The forex market is not structured like a traditional exchange market such as the New York Stock Exchange or the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Forex is a decentralized global marketplace where trades are cleared one on one between trading partners. There is no central exchange, no pit full of yelling traders, no big board of quotes on a New York street, and no closing bell to ring. The pros and cons of an exchange-based market versus off-exchange currency trading are debatable, but there are obvious differences you should understand before trading in the forex market.
No Transparency
One clear advantage of an exchange-based market over off-exchange currency trading is the transparency the exchange offers traders about the market. Exchanges clear every trade through a central exchange, allowing them to provide traders with a wealth of information about the market activity. Common tools such as order flow and volume data are displayed on trader’s charts, allowing them to gauge the strength or weakness of price moves throughout the trading day.
Because the forex market is decentralized, there is little data available on market activity. Market makers and retail dealers typically do not share their order flow data, and those that do only represent their trading desk activity and not the forex market at large. Volume is another popular indicator used by stock and commodity traders on exchange markets that is unavailable in the forex market because there is no central exchange on which to measure volume. Currency traders must learn on their own to read price action through their charts, without the aid of exchange-based indicators.
Because the forex market is decentralized, there is little data available on market activity. Market makers and retail dealers typically do not share their order flow data, and those that do only represent their trading desk activity and not the forex market at large. Volume is another popular indicator used by stock and commodity traders on exchange markets that is unavailable in the forex market because there is no central exchange on which to measure volume. Currency traders must learn on their own to read price action through their charts, without the aid of exchange-based indicators.
