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Forex Carry Trade Strategy: Ultimate Guide

carry trade forex strategy

Did you know that the carry trade, a trading strategy dating back to ancient times, was once exclusive to the financial elite with access to global markets? Fortunately, with the rapid progress of technology, participating in this lucrative trade is now accessible to everyone. So, if you’re looking to enhance your Forex trading skills and potentially rake in big profits, mastering the art of carry trade should definitely be on your to-do list!

What is a Carry Trade?

Carry Trade is a smart strategy used by forex traders to make a profit by taking advantage of the interest rate differences between two foreign currencies in a pair. This clever tactic can either be positive or negative depending on the currency duo being traded. By following this strategy, a trader can cash in on the differences in interest rates between the base and secondary currencies in a forex pair.

For example, let’s say that you want to invest using a carry trade strategy. So, you borrow $10,000 with a low interest rate of 1% annually and you purchase a bond that pays 5% for the same period. Here, your net profit from this investment will be 4% after subtracting the lending fees (1%) from the return (5%). 

The Carry Trading Advantage in Forex Market

Carry trades find the perfect haven in the Forex market since it operates through currency pairs. It involves a trader borrowing or selling a currency with a low-interest rate to buy another currency with a higher interest rate.

As an illustration, if you purchase the EUR/USD exchange rate, you essentially acquire the euro and sell US dollars concurrently. The good news is, you don't necessarily need euros or dollars in your trading account as the broker manages all the currency conversions invisibly, allowing for seamless transactions. 

This approach allows the trader to pay a lower interest rate on the borrowed currency while earning a return on the higher interest rate of the purchased currency, resulting in what is known as the interest rate differential.

How Carry Trade Works in Forex Trading

Forex carry trading is a strategy that involves borrowing a currency with a low-interest rate and investing in a currency with a higher interest rate. The goal is to profit from the difference in interest rates between the two currencies.

Here’s how it works:

Overall, the success of carry trading is dependent on the interest rate differential and the stability of the exchange rate. This strategy can be risky, and traders should use caution and risk management techniques to protect their investments.

Example of "Carry trade in Forex trading."

Suppose a trader deposits £1000 into a forex trading account and decides to execute a positive carry trade by trading the AUD/JPY currency pair, which has a 5% interest rate differential. With a leverage ratio of 20:1, he can open a position for £20,000, where the deposit represents only 5% of the total value. The carry trade strategy can have different outcomes depending on the direction of the market. 

If the currency pair's value appreciates, the trader will receive a 5% interest rate on the full position value, along with any associated profits. In contrast, if the currency pair's value depreciates, the trader may incur losses and could be forced to close out the position when the remaining amount is the 5% margin of £20,000. If the currency pair's exchange rate remains unchanged, the trader will earn 5% interest on the leveraged trade without any additional profits or losses. 

Which Forex pairs make the best Carry trades?

A positive carry trade in forex involves pairs that are ideal for earning profits based on their interest rate differences. The best currency pairs for this strategy are those in which the Japanese yen (JPY) or Swiss franc (CHF) serves as the secondary or quote currency. These currencies are perfect due to their low yields.

For example, AUD/JPY​ or AUD/CHF​ is the most preferred currency pair for carry trading as the Australian dollar has a much higher yield compared to the low-yielding JPY or CHF. This approach helps traders to earn a decent income from the interest rate differential between currencies.

Carry trade based on News Releases

The stability or instability of an economy refers to the overall strength and health of a country’s financial system, including factors such as inflation rates, employment levels, and overall economic growth. When an economy is stable, it tends to attract investment and trade, leading to an increase in demand for the country’s currency. Conversely, when an economy is unstable, investors may lose confidence and begin to withdraw their investments, leading to a decrease in demand for the country’s currency.

In the forex market, carry trade rates are influenced by the stability of economies because interest rates are one of the key drivers of currency values. When a country’s interest rates are high, its currency tends to appreciate in value, as investors seek to earn higher returns on their investments. Conversely, when interest rates are low, the value of the currency tends to decrease, as investors may seek higher returns elsewhere.

However, interest rates are not the only factor that influences the value of currencies. Inflation, geopolitical events, and other external factors can also impact the value of currencies, leading to fluctuations in exchange rates. As a result, forex traders need to stay informed about the latest economic and political developments in the countries whose currencies they are trading. By using our Economic calendar, traders can stay informed about current market events.


Leveraged Carry trade in Forex

The popularity of carry trade strategy trading in the Forex market is largely due to the availability of trading on margin, which allows traders to control a significant amount with only a small deposit. To gain a better understanding of the risks associated with margin trading, you can refer to our article “What is Leverage in Forex Trading?“.

Example of using Leverage in Carry trade:

Let’s assume that a trader wants to execute a carry trade with the Japanese yen (JPY) and the Australian dollar (AUD). At the time of the trade, the interest rate in Japan is 0.1%, and the interest rate in Australia is 1.5%.

The trader decides to borrow 10,000 JPY and convert it into AUD, giving them 122.79 AUD (based on the exchange rate at the time of the trade). The trader then invests the 122.79 AUD in a high-yield Australian bond with a 1.5% interest rate. Assuming there are no fluctuations in the exchange rate, the trader would earn 1.5% on the investment, or 1.84 AUD.

Now, let’s assume that the trader decides to use leverage in this carry trade by borrowing more JPY than they actually have. If the trader uses a leverage of 10:1, they would be able to borrow 100,000 JPY instead of 10,000 JPY. This would allow them to invest 1,227.90 AUD in the high-yield Australian bond.

Assuming there are no fluctuations in the exchange rate, the trader would earn 1.5% on the investment, or 18.42 AUD. However, because the trader borrowed more JPY, they would also need to pay back more in interest. With a 10:1 leverage, the interest cost on the 100,000 JPY borrowed would be 1% or 1,000 JPY.

