If you, as a forex trader, are trading at a leverage of 1:100, the forex broker is investing $100 for every $1 that you invest in the market. This means that a trader can control $100 by investing just $1. However, traders need to be highly cautious when opting for leveraged trading as the greater opportunity for profits comes with greater risk. It is primarily because the loss suffered by you, if the market moves against you, will be 100 times what you would have incurred with no leverage. In other words, forex traders can expect larger profits coming their way if the market moves with them and huge losses coming their way if the market moves against them. In order to wipe out the position of a trader, the market will have to move 100 pips (the smallest price changes that a given exchange rate can make) against the trader.

In short, forex trading leverage can turn out to be the best friend of a forex trader when used carefully and his worst enemy when used in a reckless manner. Forex traders, including you, will come across many exciting leverage options (such as 1:200 or 1:400) but always remember that higher the leverage is, the higher is the risk involved.