Exchange rate risk is the risk caused by changes in the value of currency. It is based on the effect of continuous and usually volatile shifts in the worldwide supply and demand balance. For the period the trader’s position is outstanding, the position is subject to all price changes. This risk can be quite substantial and is based on the market’s perception of which way the currencies will move based on all possible factors that happen (or could happen) at any given time, anywhere in the world. Additionally, because the off-exchange trading of Forex is largely unregulated, no daily price limits are imposed as exist for regulated futures exchanges. The market moves based on fundamental and technical factors – more about this later.
The most popular methodology implemented in trading is minimizing losses and increasing the potential for return, in order to ensure that losses are kept within manageable limits. This common sense methodology includes: