Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Forex Trading

  • 30-09-2010 12:18pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 261 ✭✭


    Hi there,

    just wondered if anyone on this forum has come across the ION pips forex trading platform, and know anything about it?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 358 ✭✭Gremlin


    Hi,

    I am also very interested to hear what people think of this. A family member is on the verge of investing his nest egg and I am worried sick about it. On the face of it it looks far too good to be true and you know the old saying 'if it looks too good to be true, it probably is'. OTOH he is so excited about it I don't want to rain on his parade. The other question I would ask is if this platform is as good as it claims why are ion giving it the hard sell. Surely their should be a waiting list for a platform which delivers what this claims?

    Any advice is most appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,710 ✭✭✭RoadKillTs


    Hi Gremlin,

    I would strongly advise your friend not to "invest" his nest egg into this system.

    This ION system seems to be prity new so I don't know much about it but I would be very skeptical.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭ixus


    It sounds good but, I'd have some reservations about it.

    For starters, it claims to have a winning strategy built in! I can promise you that is not the case.

    Then, the FAQ section is terrible. What is Forex, who is trading Forex, what is needed to trade Forex? That is it!! ALARM BELLS ARE RINGING

    I would want to know the speed at which this software runs and other technical things. Details on how an account is managed etc.

    They claim their customer support is a major part of it. Do they have traders on call 24/7? I sincerely doubt it. And, even if they did, how would that be of use to you?

    FX moves at an unbelievable pace intraday and there are algo programs designed to sniff out stops. While you'll think you'll only be risking 1% each time you trade you will really be suffering death by a thousand cuts as your stops are triggered regularly. This is especially the case if you're a novice and are trading as per their ideas.

    Statistically, you will get lucky a few times and have some decent winners. This will keep you in the game or encourage you to add to your account.

    If you're playing the forex game in futures or spread betting, you have to have very wide stops and that means a high pain threshold.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,374 ✭✭✭Gone West


    pips pips free money for all!

    Go on, throw your money into forex.
    Theres an old saying about a fool and his money...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 261 ✭✭YouWantWhat


    Gremlin wrote: »
    Hi,

    I am also very interested to hear what people think of this. A family member is on the verge of investing his nest egg and I am worried sick about it. On the face of it it looks far too good to be true and you know the old saying 'if it looks too good to be true, it probably is'. OTOH he is so excited about it I don't want to rain on his parade. The other question I would ask is if this platform is as good as it claims why are ion giving it the hard sell. Surely their should be a waiting list for a platform which delivers what this claims?

    Any advice is most appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.

    Hi Gremlin,

    I've researed and looked further into this. There are simply thousands of similar products online, one that keeps on cropping up is the FAB TURBO robot, which seems to get top reviews http://www.forexreviewlink.com/fap-turbo/, and costs a wopping $149, as opposed to €8500.

    I'm also involved in the stock market and have a contact with a very experience trader in Australia, I put it passed him and here are his comments :

    There are literally thousands of robots out there that will trade for you
    and prior to buying them all show a good return. They range in price form
    $97 and I haven’t seen one yet that goes the distance??

    The web page is useless shows you nothing, the office photo gives you the
    impression they own the building but probably rent a wee space.

    There is no information on the page re any trade screens, mention of how it
    works returns etc which makes me suspicious.

    Forex is a hugeeeeeeeeeeee market very lucrative but very fast and dangerous
    to the novice trader - fastest way of losing money??

    Bottom line there is no shortcut to wealth. That’s why lotto's is so
    successful. There is no shortcut to trading and that’s why these types of
    things attract so many people, the lure of making a fortune and not doing
    any work.

    They probably sell a $5000 training package which you will find will be the
    main part of their business, great idea for the idle rich or the desperate
    but not for this young fella too wise for that now when I was younger maybe
    would have got me??

    Thanks for the reassurance Rob. Actually the training package is €8500!!! say no more.

    Ok

    For that price,

    I will pay for you to come to Australia and spend a month with me, all expenses paid, baring cigarettes and alcohol and teach you the forex market, no bugger it, will supply alcohol.


    Gremlin - I hope this helps your friend make up their mind, its certainly helped me.

