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Have you heard about how potentially dangerous it is to trade during low volume or low liquidity conditions? Yes it can be at times due to the unpredictable movement of the currency pair. Such movements can even be fast at times, resulting in spikes and dips.

forex market low volume low liquidity

What Is A Forex Low Volume Low Liquidity Condition?

In any financial market such as equities or currency exchange which is forex, the basic activity is buying and selling. When a price is matched, a transaction occurs. During times when the forex market is busy with trading activities, price matching is relatively easy and narrow in terms of range. However when the forex market is having lower than usual trading activities, unexpected spikes or dips may happen as the market price needs to be stretched further to meet a particular demand. This is also known as a low volume or low liquidity condition.

Example Of A Forex Low Volume Low Liquidity Market Condition

Imagine 100 traders want to sell the EUR/USD at the market price.

Normal Volume / Normal Liquidity

On a normal market day, due to the massive size of the currency exchange market, there are many traders wanting to buy the EUR/USD at market or near market prices.

Market price : 1.3200
50 traders willing to buy

Next best price : 1.3199
25 traders willing to buy

Next best price : 1.3198
25 traders willing to buy

At the end of this transaction, the market price would have fallen from 1.3200 to 1.3198.

Low Volume / Low Liquidity

On a low volume day, for example during a festive season, the number of traders wanting to buy the EUR/USD may be fewer.

Market price : 1.3200
10 traders willing to buy

Next best price : 1.3198
20 traders willing to buy

Next best price : 1.3193
30 traders willing to buy

Next best price : 1.3190
20 traders willing to buy

Next best price : 1.3185
10 traders willing to buy

Next best price : 1.3180
10 traders willing to buy

At the end of this transaction, the market price would have fallen from 1.3200 to 1.3180. This is because lower prices must be sought after so as to completely match the 100 traders’ sell orders.

The Bottom Line

In order to maximize the possibility of a successful forex trading session, it is important to understand the forex market climate beyond the mere surface. The availability of ready sellers or buyers may affect the amount of volatility present in the forex market or the range of the price action.

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