Forex trading can be a good fit, but it's not for everyone. You have to take many things into account, and of course, you always risk losing money. If this isn't for you, don't worry. A lot of people aren't cut out for it. However, if you are considering jumping into forex trading, read on. Following are some traits that successful traders share. If this is you, you just might be a success. If not, perhaps forex trading is not for you.
You have to have discipline. Successful forex traders work on establishing their own trading system and then keep with it. They do not try to "trade on the fly" or do hit or miss trading.
You have to be able to accept risk. Although many will tell you that forex trading is not particularly risky, this is not really true. Just like any type of trading, you can lose money. You have to be willing to accept that this might happen to you.
Be willing to fail. Even the best forex traders lose money sometimes on some of their trades. This happens to everyone and is simply the nature of forex trading itself. However, unlike the average forex trader, successful forex traders don't focus on failing. They accept what has happened, learn from it what they can, and then move on to the next trade.
Have confidence. To be a successful forex trader, you have to be competent in your knowledge and in your ability to make trades that succeed. Don't doubt or second-guess your trades.
Be willing to be wrong. Remember that no one is perfect and you're going to make mistakes. There will be times when your analysis just doesn't hit the mark. However, don't stay in trades that have gone bad just because you don't want to be wrong. Cut your losses, get out and then look for the next opportunity to succeed again.
Have patience. If you're smart, you'll follow your system and wait for a good opportunity to present itself. You don't have to have your positions open at all time. You can go a day or two without any trades being made at all. Don't trade just because you think you need to. If you think this way, you're likely to make many more mistakes than you have to and many more bad trades than you need to.
Know when you should get out. As with any successful trading, you don't just need to know when to get in, but you need to know when to get out as well. Many traders have gotten greedy and wanted to stay in a trade too long; when they do this, their profits can be wiped out by a sudden trend downward. When you've got your trading system established, listen to it. It will tell you when to get out.
Know what your financial limitations are. Don't over-leverage yourself. Don't trade with money you can't afford to lose. If you trade with the mortgage money for next month, you're in trouble. You risk losing everything you have and ending up on the street. Make sure you only trade with money that you can afford to lose. It's okay to start small, with just a few hundred dollars if you need to. Don't risk losing more than you can afford to.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
What is Technical Analysis
Simply put, technical analysis means that one studies price movement. You can use price charts in order to keep track of price movement history. By doing so, you can try to figure out which way prices will go, up or down, in future trends.
Most online forex brokers give you many different tools that will help you figure out what it is that will assist you in technical analysis. Some of these include the following:
Bollinger Bands
Bollinger Bands measure market volatility. They use three lines of data: an average that changes in the middle; an upper line, which keeps track of the changing average and then adds two standard deviations; and a lower line, which keeps track of the changing average, and subtracts two standard deviations.
If the market is particularly volatile, the bands appear further apart. If volatility is not so great, the bands appear closer together.
One phenomenon known as the "Bollinger Bounce" means that the middle band is "controlled" by the two outer bands. When the middle band nears either of the two outer bands, it is "bounced" back towards the middle. This helps you visually keep track of the market, and it's useful because if the middle band does approach either the upper or lower band, you know it's likely that it will be pushed back towards the middle. It's best to use this as a strategy if prices are changing rapidly but you see no clear trends from your data.
Another way to spot a general trend is what is called the "Bollinger Squeeze." When the bands squeeze close together, it might mean that a breakout is going to happen pretty soon. If the middle band "breaks through" or exceeds either the upper or lower band, it's likely that the market will continue to trend in that direction.
Another indicator is called the "Parabolic SAR," or "Parabolic Stop and Reversal." This indicator spots trend reversals. It is perhaps the easiest indicator to read. Points or dots are placed in the chart in positions that are either above or below the "candles." (There is thea formula used that regulates where the points appear on the chart, but it's too in depth to describe here.) If points appear above the candles, traders should sell. If points appear below the candles, traders should buy.
Parabolic SAR works best if there are clear downward or upward trends. However, it does not work very well when price movement is minimal.
Another indicator is called "stochastics." Stochastics measures conditions that have been overbought or oversold in the market. The scale ranges from 0 to 100. If stochastics' lines are above 80, this means that the market has been overbought and a downward trend may soon be coming. If stochastics lines go below 20, it may mean that the market has been oversold and an upward trend is about to occur.
Stochastics can help you if you want to determine when you should lock in profits or when you should place an order to buy or sell. However, don't just rely on one of these indicators. Use several of them and adjust your trading strategy according to what you see.
Most online forex brokers give you many different tools that will help you figure out what it is that will assist you in technical analysis. Some of these include the following:
Bollinger Bands
Bollinger Bands measure market volatility. They use three lines of data: an average that changes in the middle; an upper line, which keeps track of the changing average and then adds two standard deviations; and a lower line, which keeps track of the changing average, and subtracts two standard deviations.
If the market is particularly volatile, the bands appear further apart. If volatility is not so great, the bands appear closer together.