    Good luck


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 358 ✭✭Gremlin


    Thanks all for advice/comments. Very much appreciated.

    This is exactly what I need to convince my dad to keep his money in his pocket. Perhaps if he wants to invest a small amount as a hobby interest I will direct him toward the $150 package. He can put in a couple of hundred and blow it all without breaking the bank.

    I was half thinking about phoning the financial regulator in the morning and seeing what they have to say about this company giving the hard sell to a pensioner with zero FX experience. I'm sure there's no law against it but personally I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I'd encouraged someone to part with their savings like this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,425 ✭✭✭digitally-yours


    In my humble opinion


    Forex is a very dangerous business.

    If you don't know it then the best thing is to stay out.

    You can find all sorts of garbage and some good systems(which work in some markets) to make money.

    But at the end of the day if you cannot read the Price action on a naked chart then forget about forex trading.

    The forex market is brutal and will Chew you if you have not done your home work and just taking trades just because you "feel" its going to go up or down.


    Just my 2 pips :)

    for those who want to learn how to trade forex they have to invest time and gain knowledge. Unfortunately in this trade the skills are non transferable. You got to develop your own pace and understand your own mentality and the way you are programmed to function


    some time being human and acting in a neutral way is the most hardest thing.

    130596.jpg

    no action for me today. Too choppy for my liking


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭reverenddave


    i'm just about to start trading i opened a demo account with deltaindex.com
    they start you off with €20000 imaginary money and in the first week i was up €8000 then week 2 down to €21000 i'm in week 3 now and i'm being a little more cautious right now i've got €20098 :D
    but it was because of a few human errors (me) not taking enough notice of what i was betting on and doing little research

    but any way
    they're based in dublin and i've got really good customer service with them so far

    give the demo account a go and see what happens


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭ixus


    Rev, a small bit of advice. Think about how much money you would actually put into an account if you were starting off spread betting. We'll say 500. Practice on the demo as if it was a real 500 and that was all you had to trade with. If you lose it, you stop trading.

    The imaginary 20K gets you used to taking big hits and thinking you can make huge amounts of money in real life because you could on the simulator. Also, take into account the actual spread on the trades you make.

    You should see a real difference to your trading or a least get more from it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭reverenddave


    ixus wrote: »
    Rev, a small bit of advice. Think about how much money you would actually put into an account if you were starting off spread betting. We'll say 500. Practice on the demo as if it was a real 500 and that was all you had to trade with. If you lose it, you stop trading.

    The imaginary 20K gets you used to taking big hits and thinking you can make huge amounts of money in real life because you could on the simulator. Also, take into account the actual spread on the trades you make.

    You should see a real difference to your trading or a least get more from it.


    i totally agree
    i have only been ''spending'' small amounts
    the max i bet so far was €25 on a single bet
    which is pretty much what i'll be spending in real life
    and making use of stop limit distances too
    current account balance €22450 up 1400 in 2 ish hours
    markets closed for the night tho


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,425 ✭✭✭digitally-yours


    i'm just about to start trading i opened a demo account with deltaindex.com
    they start you off with €20000 imaginary money and in the first week i was up €8000 then week 2 down to €21000 i'm in week 3 now and i'm being a little more cautious right now i've got €20098 :D
    but it was because of a few human errors (me) not taking enough notice of what i was betting on and doing little research

    but any way
    they're based in dublin and i've got really good customer service with them so far

    give the demo account a go and see what happens

    Welcome to the world of forex :D

    are you taking trades based on any system ?
    have you worked out the Risk = reward ratio
    what pairs you are trading ?

    its a long journey but there is light at the end of the tunnel if you are prepared to evaluate your failures and learn from them....

    also for a point :) and that's from personal experience DEMO can never ever give you a feel 100% like a real trade. Its good to demo but real trading is just different ... the emotions and the physiology involved ... its easy to take 5 losses in a row on demo but on real account when you have 5 losses you will loose your sleep (from experience).

