Forex Exchange Risk

FOREX EXCHANGE RISK

Any business is open to risks from movements in competitors' prices, raw material prices, competitors' cost of capital, foreign exchange rates and interest rates, all of which need to be (ideally) managed.

           

            This section addresses the task of managing exposure to Foreign Exchange movements.

            These Risk Management Guidelines are primarily an enunciation of some good and prudent practices in exposure management. They have to be understood, and slowly internalised and customised so that they yield positive benefits to the company over time.

            It is imperative and advisable for the Apex Management to both be aware of these practices and approve them as a policy. Once that is done, it becomes easier for the Exposure Managers to get along efficiently with their task.

Forex Risk Statements

The risk of loss in trading foreign exchange can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable in light of your financial condition. You may sustain a total loss of funds and any additional funds that you deposit with your broker to maintain a position in the foreign exchange market. Actual past performance is no guarantee of future results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely affect actual trading results.

            The risk of loss in trading the foreign exchange markets can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. In considering whether to trade or authorize someone else to trade for you, you should be aware of the following:

            If you purchase or sell a foreign exchange option you may sustain a total loss of the initial margin funds and additional funds that you deposit with your broker to establish or maintain your position. If the market moves against your position, you could be called upon by your broker to deposit additional margin funds, on short notice, in order to maintain your position. If you do not provide the additional required funds within the prescribed time, your position may be liquidated at a loss, and you would be liable for any resulting deficit in you account.

            Under certain market conditions, you may find it difficult or impossible to liquidate a position. This can occur, for example when a currency is deregulated or fixed trading bands are widened. Potential currencies include, but are not limited to the Thai Baht, South Korean Won, Malaysian Ringitt, Brazilian Real, and Hong Kong Dollar.

            The placement of contingent orders by you or your trading advisor, such as a “stop-loss” or “stop-limit” orders, will not necessarily limit your losses to the intended amounts, since market conditions may make it impossible to execute such orders.

            A “spread” position may not be less risky than a simple “long” or “short” position.

            The high degree of leverage that is often obtainable in foreign exchange trading can work against you as well as for you. The use of leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains.

            In some cases, managed accounts are subject to substantial charges for management and advisory fees. It may be necessary for those accounts that are subject to these charges to make substantial trading profits to avoid depletion or exhaustion of their assets.

            Currency trading is speculative and volatile Currency prices are highly volatile. Price movements for currencies are influenced by, among other things: changing supply-demand relationships; trade, fiscal, monetary, exchange control programs and policies of governments; United States and foreign political and economic events and policies; changes in national and international interest rates and inflation; currency devaluation; and sentiment of the market place. None of these factors can be controlled by any individual advisor and no assurance can be given that an advisor’s advice will result in profitable trades for a partic0pating customer or that a customer will not incur losses from such events.

            Currency trading can be highly leveraged The low margin deposits normally required in currency trading (typically between 3%-20% of the value of the contract purchased or sold) permits extremely high degree leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement in a contract may result in immediate and substantial losses to the investor. Like other leveraged investments, in certain markets, any trade may result in losses in excess of the amount invested.

            Currency trading presents unique risks The interbank market consists of a direct dealing market, in which a participant trades directly with a participating bank or dealer, and a brokers’ market. The brokers’ market differs from the direct dealing market in that the banks or financial institutions serve as intermediaries rather than principals to the transaction. In the brokers’ market, brokers may add a commission to the prices they communicate to their customers, or they may incorporate a fee into the quotation of price.

            Trading in the interbank markets differs from trading in futures or futures options in a number of ways that may create additional risks. For example, there are no limitations on daily price moves in most currency markets. In addition, the principals who deal in interbank markets are not required to continue to make markets. There have been periods during which certain participants in interbank markets have refused to quote prices for interbank trades or have quoted prices with unusually wide spreads between the price at which transactions occur.

            Frequency of trading; degree of leverage used It is impossible to predict the precise frequency with which positions will be entered and liquidated. Foreign exchange trading , due to the finite duration of contracts, the high degree of leverage that is attainable in trading those contracts, and the volatility of foreign exchange prices and markets, among other things, typically involves a much higher frequency of trading and turnover of positions than may be found in other types of investments. There is nothing in the trading methodology which necessarily precludes a high frequency of trading for accounts managed.