One phenomenon known as the "Bollinger Bounce" means that the middle band is "controlled" by the two outer bands. When the middle band nears either of the two outer bands, it is "bounced" back towards the middle. This helps you visually keep track of the market, and it's useful because if the middle band does approach either the upper or lower band, you know it's likely that it will be pushed back towards the middle. It's best to use this as a strategy if prices are changing rapidly but you see no clear trends from your data.
Another way to spot a general trend is what is called the "Bollinger Squeeze." When the bands squeeze close together, it might mean that a breakout is going to happen pretty soon. If the middle band "breaks through" or exceeds either the upper or lower band, it's likely that the market will continue to trend in that direction.
Another indicator is called the "Parabolic SAR," or "Parabolic Stop and Reversal." This indicator spots trend reversals. It is perhaps the easiest indicator to read. Points or dots are placed in the chart in positions that are either above or below the "candles." (There is thea formula used that regulates where the points appear on the chart, but it's too in depth to describe here.) If points appear above the candles, traders should sell. If points appear below the candles, traders should buy.
Parabolic SAR works best if there are clear downward or upward trends. However, it does not work very well when price movement is minimal.
Another indicator is called "stochastics." Stochastics measures conditions that have been overbought or oversold in the market. The scale ranges from 0 to 100. If stochastics' lines are above 80, this means that the market has been overbought and a downward trend may soon be coming. If stochastics lines go below 20, it may mean that the market has been oversold and an upward trend is about to occur.
Stochastics can help you if you want to determine when you should lock in profits or when you should place an order to buy or sell. However, don't just rely on one of these indicators. Use several of them and adjust your trading strategy according to what you see.
What is Forex?
FOREX - the foreign exchange market or currency market or Forex is the market where one currency is traded for another. It is one of the largest markets in the world.
Some of the participants in this market are simply seeking to exchange a foreign currency for their own, like multinational corporations which must pay wages and other expenses in different nations than they sell products in. However, a large part of the market is made up of currency traders, who speculate on movements in exchange rates, much like others would speculate on movements of stock prices. Currency traders try to take advantage of even small fluctuations in exchange rates.
In the foreign exchange market there is little or no 'inside information'. Exchange rate fluctuations are usually caused by actual monetary flows as well as anticipations on global macroeconomic conditions. Significant news is released publicly so, at least in theory, everyone in the world receives the same news at the same time.
Currencies are traded against one another. Each pair of currencies thus constitutes an individual product and is traditionally noted XXX/YYY, where YYY is the ISO 4217 international three-letter code of the currency into which the price of one unit of XXX currency is expressed. For instance, EUR/USD is the price of the euro expressed in US dollars, as in 1 euro = 1.2045 dollar.
Unlike stocks and futures exchange, foreign exchange is indeed an interbank, over-the-counter (OTC) market which means there is no single universal exchange for specific currency pair. The foreign exchange market operates 24 hours per day throughout the week between individuals with forex brokers, brokers with banks, and banks with banks. If the European session is ended the Asian session or US session will start, so all world currencies can be continually in trade. Traders can react to news when it breaks, rather than waiting for the market to open, as is the case with most other markets.
Average daily international foreign exchange trading volume was $1.9 trillion in April 2004 according to the BIS study.
Like any market there is a bid/offer spread (difference between buying price and selling price). On major currency crosses, the difference between the price at which a market maker will sell ("ask", or "offer") to a wholesale customer and the price at which the same market-maker will buy ("bid") from the same wholesale customer is minimal, usually only 1 or 2 pips. In the EUR/USD price of 1.4238 a pip would be the '8' at the end. So the bid/ask quote of EUR/USD might be 1.4238/1.4239.
This, of course, does not apply to retail customers. Most individual currency speculators will trade using a broker which will typically have a spread marked up to say 3-20 pips (so in our example 1.4237/1.4239 or 1.423/1.425). The broker will give their clients often huge amounts of margin, thereby facilitating clients spending more money on the bid/ask spread. The brokers are not regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (since they do not sell securities), so they are not bound by the same margin limits as stock brokerages. They do not typically charge margin interest, however since currency trades must be settled in 2 days, they will "resettle" open positions (again collecting the bid/ask spread).
Individual currency speculators can work during the day and trade in the evenings, taking advantage of the market's 24 hours long trading day.
Some of the participants in this market are simply seeking to exchange a foreign currency for their own, like multinational corporations which must pay wages and other expenses in different nations than they sell products in. However, a large part of the market is made up of currency traders, who speculate on movements in exchange rates, much like others would speculate on movements of stock prices. Currency traders try to take advantage of even small fluctuations in exchange rates.
In the foreign exchange market there is little or no 'inside information'. Exchange rate fluctuations are usually caused by actual monetary flows as well as anticipations on global macroeconomic conditions. Significant news is released publicly so, at least in theory, everyone in the world receives the same news at the same time.
Currencies are traded against one another. Each pair of currencies thus constitutes an individual product and is traditionally noted XXX/YYY, where YYY is the ISO 4217 international three-letter code of the currency into which the price of one unit of XXX currency is expressed. For instance, EUR/USD is the price of the euro expressed in US dollars, as in 1 euro = 1.2045 dollar.
