trader, then a binary options trader has alternative options. This:stocks,indexes,futures,the so-called "pairs" (the ratio of shares of one company to shares of another, for example: google/apple).Thus, a larger number of potentially profitable trades will be available to you on binary options.Read more: What is a spread in trading Forex and stocksOnce again about money: commissions and spreadsActually, the difference between Forex and binary options is also the trading conditions themselves. Forex traders must necessarily pay the broker the spread from each open transaction. What is a spread? The spread is the difference between the purchase price of an asset (bid) and the sale price of an asset (ask) (roughly speaking, the same difference can be seen at any currency exchange point). At the same time, traders do not pay any commissions to the binary options broker, either from investments or profits.Lend a shoulder to a friend: leverageA very important point, in my opinion. Applies only to Forex, but nevertheless it is important to pronounce it. The minimum lot (financial contract) on Forex is $100,000. Naturally, an ordinary person cannot start trading with such amounts. In this regard, the Forex broker is ready to provide its clients with leverage. For example, with a deposit of $1,000, the broker is ready to "add" $99,000 to the trader so that he can enter the market. However, the broker will not risk his money, instead he will limit the maximum amount of losses on the account to 1% (the same $ 1000). What does this lead to? To the fact that traders often start trading large lots and quickly lose money.What to choose, forex or binary options?So, binary options or still Forex? My answer to this question will not be objective, because I made my choice a long time ago. For those who have not yet decided, I can give one piece of advice – decide for yourself which type of trading is most suitable for you. It is difficult to predict in advance which method or strategy will bring the greatest profit, but one thing I can say for sure - binary options today provide the lowest entry barriers to the world of trading, making it simple and accessible to everyone. And a large number of binary options brokers allows everyone to find the most convenient platform for themselves. By the way, some brokers have forex simulators built into the platform.Well, I suggest that all novice traders read the article about the main mistakes that beginners make in trading.Read more: Forex or Binary Options? The difference between Binary Options and ...
EUR/USD: the Bank of Italy insists on revising interest rate policyThe EUR/USD pair shows mixed dynamics, holding near the 1.0590 level. Trading activity remains elevated, but market participants have not decided on the direction of the trend after the growth recorded at the beginning of the week.Yesterday's macroeconomic statistics from the eurozone failed to provide significant support for the euro, which continues to trade near local highs due to the weakening of the dollar. In October, the core consumer price index in the region increased by 0.2% month-on-month and 2.7% year-on-year, which coincided with market expectations. The broader indicator also increased by 0.3% and 2.0%, respectively. These data indicate that inflation has stabilized at the target level, which causes uncertainty about the future steps of the European Central Bank (ECB). Particular attention was drawn to statements by the head of the Bank of Italy, Fabio Panetta, who advocated lowering interest rates to support an economy on the verge of stagnation. He noted that delay could lead to inflation falling significantly below the target level, which would complicate its recovery with the help of monetary instruments.The US dollar came under pressure after the publication of weak statistics. In October, the number of construction permits fell to 1.325 million after the September value of 1.430 million, and their volume decreased by 0.6% in percentage terms after a decrease of 3.1% a month earlier. The number of construction starts also decreased by 3.1% after a 1.9% decrease in September. However, a positive factor was the dynamics of the Redbook retail sales index, which accelerated from 4.8% to 5.1% in November. On Friday, S&P Global is scheduled to publish November indices of business activity in the manufacturing sector and the service sector in the United States and the