What is the Difference Between Forex and the Stock Market?

By Albert Schmidt

Forex is a worldwide market of trading currencies. The main difference between Forex market and the stock market is volume. There are lots of people who enter the currency trading market on a daily basis. They trade more than two trillion dollars every day. This volume is significantly higher than the volume that is being traded on the stock market of any country on a daily basis. Currencies are traded not only by private traders but also by financial institutions, banks and even governments.

The second major difference of Forex from stock market is the liquidity. Everything that is traded on Forex market can be easily liquidated. That means you can convert any position into cash since it's already cash but of a different country. Availability of cash is always there. A position can be liquidated at any time anywhere in the world.

Forex market by it's nature is an International, Worldwide market. This market needs a few countries currencies to be involved. The stock market on the other hand can be a local market within one country. It is based on a product or business and does not need to involve other countries.

Another difference is the working hours. The stock market usually follows the business day hours at that place where it's located. Forex by virtue of being worldwide market is open twenty-four hours a day except weekend. Since selling and buying happens in different countries Forex needs to be open all the time. When market closes in one country it opens in another one. It does have its most active hours. Forex is most actively traded during London session and New York session.

A stock market of any country is based on the currency of that country. For example, United States stock market is base on US dollar; Japanese stock market is based on Japanese yen. The nature of the Forex is such that it needs to involve multiple currencies to exist.

Albert Schmidt is a part-time currency trader. After quite a long time of struggle he learned to make consistent profit trading in Forex. Review a trading strategy he successfully uses in his trades.