September Volatility Drives Record Trading Activity at FXCM - Retail Volumes at $414 Bln
- FXCM reports record trading activity during the month of September. The listed broker dealer saw spikes across its retail and institutional units, reaching $414 billion and $362 billion respectively.
Leading Multi-Asset Multi-Asset Composed of varying asset classes, multi-asset is a blanket designation combining different classes such bonds, equities, cash equivalents, fixed income, and alternative investments.When compared to traditional balanced funds, multi-asset solutions differ because they target specific investment outcomes. This includes outcomes such as return above inflation as opposed to gauging performance against standardized benchmarks.Given the composition of multi-asset classes, they need to be dynamically managed so that funds can continue to generate returns while keeping risk within fixed parameters. What Are Advantages or Disadvantages to Multi-Asset Investments?While multi-asset investing may better distribute risk, it should be known that a hindrance may be exerted upon potential returns.Indeed, multi-asset classes do not always perform as well as most stock funds due to containing other assets such as cash, bonds, or real estate investments. As a result, traders generally tend to gravitate towards target-date mutual funds, target allocation mutual funds, and ETFs.Multi-asset funds that fluctuate with an investor’s time scope are target-date mutual funds. Generally, target-date mutual funds run in congruence with an investor’s retirement age and are composed primarily of equities (85% to 90%) while the remaining is distributed to a money market or fixed income. Target allocation mutual funds are centered around an investor’s risk tolerance and are offered by most mutual fund companies. Equities compose between 20% to 85% of multi-asset funds and may also include international equities and bonds.Trading ETFs through contracts-for-difference (CFD) trading provides traders with a more immediate avenue to multi-asset investing with financial instruments such as precious metals, commodities, and currencies. The diversification that stems from the wake of multi-asset investing helps protect traders against unforeseen market pitfalls and volatility. However, these tend not to perform as effectively as the majority of stock funds in common years due to an allocation of assets. Composed of varying asset classes, multi-asset is a blanket designation combining different classes such bonds, equities, cash equivalents, fixed income, and alternative investments.When compared to traditional balanced funds, multi-asset solutions differ because they target specific investment outcomes. This includes outcomes such as return above inflation as opposed to gauging performance against standardized benchmarks.Given the composition of multi-asset classes, they need to be dynamically managed so that funds can continue to generate returns while keeping risk within fixed parameters. What Are Advantages or Disadvantages to Multi-Asset Investments?While multi-asset investing may better distribute risk, it should be known that a hindrance may be exerted upon potential returns.Indeed, multi-asset classes do not always perform as well as most stock funds due to containing other assets such as cash, bonds, or real estate investments. As a result, traders generally tend to gravitate towards target-date mutual funds, target allocation mutual funds, and ETFs.Multi-asset funds that fluctuate with an investor’s time scope are target-date mutual funds. Generally, target-date mutual funds run in congruence with an investor’s retirement age and are composed primarily of equities (85% to 90%) while the remaining is distributed to a money market or fixed income. Target allocation mutual funds are centered around an investor’s risk tolerance and are offered by most mutual fund companies. Equities compose between 20% to 85% of multi-asset funds and may also include international equities and bonds.Trading ETFs through contracts-for-difference (CFD) trading provides traders with a more immediate avenue to multi-asset investing with financial instruments such as precious metals, commodities, and currencies. The diversification that stems from the wake of multi-asset investing helps protect traders against unforeseen market pitfalls and volatility. However, these tend not to perform as effectively as the majority of stock funds in common years due to an allocation of assets. Read this Term brokerage firm, FXCM, has reported strong trading metrics for the month of September. The US-origin provider saw figures reach new highs, coming on the back of strong Volatility Volatility In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets. In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets. Read this Term in global financial markets. The move highlights the correlation between trader behaviour and market volatility.
FXCM reports strong performance in-line with industry peers. In its retail division, the firm saw total monthly volumes reach $414 billion, with its institutional unit also seeing better than expected activity, reaching $362 billion.
Retail Trading Metrics
- Retail customer trading volume(1) of $414 billion in September 2014, 38% higher than August 2014 and 45% higher than September 2013. Volume from indirect sources was 47% of total retail volume(1) in the third quarter 2014.
