Risk Warning: Trading financial products on margin carries a high degree of risk and is not suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed the initial investment. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk.

The industry’s
most important terms explained.

Discover a wealth of financial terms and definitions that every trader should know.

Forex Glossary

D

Day Trader

Speculators who take positions in commodities which are then liquidated prior to the close of the same trading day.

Dealer

An individual or firm that acts as a principal or counterpart to a transaction. Principals take one side of a position, hoping to earn a spread (profit) by closing out the position in a subsequent trade with another party. In contrast, a broker is an individual or firm that acts as an intermediary, putting together buyers and sellers for a fee or commission.

Deficit

A negative balance of trade or payments.

Delivery

An FX trade where both sides make and take actual delivery of the currencies traded.

Depreciation

A fall in the value of a currency due to market forces.

Derivative

A contract that changes in value in relation to the price movements of a related or underlying security, future or other physical instrument. An Option is the most common derivative instrument.

Devaluation

The deliberate downward adjustment of a currency’s price, normally by official announcement.

Discount Rate

Interest rate that an eligible depository institution is charged to borrow short-term funds directly from the Federal Reserve Bank.