Saturday, 21 May 2011

Forex Market: Spain’s Trouble Leads To Eerie Risk Aversion

Yesterday the market starts with eerie risk aversion momentum building because of the fear of the Spain’s banking trouble that are continuously suppressing the Forex trading market. We have noticed a lack of unity in the Euro zone member nation’s community as the German members are unhappy due to the joint EUR bond issue since it cause the nation to lead by using wrong policies. The euro zone financial calendar specifies about the increment of industrial orders to 5.2 percent along with ECB announcement of one week fixed term deposits.
FOMC minutes in US specifies about the favor coming from the three regional banks for the first rate hike to 1 percent as it helps to regain the past discount structure of interest rate. Although these are the concerns related to the economic recovery leads to the fear in the market but we know that there is a ray of hope in every dark night as this proves true by the consumer index as it gets the market into a surprise by reaching to the 63.3 level beyond the expectations of market.
US market equities after getting this news erased all its losses and closes at 0.4 percent at the late forex session. S&P also get a rise of 0.3 percent in this whole month. Where as the currency pair of USD/JPY also shown a high yesterday by reaching to 90 level. In UK there was a quarterly report release takes place yesterday which results shows a growth rate after the meeting. It also mentions about the cut in Government spending along with the public sector wages where as private consumption seems to be flat in the next quarter.
US labor market are seems to be in worry after the last week’s report of the US jobless claims that unexpectedly leads the sharp rise in the market. This news may rise a double dip recession if the US labor market seems to be stalled. The European country debt crisis was an obstacle for the US economic recovery and embeds the more concerns about the global economic recovery to the labor market in US. In the past US have made 500k jobs since market signifies that it may reflect the employment report improvement of BLS. Although we have noticed that the jobless claims had fallen sharply below the expectations eventually but the claim report still in the level above and would confirm that the US is still making more number of jobs than losing.
The Korean currency falls leads the Asian market fall yesterday. the trading in US dollars will remain instable from the morning session and the euro is also seen in the downtrend. The USD/JPY leads to Sterling currency under pressure after the drop down in yesterday market. Instead of all these things the EUR/GBP and GBP/JPY was seems to be a big mover of the day and reaches to the high level after crossing the four yen. These all happenings of Yesterday leads the market to the V variety across the board.
copied from http://forexmoneymaker.blog.com/

The Morning Forex Fake-Out Trade

Many traders are aware that when a market opens there are often whipsaw-like actions (or what some may call "fake outs") before a stronger trend emerges. With currencies the market is open 24 hours during the week, therefore many traders don't see the forex market as having an "opening" session. Yet this is not true. Banks in different parts of the world open for business, and with that, a larger volume enters the market. Therefore currencies are not immune from the morning "fake out." As stop levels are cleared on either side of the open price, a stronger trend will often emerge. This trend may not last, but by knowing there is often a fake out followed by a stronger move, traders can position themselves for taking advantage if they implement the proper strategy. Opens to WatchNot every currency's open is worth paying attention to. Ideally, traders will want to watch the most liquid currency pairs, and also look for pairs that see a large increase in volume/participants as the country/zone opens.
Because of how major market's business days overlap with one another, the European open is an ideal candidate for trading the open. One main reason for this is that pairs such as the GBP/USD or EUR/USD are not as heavily traded prior to the open, but when Germany opens followed one hour later by London at 3am EST (please be aware of impacts of daylight savings time) volume ensues. The yen is traded heavily in the Tokyo session but as London opens there is an overlap with the Tokyo session resulting in increased volatility for the GBP/JPY and EUR/JPY. The CHF/USD is also worth watching.
Therefore we have several pairs to watch starting at about 1:30 (pre-market open) till about 4am EST (one or two hours after the markets open) to watch for a set-up. Since not all signals will occur at the same time, several pairs can be traded.
The Set-UpPrior to a major market opening, forex pairs will often move within relatively small ranges. This is not always the case though. There may be a lot of movement prior to the European open, on days such as this the set-up will be harder to see (and may not exist), therefore caution is warranted on using this strategy on such days. The set-up should be watched for on a 15 minute chart.
1. We ideally want a calm pre-market, or one that has a definable pre-market range. This range will be marked on our chart pre-market and then we will watch for the European open to begin.
2. A breakout of that range is likely to occur. We do nothing as this is quite possibly a false breakout. Ideally we want this breakout to be small, 10-30 pips (or no more than one third of the daily average range).
3. We watch for an engulfing candle pattern (or any candle which shows a strong movement in the opposite direction over one or two bars) in the opposite direction of the original breakout (for example, if the range breakout was down, we watch for a bullish engulfing pattern).
4. We make a trade in the direction of the engulfing pattern.
5. A stop is placed just below the low (high) of the bullish (bearish) engulfing pattern.
6. Profit target(s) is based on average movement during the early European session or the daily average range (trades will generally take longer to exit if using the larger daily figure).
7. Similar to a trailing stop, a new engulfing pattern in the opposite direction of our trade can be used as an optional exit.
Potential IssuesBefore showing examples of the trades, there are several things traders should be aware of. No strategy is perfect, therefore the best outcome is to aim to maximize the good trades, and minimize the losing ones (because they will occur). Here are few guidelines which can be added to the system to aid in its effectiveness:

FORX TRAD : Forex International Trading Corp. Announces Conference Call to Review Q1 2011 Financials and Business Outlook

Forex International Trading Corp. (the "Company") (OTCBB:FXIT), today announced that the Company will report its 2011 first quarter financial results on Friday May 20, 2011.
The Company will also host a conference call to discuss its first quarter financials for fiscal 2011 as well as the Company's business outlook for the remainder of the year. The call will take place after the close of the market on Wednesday May 25, 2011 at 4:15 p.m. (EDT) and will be open to all shareholders and interested parties.
The conference call will be conducted by President and CEO, Darren Dunckel, "Our consolidated financials will show over $3 million in revenue in the first quarter. We look forward to discussing with our shareholders and the investment community the growth that we have experienced over the last year in the Forex market space and to discuss our current and future projects that we hope to accomplish this year."
This conference call will be available by dialing 712-432-0900. The conference ID number is 758771.
About Forex International Trading Corp.
Headquartered in New York, NY, Forex International Trading Corp. operates an offshore advanced online trading platform for Forex markets to non U.S. residents. The Company focuses on providing individual and institutional investors with a platform for buying and selling currencies, precious metals and commodity futures. The company's platforms allow self-directed, broker-assisted, and managed accounts. Through the platforms, customers have access to over 20 currencies and bullion deliveries. The Foreign Currency Market ("Forex" or "FX") is created by the global exchange of currencies. According to the Bank for International Settlements, the average daily turnover, or, volume in the Global FX market in April 2010 was $4 Trillion compared to only $1.2 Trillion in 2001 (Wall Street Journal, Sept. 1, 2010). Historically, access to the FX market was only available to governments, commercial banks, corporations, and other large financial institutions. The Company is now capitalizing on the growth of online currency trading through its state of the art web-based trading platforms.
For more information, please visit: http://www.forex-international-trading.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements, including expected industry patterns and other financial and business results that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied by this press release. Such risk factors include, among others, whether Forex International Trading Corp. can successfully execute its operating plan; its ability to integrate acquired companies and technology; its ability to retain key employees; its ability to successfully combine product offerings and customer acceptance of combined products; general market conditions; and whether Forex International Trading Corp. can successfully develop new products and the degree to which these gain market acceptance. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements in this press release. Forex International Trading Corp. does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results.
copied from http://www.4-traders.com/news/FORX-TRAD-Forex-International-Trading-Corp-Announces-Conference-Call-to-Review-Q1-2011-Financials-an--13631640/

