Today our website was down for up to 3 hours in connection with updates on the server. Sorry for the inconvenience.

We would like to inform you that due to the upgrade of our servers our website was inaccessible today (during the day, from time to time). We apologize for any inconvenience. Now the website is operating normally. Thank you for your understanding.

Today we perform technical maintenance on our server. Our trading desk will be closed for the whole day. However, all our clients will be paid the daily profit.

Due to the equipment upgrade of our DDoS protection provider, the client's area of our website can be unavailable from some locations. The issue will be resolved shortly. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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The bogus "advertisements" that are being sent, claiming to be on behalf of our site, are sent as an attack against our company. We already notified all hosting providers whose servers were used for this spam attack.

We are making every attempt to put an end to these bogus spam e-mails. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Today we finished the technical maintenance and enhancement of our servers. We apologize for any inconveniences related to the temporary inaccessibility of our website. The project works in normal mode now.

We would like to inform you that due to the upgrade of our servers our website might be inaccessible. The stable work of our website will be restored within 24 hours.

Due to some phishing activity, Relax-Investments would like to remind our clients that we don't require downloading any software and clicking on any links contained in e-mail messages claiming to be from Relax-Investments.

Please, always pay attention you enter our website as www.relax-investments.com and no other. Our website is SSL-protected and hacker-proof, but there is no protection from a human factor, when some computer inexperienced client can be mislead by fraudsters and give out his/her account information.

Relax-Investments does not send any e-mails with a link for verification requiring you to provide your account details and security information. Please also note, the company has only one address: www.relax-investments.com. No other websites are associated with the Company.

Considering the multiple client's requests, Relax-Investments has decided to reduce the minimum limit for depositing via bank transfers from $25,000 to $10,000. Read more in our "Help Center" page.

The Japanese yen, known as the safest bet in forex markets during times of uncertainty, profited today from negative releases in both Europe and North America, allowing the Asian refuge currency to post the sharpest gains versus currencies tied to growth.

The trading session started today with new pessimistic figures in Europe, as an important business confidence report published in Germany showed the first slump in this publication for the first time since the EU started to emerge from the worst recession since its foundation, allowing the yen to gain not only versus the euro, but also versus other regional currencies in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. U.S. reports published today also brought more pessimism to global trading, as consumer confidence ended a consecutive series of advances and fell much below forecasts, providing support for the yen's winning streak to be extended.

As it becomes clearer now, 2010 is not going to be a year of a sharp economic rebounds around the world as previously expected, and as bad events continue to follow, it is possible that important wealthy nations will experience slow growth and even an extended recession, if the financial situation doesn't improve on a global scale.

CAD/JPY fell to 85.38 from yesterday's rate of 87.38. EUR/JPY also fell, to 121.86 from 123.89.

The Japanese yen had a negative performance this Tuesday versus most of the Asian and South Pacific key-currencies as evidences suggest that commodity producer countries in the region, as well as emerging markets, are likely to outperform the Japanese economy this year, affecting the yen as well.

Several events are leading traders to believe that Japan's lack of dynamism in its economy is likely to impact the yen's performance this year, as other important economies in the region, as South Korea and New Zealand, are showing a better economic performance, allowing their currencies to climb significantly versus the yen today, and in the mid-term, according to some forecasts. Optimism in Asia also rose significantly before a Chinese trade balance report which is likely to show a jump in the country's exports, declining appeal for the safety profile of the yen.

As pessimistic speculations cooled down in Europe and Asian markets are providing positive data, the yen is lacking reasons to prevent a fall, and this trend is likely to continue, if the economic scenario continues following the current positive trajectory.

NZD/JPY climbed to 63.43 as of 02:47 GMT from a previous intraday rate of 62.82.

The U.S. dollar profited last week from a wave of uncertainty that brought investors to opt for safer bets in foreign-exchange markets, and this trend might last for a longer period mainly versus European currencies as the economic outlook in the region is far from optimistic.

The dollar started February touching new record highs in 2010 versus the euro and gaining sharply versus the pound, as the U.S. economic is providing better figures than other economic regions around the world, and traders might witness a longer rally for the U.S. dollar as China new bank loans restrictions is likely to show reports impacted by the these measures in the following months. The euro is one of the currencies which is losing the most versus the greenback as its already well known budget deficit issue among some Eurozone member countries is making investors to avoid the region for the moment, making the dollar to touch the highest level in 6 months versus the European single currency.

Reports in the U.S. have been considerably better than in countries like the U.K., Australia and emerging markets, and this, combined with lack of confidence regarding the global economic recovery so expected in 2009 for the current year is making the dollar to rank among the best bets in forex markets this month.

