The foreign exchange market, or forex (FX) for short, is a decentralized market place that facilitates the buying and selling of different currencies. This takes place over the counter (OTC) via the interbank market instead of on a centralized exchange. Without knowing it, you have probably already participated in the foreign exchange market by ordering imported shoes, or more obviously, buying foreign currency when on vacation. Traders are drawn to forex for several reasons, including:

What Moves the Forex Market?

In reality, the above example is only one of many factors that can move the FX market. Others include broad macro-economic events like the election of a new president, or country specific factors such as the prevailing interest rate, GDP, unemployment, inflation and the debt to GDP ratio, to name a few. Top traders make use of an economic calendar to stay up to date with these and other important economic releases that can move the market