    Plan a trade and then trade you plan :) that's the best advise I can give you ..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭reverenddave



    Welcome to the world of forex :D
    thanks :D


    are you taking trades based on any system ?
    just keeping an eye on the business and finance sites mainly yahoo and bbc for now i' haven't done enough searching yet

    have you worked out the Risk = reward ratio
    not yet but i will be betting small to begin with in order to understand the ''sytem'' properly, maybe €1 or €2

    what pairs you are trading ?
    i dont know what you mean by pairs

    its a long journey but there is light at the end of the tunnel if you are prepared to evaluate your failures and learn from them....
    too right there's light at the end of the tunnel did you see google and apple yesterday (friday)
    apple up 1266 points
    google up 6162 points :D
    and i was looking at apple on wednesday and thursday but didnt do anything about it on friday
    my first big mistake redface.gif


    also for a point
    :) and that's from personal experience DEMO can never ever give you a feel 100% like a real trade. Its good to demo but real trading is just different ... the emotions and the physiology involved ... its easy to take 5 losses in a row on demo but on real account when you have 5 losses you will loose your sleep (from experience).
    my father said something similar to me recently he lost about €1200 a year ago and didnt sleep for a couple of days
    this is something i'm definately not looking forward to :D
    but like i said ill be betting small to begin with



    Plan a trade and then trade you plan
    :) that's the best advise I can give you ..

    good advise thanks


    .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 288 ✭✭mono627


    what pairs you are trading ?
    i dont know what you mean by pairs

    He's referring to a currency pair.
    A currency pair is the quotation of the relative value of a currency unit against the unit of another currency. Eg EUR/USD

    also for a point and that's from personal experience DEMO can never ever give you a feel 100% like a real trade. Its good to demo but real trading is just different ... the emotions and the physiology involved ... its easy to take 5 losses in a row on demo but on real account when you have 5 losses you will loose your sleep (from experience).
    my father said something similar to me recently he lost about €1200 a year ago and didnt sleep for a couple of days
    this is something i'm definately not looking forward to
    but like i said ill be betting small to begin with

    As much as I fully agree with the point that a demo account is no substitute for actually trading, I would strongly recommend you read as much as you can on trading before you go diving into spending your hard earned cash (or someone else's hard earned cash). There's a full list of recommended reading material in the stickys above.

    I don't mean to sound patronising here but if you don't know what a currency pair is I strongly recommend you stay away from trading real money until you understand a little more about what you're doing as it is pretty fundamental to trading (no matter what products you trade).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭reverenddave


    mono627 wrote: »
    He's referring to a currency pair.
    A currency pair is the quotation of the relative value of a currency unit against the unit of another currency. Eg EUR/USD

    ah i didnt know there was a specific term
    well i am only a relative noob
    i haven't looked properly at currencies yet they're a bit too risky for my likign
    I'm still getting all the other stuff into my head first before i properly start trading



    As much as I fully agree with the point that a demo account is no substitute for actually trading, I would strongly recommend you read as much as you can on trading before you go diving into spending your hard earned cash (or someone else's hard earned cash). There's a full list of recommended reading material in the stickys above.

    which is why i'm on this site at almost midnight on a friday night reading as much stuff as i can without exploding still learnding :D
    and as i said it'll only be a few quid to begin the most i have spent on a bet so far is €2.50 and probably wont be spending more then that, this side of christmas

    I don't mean to sound patronising here but if you don't know what a currency pair is I strongly recommend you stay away from trading real money until you understand a little more about what you're doing as it is pretty fundamental to trading (no matter what products you trade).

    not meaning to repeat myself but i am still learning about this like i said i haven't come across the term pairs
    and wont be spending much money to begin with at least

    .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 288 ✭✭mono627


    No worries at all Rev, we all have to start off somewhere, I just thought I'd offer my 2c. You're entering into an extremely competitive environment and you deserve to know that. There are many people out there who dedicate their whole lives to the markets and are very good at what they do. Best of luck with the learning and happy trading!

