Daily trading volume of Equities, Fixed Income, Forex

I'm quoting below from a Wikipedia article

The forex market is a cash inter-bank or inter-dealer market, which was established in 1971 [citation needed] when floating exchange rates began to appear. The foreign exchange market is huge in comparison to other markets. For example, the average daily trading volume of US Treasury Bonds is $300 billion and the US stock market has an average daily volume of less than $10 billion. Ten years ago the Wall Street Journal estimated the daily trading volume in the forex market to be in excess of $1 trillion. Today that figure has grown to exceed $1.8 trillion a day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency_market

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that means:

Equities: $10 billion Fixed Income: $300 billion Forex: 1.8 Trillion

Traded on a daily basis.

What do these numbers really mean though? Does it mean that there is the potential to generate more money from Forex trading than FI, and Equities trading?

Does it mean that Forex is "the biggest game out there"?

Do banks have prop desks for Forex Trading?

I'm just trying to understand these things, I'm still learning.

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Best Response

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that means:

Equities: $10 billion Fixed Income: $300 billion Forex: 1.8 Trillion

Traded on a daily basis.

Sounds about right

What do these numbers really mean though? Does it mean that there is the potential to generate more money from Forex trading than FI, and Equities trading?

Volume does not equal margin

Does it mean that Forex is "the biggest game out there"? By amount traded, yes.

Do banks have prop desks for Forex Trading?

Of course.

 

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