So, the trader’s net profit would be the interest rate differential (18.42 AUD – 1,000 JPY = 8.42 AUD). By using leverage in this carry trade, the trader was able to increase their investment and potentially earn a higher profit, but they also took on more risk due to the higher amount of borrowing.


Benefits of Carry Trades:

Carry trades come with certain advantages that can help you make more profit with your trades. When you borrow money to make a trade, you can earn interest on the borrowed amount in addition to any profits you make from the trade. This interest is based on the full amount you borrowed, not just the small amount you put in yourself.

Carry trading can be a good way to make money when the market is not moving much, but you still need to manage the risks. This means setting up stop-loss and take-profit orders before you make the trade, so you can limit your losses and take your profits when the time is right.


Risks of Carry Trades:

The use of a carry trade strategy is associated with certain risks. Low-interest-rate countries, for example, are low-interest-rate countries for a reason. When the economy is struggling, central banks typically keep interest rates low to encourage consumers and businesses to borrow, spend, and invest. If the economy starts to grow again, the central bank may raise interest rates to prevent it from overheating, which would affect carry trades.

Besides the risks of carry trades, you also risk losing money if the market appreciates or depreciates. It is possible for the trader to receive a positive daily interest payment and a positive carry if they go long or buy a market. It is possible, however, that the loss of the investment would exceed the positive daily interest payments if they exited the investment at a lower price.

To Conclude

A carry trade is borrowing a low-interest-rate currency to invest in another high-rate currency. using proper risk management is highly essential in carry trading, like any other trading strategy. Huge profits can be tempting, so being cautious is very crucial. It is better to support your carry trade strategy with fundamental analysis and market sentiment as well. Carry trade works best in stable and predictable market trends. 

Use Risk Management - Since the best currencies for this type of trading tend to be those with the highest volatility, negative market sentiment can quickly and heavily impact "carry pair" currencies. Unexpected, brutal turns can wipe out a trader's account without adequate risk management. As a rule of thumb, carry trades are best entered when fundamentals and market sentiment are in favor of them. Positive market sentiment and investors in a buying mood are the best times to enter these strategies.

Start Trading

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Forex Carry Trade Strategy: FAQ

What is carry strategy?

The carry strategy is a trading technique used in financial markets, such as Forex, that involves buying a high-yielding asset and financing a low-yielding asset. The idea behind this strategy is to earn a profit from the interest rate differential between the two assets, which is known as the “carry.” While carry strategy can be highly profitable, it also comes with risks like changes in interest rates, economic instability, and currency volatility.

How to do carry trade?

To do a carry trade:
1. Identify low-interest and high-interest currencies.
2. Open a margin account with a broker and deposit funds.
3. Borrow and convert low-interest currency to high-interest currency.
4. Invest and earn interest with the high-interest currency.
5. Monitor rates to ensure profitability and close the trade if necessary to avoid losses.

What is carry trade in forex?

In the context of Forex trading, the carry strategy involves borrowing in a currency with a low-interest rate and investing in a currency with a higher interest rate. The difference in interest rates between the two currencies is the carry, and traders aim to make a profit by holding onto the position for an extended period of time. The profit is generated from the difference between the interest rate paid on the borrowed currency and the interest rate earned on the invested currency.

What is the best carry trade?

It is difficult to say what the “best” carry trade is as it depends on a variety of factors, including economic conditions, central bank policies, and geopolitical events, among other things. The most profitable carry trades tend to involve currencies with a large interest rate differential, stable economic and political conditions, and a low risk of significant currency fluctuations.

What are the risks of carry trade?

Common risks of carry trade include currency risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, country risk, and leverage risk. Currency risk involves sudden changes in exchange rates, interest rate risk affects expected returns, liquidity risk involves difficulty in closing positions, country risk is due to unpredictable changes in political and economic conditions, and leverage risk can amplify gains or losses from even small changes in exchange or interest rates.

What is the formula for carry trade?

Profit/Loss = (Interest Rate of the Currency Being Bought – Interest Rate of the Currency Being Sold) x Trade Size x Number of Days Held ÷ 365.

The calculation estimates the potential profit or loss, with the trade size indicating the amount of currency traded and the number of days held referring to the trade duration.

Is carry trade profitable?

If the exchange rate between the currencies remains relatively stable and the interest rate differential remains favorable, a carry trade can generate a consistent profit over time. However, sudden changes in exchange rates or interest rates can lead to significant losses, especially when leverage is involved. To ensure a profitable trade, keep an eye on economic and political developments in the countries whose currencies are being traded.

Is carry trade a Good investment strategy?

Carry trade can be a good investment strategy for certain investors under certain circumstances, but it’s not suitable for everyone. The strategy involves borrowing a low-interest-rate currency to invest in a high-interest-rate currency to earn the interest rate differential, which can generate consistent profits over time if executed properly.

What is carry to risk ratio?

The carry-to-risk ratio is a metric used to evaluate the potential risk and reward of carry trade. Divide the expected return of the trade by the maximum drawdown, or the biggest percentage decline in the value of the investment from its peak to its trough. For example, if a carry trade has an expected return of 10% and a maximum drawdown of 5%, the carry-to-risk ratio would be 2 (10/5).

What is a positive carry trade?

A positive carry trade is when a trader borrows in a low-interest-rate currency, trades in a high-interest-rate currency, and earns more interest on the traded funds than the interest paid on the borrowed funds. This generates a net inflow of cash to the trader. For instance, a trader borrows $1,000 at 1% interest, trade in a different currency that offers a 5% interest rate and earns $50 in interest. After paying back the borrowed funds with an interest of $10, the investor pockets a net profit of $40.


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