To make it easy , let's say u have deposited $1000 (USD) and u open a position for 20000 quantities = ( 200usd) .  At the PortFolio it will show that your Used Margin : 200.00 and Available Margin : xxx - (Amount after deduct your Used Margin and Total Profit)

Example :  GBP/USD  [Bid = 1.9143]  [Offer = 1.9148]

You Short on G/U at 1.9143 with 200 USD and u will see a -5 pips because of the 5 pips spread. What will show in your Portfolio is like below :

[USD 1000.0000]
Used Margin : 200.0000
Available Margin : 790.00
Total Profit : -10.00

i've started to trade using Marketiva. Putting my bet based on GUTS while i go surf around start studying the strategy, indicator, lingo and other stuff about Forex. yeah i lost USD3000 when i finish all the reading/researching. great lesson i have there. that's how ppl who're lack of knowledge lose money. will start trading based on tech/fundamental analysis tomorrow.

fyi i haven't start live yet.

ok ok.. i get it..
it was
buy: 1.9148 * 20000 = 38296
sell: 1.9143 * 20000 = 38286

so, i'll lose $10
correct?

Learn from mistake and prevent from repeating the same mistake again

can someone illustrate an example  on the calculation of overnight interest charges?

Overnight Interest

Every currency and commodity has a "cost of carry" associated with holding the position for more than one day. It is called "overnight interest" or "premium". In currencies, this cost is a function of the "interest rate differential" of the two currencies that comprise the exchange rate.

For example, in USD/JPY, the interest rate differential is the difference between short-term U.S. interest rates and short-term Japanese interest rates. If, for example, U.S. interest rates are 5.0% and Japanese interest rates are 1.0%, the interest rate differential is 4.0% (5.0% - 1.0%). This means that if a trader was to sell USD/JPY, he would have to pay 4.0% of the notional amount of the contract per year to hold the position. If position quantity is 100,000, the trader would have to pay approximately $4,000 to hold the position for one year. This translates to approximately $11.00 per day for holding the USD/JPY position ($4,000 / 365).

woooo forex looks intresting...but risky....

not ready yet....

Correct me if I'm wrong...

the $1k u put in is the margin a/c..

basically covers the profit / losses arrising from the trade..

Max u can loose is the $1k you put in...

If more.. then "Margin Call" lah... like playing futures ??

can someone illustrate an example on the calculation of overnight interest charges?

That's correct, emotional mistakes is the hardest mistakes to correct IMO.
http://www.ac-markets.com/en/online-forex/...t-positions.asp. Hope this helps.
Inside marketiva
I am used to Oanda but finally decided to test run marketiva. What the heck. Lucky me made 970 in my first trade, paper of course . . Not to complain but IMO marketiva is really simple. Also a salute to treadstarted for showing his trades here. Hope to learn something here.

HI...new here...
quite confused.....u guys talking bout real money or demo?
mind to explain briefly?

i've started to trade using Marketiva. Putting my bet based on GUTS while i go surf around start studying the strategy, indicator, lingo and other stuff about Forex. yeah i lost USD3000 when i finish all the reading/researching. great lesson i have there. that's how ppl who're lack of knowledge lose money. will start trading based on tech/fundamental analysis tomorrow.

fyi i haven't start live yet.

for beginner ..i suggest u to trade with virtual money..or demo..to built ur confident first..
then start using real money..
i also trade virtual money for 6 month b4 i start use real money.

so it is a free software to try that?
use marketiva?

yes..it is free to try..
marketiva is a very simple platform..
but to to the analysis ..i use meta trader..also free if u just open demo account

but first...invest in ur self first to get the knowledge about forex b4 u start trade real money...trust me, i've learn the hard way 

if talking bout real money, wat is the minimun capital needed?

if u using marketiva...100usd u can start tradebut only using micro lot..

if u consider to trade using mini lot(500usd) or standart lot(1000usd)..

u got to have atleast 4k as ur free margin..to be on the safe side