The FX carry trade, also called currency carry trade, is a financial strategy for funding trades in low-yielding currencies with a currency with a higher interest rate.
FX carry trades allow traders to make easy profits by exploiting the differences in currency rates to capture the benefits of risk-free profit-making.
When you buy or go long on the pound (GBP)/dollar (USD), when the pound (GBP) has a 5% interest rate and the pound (GBP) has a 2% interest rate, you are making a carry trade.
The broker will pay you 3% for every day the trade resides on the market, as long as the interest rates of the two currencies do not overlap. Over time, such a difference in interest rates can accumulate.
What is a Carry Trade?
Trading strategies such as carry trades involve borrowing at low-interest rates and investing in assets with higher returns. Typically, a carry trade involves borrowing and converting low-interest-rate currencies.
The proceeds will be deposited if the second currency has a higher interest rate. Furthermore, the proceeds may be invested in assets denominated in the second currency, such as stocks, commodities, bonds, or real estate.
FX Carry Trade working model
As long as the exchange rates do not fluctuate significantly, traders can profit from an FX carry trade by taking advantage of the differences in interest rates between two countries.
The funding currency is exchanged or traded during a currency carry trade transaction. Low-interest rates are usually associated with it. Investors execute FX carry trades by borrowing the funding currency and asset currency.
A central bank of a funding currency usually lowers interest rates during a recession to stimulate growth. Taking short positions on the market as rates decline, investors borrow money and invest it.
The Carry Trading advantage
Carry interest allows you to earn interest income in addition to your trading gains when trading in the direction of carrying interest. Leverage is another benefit of carrying trades. Carry trade interest is paid daily on your leveraged amount by the broker.
The daily interest you receive on $10,000 will not be based on the $250 you used for the margin to open the trade for one mini lot (10,000 USD). An annual return of large amounts can be achieved.
Risks associated with an FX Carry Trade
There are also some risks associated with an FX Carry Trade:
Uncertainty in exchange rates
A carry trade involves a high risk because exchange rates are uncertain. It is due to the market’s extraordinary volatility, which can change at any moment.
Using the example below, the trader would have incurred massive losses if the AUD dropped relative to the Japanese yen. The loss can be significant even if exchange rates only change slightly.
Interest rate risk
If one country lowers its interest rates and the other country raises its interest rates, the FX carry trade will lose its positive net interest rate and become less profitable.
Bottom line
When making trades, use your head and properly manage risks. A daily interest payment may seem appealing, but if not taken cautiously, that small payment could prove to be a costly mistake.
Carry trading is best performed when fundamentals are supportive, and market sentiment is positive. In a favorable market climate, carry trades are most effective. Your overall returns can be substantially increased if carry trading is executed correctly.
