FXCM Research Team

Since the 2009 launch of Bitcoin (BTC), cryptocurrencies have been controversial financial instruments. From industry-leaders such as BTC and Ethereum (ETH), to newer coins like Polkadot (DOT) and Tron (TRX), the role of virtual money in finance is a hotly debated topic. Amid the dramatic early-2021 spike in crypto values, talk of mainstream financial adoption reached a fevered-pitch. Throughout the late-2020/early-2021 runup in prices, Dogecoin (DOGE) established itself as a…

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…

What Is An NFT? A non-fungible token (NFT) is a unique virtual asset that has a variety of applications. While often mistaken for traditional cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), non-fungible tokens feature an inherently unique functionality. Like conventional cryptos, NFTs are "tokens" that utilise blockchain technology, but that's where the similarities end. Beginning in early 2020, NFTs became a rapidly growing part of the cryptosphere and an…

What Is A Haircut? A haircut in finance has several meanings. It most commonly refers to the reduced value of a financial asset for purposes of calculating capital requirements, a lending margin or collateral level. It also refers to a loss an investor may have to take or accept on an asset. It means the difference between the bid and asked price of an asset as well, with that difference…

The Australian financial system is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which oversees "authorised deposit-taking institutions" such as banks, building societies and credit unions. It also regulates insurance companies and "superannuation," or pension, funds. APRA was created by the Australian government on 1 July 1998. The agency is tasked with "maintaining the safety and soundness of financial institutions, so that the community can have confidence that they will…

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…