Economy
Understanding Forex and Cryptocurrency Risks
The global financial market is no longer limited to banks and traditional assets. Today, investors move money between foreign exchange (forex) and cryptocurrencies. Both markets offer opportunities, but they also carry risks that need careful control.
Forex is the world’s largest financial market, trading more than $7.5 trillion a day, according to the Bank for International Settlements. Cryptocurrencies are smaller but far more volatile and less regulated. Investors who stay disciplined usually do better than those chasing fast profits.
Leverage and Market Exposure
In forex, one of the main risks is leverage. Brokers allow traders to open large positions with only a small deposit. This can increase profits, but also makes losses bigger. Even a price move of less than one percent can wipe out an account.
Crypto trading has similar dangers. Prices can fall by double digits in a single day. For this reason, stop-loss strategies are essential in both forex and crypto to avoid sudden, heavy losses.
Beginners who want extra guidance can turn to trusted trading guides for beginners, which explain how to manage risk, use leverage safely, and build a structured approach to trading.
Liquidity and Price Swings
Forex usually has high liquidity and fast execution. But during events like central bank decisions, political crises, or natural disasters, spreads can widen. This leads to higher trading costs.
Currencies also respond to interest rate changes. For example, when the US Federal Reserve raises rates, the dollar often strengthens and emerging market currencies weaken. Traders who ignore these cycles face unexpected risks.
Crypto markets face different liquidity problems. Bitcoin and Ethereum trade in large volumes, but many smaller coins lack depth. This makes it hard to exit positions quickly without big price losses.
Counterparty and Security Risks
Forex trading also carries counterparty risk. Regulated brokers protect client funds by keeping them separate from company money. Unregulated or offshore brokers may not do this, which puts investors at risk. Always check a broker’s licence before opening an account.
For crypto, the biggest issue is security. Wallets and exchanges are common targets for hackers. Billions have been lost through scams and breaches. Using cold storage, two-factor authentication, and strong passwords is critical for protecting funds.
Regulation and Government Policy
Forex has strong global oversight, with regulators in Europe, North America, and Asia setting clear rules. These create a safer environment for traders.
Crypto, on the other hand, is less predictable. Government actions such as tax rules, exchange bans, or restrictions often trigger sudden sell-offs. Traders who fail to follow regulatory updates can face heavy losses.
Risk Management Practices
Good risk management is central to long-term success. Traders should commit only a small part of their capital to each position. Stop-loss orders limit sudden shocks, while diversification across different assets reduces overall risk.
Ongoing learning is also critical. Monitoring central bank calendars, blockchain updates, and regulatory changes helps traders prepare for moves. Backtesting strategies and using demo accounts create extra layers of preparation. Nigerian traders can also find useful guidance in forex trading tips, which cover current trends and practical tools in the local market.
Practical Steps for Traders
To reduce risks, traders should:
- Use leverage with caution.
- Choose licensed and secure platforms.
- Expect high volatility in digital assets.
- Follow global economic indicators.
- Keep clear records of all trades.
Forex and crypto will continue to attract investors looking for growth and diversification. But both markets carry serious risks, from leverage and liquidity to regulation and security. Traders who stay disciplined, informed, and cautious have a better chance of building consistent results.
By Adedapo Adesanya
For the third straight session, the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange closed bearish, further losing 0.15 per cent on Thursday amid weak demand for unlisted stocks.
During the session, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) declined by 5.70 points to 3,908.67 points from 3,914.37 points, and the market capitalisation lost N3.41 billion to end N2.338 trillion compared with the N2.342 trillion it ended on Wednesday.
The alternative stock exchange suffered a loss despite having more price gainers than price losers, with five for the former and four for the latter.
Okitipupa Plc lost N10.00 to close at N250.00 per unit versus midweek’s N260.00 per unit, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc depreciated by N4.98 to N64.92 per share from N69.90 per share, Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) Plc dropped 4 Kobo to sell at 50 Kobo per unit compared with the previous day’s 54 Kobo per unit, and Acorn Petroleum Plc moderated by 1 Kobo to N1.32 per share from N1.33 per share.
Conversely, 11 Plc gained N13.65 to quote at N276.55 per unit versus the preceding session’s N263.00 per unit, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc appreciated by N6.10 to N84.15 per share from N78.05 per share, Food Concepts Plc expanded by 32 Kobo to N3.60 per unit from N3.28 per unit, Geo-Fluids Plc improved by 30 Kobo to N3.60 per share from N3.30 per share, and First Trust Mortgage Bank Plc increased by 10 Kobo to N1.09 per unit from 99 Kobo per unit.