EUR/USD is at 1.3639 as of 04:39 GMT from an opening rate of 1.3655. GBP/USD traded at 1.5602 from 1.5590.

The dollar has started this week losing versus important currencies after the Federal Reserve made dovish statements regarding the country's interest rates outlook, shunning investors to purchase assets in North America, making riskier assets to climb considerably.

After the Federal Reserve stated on its interest rates decision today that they shall remain low for an extended period, a number of currencies gained versus the dollar, specially the euro as Standard & Poor's affirmed the nation's credit ratings and financial officials in the region are building viable strategies to solve Greece's budget deficit issues. The Canadian dollar is once again towards parity with its U.S. counterpart as appetite for risk influenced markets strongly related with the loonie rates, as commodities and stocks.

The signs of improvement in the U.S. economic fueled speculations regarding sooner than expected rate hikes, and today's statements from policy makers were quite a hard blow for the dollar, according to specialists. The dollar may lose its strength and may resume gains when odds of rate hikes increase again.

EUR/USD traded at 1.3764 as of 23:17 GMT from a previous intraday rate of 1.3687.

The Great Britain pound's strength was curbed by the speculation that that the U.K. will be the next target for the concerns about the major budget deficit as the worries about the Greek budget are retreating because the Greece's crisis appears to be resolved.

The rescue package, issued by the European Union and priced as much as 45 billion euros (or $61 billion), eased concerns about the ability of Greece to deal with its debt and made traders to look for another country with fiscal crisis severe enough to damage the economy and hurt its currency. And it seems that such country should be the U.K. with its deficit climbing as high as 11.8 percent of gross domestic product the last fiscal year and closing near the Greek budget shortage, that of 12.9 percent in the previous year.

The analysts consider the economic situation in the Britain to be worse than in Italy, Spain and Portugal. And a prospect for the improving situation is not supported by the opinion polls, which suggest that the forthcoming election may result in stalemate, leaving the country without the government strong enough to deal with the budget shortage.

GBP/USD traded at 1.5378 as of 17:28 GMT down from the opening price of 1.5448. EUR/GBP traded near 0.8830 after it opened at 0.8821

The euro may extend last month's decline versus emerging markets and commodity linked currencies as the economic recovery expected for the beginning of 2010 may rise appeal for riskier assets, damping demand for the European single currency in foreign-exchange markets.

After currencies like the South African rand and the Norwegian krone benefited from a rise in demand for energetic and metallic commodities, the attractiveness for the European common currency suffered another strike, as some of its country members are struggling to adjust their current accounts and stabilize their banking systems. A less appealing euro combined with positive forecasts for a global recovery in 2010 will cause Asian stock markets to rally, rising also demand for raw materials as manufacturing production accelerates worldwide, providing support for the Canadian and the Australian dollar to beat the euro in the short-mid term, as well as emerging countries currencies like the Brazilian real and the Chilean peso, which ranked in 2009 among the best performers versus the euro.

Even if optimism is strong, its not guaranteed that such trends will last for a longer period, as economic recovery pace and the drivers behind it are not well defined and structure, allowing room for the euro to rebound if the current scenario changes slightly.

A report published today indicating fewer-than-expected new jobless claims applications last week allowed the dollar to gain versus the euro and several other currencies as improving employment data is a key-evidence indicating the U.S. economic recovery expected for 2010.

A positive sentiment towards the U.S. employment conditions provided support for the greenback to touch the highest level in four months versus the yen as traders expect a payrolls report tomorrow to show a decrease in job losses, after today's weekly jobless claims report also came with positive figures. The greenback also pared losses versus commodity linked currencies like the Aussie and the Canadian dollar, which posted several days of advance as the crude oil rates rose on expectations demand will rise in 2010, favoring also riskier assets during this week so far.

Analysts consider the employment data as extremely relevant for indicating the U.S. economic health, as even if other data may indicate a recovery, normally bad employment figures evidence problems in a country's economic outlook. Tomorrow payrolls report will be essential to determine the dollar's trends in the short term.

EUR/USD declined to 1.4317 as of 18:16 GMT from a previous intraday rate of 1.4397. AUD/USD traded at 0.9177 after trading as high as 0.9253.

The U.K. currency extended Friday's gains versus the U.S. dollar today as global optimism helped speculations that an economic recovery in the U.K. will make its currency more attractive in foreign-exchange markets.

A business report published today by a private company in the U.K. indicated that confidence regarding economic conditions has improved substantially in an annual comparison, helping the pound to post another day of gains versus the greenback after a Chinese trading report suggested that the global economic recovery expected for 2010 is so far being confirmed, as both exports and imports climbed in China.

