Trade

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Definition of 'Trade'

A trade is the buying and selling of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities. Trades can be made on exchanges or over-the-counter (OTC).

There are two types of trades:

* **Spot trades:** These are trades that are settled immediately.
* **Forward trades:** These are trades that are settled at a future date.

The price of a trade is determined by the supply and demand for the underlying asset. When there is more demand for an asset than there is supply, the price will go up. When there is more supply than there is demand, the price will go down.

Traders can make money by buying an asset at a low price and selling it at a higher price. They can also make money by selling an asset at a high price and buying it back at a lower price.

However, there is also the risk of losing money when trading. This is because the price of an asset can go down as well as up. Traders should always be aware of the risks involved before they make a trade.

Here are some of the factors that can affect the price of an asset:

* **Economic news:** Economic news can have a significant impact on the price of financial assets. For example, if a country's central bank announces that it is going to raise interest rates, this could cause the value of that country's currency to rise.
* **Political news:** Political news can also affect the price of financial assets. For example, if a country's government changes, this could cause investors to lose confidence in the country's economy and cause the value of its currency to fall.
* **Natural disasters:** Natural disasters can also have a significant impact on the price of financial assets. For example, if a hurricane destroys a major city, this could cause the value of the stocks of companies that operate in that city to fall.

Trading can be a profitable way to make money, but it is important to understand the risks involved before you start.

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