Is Forex A Zero-Sum Game?

Posted by fts on 23 August 2010

This is a question often passionately debated in the Forex community, so it’s time to put things in their perspective. The definition of a zero-sum game is an event or situation in which a participant’s gains must be matched exactly by the same loss amount incurred by a competing rival.

Many traders consider incorrectly that Forex is a zero-sum game. They have mainly obtained this opinion from the vast amount of misinformation that is published on the internet and in print. In order to resolve this confusion, let us consider some simple and clear examples about what comprises a real zero-sum game.

Suppose you and a friend decide to make a bet on an event that can only have two results such as tossing a coin. Imagine that you both wager $10 and place the total $20 in a safe place. After the toss is completed and the result recorded, consider that you win and claim the full $20 prize making a $10 profit in the process. However, your friend would have lost his $10 and would walk away from the bet with nothing. In addition, there will be no money left in your safe place as well at the end of this event. In conclusion, you would have just taken part in a zero-sum game because there could only ever be one winner and one loser.

So, does the Forex exhibit the same features? This question can be answered clearly by the following example. Suppose you made a decision to trade the EURUSD short. Simultaneously, another trader opts to trade the same pair long with an equivalent bet using the identical broker. The broker would then match the two new positions whilst claiming the spread as a profit.

If the Forex was a zero-sum game, in the definitive sense, then at some later stage either you would win or loss whilst the other trader could only obtain the exact opposite result. In other words, there could only be one winner and one loser. Suppose you’ve won this trade, than you would earn the total combined wager of both you and the other trader, whilst the other trader would receive nothing.

However, the Forex market clearly does not operate in this way and as such cannot be considered a zero-sum game. For instance, in the previous example, you and the other trader can both win or both lose. You may consider incorrectly that the only outcome of such an event is that only one of you can win.

However, this is incorrect because the EURUSD could move down initially resulting in a win for you. The pair could then reverse direction sometime later resulting in the other trader’s long position also recording a profit assuming that it was not stopped out by the initial down movement.

In addition, your Forex broker could also realize a profit from claiming the trading spreads. As this outcome clearly demonstrates that this event could generate as many as three winning parties and no losers, the Forex cannot be considered as a zero-sum game in any context.

Some people still strongly make the following argument that Forex can be considered as a zero-sum game. When you decide to buy EURUSD, you are activating a contract to purchase Euro whilst another trader does the equivalent by buying the equal amount of USD. As both of you cannot withdraw your purchases until after your contracts are closed with winning positions, this is the basic argument for stating that Forex is a zero-sum game.

However, this viewpoint completely overlooks the fact that there are many variations whereby both you and the other trader could both be winners or losers from this situation. The predominant concept to remember is that both of you have not taken out contracts with each other but with your Forex Brokers. These important points clearly negate any argument claiming that Forex is a zero-sum game.

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Costa Rica Real Estate Child Boom

Posted by man on 09 August 2010

As the genuine estate market within the US takes a nose dive, choice investments like Costa Rica actual estate could keep you afloat and in the sun! In times like this it is good to own an option to futures, choices, and hedge funds. The real estate industry in Costa Rica is said being one of several most stable within the planet. It has been quietly booming for any couple of years and is expected to carry on on its path.

What makes Costa Rica real estate such a promising investment? 

About 15 years ago, you could buy a piece of land 50 meters from a beach of powder white sand and aqua blue water for $10,000 and it would be worth $500,000 today. You will find still investment chances like this offered in undeveloped costal areas, and up and coming trendy tourist destination. Even though you will find fewer than in the past, steals like this can still be discovered.

But more importantly, foreigners continue to move to Costa Rica, bringing their savings with them. Numerous are retiring or getting a second house, some are retiring young and some are coming to accomplish business. You can find a number of reasons for the influx. House is less expensive than within the US, as is the price of residing, along with a familiar standard of residing may be maintained using the added benefit of stunning beaches.

Furthermore, in 2010 the baby-boom generation will commence to turn 65 and retire. Baby-boomers will retreat from their failing retirement plans and insufficient Medicare system and move to independent retirement inside the sun. Costa Rica will grow to be the brand new Florida, and it is possible to already see the retirement developments going up and banking services for transferring Medicare checks.

Actual estate has often been a fantastic expense in terms of providing cash flow, assets and tax breaks. While using US industry in the dumps, Costa Rica offers the opportunity to invest inside a new growth market, in a country having a stable economy, plus a friendly foreign policy. Costa Rica genuine estate is an superb choice expense offering high returns with low risk.

You can find more information about commodity future online trading, best online stock trading companies, and after hours trading quotes NYSE

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