If you are interested in trading currencies, we recommend that you take the following steps...

Why do currency rates fluctuate? How does a forex trade work? Learn the nuts and bolts of trading currencies. By reading this series of featured articles, you're already on the right track. It's also important that you understand that trading the Foreign Exchange market involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of losing money. Any investment in foreign exchange should involve only risk capital and you should never trade with money that you cannot afford to lose. Once you know your basics, you're ready to take the next step.

One of the best ways to see if currency trading is right for you is to try a demo. You can practice your trading techniques with "play money", so there is no risk involved. FXCM offers a FREE Demo with a virtual balance of $50,000. What are the perks? You get a lot of free information and 24/7support to help you ease into currency trading.

• You can evaluate trading strategies with no risk.
• You get free access to a team of professionals 24/7.
• The free practice account is live for 30 days.
• You can Try a demo for FREE

The best way to learn about currency trading is to ask a lot of questions. If you're unsure of where to go or who to ask, you should take the FX Power Course. It's an online course that gives you access to instructors with years of market experience for less then 20 dollars. You get interactive instruction and feedback 24 hours a day for 8 days, and you get the opportunity to win up to $1000 in the Alumni Trading Contest. How you will benefit:

• Learn to identify clues about future market activity by reading charts.
• Learn to find trends and gauge their potential for profit.
• Learn about important political and economic events.
• Get access to an experienced instructor for 1 year with a live account.
• Learn more about the FX Power Course

If you're simply interested in diversifying your portfolio, but you don't have the time for steps 1 to 3, you can open a Managed Forex Account through FXCM. Learn More

If you're ready to trade, though, you can start trading now on the Forex Market. If you open a Live Account through FXCM, you will get FREE unlimited access to DailyFX Plus with live streaming news and expert market commentary. These tools are the same alerts and analysis tracked by forex specialists. Open a Live Account

Why FXCM? Because FXCM is one of the largest and strongest Forex Dealer Members. They were awarded Best Forex Solution Provider in 2007 by Financial Bridges magazine, Best Currency Broker from Shares, best Retail Foreign Exchange Platform from FX Week and Best Foreign Exchange Specialist from Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities.

FXCM offers spreads as low as 1 pip, a multitude of trading tools and 24/7 client service, including over 500 professionals on hand to help you out at anytime. They offer a lot of FREE information to get you started, access to services with an array of technical and fundamental analysis tools, and educational courses, some of which cost less then twenty dollars. Plus, if you just want to mess around and simply test your trading skills without a serious commitment, you can open a Free Demo Account with absolutely no risk.

• Founded in 1999, FXCM is one of the largest and most financially strong forex brokers.
• Over 90,000 live accounts trade through FXCM's trading platforms.
• Over $200 billion in notional volume is traded each month on FXCM trading platforms.
• The FXCM Group has over $120,000,000 US in firm capital.
• Regulated in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
• Segregated Accounts are available through FXCM LTD, an FSA regulated entity.
• Find out why FXCM is recognized as a Best Forex Solution. Read the Press Release