Unlike stocks and futures exchange, foreign exchange is indeed an interbank, over-the-counter (OTC) market which means there is no single universal exchange for specific currency pair. The foreign exchange market operates 24 hours per day throughout the week between individuals with forex brokers, brokers with banks, and banks with banks. If the European session is ended the Asian session or US session will start, so all world currencies can be continually in trade. Traders can react to news when it breaks, rather than waiting for the market to open, as is the case with most other markets.
Average daily international foreign exchange trading volume was $1.9 trillion in April 2004 according to the BIS study.
Like any market there is a bid/offer spread (difference between buying price and selling price). On major currency crosses, the difference between the price at which a market maker will sell ("ask", or "offer") to a wholesale customer and the price at which the same market-maker will buy ("bid") from the same wholesale customer is minimal, usually only 1 or 2 pips. In the EUR/USD price of 1.4238 a pip would be the '8' at the end. So the bid/ask quote of EUR/USD might be 1.4238/1.4239.
This, of course, does not apply to retail customers. Most individual currency speculators will trade using a broker which will typically have a spread marked up to say 3-20 pips (so in our example 1.4237/1.4239 or 1.423/1.425). The broker will give their clients often huge amounts of margin, thereby facilitating clients spending more money on the bid/ask spread. The brokers are not regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (since they do not sell securities), so they are not bound by the same margin limits as stock brokerages. They do not typically charge margin interest, however since currency trades must be settled in 2 days, they will "resettle" open positions (again collecting the bid/ask spread).
Individual currency speculators can work during the day and trade in the evenings, taking advantage of the market's 24 hours long trading day.
What Are Fibonacci Numbers?
Do you know who Leonardo Fibonacci is? Now, when you think of the name "Leonardo," perhaps you think of Leonardo da Vinci, but unlike Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo Fibonacci did not paint the Mona Lisa. No, Leonardo Fibonacci was a mathematician who lived from about 1175 to 1250. He was well known in his day and contributed greatly to the world of mathematics. One of the things he did was that he introduced the decimal system to Europe.
He also studied a sequence of numbers that are known today as the "Fibonacci numbers." Alternatively, they are known as the "Fibonacci sequence."
The Fibonacci sequence begins with a zero and one. Each new number is the sum of the two previous numbers; for instance, zero plus one equals two, one plus two equals three, two plus three equals five, and so on.
Therefore, the first numbers in the sequence appear as follows: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, ad infinitum.
Fibonacci discovered that this series of numbers and their ratios to each other occurred throughout nature and in fact are incredibly commonplace in the world.
So what does this have to do with forex trading? Well, the ratios that the Fibonacci numbers displayed are also apparent in the price movement of currencies, as well as in stocks and other types of investments.
Although it's too detailed to go into here, there are three numbers you need to concentrate on from this sequence. They are 0.382, 0.500, and 0.618. There are others as well, but these are the most important.
These numbers help to calculate what are called "retracement levels." Many traders use retracement levels when they need to figure out where they should place buy and sell orders. It works like this:
Let's assume that the price of a currency pair, or a company stock, is trending upward. The history says that prices tend to hit a peak and then go into temporary reversal. Then, they continue to trend upward. This is where Fibonacci numbers come into play.
When a currency is trending, the price can be expected to reverse back to one of the Fibonacci numbers. Then, it "bounces" back to its original level or nearly so to continue the trend. Assuming you forecast this right, you can buy just before the upward trend continues and profit handsomely.
Whatever the online trading platform you use, it should give you the means to chart the Fibonacci numbers. To do this, you draw a line from a low point to a high point. Retrace the levels will automatically be mapped on the chart for you.
There are the things to consider besides trading when the price hits a particular Fibonacci number.
For instance, you don't know at what retracement level the price will stop. If you choose 0.382 and it drops to 0.618, you could lose a great deal. Additionally, if you choose the wrong high or low point, the retracement levels will not reflect what actually happens and will be of no use to you.
Finally, even though Fibonacci numbers are a good tool, sometimes they don't forecast accurately at all. Again, remember that many variables come into play in the forex market. Therefore, don't rely just on one method, like Fibonacci numbers, to predict what price movement is going to be.
He also studied a sequence of numbers that are known today as the "Fibonacci numbers." Alternatively, they are known as the "Fibonacci sequence."
The Fibonacci sequence begins with a zero and one. Each new number is the sum of the two previous numbers; for instance, zero plus one equals two, one plus two equals three, two plus three equals five, and so on.
Therefore, the first numbers in the sequence appear as follows: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, ad infinitum.
Fibonacci discovered that this series of numbers and their ratios to each other occurred throughout nature and in fact are incredibly commonplace in the world.
So what does this have to do with forex trading? Well, the ratios that the Fibonacci numbers displayed are also apparent in the price movement of currencies, as well as in stocks and other types of investments.
Although it's too detailed to go into here, there are three numbers you need to concentrate on from this sequence. They are 0.382, 0.500, and 0.618. There are others as well, but these are the most important.
These numbers help to calculate what are called "retracement levels." Many traders use retracement levels when they need to figure out where they should place buy and sell orders. It works like this:
Let's assume that the price of a currency pair, or a company stock, is trending upward. The history says that prices tend to hit a peak and then go into temporary reversal. Then, they continue to trend upward. This is where Fibonacci numbers come into play.
