Trading Basics
Forex Players
Unlike traditional stock exchanges, the forex market is decentralized. This means there's no single location where all currency trades happen. Instead, transactions occur electronically over-the-counter (OTC) between a network of participants.
One key consequence of this decentralized structure is that there's not always a single, unified price for a currency pair. Forex prices are quoted as bids and asks, representing the price a buyer is willing to pay (bid) and the price a seller is willing to accept (ask).
However, don't be fooled by the lack of a central exchange! The forex market is a well-oiled machine with clearly defined roles for its key players. In the next section, we'll explore who these participants are and how they contribute to the smooth functioning of the forex market.