Foreign exchange traders generally fall into two groups and base their decisions on either technical analysis and fundamental analysis. Technical traders use charts, trend lines, support and resistance levels, mathematical models and other means to identify opportunities and drive trading decisions.

Fundamental traders identify trading opportunities by analyzing economic information, such as interest rates, money supply and political/economical macroeconomic factors. Additionally, some traders take short-term positions and trade frequently while others are long-term, buy and hold traders.