Trading in Forex vs Stocks – Which is the Right Option for you?

Difference between Trading in forex and trading in stocks The financial markets offer a wide range of asset classes for investment, out of which Forex and Stocks are the most popular and profitable ones. But beginners in the financial markets might wonder, “Which is the right option for me  - Trading in Forex or Trading in Stocks” Today, we shall discuss detailed differences between trading in Forex vs trading in Stocks in terms of trading style, liquidity, market hours, the market influencers, margins, leverage, and more! So, let’s begin!

What is Forex Trading?

The term “Forex” is short for “Foreign Exchange.” Forex trading is the process of buying and selling currency pairs.  The Forex market is open 24 hours a day and is decentralized i.e. it represents a trading network of participants from around the world.  The biggest players in the forex market include investment banks, central banks, hedge funds, and commercial companies, etc. [Suggested Reading: ‘What is Currency Trading or Forex Trading?’]

What is Stock Trading?

A stock represents your ownership in a company. Stock market trading is buying and selling shares or stocks to earn profit. Stock traders aim to buy stocks at a low price and sell at a high price. Factors that can influence the price of stocks include the company's management team, the overall state of the economy, business decisions, market sentiment etc.  There are 2 main types of stock market traders: 
  • Intraday traders - Short term traders
  • Delivery traders - long term investors
[Suggested Reading: What is Stock Market - Definition and Types of Stocks] Let us explore some of the most important differences between Forex trading and Stock trading. 

1. Market trading hours

  • The Forex Market: The forex market is a seamless 24-hour market and it has no single central location as the participants are spread across the globe.
  • The Stock Market: In India, the stock market timings are 9:00 to 3:30. Besides, the markets are closed on weekends and public holidays.

2. Market influences

Another factor to consider before trading in forex or shares is what causes the price fluctuations. Primarily, both markets are influenced by supply and demand, but there are many other factors that can cause price fluctuations.
  • The Forex Market: In the forex market, you generally need to consider the macroeconomics of the country – for example, unemployment, inflation and GDP, as well as news and political events.
Also, you need to examine both the pairs as you are simultaneously buying one currency and selling another.
  • The Stock Market: When trading shares, you need to focus on a few factors that directly impact the company you want to invest in like company’s debt levels, cash flows and earnings, economic data, news reports and sector health, etc.
[Suggested Reading: 9 Most Important Financial Ratios for Investors]

3. Liquidity

Liquidity is the ease at which your asset can be sold in the market. Liquidity is important because, higher the trading volume, the more money flows through the market. This makes it easier for you to find someone to take the other side of your position.
  • The Forex Market: Forex is the largest and most liquid financial market in the world.  According to a study by The Reserve Bank of India, “The OTC Forex market has an average daily volume of about USD 33 billion.”
  • The Stock Market: The stock market has comparatively fewer trades per day, but shares are still easy to access and trade. Large, popular blue-chip stocks such as Reliance, ITC, ACC Cement, HUL, HDFC Bank, etc are the most liquid. 

4. Volatility

Volatility is a measure of how likely share or currency prices will fluctuate. A market with high volatility will change prices quickly, whereas markets with low volatility tend to have more gradual price changes.
  • The Forex Market: Forex is traded all around the world which makes it extremely volatile. Though the market will usually trade within a small range, the vast number of trades taking place on the forex market can cause prices to change quickly. 
  • The Stock Market: The stock market tends to have more stable price patterns that you can track over time. Similar to the forex market, it can see periods of volatility and is especially sensitive to domestic politics.

Summary of Forex Trading vs Stock Trading

Forex Trading Stock Trading
Market trading hours 24 hours/day 9:00-3:30
Market influences
  • Unemployment 
  • Inflation 
  • GDP
  • News and political events
  • The company’s debt levels
  • Cash flows
  • Earnings
  • Economic data
  • News reports 
  • Sector health
Liquidity High Medium
Volatility High Medium
The table below shows different types of trading styles, including the pros and cons of each when trading in forex and trading in stocks.
Type of Traders Definition Advantages Disadvantages Forex vs Stocks
Short- Term It is a  trading style where the trader looks to open and close trades within minutes by taking advantage of small price movements of the markets. Traders can focus more on volatility and liquidity and less on fundamental variables that move the market. As a result of placing more trades, beginners may lose more money if their strategy isn't fine tuned. Suitable for both Forex traders and Intraday share traders.
Medium-Term A trading style where the trader looks to hold positions for one or more days. Lower capital requirements compared with other styles because a trader is looking for larger moves. Thorough research is needed before executing the trades. Suited to trading forex and delivery traders.
Long-Term A trading style where a trader looks to hold positions for months or years. Traders do not have to spend as much time analysing the market after the investment is done. Long-term investing requires you to have a deep knowledge of the market that you are investing in. Suited more to stock investors. 

Which should you opt for - Trading in Forex or Trading in Stocks?

When it comes to deciding whether you should trade forex or trade in stocks, the answer would be always to stick with what works the best for you because there are benefits and drawbacks to each market. Ultimately, your decision will come down to your personal preferences and attitude toward risk and you need to take into consideration your trading style and financial goals. The stock market may be the simplest option to understand with less volatility and short to mid-term trends. While Forex provides ample opportunities for short-term traders and if your funds are limited, forex may be best.  Regardless of which option you choose, you need a trustworthy broker with an efficient trading platform by your side that provides you with both, a currency trading platform for trading in Forex and a Demat account for trading and investing in Shares.  So, open a Samco Currency trading account and Demat account today and start your wealth creation journey! Don’t forget to refer to the top 10 Currency trading tips and the top Currency strategies before you start trading in the currency markets.
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About The Author

The author has done a Bachelors in Banking and Insurance (BBI). She is a budding financial content writer. Her strength lies in simplifying financial jargons. Her goal is to help readers make better investment decisions.

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