In order to effectively begin Forex Trading, it is important to understand the fundamentals of the trading. It's essential to have the ability to effectively read the exchange quote which may seem a bit confusing upon first glance. Once the investor can master this bit of information, then he can begin to explore the other areas of trading on this OTC 24 hour market.



There are two major pieces of information that investors must remember about the quoting system of Forex Trading. First and foremost, the first currency listed is the base currency. Second, the value of the base currency is always one.

That being said, the U.S. Dollar is the centerpiece of the Forex and for the most part is considered the base currency under normal circumstances. An example of this would be a quote for USD/JPY 110.01. In laymen's terms, this listing means that one U.S. Dollar equals 110.01 Japanese Yen.

It is important to also remember that there are exceptions to the practice of listing the U.S. Dollar as the base currency. These exceptions are the Euro, the Australian Pound, and the British Pound. It is very common to see quotes with these currencies as the base currency.

It is imperative that quotes be fully read and understood prior to investing. It is also important to understand that as the quote rises or falls throughout the day; the strength of the base rises and falls. This is true regardless of the base currency.