Forex Trading Principles - Forex Pips, Quotes And Spreaad

Let us understand the basic measure of success or failure in every forex trading. Percentage in point of PIP is the smallest price increment in forex trading. Pip is always measure by the last digit in forex price quotes, say you bought EUR/USD at 1.3123 and was able to sell it at 1.3126, you then ea
3 pips which is the difference between the sell price and the buy price. Every pip has a dollar equivalent depending on the lot size a trader is trading. Micro lot 1 pip is equal to $0.10, a mini lot 1 pip is equal to $1.00 and a standard lot 1 pip is equal to $10.00.

Forex Quotes

Let us use the following forex quote for EUR/USD to understand further what is forex spread. Sell price 1.3120 and Buy price 1.3123, this quote means that you can buy EUR/USD at 1.3123 and you can sell it or short sell it at 1.3120. Did you notice the difference between the buy price and the sell price? This is called forex spread.

Forex Spread

Most forex brokers do not charge that client with commission fees or brokers fees, how then do the forex brokers earn when we trade with them? Forex brokers sell their services not only via their platform but most especially by offering lower spread or fix spread. To explain further let say you bought EUR/USD at the buy price of 1.3123 just right after you bought this pair you are already registered a loss of 3 pips because you can only sell it at 1.3120, sell price of 1.3120 less buy price of 1.3123 equals negative 3 or 3 pip loss. The 3 pips initial loss actually goes to your broker and works like a broker's fee.

Our first example is a buy transaction it will also be the same when you sell short a currency pair. Selling short EUR/USD at 1.3123 will give you the same 3 pip loss because when you close your short trade you will have to buy it at 1.3120.

Every time you enter a trade whether buying or selling short a currency pair you are charged by your broker via the currency pair spread, this is just once every time you enter a trade and when you close a trade this is actually the time when you pay your broker the spread.

During volatile times in the market spread can move from your regular 1-3 pips to 10-50 pips in just seconds this kind of movement happens in anticipation of a great move or when there are favorable or unfavorable economic news that just become available to the market.

Use pip in measuring your profit or loss or when measuring risk and reward of a trade. Take advantage of brokers that offers small spread or better yet guaranteed fix spread. Avoid buying or selling during wild movement of price because you increase the risk of getting charge with a high spread.