When a currency is trending, the price can be expected to reverse back to one of the Fibonacci numbers. Then, it "bounces" back to its original level or nearly so to continue the trend. Assuming you forecast this right, you can buy just before the upward trend continues and profit handsomely.
Whatever the online trading platform you use, it should give you the means to chart the Fibonacci numbers. To do this, you draw a line from a low point to a high point. Retrace the levels will automatically be mapped on the chart for you.
There are the things to consider besides trading when the price hits a particular Fibonacci number.
For instance, you don't know at what retracement level the price will stop. If you choose 0.382 and it drops to 0.618, you could lose a great deal. Additionally, if you choose the wrong high or low point, the retracement levels will not reflect what actually happens and will be of no use to you.
Finally, even though Fibonacci numbers are a good tool, sometimes they don't forecast accurately at all. Again, remember that many variables come into play in the forex market. Therefore, don't rely just on one method, like Fibonacci numbers, to predict what price movement is going to be.
Marketiva Forex Broker
Marketiva is one of the most popular online Forex brokers:
1. Buy and sell major currency pairs and cross rates with one mouse click
2. You can start trading with as little as $1!
3. Open your account for free and get $5 cash reward so you can start trading right away!
4. Spreads between bid and offer prices are among the tightest in the forex market
5. Trading on margin (1%) allows you to trade $10,000 with only $100 deposit (collateral) in your account
6. You don't need to start on live market right away - practice with your virtual money first
7. You can invest money in various Investment Funds through Marketiva
8. No commissions or exchange fees on your trades - you can trade as much as you like!
9. No interest charged on your open positions
10. Read real-time economic news and forecasts about global economy and forex markets
11. Get alerts narrated aloud prior to major scheduled market events
12. Chat with other forex traders about market events, exchange trading ideas and learn
13. Get help from our support professionals available 24h on support channels
14. The most sophisticated and easy-to-use forex charting tool with built-in advanced technical indicators
15. You can trade, view and modify open positions - directly on your charts
16. Modify parameters of technical indicators in real-time and see how they appear immediately
17. Build your chart collection by adding your saved chart configurations
18. Easy to use and understand even if you are a beginner
19. Streamster trading software gives you the best forex trading experience available!
20. Arrange trading windows according to your preference, set charting options, use auto-pilot, and much more...
21. You only need 5 minutes to open your account - and it's free!
1. Buy and sell major currency pairs and cross rates with one mouse click
2. You can start trading with as little as $1!
3. Open your account for free and get $5 cash reward so you can start trading right away!
4. Spreads between bid and offer prices are among the tightest in the forex market
5. Trading on margin (1%) allows you to trade $10,000 with only $100 deposit (collateral) in your account
6. You don't need to start on live market right away - practice with your virtual money first
7. You can invest money in various Investment Funds through Marketiva
8. No commissions or exchange fees on your trades - you can trade as much as you like!
9. No interest charged on your open positions
10. Read real-time economic news and forecasts about global economy and forex markets
11. Get alerts narrated aloud prior to major scheduled market events
12. Chat with other forex traders about market events, exchange trading ideas and learn
13. Get help from our support professionals available 24h on support channels
14. The most sophisticated and easy-to-use forex charting tool with built-in advanced technical indicators
15. You can trade, view and modify open positions - directly on your charts
16. Modify parameters of technical indicators in real-time and see how they appear immediately
17. Build your chart collection by adding your saved chart configurations
18. Easy to use and understand even if you are a beginner
19. Streamster trading software gives you the best forex trading experience available!
20. Arrange trading windows according to your preference, set charting options, use auto-pilot, and much more...
21. You only need 5 minutes to open your account - and it's free!
Profit By Trade Off Dynamic Support And Resistance In The Forex Market!
Dynamic support/resistance has always interested me throughout my trading career although it wasn't until recently that I discovered a couple of moving averages that seem to stop price in its tracks more often than not.
The 365 and the 150 exponential moving average have constantly been great trading tools for me. Plot them on your chart no lower than 4 hours and you will see how often price reacts to them.
You may be thinking 'that's great but how does that make me money?'
Let me explain. A system is nothing more than an edge, define a consistent edge and you have your self the beginning of a profitable system.
In our case we know there is a good chance that price will bounce off of one of the moving averages. All we need then is a trigger to enter the trade.
The best triggers are not lagging, I love to use price action in the form of candle stick patterns. My favorite being the engulfing candle.
Ok so now we have our entry (engulfing candle) we need an exit. I find that human nature always gets in the way of taking profit and there for I have the most success with trailing stops. There is no need for human interference and less chance that greed or fear will take control of the situation.
That is it you have your self a nice trading system, how do I know? Because I have traded this exact way for a while it works like a charm more often than not.
Remember always keep it simple in the forex market and you will succeed!
The 365 and the 150 exponential moving average have constantly been great trading tools for me. Plot them on your chart no lower than 4 hours and you will see how often price reacts to them.
You may be thinking 'that's great but how does that make me money?'
Let me explain. A system is nothing more than an edge, define a consistent edge and you have your self the beginning of a profitable system.