WORLD FOREX: Euro Rally Fades Amid Pre-Weekend Jitters

-- Euro fails to sustain break above $1.43 against dollar
-- Talk of large euro sales overhang
-- Swiss franc reverses losses after mixed central bank messages
By William Kemble-Diaz 
   Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 
LONDON (Dow Jones)--The euro gave up its gains against the faltering dollar in European trading hours Friday, as talk of a large overhang of potential euro sales, and concern about anti-austerity protests in Spain, capped the common currency's rise.
Like other major currencies, the euro cranked higher against the dollar Thursday following soggy U.S. manufacturing data indicated persistent weakness in the U.S. economy. The pound and Australian dollar largely held onto those gains Friday.
But the Spanish protests reminded investors of the biggest potential domino should euro-zone policymakers fail to contain Greece's debt problems, and widespread talk of options barriers being fiercely defended at the $1.4360 area, capped the euro's rise.
More broadly, Kit Juckes, head of currency research at Societe Generale, said a weaker dollar bias was settling in because investors had downwardly adjusted growth expectations and were satisfied--at least for now--that the global economic cycle is passing through a soft patch rather than poised for a reversal, even as the end of U.S. quantitative monetary easing looms.
"The natural reaction of markets is to look for the floor once you've reached the ceiling in the growth rate," citing the drag on growth from Chinese monetary tightening, high oil prices, Japanese disasters, budgetary cutbacks and fading U.S. fiscal stimulus.
But that process of downward adjustment appears to have run its course, putting the attention back onto the ample liquidity sloshing around financial markets and encouraging investors to load up on riskier, higher-yielding assets.
"For currencies that really means... a returning theme of the yen, the Swiss franc and the dollar not being the world's favorite currencies," Juckes said. "So the euro can head back through $1.45 and toward $1.50 on that basis, the dollar can make it up to Y83 again, and even the Australian dollar can get back its mojo."
But he emphasised that a pre-weekend close in the euro above $1.43 against the dollar would be key, particularly with the $1.4360 option set to expire early next week.
A move out in Spanish bond spreads also showed fixed income investors were mildly unnerved by regional elections due at the weekend in Spain, against a backdrop of mounting political demonstrations, causing some strategists to curb their enthusiasm for the single currency.
"In the short term, the euro is more likely to push higher against the dollar, even though the news from the euro zone is not going to be great," said Steve Barrow of Standard Bank. "I'm not that sure we can get back above the highs again, back above $1.50-plus."
The Swiss franc provided some intrigue, cranking higher to reverse losses seen Thursday after the country's economy minister seemed to suggest that the Swiss central bank might take action against its strong currency.
However, while the pre-prepared text of his speech included this note, the speech itself did not, Dow Jones Newswires reported Friday. That revelation may have been a factor behind the franc's ascent in London trading hours Friday, Citigroup said in a note to clients.
The data calendar was quiet in European hours. Figures showing the euro zone's current account deficit narrowed in March had little impact on currency markets.
Up ahead is Canadian CPI data, with the market looking for some direction on the timing of the next Canadian interest rate hike and the Canadian dollar holding around CAD0.9653 against the U.S. dollar.
Among emerging market currencies, the South African rand extended its gains in the wake of regional elections earlier in the week in choppy trade to trade at ZAR6.884 against the dollar.
"There's a lot of noise but not really much direction, a bit like other currency markets," he said.
At 1144 GMT, the euro was trading at $1.4269 against the dollar, compared with $1.4312 late Wednesday in New York, according to trading system EBS.
The dollar was at Y81.57 against the yen, compared with Y81.59, while the euro was at Y116.42 compared with Y116.80, after the Bank of Japan left rates unchanged as expected.
The ICE Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar against a trade-weighted basket of currencies, was trading at 75.25 compared with 75.399 late Wednesday in New York.
A summary of key levels for chart-watching technical strategists is below:
Forex spot:       EUR/USD    USD/JPY    GBP/USD    USD/CHF 
 
Spot 1034 GMT     1.4274     81.56      1.6244     0.8810 
3 Day Trend       Bullish    Bullish    Range      Bearish 
Weekly Trend      Bearish    Bearish    Bearish    Bearish 
200 day ma        1.3808     83.49      1.5987     0.9514 
3rd Resistance    1.4389     82.23      1.6355     0.8947 
2nd Resistance    1.4360     82.05      1.6304     0.8880 
1st Resistance    1.4345     81.87      1.6285     0.8828 
Pivot*            1.4281     81.76      1.6203     0.8817 
1st Support       1.4245     81.46      1.6211     0.8779 
2nd Support       1.4236     81.39      1.6139     0.8764 
3rd Support       1.4206     81.25      1.6107     0.8695 
 
 
Forex spot:       EUR/GBP 
 
Spot 1034 GMT     0.8784 
3 Day Trend       Bullish 
Weekly Trend      Bearish 
200 day ma        0.8634 
3rd Resistance    0.8881 
2nd Resistance    0.8858 
1st Resistance    0.8840 
Pivot*            0.8816 
1st Support       0.8773 
2nd Support       0.8761 
3rd Support       0.8725 
-By William Kemble-Diaz, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9347; william.kemble-diaz@dowjones.com
copied from  http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110520-705915.html