- Retail customer trading volume(1) for the third quarter 2014 was $977 billion, 27% higher than the second quarter 2014, and relatively flat when compared to third quarter 2013.
- Average retail customer trading volume(1) per day of $18.8 billion in September 2014, 31% higher than August 2014 and 38% higher than September 2013.
- An average of 482,784 retail customer trades per day in September 2014, 23% higher than August 2014 and 26% higher than September 2013.
- Tradable accounts(2) of 212,019 as of September 30, 2014, an increase of 12,642, or 6% from August 2014, and an increase of 23,031, or 12%, from September 2013. Tradable accounts as of September 30, 2014 include 12,575 accounts acquired from IBFX.
Institutional Trading Metrics
- Institutional customer trading volume(1) of $362 billion in September 2014, 41% higher than August 2014 and 100% higher than September 2013.
- Institutional customer trading volume(1) for the third quarter 2014 was $881 billion, 48% higher than the second quarter 2014 and 53% higher than the third quarter 2013.
- Average institutional trading volume(1) per day of $16.5 billion in September 2014, 35% higher than August 2014 and 92% higher than September 2013.
- An average of 39,379 institutional client trades per day in September 2014, 11% higher than August 2014 and 3% higher than September 2013.
FXCM has been enhancing its overall offerings, recently the firm enhanced its CFD coverage. Furthermore, the broker-dealer surgically reduced its pricing structure by reducing spreads.
Key:
(1) Volume that FXCM customers traded in period translated into US dollars.
(2) An account that has sufficient funds to place a trade in accordance with FXCM trading policies.
Leading Multi-Asset Multi-Asset Composed of varying asset classes, multi-asset is a blanket designation combining different classes such bonds, equities, cash equivalents, fixed income, and alternative investments.When compared to traditional balanced funds, multi-asset solutions differ because they target specific investment outcomes. This includes outcomes such as return above inflation as opposed to gauging performance against standardized benchmarks.Given the composition of multi-asset classes, they need to be dynamically managed so that funds can continue to generate returns while keeping risk within fixed parameters. What Are Advantages or Disadvantages to Multi-Asset Investments?While multi-asset investing may better distribute risk, it should be known that a hindrance may be exerted upon potential returns.Indeed, multi-asset classes do not always perform as well as most stock funds due to containing other assets such as cash, bonds, or real estate investments. As a result, traders generally tend to gravitate towards target-date mutual funds, target allocation mutual funds, and ETFs.Multi-asset funds that fluctuate with an investor’s time scope are target-date mutual funds. Generally, target-date mutual funds run in congruence with an investor’s retirement age and are composed primarily of equities (85% to 90%) while the remaining is distributed to a money market or fixed income. Target allocation mutual funds are centered around an investor’s risk tolerance and are offered by most mutual fund companies. Equities compose between 20% to 85% of multi-asset funds and may also include international equities and bonds.Trading ETFs through contracts-for-difference (CFD) trading provides traders with a more immediate avenue to multi-asset investing with financial instruments such as precious metals, commodities, and currencies. The diversification that stems from the wake of multi-asset investing helps protect traders against unforeseen market pitfalls and volatility. However, these tend not to perform as effectively as the majority of stock funds in common years due to an allocation of assets. Composed of varying asset classes, multi-asset is a blanket designation combining different classes such bonds, equities, cash equivalents, fixed income, and alternative investments.When compared to traditional balanced funds, multi-asset solutions differ because they target specific investment outcomes. This includes outcomes such as return above inflation as opposed to gauging performance against standardized benchmarks.Given the composition of multi-asset classes, they need to be dynamically managed so that funds can continue to generate returns while keeping risk within fixed parameters. What Are Advantages or Disadvantages to Multi-Asset Investments?While multi-asset investing may better distribute risk, it should be known that a hindrance may be exerted upon potential returns.Indeed, multi-asset classes do not always perform as well as most stock funds due to containing other assets such as cash, bonds, or real estate investments. As a result, traders generally tend to gravitate towards target-date mutual funds, target allocation mutual funds, and ETFs.Multi-asset funds that fluctuate with an investor’s time scope are target-date mutual funds. Generally, target-date mutual funds run in congruence with an investor’s retirement age and are composed primarily of equities (85% to 90%) while the