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Did you know that more and more business opportunity seekers worldwide are discovering the powerful profit potential of Foreign Exchange trading? In this business, there are no employees to hire, no advertising, no products to stock, no downlines to fill -- just you, an Internet connection and a computer.

That's all you need to make money on the worlds largest market. If you are searching for an alternative to more traditional home-based business opportunities, then Forex trading may be what you've been looking for.

There are numerous advantages for parties wishing to trade in the forex. They include:

Liquidity: In the forex market there is always a buyer and a seller! The forex absorbs trading volumes and per trade sizes which dwarfs the capacity of any other market. On the simplest level, liquidity is a powerful attraction to any investor as it suggests the freedom to open or close a position at will 24 hours a day.

Once purchased, many other high-return investments are difficult to sell at will. Forex traders never have to worry about being "stuck" in a position due to lack of market interest. In the 1.5 trillion U.S. dollar per day market, major international banks a "bid" (buying) and "ask" (selling) price.

Access: The forex is open 24 hours daily from about 6:00 P.M. Sunday to about 3:00 P.M. Friday. An individual trader can react to news when it breaks, rather than waiting for the opening bell of other markets when everyone else-has the same information. This allows traders to take positions before the news details are fully factored into the exchange rates.

High liquidity and 24 hour trading permit market participants to take positions or exit regardless of the hour. There are forex dealers in every time zone, in every major market center (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Paris, London, United States, etc.) willing to continually quote buy and sell prices.

Since no money is left on the market "table," this is what is referred to as a "Zero Sum Game" or "Zero-Sum Gain." Providing the trader picks the right side, money can always be made.

Two-Way Market: Currencies are traded in pairs, for example dollar/yen, or dollar/Swiss franc. Every position involves the selling of one currency and the buying of another. If a trader believes the Swiss franc will appreciate against the dollar, the trader can sell dollars and buy francs (selling short!). If one holds the opposite belief, that trader can buy dollars and sell Swiss francs (buying long). The potential for profit exists because there is always movement in the exchange rates (prices).

Forex trading permits profit taking from both rising and falling currency values in relation to the dollar. In every currency trading transaction, one of the sides of the pair is always gaining and the other side is losing.

Leverage: Trading on the forex is done in currency "lots." Each lot is approximately 100,000 U.S. dollars worth of a foreign currency. To trade on the forex market, a "margin account" must be established with a currency broker. This is, in effect, a bank account into which profits may be deposited and losses may be deducted. These deposits and deductions are made instantly upon exiting a position.

Brokers have differing margin account regulations, with many requiring a $1,000 deposit to "day-trade" a currency lot. Day-trading is entering and exiting positions during the same trading day. For longer-term positions, many require a $2,000 per lot deposit. In comparison to trading in stocks and other markets, which may require a 50% margin account, forex speculators excellent leverage of 1% to 2% of the $100,000 lot value. The trader can control each lot for I to 2 cents on the dollar!

Execution Quality: Because the forex is so liquid, most trades can be executed at the current market price. In all fast moving markets, slippage is inevitable in all trading (stocks, commodities, etc.), but can be avoided with some currency broker's software, which informs you of your exact entering price just prior to execution. You are given the option of avoiding or accepting the slippage. The huge forex market liquidity offers the ability for high quality execution.

Confirmations of trades are immediate and the Internet trader has only to print a copy of the computer screen for a written record of all trading activities. Many individuals feel these features of Internet trading make it safer that using the telephone to trade. Respected firms such as Charles Schwab, Quick & Reilly and T.D. Waterhouse offer Internet trading.

They would not risk their reputations by offering Internet service if it were not reliable and safe. In the event of a temporary technical computer problem with the broker's ordering system, the trader can telephone the broker 24 hours a day to immediately get in or out of a trade.

Internet brokers' computer systems are protected by "firewalls" to keep account information from prying eyes. Account security is a broker's highest concern. They have taken multiple steps to eliminate any risk associated with transacting on the Internet.

A forex Internet trader does not have to speak with a broker by telephone. The elimination of the middleman (broker salesman) forex expenses and makes the process of entering an order faster and has eliminated the possibility for misunderstanding.

Execution Costs: Unlike other markets, the forex does not charge commissions. The cost of a trade is represented in a Bid/Ask spread established by the broker. (Approximately 4 pips)

Trendiness: Over long and short historical periods, currencies have demonstrated substantial and identifiable trends. Each individual currency has its own "personality," and each offers a unique historical pattern of trends, providing diversified trading opportunities within the spot forex market.

Focus: Instead of attempting to choose a stock, bond, mutual fund or commodity from the tens of thousands available in those markets, forex traders generally focus on I to 4 currencies. The most common and most liquid are the Japanese Yen, British Pound, Swiss Franc and the new Euro. Highly successful traders have always focused on a limited number of investment options. Beginning forex traders usually will focus on one currency and later incorporate one to three more into their trading activities.

Margin Accounts: Trading on the forex requires a margin account. You are committing to trade and take positions today. As a speculator trader you will not be taking delivery on your product that you are trading. As a Stock Day Trader, you will only hold a trading position for a few minutes to a few hours, and then you need to close out your position by the end of the trading session.

All orders must be placed through a broker. To trade stocks you will need a stockbroker and to trade currencies you will need a Forex currency broker. Most brokerage firms have different margin requirements. You need to ask them their margin requirements to trade stocks and currencies.

A margin account is nothing more than a performance bond. All traders need a margin account to trade. When you gain profits, they place your profits into your margin account the same day you profited. When you lose profits, they need an account to take out the losses you incurred that day. All accounts are settled daily.

A very important part of trading is, taking out some of your winnings or profits. When the time comes to take out your personal gains from your margin account, all you need to do is contact your broker and ask them to send you your requested dollar amount, and they will send you a check. They can also wire transfer your money.

But, before doing so, there are few things to remember. First, choose the right currency pair. Find out based on your risk parameters, which currency is best suited for your trading style. Some may be too volatile and some to slow so decide which currency pair is most appropriate for your strategy and time frame. You also have to ddecide on how long you plan to stay in a trade. If you are an inter day trader, what is the average time of your trade, few minutes, couple of hours a full day, swing trade (couple of days to a week).

Before you enter a trade you should also have clear exit plan. Place your stops and limits accordingly. Know how much you are willing to risk and how much you are looking to gain. Keep track of important news and technical levels, which may be tested within your time frame.

Martin Chandra is a full-time investor. Learn more at here.

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