eurozone, which may become key factors for the further movement of the pair.Resistance levels: 1.0600, 1.0630, 1.0665, 1.0700.Support levels: 1.0561, 1.0530, 1.0500, 1.0450.AUD/USD: the attention of market participants is focused on the RBA protocolsThe AUD/USD pair shows a corrective decline, trading around 0.6526, while the Australian currency remains positive, and the US dollar continues to weaken.The day before, the minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meeting on November 5 were published. Representatives of the regulator confirmed that the key challenge for the country's economy is high inflation. Although the overall index shows a decline due to cheaper fuel, core inflation, reflecting long-term trends, continues to grow. According to RBA analysts, it will not return to the target range of 1.0–2.0% before 2026. In the current situation, the growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) remains low, which necessitates maintaining a restraining monetary policy.The RBA left the key interest rate at 4.35%, stressing that the policy of strict borrowing conditions will remain in place until favorable macroeconomic conditions appear. The agency also pointed out that the transition to lower rates is possible only if there is a stable growth in consumption and a significant deterioration in the labor market situation. Experts believe that the regulator's further steps will depend on the dynamics of domestic demand and the state of global economic relations.Resistance levels: 0.6560, 0.6670.Support levels: 0.6490, 0.6400.Silver market analysisIn morning trading, the XAG/USD pair is holding around 31.16, supported by rising gold prices and statements by representatives of the US Federal Reserve.The US central bank continues to adhere to the strategy of easing monetary policy, planning to reduce the key rate by 25 basis points in December. Such a move could strengthen the position of assets competing with the dollar, especially in the long term. A reduction in the interest rate, according to analysts, will lead to a reduction in the debt burden, which will create conditions for expanding production and increasing consumption of industrial metals. According to the forecasts of the Silver Institute, the demand for this metal will reach 700 million ounces in 2024, which corresponds to an annual increase of more than 7%.On the other hand, data from the CME FedWatch Tool indicates a decrease in the probability of a December rate cut: over the past two weeks, it has decreased from 80% to 58.9%. Against the background of this uncertainty, investors may pay more attention to precious metals, which will potentially lead to an increase in their value closer to the Fed meeting.Resistance levels: 31.70, 33.70.Support levels: 30.70, 28.70.Crude Oil market analysisIn the morning, WTI Crude Oil quotes show multidirectional dynamics, trading around the 69.00 mark. The instrument remains near the local highs reached on November 11, but is under pressure from news about a decrease in the supply of hydrocarbons. The Norwegian company Equinor ASA announced a reduction in production at the largest Western European field Johan Sverdrup due to power outages. In turn, the American Chevron announced a temporary limitation of production capacities at the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan in connection with maintenance.Problems in the Chinese economy continue to have an impact on the oil market. Despite the efforts of the authorities, recovery remains limited, and experts from the International Energy Agency (IEA) predict that in 2024 the global surplus of hydrocarbon supply may exceed 1 million barrels per day. The key role in balancing the market will be played by the further policy of OPEC+ regarding the increase in production volumes.Additional pressure on the quotes was exerted by the report of the American Petroleum Institute (API), published the day before. In the week ending November 15, commercial oil reserves unexpectedly increased by 4,753 million barrels, while analysts had forecast an increase of 0.8 million barrels. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is expected to be published today at 17:30 (GMT+2). Preliminary estimates indicate a possible slowdown in stock growth from 2.089 to 0.800 million barrels, which may affect further price dynamics.Resistance levels: 70.00, 71.00, 71.60, 72.17.Support levels: 69.06, 68.15, 67.00, ...
