The Difference Between Forex and Commodity Trading

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The biggest differences between forex trading and commodity trading stem from the significant differences in the products traded in these markets. Both forex rates and commodities can be traded as pre-defined contracts through a futures exchange, but commodity contracts cannot be traded through the forex market. A commodities market trades in goods such as coffee, cocoa, and mined products such as gold and oil. Forex—the foreign exchange, also abbreviated as FX—is a global market that trades in currencies such as dollars, euros, and yen.

Many of the approaches and analysis of the two markets mirror one another. Which market you prefer has a lot to do with your comfort level with the following factors.

Key Takeaways

  • Forex and commodities can be traded on a futures exchange, but commodities are not traded on the forex market.
  • Commodity trading is highly regulated, while forex trading is much less regulated.
  • Both types use leverage when trading, but forex traders use much more than commodities traders.
  • Commodity exchanges have exchange limits, while forex does not since it is conducted over-the-counter.
  • You can trade commodity-based currencies if you want to get into both markets at the same time.

Personal Choice

Some people feel more comfortable with certain types of markets. Some people like commodities because it's a physical market they can relate to. Because many commodities can be seen in everyday life, some traders prefer commodities because they can connect to things like sugar cane and wheat.

Differences in Regulation

The commodities markets are very regulated, while forex is more like the wild west. There is some regulation with forex, but it's a lot looser. There is a fair amount of circumvention of what little regulation exists already. Some traders feel they are better off with the government on their side.

Leverage in Forex and Currency Markets

Although there is leverage in both markets, there is a significant amount of leverage in the forex market and you don't have to jump through hoops to have it. All you do is fund your account with a few hundred dollars, and you can control thousands. While leverage is also an option in commodities markets, the leverage in forex trading is much more spectacular.

Exchange Limits 

Commodities trade on an exchange whereas foreign exchanges are over-the-counter and traded through brokers or in the interbank market. By trading on an exchange, commodities have daily range limits. When these limits are exceeded, the markets are said to be limit up or limit down, and no trades can be placed. If you are a commodity trader on the wrong side of one of these limit moves, you basically are watching your account dissipate without the ability to act.

While quick losses can also happen in the FX market, there are very few instances where you are absolutely unable to exit your trade which can happen with exchange limits and commodity markets.

Compromise

 A trader looking for a compromise could trade commodity-based currencies. These currencies include the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar, and the New Zealand dollar. Historically, the Australian dollar has a positive correlation to the price of Spot Gold (although the strength of the correlation varies over time). The dairy-reliant New Zealand economy has a similar positive correlation with whole milk powder prices. Lastly, the Canadian dollar has a positive correlation with the price of crude oil. Therefore, with the strong trends in oil in 2014 through 2016, the Canadian dollar has similarly seen strong moves. 

Another subset of the foreign exchange market is that of emerging market currencies. Emerging market currencies also reflect commodity growth and tend to have an inverse correlation with the US dollar. Commodity currencies also pay higher rollover then developed market currencies. Therefore, in the right market, emerging market currencies can make a nice complement to the volatility seen in commodity trading.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Curtin University. "Relationship Between the Gold Price and the Australian Dollar—US Dollar Exchange Rate."

  2. Nicholas Apergis and Dimitris P. Papoulakos. "The New Zealand Dollar and Milk Prices," Abstract. International Journal of Financial Services Management.

  3. FRED Economic Data. "The Canadian Dollar and the Price of Oil."

  4. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "The Dollar and Emerging Market Economies: Financial Vulnerabilities Meet the International Trade System," Page 2.

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