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Cash FX vs.
Currency Futures
As an investor it is important for you to understand the differences
between cash FOREX and currency futures. In currency futures, the
contract size is predetermined.
With FOREX (SPOT FX),
you may trade any desired amount typically above $100,000 USD The
futures market closes at the end of the business day (similar to the
stock market) If important data is released overseas while the U.S.
futures markets is closed, the next day's opening might sustain large
gaps with potential for large losses if the direction of the move is
against your position.
The Spot FOREX market
runs continuously on a 24-hour basis from 7:00 am New Zealand time
Monday morning to 5:00 pm New York Time Friday evening. Dealers in every
major FX trading center (Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong/Singapore, London,
Geneva and New York/Toronto) ensure a smooth transition as liquidity
migrates from one time zone to the next. Furthermore, currency futures
trade in non-USD denominated currency amounts only whereas in spot FOREX,
an investor can trade either in currency denominations, or in the more
conventionally quoted USD amounts. The currency futures pit, even during
Regular IMM (International Money Market) hours suffers from sporadic
lulls in liquidity and constant price gaps. The spot FOREX market offers
constant liquidity and market depth much more consistently than Futures.
With IMM futures one is limited in the currency pairs he can trade -
Most currency futures are traded only versus the USD - With spot forex,
(as with MoneyTec Trader) one may trade foreign currencies vs. USD or
vs. each other on a 'cross' basis as well - ex: EURJPY, GBPJPY, CHFJPY,
EURGBP and AUDNZD.
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