FOREX Fundamental analysis for EUR/USD on November 20, 2024The momentum of the "Trump trade" is weakening, and the growth of geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe is helping to restore the position of EUR/USD.The rapid fall of the euro against the US dollar after the presidential election turned out to be excessive, and by the end of autumn, investors are beginning to show caution.As a result, the steady uptrend of the dollar is facing new challenges.Features of the current situationThe traditional attributes of "Trump trading" - the growth of stock indexes and treasury bond yields, and with them the correlation of currencies — are failing. The escalation of the conflict in Eastern Europe, including the use of American weapons by Ukraine and Russia's revision of its nuclear doctrine, is forcing investors to look for "safe havens". This led to lower bond rates and reduced pressure on the euro. If the threat of a nuclear strike remains only at the level of rhetoric, the situation in the markets is likely to stabilize.And, although Fed Chairman Jerome Powell claims that the election results will not affect monetary policy, history shows the opposite. After Trump's victory in 2016, the Fed began to take into account possible fiscal incentives, which prompted the Fed to tighten monetary policy.Forecasts for DecemberThe probability of a Fed rate cut in December is falling and reached 59.1% against 80% after the publication of inflation data.The European Central Bank (ECB), on the contrary, may go for easing. The chances of reducing the deposit rate by 25 basis points are 77%, and the probability of a more decisive step by 50 basis points is 23%. The head of the Bank of Italy, Fabio Panetta, stressed that the current levels of inflation and weak domestic demand require a transition to a more lenient policy.Trade with ChinaThe decline in the effectiveness of Trump's protectionist policy is manifested in the growth of imports from China. In October, shipments from China to the United States increased by 13%, which is reminiscent of the situation in 2018, when the foreign trade deficit increased contrary to expectations of a reduction. This highlights the failures of protectionism in achieving its stated goals.ConclusionGeopolitical events may create a temporary pullback, but fundamental differences — the more active monetary policy of the Fed and the weakness of the ECB — continue to put pressure on EUR/USD. Without drastic changes, such as nuclear escalation, the long-term trend of the pair will remain downward, opening up opportunities for selling the pair with a target of ...
FOREX Fundamental analysis for EUR/USD on November 19, 2024Forex currency trading is largely based on history. Investors, after Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election, are actively repeating the 2016 scenario, again betting on the US dollar. As it was 8 years ago, the greenback is rapidly strengthening. However, following the results of Trump's first term, the dollar index fell by 10%, mainly due to the pandemic. But there was another factor – fears that China, protesting against the imposition of customs tariffs, would begin to get rid of American treasury bonds. And so, in the third quarter of 2024, it becomes a reality.In July-September, the two largest holders of treasuries, Japan and China, significantly reduced their holdings of treasuries. Japan sold securities for a record $61.9 billion, and China for $51.3 billion, which was the second largest reduction in history.Japan's actions can be explained by currency intervention to support the yen, but China's steps look like a warning signal. In late 2017 and early 2018, the dollar was losing ground, despite the increase in the yield of treasuries. Back then, it was said that China was selling bonds in retaliation for the duties. However, Washington quickly proved that these weapons are not so dangerous. The rising yield of treasuries is hitting the global economy, including China, and the dollar soon regained its position. Its further decline in 2020 was explained by the Fed's monetary incentives.The return of the old pattern alarmed the EUR/USD bears, prompting them to take profits on short positions. European exports to the United States are likely to grow in anticipation of new duties. In September, exports from the EU to America increased by 8.9%, as companies rushed to strengthen supplies.Despite the recent EUR/USD rebound, the pair's fundamental problems remain. Even without the new duties, the Eurozone expects GDP growth to slow to 1.45% by 2029 due to an aging population and low productivity. At the same time, US economic growth is projected at 2.29%. American companies continue to outperform European competitors, and Goldman Sachs notes three key factors supporting the dollar: high tariffs, a dynamic economy and strong demand for assets.Thus, the recent strengthening of the euro is only a short—term correction. If the pair fights off the resistance levels of 1.061–1.0625 or 1.068–1.07, or returns below 1.0545, then we get a good opportunity to form short ...
