Forex Trading in Hong Kong

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Contributor, Benzinga
March 22, 2024

Hong Kong has become a hub for forex trading, attracting both experienced traders and newcomers to the market. With its dynamic economy and vibrant financial sector, Hong Kong offers unique opportunities for those looking to enter the world of forex trading.

Hong Kong's strategic location and strong financial infrastructure make it an ideal location for forex trading. The city maintains its position as the 4th largest global forex market and is the world’s largest Renminbi forex market. 

If you are considering forex trading in Hong Kong, it is important to understand the local regulations, market trends and trading platforms available in the region. This guide will help you understand the ins and outs of the market to make more informed financial decisions.

Disclosure: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Getting Started with Forex in Hong Kong

Hong Kong does maintain standards and minimum financial requirements for its brokers through the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Consider this and other important factors when moving through the following list.

  • 1. Obtain a fast internet connection: A solid internet connection means a solid connection to the forex market. A bad connection means that you may miss out on investment opportunities that show themselves rarely.
  • 2. Open an account with a regulated broker: If you choose a stateside forex broker, make sure it is regulated through the SFC. Offshore brokers should be regulated through a well-known international financial authority. Proper regulation gives you a shield against broker fraud. Consider the amount of leverage you can take on, the customer service and the terms of service your broker provides on your account before committing. Reading broker reviews is an important step when choosing a trading platform.
  • 3. Fund the account: You should be able to fund your investment account using fintech, a debit card, a check or the bank account you connected in the tip above.
  • 4. Get a trading platform: Your broker may have its own trading platform. You may also choose an industry-standard platform. Whatever you choose, make sure you don’t add latency to your chain.
  • 5. Start trading: It is always recommended to test your investment chain with a demo account. After that, you can begin to trade forex with more confidence.

Best Online Forex Brokers in Hong Kong 

Everyone wants to do business in Hong Kong, so you will have no shortage of forex brokers to choose from. Choose wisely.

  • Capital.com
    Best For:
    Market-Leading Spreads
    Disclaimer: 84% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

    80.84% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Capital.com is regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority.

  • Forex.com NON US
    Best For:
    Forex Trading in and Outside the U.S.
    securely through Forex.com NON US's website

    CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

    The products and services available to you at FOREX.com will depend on your location and on which of its regulated entities holds your account

  • eToro Forex
    Best For:
    Copy Trading
    securely through eToro Forex's website

    CFD trading is not available to U.S. users. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

  • AvaTrade
    Best For:
    Non U.S. Forex & CFD Traders
    securely through AvaTrade's website
  • Pepperstone FX
    Best For:
    Trading Experience
    securely through Pepperstone FX's website

    Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Hong Kong Forex Trading Strategies

Now that you have vetted your setup for safety, you can move into investment blueprints that provide a framework for a trading plan. 

  • Breakout trading: If you are good at identifying when trends end, you may be a good breakout trader. Breakouts occur when trends are over and a price moves far away from a range that it had previously inhabited.
  • Return to the mean: If a price can’t break away from a range, it usually returns to its average. This is also known as a “retest.” Investors looking for a return to the mean trade to profit from the difference between the current price and the average price over a set period of time.
  • Retracement: A retracement is a pullback that temporarily reverses a directional trend. It usually doesn’t last very long but provides an opportunity for a quick and substantial profit.
  • Carry trading: If you hold a currency overnight or longer, you are rewarded with the interest rate of that currency. Carry traders profit from the differences in currency exchange rates, selling a currency with a higher rate to buy a currency with a lower one.

Forex Trading Example in Hong Kong

Imagine that the HKD/USD is trading at 0.1310/0.1330. This price seems low. You think the price will rise, so you buy in. The margin rate of this currency pair is 2.78%. This entitles you to purchase HK$100,000 with $366.96 in your brokerage account.

The new HKD/USD price after 4 hours is 0.1370/0.1390. If you exit the trade at this point, your profit is (HK$100,000 x 0.1370) – (HK$100,000 x 0.1330), or $400, on the 40-point move.

***This is a simplified example, forex trading involves significant risk and it's essential to have a solid understanding of the market before engaging in trading activities.

Trading Forex in Hong Kong 

Potentially maximize your profits with these day-to-day strategies after choosing your investment blueprint. 

  • Shorting a market: Many investors assume you make money only when prices rise, but shorting a currency market allows you to profit from a price fall.
  • Contracts for difference (CFDs): Trading CFDs relieves you of the ownership responsibility, but you still profit from the price movements of a currency pair. You can also trade high amounts of leverage using CFDs — usually higher than with traditional forex.
  • Binary options: Binary options provide a yes or no outcome. You can only gain or lose a fixed amount because the value of the option does not directly track currency pricing.

Political Unrest and Economic Opportunity

The Hong Kong dollar is the 8th most traded currency in forex. It also stands as an important tie between the enormous Chinese and American economies. Should its status seriously come into question, all of these markets will likely be affected. This volatility is exactly what prepared investors look for.

With the right flow of information and the appropriate strategies, you have an opportunity to profit from price irregularities between the Hong Kong dollar and other world currencies. Bookmark this website and return often for the latest strategies and news in this essential economic and political development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Is trading forex in Hong Kong legal?

A

Yes, trading forex in Hong Kong is legal as long as you follow the regulations set by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). It is important to ensure you are trading with a licensed broker and comply with all relevant laws and requirements.

Q

Is trading forex in Hong Kong regulated?

A

Yes, forex is regulated in Hong Kong by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).

Q

Is forex taxed in Hong Kong?

A

Foreign exchange gains and losses are typically not taxed in Hong Kong. Trading forex falls under the category of speculative activity rather than investing, so it is not subject to capital gains tax. However, if they are considered part of profits from a trade, profession or business they may be subject to tax. It is important to note that there is no capital gains tax in Hong Kong.

Get a Forex Pro on Your Side

FOREX.com, registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), lets you trade a wide range of forex markets with low pricing and fast, quality execution on every trade. 

You can also tap into:

  • EUR/USD as low as 0.2 with fixed $5 commissions per 100,000
  • Powerful, purpose-built currency trading platforms
  • Monthly cash rebates of up to $9 per million dollars traded with FOREX.com’s Active Trader Program

Learn more about FOREX.com’s low pricing and how you can get started trading with FOREX.com.