    EDIT: Oh and it's Saturday night by the way mate...hope you haven't lost a day!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭reverenddave


    mono627 wrote: »
    No worries at all Rev, we all have to start off somewhere, I just thought I'd offer my 2c. You're entering into an extremely competitive environment and you deserve to know that. There are many people out there who dedicate their whole lives to the markets and are very good at what they do. Best of luck with the learning and happy trading!


    cheers for the 2 cents :D
    i'm a bit pissed i missed apple yesterday but hopefully i wont lose sleep :D

    i'm at the end of page one on this thread
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055971737
    and post number 2 the guy spends 16 hours a day at this it's a bit unnerving :D

    but i'll give it a go for a few months and see what happens

    i'm going to bed :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 288 ✭✭mono627


    cheers for the 2 cents :D
    i'm a bit pissed i missed apple yesterday but hopefully i wont lose sleep :D

    i'm at the end of page one on this thread
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055971737
    and post number 2 the guy spends 16 hours a day at this it's a bit unnerving :D

    but i'll give it a go for a few months and see what happens

    i'm going to bed :)

    16 hours is quite excessive, but not unheard of. In general, traders work a lot of hours (although you could argue that if you like what you do it's not difficult to work these hours).

    The Forex markets are open 24 hours a day, I've read articles about Forex traders that never sleep (properly) because they are either always in positions or are worried they will miss out on an opportunity.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,425 ✭✭✭digitally-yours


    16 hours non stop trading :eek: (never done that in my life)

    Most of the people I know trade 6 to 8 hours a day and then pack-up..

    Keep in mind that, when you are trading. you are trading (your Positions) with or against these guys. The closest I can think of is like swimming with sharks...

    131268.jpg

    A trader most importantly needs discipline and patience.

    and never trade without a stop loss.


    Happy Pips


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 288 ✭✭mono627


    16 hours non stop trading :eek: (never done that in my life)

    Most of the people I know trade 6 to 8 hours a day and then pack-up..

    Keep in mind that, when you are trading. you are trading (your Positions) with or against these guys. The closest I can think of is like swimming with sharks...

    131268.jpg

    A trader most importantly needs discipline and patience.

    and never trade without a stop loss.


    Happy Pips

    I doubt it's 16 hours non-stop trading tbh, that's not really sustainable for any-one no matter how dedicated you are. Every-one needs a break.

    Wouldn't necessarily agree with bold above, if you are disciplined enough you don't necessarily have to use stops. Different strokes for different folks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭reverenddave


    for my relative noobness :D

    stops are the difference between losing €50 and losing €5000

    i'll personally always use stops

    unless i manage to devise a super secret magical method and become money hungry beyond bill gates wildest dreams then i might not use them :D

    but til then i will


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,425 ✭✭✭digitally-yours


    mono627 wrote: »
    I doubt it's 16 hours non-stop trading tbh, that's not really sustainable for any-one no matter how dedicated you are. Every-one needs a break.

    Wouldn't necessarily agree with bold above, if you are disciplined enough you don't necessarily have to use stops. Different strokes for different folks.


    agreed.

    Happy trading


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 79 ✭✭Francis Galvin


    http://forums.babypips.com/newbie-island/
    http://www.babypips.com/school/

    very basic information about forex, it's school of pipsology is a good starting place for a foundation in forex and also somewhat entertaining. far from advanced stuff though. after awhile u can move onto forex factory which is for more serious traders but i wouldn't advise u start there without some basic knowledge.
    http://www.forexfactory.com/forum.php


    download mt4 which is the most popular forex charting software and learn how to use it. and demo demo demo until u find a system that suits ur personality. are u a scalper, swing trader, intra day, long term, only u can decide that.


    log all ur demo trades, why u took them, ur win/loss ratio, stop losses, %increase/ decrease on demo account, include charts wit ur logs, if u broke any rules of ur system, analyse all failed trades inside out, ur max drawdown etc. never risk more than 1% of ur account, maybe 2% if u are really confident and have ur system down to a fine art. no system will be 100% profitable ever, a profit of about 10% per month or 2% per week on ur demo account is a very good goal to aim for. anything higher is unrealistic. 10% compounding on ur account monthly makes for very large gains but is not as easy as it sounds.


    after u have been consistently profitable for 3 months or more at demo trading u can then try real trading. u will find it vastly different from demo trading due to real money being involved. u will have to master ur emotions, fear and greed will be ur biggest enemies and u must become an expert in money management. always use a pci stop loss, pci=power computer or internet failure, if any fail u want a stop loss already in place in case u can't manually shut down ur trade if it goes against u. this can and will happen where u will not be able to terminate ur trade because one of the above has failed.

    trading forex is a very serious business, do not take it lightly, treat it as a business if u want to be successful.

