Forex trading in Kenya: opportunities and risks for investors

The foreign currency market is the biggest economic marketplace in the globe. It comprises banks, commercial enterprises, central banks, trading administration businesses, hedging funds, small-time forex brokers, and traders. This also enables traders, like banks, finances, and customers, to purchase, trade, or exchange assets for both protective and speculating goals. 

Currency trading is permitted in Kenya by the Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA) to maintain a duty to oversee the best brokers in Kenya and safeguard clients. Kenya’s promising economic future has attracted many traders, and it is believed that 90,000 of its citizens presently engage in currency trading. This article will discuss opportunities and risks in forex trading in Kenya.

Opportunities in Forex Trading in Kenya

The earth’s biggest and greatest liquidity industry is forex. Each day, trillions of dollars are traded. A currency trader may be a successful, adaptable, and interesting career. Currency trading has become a well-liked industry due to the high liquidity, 24/7 availability, and simple accessibility, particularly for those with an economic background. A career or opportunity as a currency trader in Kenya has many benefits. These include:

High Liquidity and Market Access

With the greatest liquidity levels, even big orders for forex trades can be filled quickly and effectively without experiencing significant market variations. Thus, there’s no longer a chance for price manipulations or irregularities, which allows for tighter spreads and effective pricing.

Potential for High Returns

The average monthly profit on an investor’s trading capital in the currency market might reach 10%, but only if the individual has a solid trading technique in place. More profitable transactions or investments with greater payouts are essential for success since they can balance losses.

Diversification Benefits

Diversification lowers risk by putting money into investments that cover a range of economic products, sectors, and other areas. Although systemic or market uncertainty is typically unpreventable and these risks can be reduced by diversification.

24-hour Trading Availability

Virtual trading is made available by many best brokers in Kenya, giving customers access to authentic marketplace needs, data, trading techniques, resources, and protocols through online trading platforms. Currency trading support services are accessible every day of the week, 24 hours daily.

Low Capital Requirements

One may be unable to invest in other marketplaces without greater funds, including equity, futures, or options. The highlight of currency trading is the existence of margin investing with a significant leveraging level of up to 50-to-1. Investing with these large margins also has hazards, allowing traders to increase profitability with less cash.

Risks of Forex Trading in Kenya

Kenya’s capital market regulator, the CMA, provides permits to, oversees, and monitors all financial market firms. The Currency market, however, still carries many risks to traders, regardless of the regulations. The authorities have no control over some of the issues that influence the currency market, and they are:

Volatility and Unpredictability of Exchange Rates

There are greater risks associated with currency trading than various asset types since it uses leverage plus margin. Because forex prices fluctuate regularly in very small increments, investors must execute huge trades (using leverage) to profit. All the elements that influence currency pairs are too complex to be tracked. During COVID-19, certain developing market currencies experienced up to 40% declines. Few investors might have anticipated its markets to suffer such a severe blow. A skilled trader who comprehends market trends and executes quick trades may succeed in a volatile market.

High Leverage and Margin Requirements

Leverage is the process of using loaned money to expand an individual’s investing position to whatever is possible with just the cash balances. With broker accounts, margin trading is possible. If an investor places a profitable wager, leverage is beneficial since it can increase profits. This can, though, potentially increase losses to the point where they exceed the original borrowing amounts. Traders of leverage expose themselves to margin calls, which could cause them to exchange stocks they bought with borrowed money at a deficit if a currency depreciates too much. Users’ risk level on this will increase when the investment is leveraged further.

Lack of Regulation and Oversight

In comparison to various markets, the currency market is far less regulated; hence it is probable to work with a fraudulent forex broker. Forex investors should always create an account with a company that’s a member of the National Futures Association (NFA) and is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as the future commission trader because there are issues about the security of investments and the general trustworthiness of a broker. Also, investors should investigate every broker’s account options, considering leverage ratios, costs and spreads, minimum investments, and financing and withdrawal rules.

Scams and Frauds

Many of the best brokers in Kenya were strictly governed and authorized, while others lacked licenses and did not adhere to all rules. These brokers won’t get easy access to a lot of money and cannot repay customers if they lack access to funding; instead, they would file for insolvency, leaving us in a precarious situation. Brokerage companies provide traders with fraudulent ways to double their investments. Being focused on making large returns, traders do not even study the rules and restrictions too much. Traders are unaware of the potential profitability margins or the capital required to double their investments. When people are unaware, scams happen.

Emotional and Psychological Challenges

Anxiety and greed are powerful emotions in investing that can cause emotional and irrational reactions. The initial stage involves realizing one’s own boundaries. Understanding the kinds of wrong decisions, we frequently commit and how these can harm our financial results will help us resolve our psychological shortcomings. Maintaining your trading strategies can be difficult, yet you have a greater probability of winning if your strategy is built on a strong, impartial structure that is clear of judgment or emotions.

Tips for Investing in Forex Trading in Kenya 

Three essential elements for success in any financial activity are education, experience, and emotional restraint. Anyone thinking of beginning forex trading and having trading experience can be achieved by following these tips.

• Learn the basics of forex trading

Currency trading is a task of its own and needs specialist expertise. For instance, the factors for currency pricing fluctuations are unique compared to stock exchanges, and the borrowing ratios for Forex exchanges are more than of shares. Traders can learn the basics of currency trading through various digital programs.

• Develop a trading strategy and risk management plan.

Even if it’s not often able to anticipate and monitor market activity, owning a trading strategy will assist you in establishing some general principles. A smart trading plan depends on the realities of your circumstances and resources. This considers the sum of money you are ready to invest in trading and, thus, the level of risk you could withstand without losing all of your investment. 

• Choose a trusted broker for forex trading

The best brokers in Kenya will provide extensive assets, affordable trading rates, and accessibility to the global banking system. A trustworthy and trusted forex broker can offer investors a safe trading environment, shielding them from dishonest practices and bad economic judgment, and they will treat your investment with care.

• Start with a demo account before investing real money

To begin forex trading, you would require a demo account from a beat broker in Kenya. There are no commission fees for forex brokers. Alternatively, brokers profit from the differences in pricing among the purchasing and trading values or spreads. Setting up a small currency trading account with minimum investment requirements is a smart option for beginners.

• Be disciplined, and patient

Uncertainty and psychological ups and downs are common in beginner currency trading. These unresolved issues can cause you to get confused if you let them consume your thinking. It’s crucial to maintain emotional balance through wins and failures. Have discipline whenever it comes to finishing out your investments.

Conclusion

Evidently, investing in the Kenyan Forex markets has a special variety of possibilities and difficulties, yet with the correct tools and inner knowledge, anybody with the motivation and desire can succeed there. When beginning Currency trading in Kenya, there are a number of things to consider, including learning, best practices, and remaining informed. Forex trading is an extremely profitable activity with the appropriate mindset, enabling traders to vary their holdings and possibly provide a significant profit on their investments. Traders should also be more cautious about their emotions while investing for better profits.