If you have a favorite shop based in another country, you may have noticed that your costs vary. Exchange rates shift, with currencies worth more or less relative to each other. What determines these exchange rates, though? Like more conventional goods, it’s a matter of supply and demand, with currencies traded internationally on the foreign exchange or Forex. For those just getting started, there are different ways of participating in Forex markets, but one option to consider is an API – an application programming interface.
That’s because APIs provide real-time pricing data, allowing you to place trades via your preferred broker platform. Often paired with code libraries for various investment functions, APIs can make investing easier, as well as more profitable, if you know how you use them.
IMAGE: PEXELS
Choose The Right API
APIs are highly customizable if you write your own code, but unless you’re a computer programmer, you’re likely trading via an established API. Not all of these support Forex trading, however, so it’s important to evaluate the different stock APIs available to you based on your investment plans. For example, Alpha Vantage’s technology-driven API supports Forex trading, while others like Intrinio use a pay-per-service model, so you can opt into Forex investing.
In addition to choosing a platform that supports Forex, you’ll also want to explore the overall interface. Some stock APIs are easier to navigate for those who think like coders or engineers, while other systems are easily accessible, whether or not users have advanced tech skills.
Consider Broader Function
So you’ve chosen an API that can handle Forex trades. That’s great, but it’s not enough. Successful Forex trading also hinges on other functions, particularly strong analytics support, a feature considered standard when using REST services. Like much else about Forex APIs, though, the type and degree of analytics available vary by platform.
Forex’s own platform focuses on historic market data so that investors can understand long-term currency trends. Others focus on more recent data, or on multiple currencies, or allow for greater user input regarding data presentation. Another function that many Forex traders rely on in their API is the ability to export data.
That’s because, while APIs may make it easy to access a lot of information, it’s not always presented in the most accessible way. Instead, many choose to export currency data as an Excel spreadsheet or another easy-to-read option. It doesn’t help to have all of that analytics data, after all, if you can’t make sense of it.
More Information, More Value
Ultimately, using an API for Forex trading is less about the mechanics – you don’t need an API to execute the trades – than it is about value creation. By bringing together historical analytics, real-time pricing, and the ability to model trades before executing them, investors can plan their trades and increase their profitability with a lower degree of risk.
Though tests are hardly a sure thing, they can offer critical insights, especially for new Forex investors and those who are trying to build a new strategy. And the more skilled an individual investor is at navigating their chosen API’s interface, the more ways they can manipulate trade models.
An API may not be absolutely necessary for Forex traders, but for those who want to build more aggressive or innovative strategies, they can be a powerful tool. And with a variety of APIs available, there’s sure to be a platform well-suited to each investor’s style.
If you are interested in even more technology-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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