    95% of people who trade in forex lose their money, don't be one of them, educate urself, read, read, read and read some more. it's all free on the net if u know where to look. don't pay for any sites promising u unbeatable systems, they don't exist. don't try to buy a robot with an excellent equity curve, it won't work in the long run. figure out what type of trader u are and develop ur own system, u can look to other people for systems and ideas but tweak them with a demo account to suit ur style. a system that works well for someone else may not work for u at all. let ur profits run and cut ur losses short.

    also forex and the stock market are very different things, the price of apple going up or down has nothing to do with forex.


    the above is only the very tip of the iceberg, make google ur best friend and learn everything u can, don't spend money on things u can learn for free by doing a bit of research urself. it is an exciting and lucrative world but not for the uninitiated or faint of heart. be prepared to work extremely hard if u want to be successful, u will be up against some of the sharpest financial and mathematical minds in the world.


    hope this helps and happy trading


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭Mr_Roger_Bongos


    Hi Frances,

    Thanks for the above, very detailed and helpful. I downloaded MT4 last night and just got a feel for the platform.

    Can i ask how long you've been trading forex?

    Could you reccomend your top 3 brokers?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭arrowloopboy


    Here comes the lambs ;):D:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭Mr_Roger_Bongos


    Here comes the lambs ;):D:D

    Demo's only..;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭arrowloopboy


    Demo's only..;)

    Pointless exercise,you wont experience fear or greed playing with toy money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭Mr_Roger_Bongos


    Pointless exercise,you wont experience fear or greed playing with toy money.

    If i don't know what im doing, fear and greed aren't going to be what's ruining my trading!

    Also surely it's better to analyse my trading from a technical perspective so that i can improve my trading method/style, prior to battling my own emotions with the added financial risk?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 535 ✭✭✭Bullish


    Great attitude Roger


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 736 ✭✭✭Dilynnio


    You can set up demos, discover the most amazing strategies, implement them, change them but all this goes out the window when it comes to a LIVE account!

    When it comes to real money and your money......it is a totally different kettle of fish!

    Once you hit that button and its your money your using.......everything goes out the window.....the psychological impact it will have on you is unreal!

    The fear you will have watching as your money grows or decreases....the thoughts in your head.....will I pull it now or leave it in.......its very stressful!

    Even the slightest bit of economic news can change the motion of a trade!The bulls and bears take over!

    It is highly stressful and highly addictive!

    You may win one day and loss all that the next day. Make a trading plan and do not change from it.

    E.G

    Today if you say I am going to Trade Eur/USD and I only want to make 20 pips and I am only prepared to loss 30 pips if the trade goes against me. Then just make that trade and close down your system. Don't get greedy...get out like you planned!

    Hope this makes some sense and helps!


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,783 ✭✭✭rugbyman


    Can anybody explain to me what significant factors would have caused the Euro/GB £ rate to have altered so much over the last week.

    A week ago it was just short of 1.143 this morning it was in or around 1.123 and this afternoon above 1.14. this represents a fall during the week of 200 euro on 10kSterling. this fall has now almost been reversed today.

    At a time when the spending review, indicated harsh measures were being taken, I would have thought that that would have helped sterling.

    Re todays rise I have read nothing to suggest a reason.

    Any ideas/suggestions

    Rugbyman


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭arrowloopboy


    Dilynnio wrote: »
    You can set up demos, discover the most amazing strategies, implement them, change them but all this goes out the window when it comes to a LIVE account!

    When it comes to real money and your money......it is a totally different kettle of fish!

    Once you hit that button and its your money your using.......everything goes out the window.....the psychological impact it will have on you is unreal!

    The fear you will have watching as your money grows or decreases....the thoughts in your head.....will I pull it now or leave it in.......its very stressful!