remaining is distributed to a money market or fixed income. Target allocation mutual funds are centered around an investor’s risk tolerance and are offered by most mutual fund companies. Equities compose between 20% to 85% of multi-asset funds and may also include international equities and bonds.Trading ETFs through contracts-for-difference (CFD) trading provides traders with a more immediate avenue to multi-asset investing with financial instruments such as precious metals, commodities, and currencies. The diversification that stems from the wake of multi-asset investing helps protect traders against unforeseen market pitfalls and volatility. However, these tend not to perform as effectively as the majority of stock funds in common years due to an allocation of assets. Read this Term brokerage firm, FXCM, has reported strong trading metrics for the month of September. The US-origin provider saw figures reach new highs, coming on the back of strong Volatility Volatility In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets. In finance, volatility refers to the amount of change in the rate of a financial instrument, such as commodities, currencies, stocks, over a given time period. Essentially, volatility describes the nature of an instrument’s fluctuation; a highly volatile security equates to large fluctuations in price, and a low volatile security equates to timid fluctuations in price. Volatility is an important statistical indicator used by financial traders to assist them in developing trading systems. Traders can be successful in both low and high volatile environments, but the strategies employed are often different depending upon volatility. Why Too Much Volatility is a ProblemIn the FX space, lower volatile currency pairs offer less surprises, and are suited to position traders.High volatile pairs are attractive for many day traders, due to quick and strong movements, offering the potential for higher profits, although the risk associated with such volatile pairs are many. Overall, a look at previous volatility tells us how likely price will fluctuate in the future, although it has nothing to do with direction.All a trader can gather from this is the understanding that the probability of a volatile pair to increase or decrease an X amount in a Y period of time, is more than the probability of a non-volatile pair. Another important factor is, volatility can and does change over time, and there can be periods when even highly volatile instruments show signs of flatness, with price not really making headway in either direction. Too little volatility is just as problematic for markets as too much, we uncertainty in excess can create panic and problems of liquidity. This was evident during Black Swan events or other crisis that have historically roiled currency and equity markets. Read this Term in global financial markets. The move highlights the correlation between trader behaviour and market volatility.
FXCM reports strong performance in-line with industry peers. In its retail division, the firm saw total monthly volumes reach $414 billion, with its institutional unit also seeing better than expected activity, reaching $362 billion.
Retail Trading Metrics
- Retail customer trading volume(1) of $414 billion in September 2014, 38% higher than August 2014 and 45% higher than September 2013. Volume from indirect sources was 47% of total retail volume(1) in the third quarter 2014.
- Retail customer trading volume(1) for the third quarter 2014 was $977 billion, 27% higher than the second quarter 2014, and relatively flat when compared to third quarter 2013.
- Average retail customer trading volume(1) per day of $18.8 billion in September 2014, 31% higher than August 2014 and 38% higher than September 2013.
- An average of 482,784 retail customer trades per day in September 2014, 23% higher than August 2014 and 26% higher than September 2013.
- Tradable accounts(2) of 212,019 as of September 30, 2014, an increase of 12,642, or 6% from August 2014, and an increase of 23,031, or 12%, from September 2013. Tradable accounts as of September 30, 2014 include 12,575 accounts acquired from IBFX.
Institutional Trading Metrics
- Institutional customer trading volume(1) of $362 billion in September 2014, 41% higher than August 2014 and 100% higher than September 2013.
- Institutional customer trading volume(1) for the third quarter 2014 was $881 billion, 48% higher than the second quarter 2014 and 53% higher than the third quarter 2013.
- Average institutional trading volume(1) per day of $16.5 billion in September 2014, 35% higher than August 2014 and 92% higher than September 2013.
- An average of 39,379 institutional client trades per day in September 2014, 11% higher than August 2014 and 3% higher than September 2013.
FXCM has been enhancing its overall offerings, recently the firm enhanced its CFD coverage. Furthermore, the broker-dealer surgically reduced its pricing structure by reducing spreads.
Key:
(1) Volume that FXCM customers traded in period translated into US dollars.
(2) An account that has sufficient funds to place a trade in accordance with FXCM trading policies.