In our case we know there is a good chance that price will bounce off of one of the moving averages. All we need then is a trigger to enter the trade.
The best triggers are not lagging, I love to use price action in the form of candle stick patterns. My favorite being the engulfing candle.
Ok so now we have our entry (engulfing candle) we need an exit. I find that human nature always gets in the way of taking profit and there for I have the most success with trailing stops. There is no need for human interference and less chance that greed or fear will take control of the situation.
That is it you have your self a nice trading system, how do I know? Because I have traded this exact way for a while it works like a charm more often than not.
Remember always keep it simple in the forex market and you will succeed!
Practice Good Money Management in Your Forex Trading
it can be argued that proper money management is the keystone to successful trading in the Forex market. With that being said, the purpose of this article is to provide you with some general principles on how to practice good money management in your Forex trading.
Just how important is money management? I strongly believe that it is possible to have two experienced traders each take the exact opposite side of a series of trades, and each of them come out ahead over time. The way this is possible is by each of them exercising the skill of proper money management. If you have a trading system that has a demonstrated historical accuracy rate of 55% or better, but you practice poor money management, you can still blow out your account. On the other hand, if you use a mediocre trading system that has only a 45% accuracy rate, but you practice the right kind of money management, you can still come out ahead. That's how important money management is to your success as a trader.
The first principle of proper money management is that you must have your money management rules precisely defined as a system. It will not do to decide the size of your trading position by the seat of your pants. A good pilot may be able to fly that way, but even a good trader will die that way.
The second principle of proper money management is that you must never risk more than a very miniscule percentage of your available trading capital on any given trade. The exact percentage will vary from trader to trader, but in general, even the most highly skilled traders will not even consider risking more than 1% to 2% of their capital on any given trade. Even 3% is considered to be way too high most of the time.
The next principle of money management is to have your risk/reward ratio clearly defined for each trade. That means that you know how much you are risking to lose in relationship to how much you hope to gain on each trade.If you understand your risk/reward ratio, then you are able to approach your trading scientifically and in a way that is mathematically sound.
If you want to get into more specifics that go beyond those general principles, there are some very good money management systems that are available. I recently came across one that borders on absolute genius, in my opinion. It is called the Binary Equation System, and is based on the work of an 18th century mathematician. It is not a trading strategy as much as it is a strategy for money management that is designed especially for Forex trading. You can read more about this particular strategy at http://www.tradewhileyousleep.biz.
No matter which system of money management that you settle on, the most important thing is that you have a sound set of rules for your position size that you follow without question. If you are willing to do that, then you can indeed be successful as a Forex trader.
Just how important is money management? I strongly believe that it is possible to have two experienced traders each take the exact opposite side of a series of trades, and each of them come out ahead over time. The way this is possible is by each of them exercising the skill of proper money management. If you have a trading system that has a demonstrated historical accuracy rate of 55% or better, but you practice poor money management, you can still blow out your account. On the other hand, if you use a mediocre trading system that has only a 45% accuracy rate, but you practice the right kind of money management, you can still come out ahead. That's how important money management is to your success as a trader.
The first principle of proper money management is that you must have your money management rules precisely defined as a system. It will not do to decide the size of your trading position by the seat of your pants. A good pilot may be able to fly that way, but even a good trader will die that way.
The second principle of proper money management is that you must never risk more than a very miniscule percentage of your available trading capital on any given trade. The exact percentage will vary from trader to trader, but in general, even the most highly skilled traders will not even consider risking more than 1% to 2% of their capital on any given trade. Even 3% is considered to be way too high most of the time.
The next principle of money management is to have your risk/reward ratio clearly defined for each trade. That means that you know how much you are risking to lose in relationship to how much you hope to gain on each trade.If you understand your risk/reward ratio, then you are able to approach your trading scientifically and in a way that is mathematically sound.
If you want to get into more specifics that go beyond those general principles, there are some very good money management systems that are available. I recently came across one that borders on absolute genius, in my opinion. It is called the Binary Equation System, and is based on the work of an 18th century mathematician. It is not a trading strategy as much as it is a strategy for money management that is designed especially for Forex trading. You can read more about this particular strategy at http://www.tradewhileyousleep.biz.
No matter which system of money management that you settle on, the most important thing is that you have a sound set of rules for your position size that you follow without question. If you are willing to do that, then you can indeed be successful as a Forex trader.
Getting Started In Forex The Right Way!
Almost all new traders coming into the forex market have one thing in common, they want to make a lot of money and they want to make it fast!
This is the most important thing to get out of your head, I'm not saying you cant make a lot of money trading forex but I can assure you it doesn't come easy.
The first thing you should do is decide what your first target will be. If you currently earn $3000 a month at your job then you may chooses this as your monthly target in order to start trading for a living. It is very important to always have a realistic target in mind and focus on achieving it.
Once you have a clear target in mind its time to create a trading system and plan. The most important thing you have to remember at this stage is to keep things simple. The simplest systems succeed, weather you simple buy/sell at breaks of horizontal lines or at 00's just keep things simple.
The following are two things you simple must have in order to succeed in the forex market.
Discipline
You must develop the discipline to follow your trading system every day without fail, deviation from your rules will result in you making mistakes that will move you further away from your monthly goal.