    Even the slightest bit of economic news can change the motion of a trade!The bulls and bears take over!

    It is highly stressful and highly addictive!

    You may win one day and loss all that the next day. Make a trading plan and do not change from it.

    E.G

    Today if you say I am going to Trade Eur/USD and I only want to make 20 pips and I am only prepared to loss 30 pips if the trade goes against me. Then just make that trade and close down your system. Don't get greedy...get out like you planned!

    Hope this makes some sense and helps!

    Some very good advise there Dilynnio,i take it from your advise that you trade real money,which is the only real way of seeing when your going to pull the trigger.What gives guys false confidence is pulling the trigger on every tick with a demo acc and banking lots of imaginery money:rolleyes:.
    Saying that, i don't fancy your r/r ratio on that e/u eg you gave:D.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 434 ✭✭Mr Jinx


    Does anyone know of good websites who give good information in relation to the movement of commodities markets?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭reverenddave




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13 Become


    Hey Guys, anyone got an idea on this?

    If euro is tipped to depreciate in the short/medium term, you know piigs, contagion, downward pressure on € etc, and a person wanted to transfer their euros into a "safer" currency for the duration, usually these foreign deposits are held at 0% interest by your bank (asaik). What's to stop a person achieving the exact same thing by buying that currency pair as a forex transaction and just keeping the trade indefinitely open until such time as they can convert back to euro (hopefully at a profit). The spreads from the forex brokers appear to be much better than what banks offer, and depending on the % differential between the currency pair in question there could possibly even be an interest differential in your favour. Eg, if you went short on EUR/NOK, you'd be holding Kronen @ 2% interest against just the 1% of the EUR.

    ...was just wondering ... :-)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36 olaguopa


    Become wrote: »
    Hey Guys, anyone got an idea on this?

    If euro is tipped to depreciate in the short/medium term, you know piigs, contagion, downward pressure on € etc, and a person wanted to transfer their euros into a "safer" currency for the duration, usually these foreign deposits are held at 0% interest by your bank (asaik). What's to stop a person achieving the exact same thing by buying that currency pair as a forex transaction and just keeping the trade indefinitely open until such time as they can convert back to euro (hopefully at a profit). The spreads from the forex brokers appear to be much better than what banks offer, and depending on the % differential between the currency pair in question there could possibly even be an interest differential in your favour. Eg, if you went short on EUR/NOK, you'd be holding Kronen @ 2% interest against just the 1% of the EUR.

    ...was just wondering ... :-)

    Was wondering the same thing. Specifically, i was considering transferring the bulk of my deposits to a CHF account with BOI. Would it be possible to book a EUR/CHF on the FOREX platform and hopefully ride out the storm :o


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13 Become


    olaguopa wrote: »
    Was wondering the same thing. Specifically, i was considering transferring the bulk of my deposits to a CHF account with BOI. Would it be possible to book a EUR/CHF on the FOREX platform and hopefully ride out the storm :o

    Hi olaguopa,

    I don't know much about forex and would welcome some forex traders input here. The way I understand it (and this must be taken with extreme caution!), since the Swiss lending rates are 0.375% and the eu 1%, and you are buying chf and selling eur ie going short on eur/chf, then you are borrowing eur @ 1% interest while only getting 0.375% for the chf you've bought for the duration of the trade. So you would therefore be continuously paying the differential of 0.625% until the trade is closed. The opposite would be the case if the % rate on the currency you're holding is greater than the eur, such as with the norwegian krone @ 2%, where the carry trade would work in your favour.

    However, it then begins to get a bit too complicated for me because, afaik, you operate with considerable leverage with forex deals, and you might only in fact be putting up a fraction of the amount up front while the rest could be still earning interest in your normal bank a/c. What I mean is, I think, that in the above case of shorting the eur/chf where the carry trade % differential works to your disadvantage, this should in fact only be applying to that fraction of the total euro sum that you are putting up front for the trade, or to just 1% of the total sum if the leverage were 1 - 100 for example, while at the same time the bulk of your savings are still safely in your normal bank a/c and still earning interest...all a bit confusing for me!

    But as I've said, I'm still just playing with this idea and would really appreciate some forex trader input here.

