Choosing a Forex Broker

In order to trade in the Forex market you will need to find yourself a broker. A broker is someone who executes trades according to your wishes and earns a commission on each trade.

But there are so many brokers out there competing for your business it can be hard to figure out which one is best. This article will give you as idea of what to look for.

Transaction Costs. In the forex market, brokers are paid via the bid/ask spread. There should be no hidden fees or charges to trade. However, there may be additional charges to access certain reports and optional services.

Obviously the smaller the spread the better. Pip spreads vary by broker (and also by currency pairs), so shop around for competitive rates.

Currency Pairs Available. All brokers should at least have the big seven currencies ((AUD, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, JPY, and USD). But if you plan on trading New Zealand dollars or Danish krones, you should be sure that the broker is able to do so.

Immediate Execution of Orders. Currency prices are constantly moving up and down and any delay in the execution of your order can cut into your profits or add to your losses. Of course its possible a delay will help you, but it never seems to work out that way does it? Look for a broker that can consistently execute your trade at the price you see on your screen. An occasional delay is understandable, but if it happens frequently find yourself a new broker.

Free Tools. In order to analyze currency prices, spot trends, and plan entry and exit points you need access to charting and technical analysis tools. Most brokers offer basic services free of charge with an expanded array of tools for an added charge.

Minimum Account Balance. As a small investor you will need a broker that does not require a large balance to open an account. Many brokers today will let you open a mini-account with as little as $300.

Margin Requirement. The lower the margin requirement, the more leverage you have. If a broker allows you to use 100:1 leverage, that means you can trade $100,000 in currency for only $1,000. You can use margin to rack up huge profits. But don't margin yourself too much or you will find yourself wiped out fast.

Superior Customer Service. This is something traders often overlook when choosing a broker and later regret it when they need assistance. A quality broker should respond quickly to any question you have. They should have knowledgeable reps available 24 hours a day by phone and email.

A User-friendly Trading Platform. Some brokers require you to download a trading program to your PC in order to make trades. Others let you make trades directly over the web. Pick a few brokers out and sign up for a free demo account. You can trade with play money while you test out their software and see which one works best for you.

We Recommend Forex Mentoring >>

Recent Forex News

Forex Technical Analysis Reports (ActionForex.com)
Technical analysis reports from selected analysts around the world on forex market. Available in ActionForex.com
FX Technical Commentary
Euro 1.3650 Initial support at 1.3531 (Mar 5 low) followed by 1.3436 (Mar 2 low). Initial resistance is now located at 1.3705 (Mar 8 high) followed by 1.3788 (Feb 17 high)
Usd Payback Time On Jpy
Usd/Jpy is trading in a corrective decline, shown as a black wave B/2, after our black wave A/1 hit its highs at the 90.76. zone. A Short correction is incomplete, and the market should make at least one more push lower into wave (c), once a current wave (b) finds...
Cable Snapping Lower - A Technician's Perspective
Overall View: Looking for a near-term down-trend continuation. 4 Hour Chart Flows: Short. Price Points: 1.4783, and 1.5194 Looking for: Near-term bearish price action. Momentum: The cable trend went Short on 3rd December, and has meandered sideways since then. The pair can be just as easily bought as sold.
AUD/USD Pops in Return to Risk
Technically speaking, the Aussie has multiple uptrend lines serving as technical cushions along with intraday, 3/9lows, and the psychological .90 area. As for the topside, the Aussie has our 3rd and 4th downtrend lines serving as technical barriers along with the psychological .92 area. Additionally, previous 2010 highs could serve...
USD/JPY Charges Higher
Technically speaking, the USD/JPYs faces our new downtrend lines along with intraday and 2/7 highs. Meanwhile, the highly psychological 90 area could have an influence over movements in the USD/JPY over the near-term. As for the downside, the USD/JPY has multiple uptrend lines serving as technical cushions along with intraday...

Newsfeed display by CaRP

Forex Fundamental Analysis Reports (ActionForex.com)
Fundamental analysis reports from selected analysts around the world on forex market. Available in ActionForex.com
Canada's Jobs Growth Likely Slowed In February
The CAD is trading at a two month high versus the USD and has made substantial gains versus European currencies. The outperformance of the CAD is attributed to recent Canadian economic data that points to a stronger than expected Canadian recovery. Canada's Q4 GDP rose at its fastest space nine...
Euro Rallies, Gold Plummets
U.S. Dollar Trading (USD) had a mixed day of trading as strength in Europe was once again reversed in the US session with the notable exception of Gold. Crude Oil Inventories where at 1.6m and helped Oil to small gains. In US stocks, DJIA +3 points closing at 10567, S&P...
Forex Exchange Morning Report
Equities are modestly firmer, currencies little changed, and commodities are lower. US wholesale inventories fell, but the equity market focused more on the detail which said companies' sales rose. The S&P500 is up 0.4%, just shy of its one year high (set in Jan) and banks are 2.1% higher. The...
The RBNZ Expects Interest Rates To Remain At 2.50% Till Mid 2010
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand decided today to keep interest rates at its low level of 2.50% for the seventh straight meeting. Allan Bollard the Governor of the RBNZ said the bank will maintain its policy till mid-2010, before deciding to raise interest rates.
USD/JPY Gains On BOJ Easing Speculation
The dollar was higher against the yen but lower versus the euro on Wednesday. China's exports soared by the most in three years and concerns over Greece's deficit eased. The US budget deficit rose to a record $220.9 billion in February and wholesale inventories unexpectedly slid in January for a...

Newsfeed display by CaRP