Money Management
Keeping your risk as low as possible when you are still learning is essential but you should never risk more than 3% of your account on any one trade. Remember that your stop loss is only there for protection, you do not need to wait for it to be hit if a trade is not going in the direction your anticipated then close it straight away, you can always reenter again later.
Follow these simple points and you will stand a far better chance of success than the 95% of traders that loose their account in the first 3 months.
This is the most important thing to get out of your head, I'm not saying you cant make a lot of money trading forex but I can assure you it doesn't come easy.
The first thing you should do is decide what your first target will be. If you currently earn $3000 a month at your job then you may chooses this as your monthly target in order to start trading for a living. It is very important to always have a realistic target in mind and focus on achieving it.
Once you have a clear target in mind its time to create a trading system and plan. The most important thing you have to remember at this stage is to keep things simple. The simplest systems succeed, weather you simple buy/sell at breaks of horizontal lines or at 00's just keep things simple.
The following are two things you simple must have in order to succeed in the forex market.
Discipline
You must develop the discipline to follow your trading system every day without fail, deviation from your rules will result in you making mistakes that will move you further away from your monthly goal.
Money Management
Keeping your risk as low as possible when you are still learning is essential but you should never risk more than 3% of your account on any one trade. Remember that your stop loss is only there for protection, you do not need to wait for it to be hit if a trade is not going in the direction your anticipated then close it straight away, you can always reenter again later.
Follow these simple points and you will stand a far better chance of success than the 95% of traders that loose their account in the first 3 months.
A Basic Understanding
The Forex market has been available to individual traders for nearly ten years now. In the past, it was only available to large financial institutions, such as banks, big companies, multi-national corporations and top currency dealers. However, now that it's open to individual traders, it's become a hot topic that many new traders are eager to learn more about.
So what is it? Forex is short for foreign exchange. Forex trading is trading in the currencies of the world through the Forex market, which is the largest financial market in the world. In fact, it generates trillions of dollars of currency exchanges everyday.
In addition, it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it the most liquid market in the world. Though trading starts in Sydney and ends in New York, Forex trading is not centralized in a single location. This means you can trade in Forex market whenever you wish, regardless of the local time. A big advantage for traders, especially for those in search of optimal liquidity.
Trading in Forex requires trades to done in pairs. When you purchase a currency, you sell another currency at the same time. The most commonly traded currency pairs in the Forex market are: USD/GBP, USD/JPY, USD/CHF, and GBP/USD. As you can see, each currency is represented by three letters. USD is the United States dollar. GBP is the British pound sterling. JPY is the Japanese yen. CHF is the Swiss franc.
The first three letters of a currency pair represent the currency you used for the investment, while the last three letters represent the currency in which you invested. For example, USD/GBP means you used United States dollars to purchase British pound sterlings.
To get started in the Forex market, you'll need a computer with a high speed internet connection, a funded Forex account, and a trading system. Most individual Forex traders will also use a broker, an individual or company that offers assistance to the trading process.
A broker earns his money off a small commission from your trades. In addition, although he'll be trading your funded account, all decisions will remain yours, assuming that's your wish. Here's what else a Forex broker can do for you:
1. Offer you advice regarding real time quotes.2. Offer you advice on what to buy or sell based on news feeds.3. Trade your funded account basing solely on his or her decision if that's your wish.4. Provide you with software data to help you with your trading decisions.
Many experts say that you'll never really understand how Forex works until you've traded in the market. To help you gain this experience without having to risk your money, you can set up a demo account at many of the Forex educational sites available on the Internet. You can also invest a modest amount for a Forex simulator, which allows you to explore a never-ending variety of market conditions and see the impact they've had on currencies in the past.
There's no question Forex offers the trader the opportunity to earn a boat load of money. However, as with any other form of trading, and particularly because this is such a liquid market, it does have its risk. No trader will make money on every trade, and even seasoned traders can get caught and face substantial loses if they aren't careful and wise.
So what is it? Forex is short for foreign exchange. Forex trading is trading in the currencies of the world through the Forex market, which is the largest financial market in the world. In fact, it generates trillions of dollars of currency exchanges everyday.
In addition, it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it the most liquid market in the world. Though trading starts in Sydney and ends in New York, Forex trading is not centralized in a single location. This means you can trade in Forex market whenever you wish, regardless of the local time. A big advantage for traders, especially for those in search of optimal liquidity.
Trading in Forex requires trades to done in pairs. When you purchase a currency, you sell another currency at the same time. The most commonly traded currency pairs in the Forex market are: USD/GBP, USD/JPY, USD/CHF, and GBP/USD. As you can see, each currency is represented by three letters. USD is the United States dollar. GBP is the British pound sterling. JPY is the Japanese yen. CHF is the Swiss franc.
The first three letters of a currency pair represent the currency you used for the investment, while the last three letters represent the currency in which you invested. For example, USD/GBP means you used United States dollars to purchase British pound sterlings.
To get started in the Forex market, you'll need a computer with a high speed internet connection, a funded Forex account, and a trading system. Most individual Forex traders will also use a broker, an individual or company that offers assistance to the trading process.