FOREX Fundamental analysis for EUR/USD on November 18, 2024The return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought the theme of American exceptionalism back to world markets. Shares of companies from the United States are showing more rapid growth compared to European ones, and the yield of American debt bonds (treasuries) is significantly ahead of the performance of German bonds. These differences increase the outflow of capital from Europe to the United States, which pushes the EUR/USD exchange rate closer to parity.Against the background of expectations of fiscal incentives from the Republican administration, the S&P 500 index has gained 23% since the beginning of the year, while the EuroStoxx 600 has risen by only 5%. European equity markets remain under pressure due to concerns related to import tariffs and trade conflicts, and the euro is under pressure through currency correlation. The gap in dynamics between the Old and the New World has reached record levels, which has already been informally called the "Trump gap."During his previous presidency, Donald Trump viewed the growth of the stock market as an indicator of the success of his own policies. Investors expect that the president will avoid actions that could harm the upward trajectory of the indices, which stimulates a rally in American markets.The increase in the yield of treasuries is largely due to expectations of an increase in the budget deficit due to new fiscal measures, as well as the stable state of the American economy. In October, retail sales increased by 0.4%, exceeding forecasts, while data for September were revised upward from 0.4% to 0.8%.The situation in Europe is not optimistic at all. The German economy, according to recent estimates, is at risk of entering a recession. Experts predict a 0.1% decline in GDP in 2024 after a 0.3% decline in 2023. This constrains the growth of German bond yields and strengthens the gap in rates with American debt instruments, which plays into the hands of EUR/USD sellers.The US dollar continues to strengthen, showing a seven—week rally - the longest since February. Previously, the growth was associated with a revision of market expectations about the softness of the Fed's monetary policy, and now the situation is developing in a similar way. Forecasts for 2025 suggest only three Fed rate cuts of 25 bps instead of the six previously expected.Thus, the strength of the American economy, capital outflow from Europe and the Fed's more restrained approach to monetary policy easing continue to put pressure on the EUR/USD exchange rate. The only hope for the euro remains the correction of the S&P 500 index, but it is unlikely to be prolonged. We are holding sales with a target of ...
ECB Council member Pablo Hernandez de Cos believes that the EU economy will not reach the pre-pandemic level until the end of the second half of 2023.The governor of the Spanish central bank has joined the chorus of ECB policymakers calling for the first rate hike in more than a decade to curb the highest inflation rate since the creation of the euro and prevent price increases from taking hold.The ECB is lagging behind global competitors in raising borrowing costs and is even still pouring money into the financial system through its asset purchase program, a legacy of a decade of fighting too low inflation.Inflation in the eurozone reached a record 7.5% in April, and was well above the ECB's 2% target. Now the ECB's key rate is 0%, 0.25% on margin loans, and minus 0.5% on deposits.The official also believes that a gradual increase in rates should be expected, especially if the medium-term inflation forecast remains at the current target level.According to de Cos, the completion of the bond purchase program should be completed at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, and soon after that the first interest rate increase will follow. The gradual abolition of extraordinary monetary incentives is adequate in the current ...
The year 2022 on world markets will largely be determined by the tightening of monetary policy in the United States, and the first week of the new year confirmed this. The minutes of the Fed's December meeting published last week showed a significant tightening of the position of the regulator's representatives – Fed members believe that the rate can be raised as early as March, and also see a faster reduction in the balance sheet as appropriate. Representatives of the regulator believe that the current economic conditions are already in many ways conducive to tightening the labor market, some even noted the recovery of the labor market already sufficient for such actions, although the majority still expects further improvement in the labor situation. Against this background, it is worth noting the publication of December labor data in the United States, which came out ambiguous. On the one hand, employment in December increased by only 200 thousand. The Bloomberg consensus forecast assumed an employment growth of 450 thousand, and the actual growth rate of the indicator was the lowest since the beginning of 2021. Nevertheless, in many respects such weak employment growth is explained by seasonal adjustment, and the unemployment rate in December fell more than expected. Thus, the indicator has updated the next lows since the beginning of the pandemic, dropping to 3.90% against the expected 4.10%. The unemployment rate continues to approach a historic low of 3.40%, and labor statistics have further increased fears in the market of an imminent tightening of the PREP in the United States. As a result, on Friday, the yields of ten-year US treasuries at the moment exceeded 1.80% per annum - the maximum since the beginning of the pandemic. Today they have returned to these levels again.This week, the dynamics in the market will continue to be determined by expectations for the actions of regulators - investors will follow the statements of representatives of the Fed and the ECB, as well as the publication of price data in the United States for December. Statistics published last week showed an increase in inflation in the EU to 5.00% YoY. As a result, the topics of price growth in December updated the historical maximum, while analysts expected a slight slowdown in price growth. The situation on the supply side also has high inflation in the United States. The December business activity indices indicated a slight easing of logistical problems, however, the further deterioration of the epidemiological situation again intensified disruptions in logistics chains, which does not lead to a significant slowdown in price growth. The FAO World Food Price index fell in December for the first time since July, but food inflation remains at elevated levels. Against this background, US inflation data is likely to continue to bring the Fed rate hike closer, intensifying the negative in the markets.The main event for the oil market in early 2022 was the OPEC+ meeting. However, as expected, it was decided to stick to the current plan to increase production. Nevertheless, the cartel lowered its forecasts for a surplus in the oil market, which allowed Brent crude futures to exceed the level of $80/bbl. Moreover, against the background of interruptions in the supply of black gold from Kazakhstan and Libya, quotations were close to $83/bbl. However, at the end of the week they declined from these levels, today Brent futures are growing by 0.35% and are trading around $82.05/bbl. The main negative for oil this week may be related to the potential strengthening of the dollar amid expectations of a tightening of the PREP in the United States. However, in the absence of a significant strengthening of the dollar, Brent futures may still exceed the levels of $83/bbl– - the quotes may be supported by another weekly decline in oil ...