FX Technical Weekly

US Dollar (2yr and 10yr yields)
Daily
052011FXTW_body_usd.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
Jamie – After stalling at resistance from the 4/18 high and 3/7 low, the USD has traded back towards the highs today. Trading above 7600 would shift focus higher in a 3rd wave towards the 2/14 high and 200 day average at 7887-7932. Any weakness should find solid support at 7400/40.
JoelAlthough the overall downtrend has been quite intense, the market could be showing signs of basing following the latest impressive rebound. Look for a break back above the 1April high on to officially confirm bullish reversal prospects and accelerate gains. However, inability to establish above the 1Apr high will keep the pressure on the downside and open a retest of the recent trend lows. A more constructive weekly chart does help to reaffirm recovery outlook.
Euro / US Dollar
Daily
052011FXTW_body_eurusd.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
Jamie – As long as price is above 14050, potential remains for strength towards 14500-14600 in a larger correction. It is also possible that a more important B wave low is in place (as per the count above) but confirmation is lacking from short term price action. Trading below 14047 would negate any upside potential and shift focus to 13860-13900.
JoelThe corrective rally out from 1.4050 continues with the market breaking back above 1.4300 thus far. However, any additional gains from here should limited to the 1.4400-1.4500 area, and we would be looking for the formation of a fresh lower top in favor of the next major downside back below 1.4050. Ultimately, only a daily close back above 1.4500 would delay.
British Pound / US Dollar
Daily
052011FXTW_body_gbpusd.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
Jamie – The GBPUSD has tested channel support but additional weakness would target the 100% extension of the decline from 16476 is at 16041. A line that extends off of the May 2010 and December 2010 lows is just above there today. The channel defines the trend for now.
JoelThe market is starting to give way, with the price now dropping back below the 50-Day SMA to warn of additional declines over the coming sessions. Look for deeper setbacks below 1.6000, with any rallies now expected to be well capped ahead of 1.6400. Ultimately, only back above 1.6520 gives reason for concern.
Australian Dollar / US Dollar
Daily
052011FXTW_body_audusd.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
JamieContinue to look higher towards 10715. Trading above there would be an indication that a larger triangle or flat pattern is underway from the 11011 high. I showed my JSINT indicator this week (combination of interest rate and price trend). The current reading is at a level consistent with price lows. With a triangle or flat underway, I expect range trading to take hold over the next few weeks and perhaps months.
JoelLast Friday’s bearish price action has officially confirmed a fresh lower top by 1.0890 and further weakness appears to be in the cards from here. Look for a fresh downside extension and acceleration towards previous medium-term resistance now turned support by 1.0250. In the interim, any intraday rallies should be well capped below 1.0750 on a daily close basis.
New Zealand Dollar / US Dollar
Daily
052011FXTW_body_nzdusd.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
JamieThe NZDUSD continues to lead the pack – it is possible that a larger flat or triangle is underway from the May high (the implications in both patterns are for strength close to and possibly just above 8120 before weakness back towards 7750). Near term, favor the upside as long as price is above 7860 – an objective is 8040/50.
JoelThe latest break below 0.7820 is significant and suggests that a key top is now in place by 0.8120. From here, look for deeper setbacks towards next key support in the 0.7600’s by the 50/100-Day SMAs. The 10-Day SMA is showing a negative cross with the 20-Day SMA to further confirm negative outlook, and as such, any intraday rallies from here should be well capped below 0.8000 on a daily close basis. Below 0.7755 accelerates, while only back above 0.8000 concerns.
US Dollar / Japanese Yen
Daily
052011FXTW_body_usdjpy.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
Jamie – The USDJPY has broken to a new high for May which suggests that the low for the month is in place at 7956 (as per the tendency for the high OR low for the entire month to register during the first 5 days of the month). When combined with the fact that the USDJPY low was just below its 61.8% retracement of the rally from the March low, it is likely that an important secondary low is in place. Near term support is 8100/20 and price should remain above 8033 on its way towards resistance at 8325 and 8400.