Yesterday, the volume of transactions surged 2,797.1 per cent to 45.8 million units from 1.6 million units, the value of transactions jumped 315.2 per cent to N208.2 million from N50.1 million, and the number of deals soared 18.2 per cent to 39 deals from 33 deals.
At the close of business, CSCS Plc remained the most active stock by value (year-to-date) with 32.6 million units worth N1.9 billion, followed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 117.4 million units valued at N463.1 million, and Resourcery Plc with 1.05 billion units exchanged for N408.6 million.
Resourcery Plc ended the session as the most traded stock by volume (year-to-date) with 1.05 billion units sold for N408.6 million, trailed by Geo-Fluids Plc with 117.4 million exchanged for N463.1 million, and CSCS Plc with 32.6 million units traded for N1.9 billion.
By Dipo Olowookere
Sell-offs in energy stocks could not bring down Nigeria’s stock exchange on Thursday, as the gains recorded by the others sustained the upward momentum.
Yesterday, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited further appreciated by 1.39 per cent on the back of a strong appetite for domestic equities, which are gaining traction among investors.
The banking index grew by 2.63 per cent, the consumer goods sector appreciated by 054 per cent, the insurance counter improved by 0.50 per cent, and the industrial goods space rose by 0.29 per cent, while the energy industry fell by 0.11 per cent.
When the bourse closed for the day, the All-Share Index (ASI) pointed northwards by 2,645.61 points to settle at 193,073.57 points compared with the previous day’s 190,427.96 points, and the market capitalisation soared by N1.698 trillion to N123.934 trillion from N122.236 trillion.
The trio of Deap Capital, Okomu Oil, and Fortis Global Insurance appreciated by 10.00 per cent each to N6.93, N1,459.70, and 55 Kobo apiece, while the duo of Infinity Trust Insurance and Zichis gained 9.96 per cent each to settle at N14.35, and N15.79, respectively.
On the flip side, the quartet of Tripple G, Multiverse, Secure Electronic Technology, and McNichols lost 10.00 per cent each to quote at N5.40, N25.20, N1.80, and N8.28, respectively, while Meyer declined by 9.80 per cent to N20.70.
Business Post reports that there were 52 appreciating equities and 26 depreciating equities on Thursday, showing a positive market breadth index and strong investor sentiment.
The busiest stock yesterday was Japaul with 80.1 million units valued at N293.3 million, Secure Electronic Technology sold 71.8 million units worth N136.5 million, Mutual Benefits transacted 58.7 million units for N277.6 million, Zenith Bank exchanged 53.2 million units valued at N4.5 billion, and GTCO traded 52.6 million units worth N6.2 billion.
Unlike the preceding session, the activity chart was in red after market participants transacted 898.5 million shares for N38.5 billion in 61,953 deals compared with the 3.7 billion shares worth N61.9 billion traded in 68,693 deals at midweek, implying a decline in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 75.72 per cent, 37.80 per cent, and 9.81 per cent apiece.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira depreciated further against the Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Thursday, February 19, by N3.24 or 0.24 per cent to N1,341.35/$1 from the N1,338.11/$1 it was traded a day earlier.
However, it improved its value against the Pound Sterling in the official market during the session by N11.16 to sell for N1,805.86/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,817.02/£1, and gained N7.83 against the Euro to close at N1,577.29/€1 versus Wednesday’s closing price of N1,585.12/€1.
At the GTBank forex counter, the Naira lost N2 against the greenback to settle at N1,349/$1 compared with the N1,347/$1 it was exchanged at midweek, and at the black market, the exchange rate remained unchanged at N1,370/$1.
The performance of the domestic currency in the spot market was weak yesterday amid prevailing dynamics of supply and demand, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) maintains its efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market. The exchange rate remained within the expected range, lifted by strong forex inflows and central bank dollar sales to Bureaux de Change (BDC) operators.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market remained bearish, as there was continued caution in coins amid shaky interest in the digital assets.
On the policy front, there were tentative signs of progress on the digital asset market structure bill. The White House hosted talks between crypto industry representatives and bankers, which yielded incremental movement, though no compromise has yet emerged.
Ripple (XRP) declined by 1.7 per cent to $1.39, Litecoin (LTC) went down by 1.3 per cent to $52.46, Cardano (ADA) dropped 0.8 per cent to trade at $0.2715, Dogecoin (DOGE) retreated by 0.7 per cent to $0.0978, and Ethereum (ETH) contracted by 0.2 per cent to $1,943.30.
On the flip side, Solana (SOL) appreciated by 0.8 per cent to $82.12, Bitcoin improved its value by 0.7 per cent to $66,854.86, and Binance Coin (BNB) chalked up 0.1 per cent to sell for $605.58, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) closed flat at $1.00 each.
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