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Why not be a passive FX trader?

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New and novice traders spend a lot of their time worrying about how they will recognise and spot trading opportunities as they occur, and what will be the best way to exploit them when they do. They can spend hours researching and reading, looking at charts and trying to apply technical or fundamental analysis to the current market setups.

 

That investment of time and effort on their part is commendable, but all too often it's time and effort wasted!

 

It may seem harsh to say that, but here at Fusion Markets, we believe in telling it like it is.

 

We say that it's time and effort wasted because, despite all the research, reading and studying of charts, many newbie traders will still put the wrong trade on and more to the point not realise they are doing so.

 

Driven by sentiment

Financial markets are primarily driven by sentiment and momentum, which itself is created by crowd behaviour. That's something that was identified and put into print as long ago as 1841 and though the technology of trading has changed considerably in the intervening 179 years, the psychology of trading hasn't. 


We could go as far as to argue that while there is no longer a physical crowd on a trading floor or exchange these days, there is, in fact, a much bigger crowd whose voice and actions are amplified by modern communications. Real-time information through social media, for example, can enable the instantaneous exchange of information, prices and views across the globe.

 

The transfer of information 

There have always been communication channels between markets and their end customers, of course. But it is the speed of modern networks that differentiates today's trading from what went before.

 

Flags and telescopes on high towers, carrier pigeons and messengers all played their part in the transfer of information. Those methods were superseded by the telegraph, which in turn was replaced, at least partly by the telephone. The internet, the world wide web and the rise of mobile telecoms have ushered in a new age of high-speed data that can reach almost any corner of the globe, at the same time.

 

The net effect of all this is that the trading crowd is much larger, better informed and able to act and react much quicker than ever before.

 

Weight of money 

In trading, the majority rules, in that markets move in the direction that has the most impetus. If most of the crowd is bullish, then demand outweighs supply and prices will rise until fresh supply (sellers) are attracted into the market. This is why people go on about what the “Smart money” is doing. While we don’t necessarily agree with them being “smarter”, they certainly have more capital!

 

Conversely, if supply outweighs demand, that is there are more sellers than buyers to satisfy them, then prices will fall as new buyers are drawn into the market.

 

If these price changes persist for any length of time, they form what is known as a trend which is nothing more than a series of continuous, repetitive movements in price.

 

It's not only modern communications that have amplified crowd behaviour and sentiment.


The rise of tracker funds, ETFs and other passive investment vehicles have also played a role. These types of investment don't try to beat the market. Instead, they aim to match it.

 

Trillions of dollars have flowed into these trackers over the last decade and a half, and indeed you could argue that they have become so successful and so large that ETFs are now capable of creating the market's trends rather than just following them.

 

In fact, the world's largest fund manager is also one of the world's biggest passive investors (Blackrock).

 

Passive FX trading  

The influence of tracker funds is not as prominent in FX, as it is in say, equities or bonds; however, the principles are the same. The crowd dictates the trends in the markets and those trends tend to stay in place until new information emerges and cause a change in sentiment, which in turn can cause a change in those market trends.

 

Now the big mistake on the part of newbie traders that we mentioned at the start of the article was putting on the wrong trade, typically by opposing the prevailing trends in the markets.


The more entrenched the trend, the more likely new traders, are to try and oppose it. Ever heard the saying “trying to catch a falling knife”?


How can we become passive traders?

The most obvious way to be a passive trader is to follow the existing trends in the FX market, which occur in even the most widely traded pairs. Nevertheless, here's a few ways you can become more passive. 

 

For example, EURUSD trended lower for almost two years between February 2018 and February 2020. You didn't have to stay short of the rate (that is, have sold the Euro and bought the Dollar) for two years to benefit from that move. As long as that downtrend was in place, it was pointing you in the direction of least resistance and with that being the case why would you oppose it?

 

1) Check your charts.

 

Sometimes you will be able to follow existing trends, but there will be other times when individual instruments or markets are ranging or moving sideways, checking your charts and knowing your levels can aid you here.

 

A chart can speak a thousand words. It contains loads of useful information that's conveyed visually to the viewer. Get to know where the key support and resistances (watch for breakouts too) are situated over daily or weekly timescales; shorter-term charts are too noisy (I’m looking at you, 5-minute chart!).

 

2) Know where key levels and moving averages are.

 

The way that price reacts when it meets moving averages, or support and resistance can dictate the direction of the next trend. Knowing when and where this can happen will put you on alert to "jump" in once a new trend is confirmed. Fusion puts out trade ideas and analysis on Telegram and Facebook.

 

3) Look for clues about trends in sentiment tools

 

Tools that track what traders are thinking and doing are incredibly useful.

 

Given what we said above about retail traders opposing market trends, the passive FX trader uses these sentiment reports as reverse indicators.

 

We quite like FX Blue’s sentiment indicators which you can find here

 

The rule of thumb is that the more biased retail trader sentiment is in an instrument, the more likely that the market will move in the opposite direction.

 

A passive trader wouldn't preempt that move, but they would be prepared for it when it happens, or join it if it's already begun. 

After all, one of the most famous quotes in the markets is "the trend is your friend"... So don't fight it.  

 

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The Hidden Forces Driving Price Movements

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There are true complexities that drive price movements in the forex market. Beneath the surface of visible price changes lies the market’s microstructure; an intricate web of factors influencing how prices fluctuate.  


Market microstructure focuses on the mechanics of trading, the behaviour of participants, and their involvement in the fluctuations of price. Understanding these hidden forces gives traders a clearer picture of market behaviour, equipping them to make more informed decisions in a competitive and chaotic environment.




Components of Forex Market Microstructure




Order Flow Trading


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Bid-Ask Spreads


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Market Depth and Forex Liquidity


Market depth refers to the volume of buy and sell orders at various price levels, offering insights into forex liquidity. High market depth indicates robust liquidity, making it easier to execute large trades without impacting prices. Shallow depth, however, can lead to higher volatility, as fewer orders can cause rapid price changes.



Market Participants


The forex market comprises of various participants, including;

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Large players such as banks and hedge funds have a significant influence on price movements due to their transaction volume. In contrast, retail traders have less influence individually but can impact markets in aggregate, particularly in lower liquidity situations.



Price Discovery Process


Price discovery is the process by which the forex market determines the price of a currency pair. This process is heavily influenced by information asymmetry, where certain participants have more information than others, often leading to advantages in trading. For instance, institutional traders may have access to economic forecasts before retail traders, potentially moving prices before the data reaches the wider market.


High-frequency trading (HFT) has also become a significant part of price discovery. HFT involves executing trades at extremely high speeds, often driven by algorithms designed to capitalise on minute price discrepancies. While HFT can add liquidity, it can also cause rapid price changes that impact the price discovery process.



Liquidity Providers and Market Makers


Liquidity providers, such as banks and large financial institutions, ensure the forex market operates smoothly by offering to buy or sell at quoted prices, maintaining liquidity.


Market makers are liquidity providers who actively facilitate trades by setting bid and ask prices. By adjusting these prices, market makers can influence short-term price movements, especially in low-liquidity situations.


Market makers operate through both electronic trading and voice trading channels.


  • Electronic trading, facilitated by platforms and algorithms, is known for its speed and efficiency.

  • Voice trading, on the other hand, is often reserved for complex or large orders requiring negotiation, allowing for nuanced price adjustments in response to changing market conditions.



Order Types and Their Impact


The type of order a trader places can affect market dynamics significantly:


  • Limit Orders: These are orders to buy or sell at a specified price or better. They contribute to market depth and can create temporary support and resistance levels, as these orders accumulate in the order book.

  • Market Orders: Executed immediately at the current price, market orders can trigger rapid price shifts, especially if large orders are placed in low-liquidity periods. Market orders are often used to enter or exit positions quickly but may lead to slippage.

  • Stop Orders: These orders, triggered when prices reach a specified level, can amplify market moves as clusters of stop orders trigger simultaneously. This is common in trending markets, where stop-loss orders cascade as prices rise or fall.

  • Hidden and Iceberg Orders: Hidden orders are not visible in the order book and are typically large institutional orders that aim to reduce market impact. Iceberg orders reveal only a portion of the total order, with the remainder hidden until the visible part is filled.


A diagram of a graph Description automatically generated with medium confidence



Microstructure Anomalies and Opportunities


Understanding market microstructure can help traders identify unique trading opportunities:


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Conclusion


Forex market microstructure highlights the true forces that drive price movements, from order flow trading and market depth to the impact of different participants. For traders, understanding these components is crucial to being successful in the forex market. By analysing and having a thorough understanding of microstructure, you can gain a competitive edge, interpreting price action in real-time and making more strategic decisions.


As the forex market continues to evolve, staying updated on microstructure concepts and integrating them into trading strategies can lead to a deeper understanding of market behaviour. This knowledge can enable you to adapt and succeed over the long-term.


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Please see the table below for any upcoming dividend adjustments on indices for the week starting November 18th, 2024.


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What is a dividend?


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What is an ex-dividend date?


An ex-dividend date is the cut-off date a share must be owned in order to receive a dividend. If an investor buys a share after the ex-dividend date, then they will not be entitled to earn or pay the next round of dividends. This is usually one business day before the dividend.

 

Do dividends affect my position?


Share prices should theoretically fall by the amount of the dividend. If the company has paid the dividend with cash, then there is less cash on the balance sheet, so in theory, the company should be valued lower (by the amount of the dividend).


Due to the corresponding price movement of the stock index when the ex-dividend date is reached, Fusion must provide a 'dividend' adjustment to ensure that no trader is positively or negatively impacted by the ex-dividend event.

 

How will the dividend appear on my account?


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Why was I charged a dividend?


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Why didn’t I receive my dividend?


You may not have received a dividend for a number of reasons:


- You entered your position after the ex-dividend date

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- You are short an index


If you believe the reasons above do not apply to your position, please reach out to our support team at [email protected] and we’ll investigate further for you.




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