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Calculating Profit and Loss
Pretty much any online forex broker you choose will have a trading platform that automatically calculates your profits and losses for you. But I think it's important to understand the basic math behind it. It's a good way to make sure your broker is honest, plus it's just good to know.
Besides, calculating profit and loss is really simple. There's only two simple formulas to remember.
When USD is the quote currency (the second currency in a pair), the formula is:
Profit = Price Change in Pips X Units Traded
When USD is the base currency (the first currency in a pair), the formula is:
Profit = Price Change in Pips X Units Traded / Exit Price
Let's look at some real-life examples to help you understand.
First we'll look at an example when USD is the quote currency. To keep things simple we'll assume the broker requires 1% margin, which means you can trade $100,000 in currency for only $1,000.
So let's say you are looking at EUR/USD which is currently trading at 1.2518/9. You predict the euro will rise in value against the euro so you execute a trade to buy euros, which means you also simultaneously sell USD.
You buy $100,000 units at 1.2519. Remember since you are buying you have to take the ask price, which is the second number in the quote.
Your calculations are correct and the price rises to 1.2532/3. You initiate a trade to sell EUR and buy USD. This time you use the bid price, which is 1.2532.
Since you bought at 1.2519 and sold at 1.2532 your profit was 17 pips, or 0.0017. Now we need to convert that into real money. So take your formula above:
Profit = Price Change in Pips X Units Traded
Or,
Profit = 0.0017 X 100,000 = $170.00
An easy rule to remember is that when trading a standard sized lot (100,000) of a currency pair in which USD is the quote currency, a pip is always equal to $10. 17 pips equals $170.
Now, let's look at an example where USD is the base currency. We'll execute a buy of 100,000 units of USD/JPY at 117.22. The price rises and we sell at 117.35. We just made 13 pips.
To calculate our profit we use the second formula:
Profit = Price Change in Pips X Units Traded / Exit Price
Or, Profit = .13 X 100,000 / 117.35 = $110.78.
Nice and simple.
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Technical Analysis for Major Currencies
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Fundamental Analysis
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China's benchmark money market rate hit a 5-week high at 6.80% for CNY30B in 6-month deposits. According to analysts China Premier Wen will announce at the March 5th National People's Congress that he will target GDP of less than 8%. GDP growth of 8% has been maintained in China from
Newsfeed display by CaRP
Technical Analysis
Today's Market Outlook
Hourly structure remains neutral, as the price action still in a range-trading mode, with the downside protected at 1.3200 support zone for now. Brief bounce to 1.3280 so far, needs to clear minimum 1.3292, to improve the near-term outlook and expose key barrier at 1.3320, clearance of which to resume
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USDJPY Upward pressure in USDJPY is relentless, with only two very mild negative daily performances being posted in the last 15 trading days (since the February 1 low of 76.02). Although signals for sentiment are at overbought extremes (and have ben for some time), any intraday dips are still
Technical Analysis for Crosses
The pair traded negatively yesterday below the resistance for the ascending correction channel to breach the critical support at 125.70; this level represents the neckline for a minor bearish pattern and its full targets reside with the MA 50 at 124.70 which signals that the downside move might be temporarily
Technical Analysis for Major Currencies
The pair continued trading very narrowly during the Asian session as seen on the provided daily chart. This tight range assisted Stochastic to show a bearish tendency; thus, we suggest a potential downside move today but not before clearing 1.3200 areas. Bears should be protected by a daily closing below
Daily FX Report
Currently, we are experiencing a phase of geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, where the political uncertainty is a powder keg waiting to be lit. In view of the imminent oil embargo against the Iran, the oil price climbed close to nine-month high and pushed concerns about a resulting
Newsfeed display by CaRP
Fundamental Analysis
Morning Forex Fundamental
European services and manufacturing output unexpectedly shrank in February, reviving fears the 17-nation currency bloc is heading towards a recession. Preliminary composite purchasing managers' index fell to 49.7 in February from 50.4 in January, said Markit Economics said on Wednesday.
EUR/GBP And USD/JPY Moved Beyond Important Resistance Levels
Currency traders doubted which card to play in the post-Greece era. EUR/USD drifted sideways even as the EMU PMI's disappointed. EUR/GBP jumped above the 0.8422 range top after the publication of the BoE Minutes. USD/JPY extended its gains and regained the 80.00 mark.
Euro Quiet, Holds Onto Gains
The euro recorded moderate gains against most of its major counterparts, as it appears in need of a catalyst, following the agreement on Greece?s bailout on Tuesday. The single currency weathered a series of worst than expected PMI readings, remarkably well. According to an official from the International Monetary Fund
FX Takes A Moment To Consolidate
In the Asian session, regional equities were mixed but the weak sentiment did not spillover into FX. Looking at the Asian bourses, the Nikkei is up 0.44% on the day, the Hang Seng down 0.72%, and the Shanghai Composite up 0.25%, painting a confusing picture for things to come. EURUSD
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China's benchmark money market rate hit a 5-week high at 6.80% for CNY30B in 6-month deposits. According to analysts China Premier Wen will announce at the March 5th National People's Congress that he will target GDP of less than 8%. GDP growth of 8% has been maintained in China from
Newsfeed display by CaRP