    Edit: Error, Swiss central Bank lending rate is 0.25% and not 0.375%


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36 olaguopa


    Become wrote: »
    Hi olaguopa,

    I don't know much about forex and would welcome some forex traders input here. The way I understand it (and this must be taken with extreme caution!), since the Swiss lending rates are 0.375% and the eu 1%, and you are buying chf and selling eur ie going short on eur/chf, then you are borrowing eur @ 1% interest while only getting 0.375% for the chf you've bought for the duration of the trade. So you would therefore be continuously paying the differential of 0.625% until the trade is closed. The opposite would be the case if the % rate on the currency you're holding is greater than the eur, such as with the norwegian krone @ 2%, where the carry trade would work in your favour.

    However, it then begins to get a bit too complicated for me because, afaik, you operate with considerable leverage with forex deals, and you might only in fact be putting up a fraction of the amount up front while the rest could be still earning interest in your normal bank a/c. What I mean is, I think, that in the above case of shorting the eur/chf where the carry trade % differential works to your disadvantage, this should in fact only be applying to that fraction of the total euro sum that you are putting up front for the trade, or to just 1% of the total sum if the leverage were 1 - 100 for example, while at the same time the bulk of your savings are still safely in your normal bank a/c and still earning interest...all a bit confusing for me!

    But as I've said, I'm still just playing with this idea and would really appreciate some forex trader input here.

    Hi Become,

    I actually hadn't considered the interest rate differential (naively). Was coming from the viewpoint of a EUR depreciation over the next 2-3 years. Your insight is very helpful though and i may take a look at other currencies that should hold their value aswell as having a +ive interest differential. A forex traders input would be helpful also


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13 Become


    Anyone like to recommend some forex broker/platforms?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,425 ✭✭✭digitally-yours


    Become wrote: »
    Anyone like to recommend some forex broker/platforms?

    I use FXPRO and FXCM

    If you are new you can try exness to trade in fraction of lot.


    in terms of trading FX because of holidays volume is low so trade with caution.

    Happy Trading :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13 Become


    Thanks d-y.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭arrowloopboy


    Become wrote: »
    Anyone like to recommend some forex broker/platforms?

    You dont need a Forex broker B,you can trade the very same with a spread betting firm,with no tax on profits,i'd highly reccomend IG Index.
    As regards platforms,DailyFX should have every thing your looking for as regards charts,analysis ,financial calander etc etc.
    For every thing else Forex,The ForexFactory forum is the leading forum on forex.

    Regards......

    A.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 Echo6


    Hi everyone,

    I am new to boards.ie and this is actually my first post!.

    I have an interest in Forex and currently trade on a part-time basis. I spent roughly 6 months solid learning before going live in October '10. I have read over all the previous forex posts and will look to contribute to any others in the future.

    For now though I was wondering what the situation is with tax on forex profits in Ireland. I am steadily making profits on my account (UK broker) and although I wont be cashing in for a few years I would like to know what Mr. taxman will take off me when I eventually do wish to withdraw profits from my account.

    Any thoughts?

    If I've broken any rules by tacking this question onto the end of an existing thread please let me know.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,470 ✭✭✭Mr_Roger_Bongos


    Hi Echo and welcome to boards!

    Info on Irish capital gains can be found here.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 Echo6


    Thanks, I'll check it out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭arrowloopboy


    Look up 3 posts ,#42


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5 Echo6


    I understand there is no tax on spread betting.

    I was asking about the spot currency market.

    Is there no tax on profits made from the spot market either?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭arrowloopboy


    I think there is on Forex profits,but not s/b,i changed for this reason.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13 Become


    You dont need a Forex broker B,you can trade the very same with a spread betting firm,with no tax on profits,i'd highly reccomend IG Index.
    As regards platforms,DailyFX should have every thing your looking for as regards charts,analysis ,financial calander etc etc.
    For every thing else Forex,The ForexFactory forum is the leading forum on forex.

    Regards......

    A.

    Thanks A.L.B. I finally got round to checking them out (IG Index), and going through some of their tutorials and am so far impressed... also opens up other investing options besides currencies of course too.


Advertisement