GBP/USD traded at 1.6111 as of 23:08 GMT from 1.6069 when markets opened yesterday.

The Swiss currency finally felt the central bankers pressure and declined considerably versus most of its main trading partners' currencies, on speculations that measures will be taken by the financial authorities to avoid the franc to gain.

The Swiss franc dropped even versus the European single currency as some of the bloc's members are providing negative economic data, evidencing that the Swiss National Bank pressure to halt the franc's rally is taking effect. The pound was one of the biggest winners versus the franc as the U.K.'s inflation rose beyond forecasts.

GBP/CHF traded at 1.6886 as of 22:31 GMT from a previous rate 1.6737 yesterday.

The pound was of the few currencies which couldn't profit from a higher risk appetite today versus the dollar and the yen as another real estate report declined attractiveness for Britain's currency, which started the week falling versus multiple currencies.

After two reports published today in London showed a decline on house prices and mortgage approvals in the British real estate market, the pound slid versus a stronger euro, an attractive Swedish krona that benefited from a national manufacturing report beating forecasts, and also versus commodity linked currencies as demand metals and the crude oil rose today.

EUR/GBP traded at 0.8725 as of 23:09 GMT from an opening rate yesterday of 0.8692.

The vast currency market is a foreign concept to the average individual. However, once it is broken down into simple terms, the average individual can begin to understand the foreign exchange market and use it as a financial instrument for future investing.

Forex was created not by design, but because traders, brokers, bankers, importers, exporters and investors recognized opportunities it brings. In 1971, the U.S. went off the "gold standard", in which its foreign-exchange rate was pegged to the price of gold. At that moment, new trading opportunities appeared on the horizon.

Forex is the one stabilizing factor in the world's system of monetary exchange, yet it is not answerable to any extrinsic stabilizing influence. There are "no restrictions" in this market. No single international authority acts as a governing body, and no government can intervene unilaterally to regulate foreign exchange practices or, should there be a threat of world monetary crisis, halt trading. While treasury officials in Washington, London, Bonn, Tokyo and other capitals pay close attention to relative currency values, none can intervene in a regulatory capacity. The market exists only to the extent those traders in Asia (Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore), Europe (Frankfurt, London, Paris and Geneva), Bahrain, and the U.S. (New York), New Zealand and Australia (Sydney) are willing to buy and sell.

Foreign Exchange is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another. The foreign exchange market (FOREX) is the largest financial market in the world, with a volume of over $1.5 trillion daily. Unlike other financial markets, the Forex market has no physical location, no central exchange. It operates through an electronic network of banks, corporations and individuals trading one currency for another. The lack of a physical exchange enables the Forex market to operate on a 24-hour basis, spanning from one zone to another in all the major financial centers.

Today, importers and exporters, international portfolio managers, multinational corporations, speculators, day traders, long-term holders and hedge funds all use the Forex market to pay for goods and services, transact in financial assets or to reduce the risk of currency movements by hedging their exposure in other markets.

Many people are drawn to the Forex market due to high liquidity, 24 hour trading, low startup costs, and a number of other attractive reasons. However, some traders are unable to sufficiently learn or trade currency due to a conflicting full time job or other obligation. Also, many investors like to supplement their existing portfolio without having to learn a completely new market. This is where the "managed Forex account" comes in. A managed Forex account is an established live Forex account funded by the investor, and traded by a company or professional. This allows the investor a reasonable rate of return on an account he does not necessarily have to trade himself, and the opportunity to be a part of the largest market in the world.

There are obviously many up sides to a managed Forex account. The investor is able to achieve a steady rate of growth without having to spend all the necessary time and effort to trade the money himself. The Forex market is a very liquid market as well, giving the investor a much more flexible means of withdrawing funds from the managed Forex account. Also, trading currency allows profit potential in both rising and falling markets, giving the experienced money manager more opportunities to grow the investor's account.

Two of the major types of managed Forex accounts are those traded manually, and those traded by an automated trading software. Automated trading software automatically trades currency based on a hard coded set of rules. A coder will write the system and money management rules into a variety of programming languages to produce software that could provide a more regulated steady rate of return for the managed Forex account than the manual trader. This gives the ability of the company or professional to advertise a set rate of monthly (or yearly) growth.

As a managed Forex account seems like a very lucrative direction to take in the Forex market, some people may still be drawn away from it for a few select reasons. Usually, many commercial brokers and investment companies have a minimum for the account to be traded. These minimums are usually around $10,000, and prove a hefty starting cost to the average trader. Also, many of these companies can (and usually do) promise high returns. In spite of these statements, the majority charge a monthly management fee to your managed Forex account. If your monthly return is less than the standard monthly charge, your managed Forex account will be in the negative even though before the fee, you were positive.