The foreign exchange market is better known as Forex or FX. Trading in this market has become very popular in recent years. However, this is not the case - Forex trading raises a number of questions. For example: what is the foreign exchange market? Which currency pairs are best to trade? Is currency trading risky? Some of the answers to these questions will be found in this article.What is the Forex market?The foreign exchange market is also called the Forex market or the English foreign exchange market. It is simply a market where currencies are exchanged. According to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the foreign exchange market is the largest market in terms of total volume, with up to USD 5 trillion traded daily. It is not a physical place, but rather an electronic network where institutions or individuals trade with each other.The left-hand currency is called the base currency and the right-hand currency is called the quote currency. The second currency indicates the value relative to 1 unit of the base currency. For instance, the formula EUR/USD = 1.4000 implies that EUR/USD trades at 1.4000, i.e., 1 Euro has a value of $1.40. The first currency is always expressed in the second currency. USD/JPY at 110.50 means that one USD is worth JPY 110.50. EUR/USDWhat are the best currency pairs to trade?The best currency pairs to trade effectively depend on your trading style. If you have a short term strategy, for example, if you like to scalp, then the major currency pairs will be most profitable for you because of the low spreads.On the other hand, for a fundamental trader, smaller currency pairs will be of interest based on long-term analysis. The most profitable currency pairs may be those involving the Australian dollar, Japanese yen or Canadian dollar.The best forex currency pairs:EUR/USD: this pair has the lowest spread and is not very volatile.GBP/USD: this pair is interesting in terms of spreads and possible gaps, but it is quite volatile.USD/JPY: this pair has low spreads and offers some interesting possibilities. GBP/USDHow to get started trading currencies online?To start trading currencies online, follow these steps:- Choose a regulated and reputable broker- Choose a broker by the quality of execution of trading instructions- Decide on the trading style that suits you best (scalping, intraday trading, swing trading - you keep your position open for several days)- Determine the appropriate leverage effect in the stock market according to your strategy and experience.- Do not invest more than you can afford to lose.- Choose an intuitive, simple and secure trading platform such as MetaTrader 4.- Try all the above steps on a demo account, before trading live.Read more: Features of intraday trading on the Forex marketGoldIs online currency trading dangerous?Like any financial investment, currency trading online is subject to risks. However, there are different methods to control these risks:- Determine the price of the currency pair at which you want to close a position if developments are unfavourable (for example, if you buy and the price falls, or if you sell and the price rises),- Determine the size of the trade so that your potential loss should not exceed 2-3% of your capital per trade,- Estimate your risk/return ratio (loss/profit) before you open the trade. By default you should have a greater potential for profit than loss, e.g. risk 50 pips, but try to make a profit of e.g. 100 pips.For proper money management and risk reduction it is advisable to start trading on a demo account and try things out on the dirt first. Such an account will allow you to trade in real market conditions, but with fictitious capital, so that you have a complete understanding of the foreign exchange market without any risk.Read more: Forex broker: how to choose a good ...