JoelAfter undergoing a fairly intense drop off from the 85.50 area several days back, the market looks to have finally found some support by the bottom of the daily Ichimoku cloud and could be in the process of carving out some form of a base. Look for setbacks to continue to be well supported in the 80.00’s with only a close back below 79.50 to give reason for concern. From here we see the risks for a fresh upside extension back towards the recent range highs at 85.50 over the coming days.
US Dollar / Canadian Dollar
Daily
052011FXTW_body_usdcad.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
JamieThe USDCAD has traded above its prior month high for the first time since May 2010. The rally reversed however at the 100% extension of the rally from the low and channel resistance. With the rally in 3 waves, it is possible that the larger trend remains down (or a flat or triangle similar to patterns in the other commodity currencies). Trading above 9793 would trigger the alternate bearish count in which the rally is a series of 1st and 2nd waves. This is an extremely bullish count and focus would then shift to 9975.
JoelThe market has finally managed to mount a nice recovery since basing out by fresh multi-month lows in the 0.9400’s and could be in the process of attempting to establish a more meaningful base. The latest break and close back above 0.9700 triggers an inverse H&S pattern that now projects additional gains towards parity over the coming days. Look for setbacks to now be well supported above 0.9600 on a daily close basis.
US Dollar / Swiss Franc
Daily
052011FXTW_body_usdchf.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
Jamie – A close look at the USDCHF rally from the low reveals a 5 wave structure, which may compose the first leg of a larger bull move. At the moment, it is possible that the secondary low (either wave 2 or B) is in place at 8750. Additional weakness would target the 61.8% retracement at 8702.
JoelStarting to show signs of basing off of the recently established record lows by 0.8550, with the market putting in a solid bullish close for two consecutive weeks and breaking back above the previous weekly high. Next key resistance comes in by 0.9000 and a break above will further confirm recovery structure and open the door for a move back towards a medium-term lower top at 0.9340. Look for any intraday setbacks to be well supported above 0.8700 on a daily close basis. Ultimately, only a daily close back below 0.8700 delays and gives reason for concern.
Euro / Japanese Yen
Daily
052011FXTW_body_eurjpy.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
Jamie – The EURJPY decline from 12332 is clearly in 3 waves (to this point) and the reversal near parallel channel support increases confidence in a bullish bias. Initial support has been reached today at 11560 but additional weakness early next week should find support at 11520 and 11480. Weakness below there would begin to suggest that I am wrong in looking for higher prices.
JoelThe latest sharp pullbacks into the 113.00’s have been intense, although the market has now found some formidable support by the previous resistance area now turned support. Look for a fresh medium-term higher low to carve out above 113.00 ahead of the next major upside extension back towards and eventually through the recent highs by 123.35. Tuesday’s break back above Monday’s high already encourages outlook, while only a daily close below 113.00 concerns.
Euro / British Pound
Daily
052011FXTW_body_eurgbp.png, FX Technical Weekly
Prepared by Jamie Saettele, CMT
Jamie – Focus remains on the 9158 objective, which intersects short term channel resistance on June 6th and longer term channel resistance on June 17th. Price must remain above 8672 in order for the proposed bullish scenario to remain valid. Any weakness below 8672 would shift focus to the February high at 8592 and then the March low at 8460.
JoelThe latest break back above key medium-term resistance by 0.8940 may have proven to be a false break with the market sharply reversing back into the 0.8600’s thus far ahead of the latest minor bounce. From here, look for a lower top below 0.8900 and break back below 0.8670 to expose an even deeper setback and bearish resumption towards 0.8500. Any rallies should now be well capped ahead of 0.8900.
Jamie Saettele publishes Daily Technicals every weekday morning, COT analysis (published Monday), technical analysis of currency crosseson Wednesday and Friday (Euro and Yen crosses), and intraday trading strategy as market action dictates at the DailyFX Forex Stream. A graduate of Bucknell University, he holds the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designation from the Market Technician Association. He is the author of Sentiment in the Forex Market. Send requests to receive his reports via email to jsaettele@dailyfx.com.
If you wish to receive Joel’s reports in a more timely fashion, emailjskruger@fxcm.com and you will be added to the distribution list.
copied from http://www.dailyfx.com/forex/technical/article/fx_technical_weekly/2011/05/20/052011FXTW.html 