Unlike other companies, the managed Forex accounts with Relax-Invest have no monthly charges for account management and no hidden fees. The minimum amount for investing on the managed Forex account with Relax-Invest is as low as 50 USD.

Managed Forex accounts can be an excellent way to grow a large account, or provide a steady rate of growth over a long period of time without the hassles and emotional swings of trading currency yourself. If the investor has both the capital and a reputable investment firm or professional, a managed Forex account could prove to be a great investment opportunity.

Our company provides you with an opportunity to engage in online Forex trading. It means you can monitor the real time market situation taking the advantage of the charts in our web-site, see section Live Trade. In our chart you can see the currency price when we entered the market shown as a red horizontal "entry" line and the current price highlighted with a grey "current" line.

There are three most commonly used types of charts: line chart, bar chart and candlestick chart.

We use the candlestick chart as it is the most popular and widely used chart type. A candlestick chart reveals things that are not visible on other charts. It gives comprehensive information about price on the market and thus helps better understand and predict future price moves.

Each bar of the chart is a candlestick known also as Japanese candlestick. Because of its appearance candlestick delivers more information than any other line or bar method.

Candlestick carries High, Low, Open and Close for the price at specific time and possesses a Body. A color and the size of the body supply traders with additional price details.

The major part of the candlestick, the body, represents a range between Open and Close prices.

When Open for the price is above Close, a candlestick body is filled (gold).

When Open for the price is below Close, a candlestick body is hollow.

One of the common set up which we are going to use for our charts is gold and white. So "gold" will stay for the filled candlestick giving a signal that the price has dropped and "white" will stay for hollow giving a signal that the price has gone up.

The "gold" and "white" candlesticks also describe two opposing forces on the market: buyers and sellers (also called bulls and bears). Bulls (buyers) are traders who push the price up and bears (sellers) pull price down. So the gold and white candlesticks show who is in control on the market at the time.

The size of the candlestick tells how strong buying or selling pressure is. A long big candlestick symbols of a strong market pressure (buying or selling), whereas a small size candlestick means that buyers and sellers are in consolidation and the pressure is weak.

Shadows (tails or wicks) of the candlestick reveal activity of buyers and sellers. The upper shadow shows activity of buyers towards pushing the price up. The lower shadow represents seller's activity pulling the price down. Long shadows occur during high activity coming from both sides - sellers and buyers - as they try to turn the price into their direction.

A small upper shadow plus a big lower shadow tells a trader that in the beginning sellers were dominant and forced the price down, but fell under the pressure of buyers at the end of the trading session.

A big upper shadow plus a small lower one indicates that at first buyers took over the trade and pushed the price up, but eventually forced to give up facing strong sellers' pressure.

A candlestick with no shadows indicated that buyers (in case of a white candle) or sellers (gold candle) were dominant during the whole trading session.

A candlestick that posses a small or no body and at the same time has small shadows indicates indecisiveness between buyers and sellers and a very little trading - a weak, slow trading market.

Doji candle has no or an extremely short body and long shadow(s). It is formed when buyers were unable to overcome sellers' pressure and push the price any further from an open point, and at the same time, sellers met strong buyers' pressure and also didn't succeed in their efforts to push the price down from the open point. The result is a draw: open price = close price.

The very first look at a newly opened chart usually gives traders a little or no clue what the market is currently doing. So the trader must reorganize a wavy indefinite graph into a very clear picture to be able to trade.

Analysis usually starts with defining the trend. The gold rule of trading says "Always trade with the trend" ... or at least try to.

For example, the current bid-ask price for EUR/USD is 1.5775/1.5781 meaning you can buy 1 Euro for 1.5781 dollars. Suppose you see the trend of Euro growing against dollar and feel Euro is undervalued. To execute this strategy you would buy Euros (simultaneously selling Dollars) and then wait for the exchange rate to rise.

So you purchase 100 000 Euro (1 lot is Forex = 100 000) selling 157810 dollars. As you expected the EUR/USD rises to 1.5882/1.5888. Since you bought Euros and sold Dollars in your previous trade you must now sell Euros for Dollars to realize the profit. You can now sell 1 Euro for 1.5882 Dollars. When you sell the 100 000 Euros at the current rate you will receive 158820 USD.

Since you originally sold (paid) 157810 USD (158820-157810), your profit is 1010 USD. Your total profit = 1010 USD.

However, if the price falls down to the same amount of 0.0101 (as was the increase from the example above: 1.5882-1.5781=0.0101) or 101 pips (a 'pip' in Forex trading is the smallest tick in the price of a currency). You can lose 1010 dollars from the transaction.