A broker earns his money off a small commission from your trades. In addition, although he'll be trading your funded account, all decisions will remain yours, assuming that's your wish. Here's what else a Forex broker can do for you:
1. Offer you advice regarding real time quotes.2. Offer you advice on what to buy or sell based on news feeds.3. Trade your funded account basing solely on his or her decision if that's your wish.4. Provide you with software data to help you with your trading decisions.
Many experts say that you'll never really understand how Forex works until you've traded in the market. To help you gain this experience without having to risk your money, you can set up a demo account at many of the Forex educational sites available on the Internet. You can also invest a modest amount for a Forex simulator, which allows you to explore a never-ending variety of market conditions and see the impact they've had on currencies in the past.
There's no question Forex offers the trader the opportunity to earn a boat load of money. However, as with any other form of trading, and particularly because this is such a liquid market, it does have its risk. No trader will make money on every trade, and even seasoned traders can get caught and face substantial loses if they aren't careful and wise.
Forex risk management strategies
Learn about the basic strategies for controlling risks while trading Forex
The Forex market behaves differently from other markets! The speed, volatility, and enormous size of the Forex market are unlike anything else in the financial world. Beware: the Forex market is uncontrollable - no single event, individual, or factor rules it. Enjoy trading in the perfect market! Just like any other speculative business, increased risk entails chances for a higher profit/loss.
Currency markets are highly speculative and volatile in nature. Any currency can become very expensive or very cheap in relation to any or all other currencies in a matter of days, hours, or sometimes, in minutes. This unpredictable nature of the currencies is what attracts an investor to trade and invest in the currency market.
But ask yourself, "How much am I ready to lose?" When you terminated, closed or exited your position, had you had understood the risks and taken steps to avoid them? Let's look at some foreign exchange risk management issues that may come up in your day-to-day foreign exchange transactions.
1. Unexpected corrections in currency exchange rates
2. Wild variations in foreign exchange rates
3. Volatile markets offering profit opportunities
4. Lost payments
5. Delayed confirmation of payments and receivables
6. Divergence between bank drafts received and the contract price
There are areas that every trader should cover both BEFORE and DURING a trade.
Exit the Forex market at profit targets
Limit orders, also known as profit take orders, allow Forex traders to exit the Forex market at pre-determined profit targets. If you are short (sold) a currency pair, the system will only allow you to place a limit order below the current market price because this is the profit zone. Similarly, if you are long (bought) the currency pair, the system will only allow you to place a limit order above the current market price. Limit orders help create a disciplined trading methodology and make it possible for traders to walk away from the computer without continuously monitoring the market.
Control risk by capping losses
Stop/loss orders allow traders to set an exit point for a losing trade. If you are short a currency pair, the stop/loss order should be placed above the current market price. If you are long the currency pair, the stop/loss order should be placed below the current market price. Stop/loss orders help traders control risk by capping losses. Stop/loss orders are counter-intuitive because you do not want them to be hit; however, you will be happy that you placed them! When logic dictates, you can control greed.
Where should I place my stop and limit orders?
As a general rule of thumb, traders should set stop/loss orders closer to the opening price than limit orders. If this rule is followed, a trader needs to be right less than 50% of the time to be profitable. For example, a trader that uses a 30 pip stop/loss and 100-pip limit orders, needs only to be right 1/3 of the time to make a profit. Where the trader places the stop and limit will depend on how risk-adverse he is. Stop/loss orders should not be so tight that normal market volatility triggers the order. Similarly, limit orders should reflect a realistic expectation of gains based on the market's trading activity and the length of time one wants to hold the position. In initially setting up and establishing the trade, the trader should look to change the stop loss and set it at a rate in the 'middle ground' where they are not overexposed to the trade, and at the same time, not too close to the market.
Trading foreign currencies is a demanding and potentially profitable opportunity for trained and experienced investors. However, before deciding to participate in the Forex market, you should soberly reflect on the desired result of your investment and your level of experience. Warning! Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose.
So, there is significant risk in any foreign exchange deal. Any transaction involving currencies involves risks including, but not limited to, the potential for changing political and/or economic conditions, that may substantially affect the price or liquidity of a currency.
Moreover, the leveraged nature of FX trading means that any market movement will have an equally proportional effect on your deposited funds. This may work against you as well as for you. The possibility exists that you could sustain a total loss of your initial margin funds and be required to deposit additional funds to maintain your position. If you fail to meet any margin call within the time prescribed, your position will be liquidated and you will be responsible for any resulting losses. 'Stop-loss' or 'limit' order strategies may lower an investor's exposure to risk.
Easy-Forex foreign exchange technology links around-the-clock to the world's foreign currency exchange trading floors to get the lowest foreign currency rates and to take every opportunity to make or settle a transaction.