Interest Rate Differentials Rule The FX Market in Sweden

n 2010, it became clear that developed nations were all going to emerge from the recession of 2008 at various velocities. As this discrepancy between various nations became clear, speculators began taking positions according to who would be raising interest rates and who would be keeping interest rates artificially low for an extended period of time.

The United States and Japan have proved to be the two slowest moving countries in terms of returning monetary policy back to normal. Australia, New Zeland, and Sweden, on the other hand, are among those developed nations which initiated strong tightening cycles during 2010 and into 2011. And, of course, each of these currencies has rallied significantly versus the dollar and yen as speculators and financial traders shift capital out of low yielding assets into higher yielding assets due to increased risk appetite, which is a result of continued global economic recovery.

The Swedish Krona

The krona recently rose to 2 ½ year Highs versus the U.S. dollar as the Riksbank raised its short-term interest rate target by 25 basis points from 1.50 to 1.75. “The Riksbank is still expected to hike rates at every meeting this year, so the Swedish krona is still a good buy,” said John Hydeskov, chief analyst at Danske Bank A/S in London. “There’s scope for the krona to accelerate further.”

The Swedish Riksbank has been forced to begin raising rates due to uncomfortably high inflation rates. The economy grew by 5.5 percent in 2010, and experts predict the economy will continue to expand by 4.6 percent in 2011. Currently, inflation is sitting at about 3.2 percent, compared to the February prediction of 2.5 percent. The fact that inflation is creeping higher so fast has forced the Riksbank to take action by raising short-term interest rates in an attempt to curb higher inflation. The trading spread has remained consistent at most forex brokers.

Follow the Money Trail

Money managers around the world share the common goal of earning a strong return for customers, and this basic investing truism is why capital tends to flow out of lower yielding assets and into higher yielding assets. As long as the global recovery stays intact throughout the second half of 2011, the Swedish krona should continue to rise versus the U.S. dollar as the Federal Reserve continues to keep artificially low interest rate policy in place.



As you can see in the chart above, in currency trading the krona has moved higher versus the dollar throughout the first quarter of 2011, largely based on the interest rate rise. The Riksbank has been quite forward with the fact that they will consider raising rates at every remaining meeting in 2011, which means the currency could be sitting at 2.5 percent by first quarter 2012, while analysts expect the U.S. dollar to still be under 2 percent during the same timeframe.

If inflation begins to rise more aggressively in Sweden, the central bank could be forced to take a more aggressive interest rate stance, which could include a more aggressive tightening schedule, which would most likely drive further gains into the krona.
copied from http://www.stockholmnews.com/more.aspx?NID=7222

Should You Trade FX Or Stocks?

Forex Vs. Blue ChipsThe foreign exchange market is the world's largest financial market, accounting for more than $4 trillion in average traded value each day as of 2011. Many traders are attracted to the forex market because of its high liquidity, around-the-clock trading and the amount of leverage that is afforded to participants.
Blue chips, on the other hand, are stocks from well-established and financially sound companies. These stocks are generally able to operate profitably during challenging economic conditions, and have a history of paying dividends. Blue chips are generally considered to be less volatile than many other investments, and are often used to provide steady growth potential to investors' portfolios.
VolatilityVolatility is a measure of short-term price fluctuations. While some traders, particularly short-term and day traders, rely on volatility in order to profit from quick price swings in the market, other traders are more comfortable with less volatile and less risky investments. As such, many short-term traders are attracted to the forex markets, while buy-and-hold investors may prefer the stability offered by blue chips.
LeverageLeverage is another consideration. In the United States, investors generally have access to 2:1 leverage for stocks. The forex market offers a substantially higher leverage of up to 50:1, and in parts of the world even higher leverage is available. Is all this leverage a good thing? Not necessarily. While it certainly provides the springboard to build equity with a very small investment - forex accounts can be opened with as little as $100 - leverage can just as easily destroy a trading account.
Trading HoursAnother consideration in choosing a trading instrument is the time period that each is traded. Trading sessions for stocks are limited to exchange hours, generally 9:30am to 4pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday with the exception of market holidays. The forex market, on the other hand, remains active round-the-clock from 5pm EST Sunday, through 5pm EST Friday, opening in Sydney, then traveling around the world to Tokyo, London and New York. The flexibility to trade during U.S. Asian and European markets, with good liquidity virtually any time of day, is an added bonus to traders whose schedules would otherwise limit their trading activity.
Forex Vs. IndexesStock market indexes are a combination of similar stocks, which can be used as a benchmark for a particular portfolio or the broad market. In the U.S. financial markets, major indexes include the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), the Nasdaq Composite Index, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Russell 2000. The indexes provide traders and investors with an important method of gauging the movement of the overall market.
copied from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/21/investopedia6424.DTL