Avoiding/lowering risk when trading Forex:
Trade like a technical analyst. Understanding the fundamentals behind an investment also requires understanding the technical analysis method. When your fundamental and technical signals point to the same direction, you have a good chance to have a successful trade, especially with good money management skills. Use simple support and resistance technical analysis, Fibonacci Retracement and reversal days. Be disciplined. Create a position and understand your reasons for having that position, and establish stop loss and profit taking levels. Discipline includes hitting your stops and not following the temptation to stay with a losing position that has gone through your stop/loss level. When you buy, buy high. When you sell, sell higher. Similarly, when you sell, sell low. When you buy, buy lower. Rule of thumb: In a bull market, be long or neutral - in a bear market, be short or neutral. If you forget this rule and trade against the trend, you will usually cause yourself to suffer psychological worries, and frequently, losses. And never add to a losing position. On Easy-Forex the trader can change their trade orders as many times as they wish free of charge, either as a stop loss or as a take profit. The trader can also close the trade manually without a stop loss or profit take order being hit. Many successful traders set their stop loss price beyond the rate at which they made the trade so that the worst that can happen is that they get stopped out and make a profit.
The Forex market behaves differently from other markets! The speed, volatility, and enormous size of the Forex market are unlike anything else in the financial world. Beware: the Forex market is uncontrollable - no single event, individual, or factor rules it. Enjoy trading in the perfect market! Just like any other speculative business, increased risk entails chances for a higher profit/loss.
Currency markets are highly speculative and volatile in nature. Any currency can become very expensive or very cheap in relation to any or all other currencies in a matter of days, hours, or sometimes, in minutes. This unpredictable nature of the currencies is what attracts an investor to trade and invest in the currency market.
But ask yourself, "How much am I ready to lose?" When you terminated, closed or exited your position, had you had understood the risks and taken steps to avoid them? Let's look at some foreign exchange risk management issues that may come up in your day-to-day foreign exchange transactions.
1. Unexpected corrections in currency exchange rates
2. Wild variations in foreign exchange rates
3. Volatile markets offering profit opportunities
4. Lost payments
5. Delayed confirmation of payments and receivables
6. Divergence between bank drafts received and the contract price
There are areas that every trader should cover both BEFORE and DURING a trade.
Exit the Forex market at profit targets
Limit orders, also known as profit take orders, allow Forex traders to exit the Forex market at pre-determined profit targets. If you are short (sold) a currency pair, the system will only allow you to place a limit order below the current market price because this is the profit zone. Similarly, if you are long (bought) the currency pair, the system will only allow you to place a limit order above the current market price. Limit orders help create a disciplined trading methodology and make it possible for traders to walk away from the computer without continuously monitoring the market.
Control risk by capping losses
Stop/loss orders allow traders to set an exit point for a losing trade. If you are short a currency pair, the stop/loss order should be placed above the current market price. If you are long the currency pair, the stop/loss order should be placed below the current market price. Stop/loss orders help traders control risk by capping losses. Stop/loss orders are counter-intuitive because you do not want them to be hit; however, you will be happy that you placed them! When logic dictates, you can control greed.
Where should I place my stop and limit orders?
As a general rule of thumb, traders should set stop/loss orders closer to the opening price than limit orders. If this rule is followed, a trader needs to be right less than 50% of the time to be profitable. For example, a trader that uses a 30 pip stop/loss and 100-pip limit orders, needs only to be right 1/3 of the time to make a profit. Where the trader places the stop and limit will depend on how risk-adverse he is. Stop/loss orders should not be so tight that normal market volatility triggers the order. Similarly, limit orders should reflect a realistic expectation of gains based on the market's trading activity and the length of time one wants to hold the position. In initially setting up and establishing the trade, the trader should look to change the stop loss and set it at a rate in the 'middle ground' where they are not overexposed to the trade, and at the same time, not too close to the market.
Trading foreign currencies is a demanding and potentially profitable opportunity for trained and experienced investors. However, before deciding to participate in the Forex market, you should soberly reflect on the desired result of your investment and your level of experience. Warning! Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose.
So, there is significant risk in any foreign exchange deal. Any transaction involving currencies involves risks including, but not limited to, the potential for changing political and/or economic conditions, that may substantially affect the price or liquidity of a currency.
Moreover, the leveraged nature of FX trading means that any market movement will have an equally proportional effect on your deposited funds. This may work against you as well as for you. The possibility exists that you could sustain a total loss of your initial margin funds and be required to deposit additional funds to maintain your position. If you fail to meet any margin call within the time prescribed, your position will be liquidated and you will be responsible for any resulting losses. 'Stop-loss' or 'limit' order strategies may lower an investor's exposure to risk.
Easy-Forex foreign exchange technology links around-the-clock to the world's foreign currency exchange trading floors to get the lowest foreign currency rates and to take every opportunity to make or settle a transaction.
Avoiding/lowering risk when trading Forex:
Trade like a technical analyst. Understanding the fundamentals behind an investment also requires understanding the technical analysis method. When your fundamental and technical signals point to the same direction, you have a good chance to have a successful trade, especially with good money management skills. Use simple support and resistance technical analysis, Fibonacci Retracement and reversal days. Be disciplined. Create a position and understand your reasons for having that position, and establish stop loss and profit taking levels. Discipline includes hitting your stops and not following the temptation to stay with a losing position that has gone through your stop/loss level. When you buy, buy high. When you sell, sell higher. Similarly, when you sell, sell low. When you buy, buy lower. Rule of thumb: In a bull market, be long or neutral - in a bear market, be short or neutral. If you forget this rule and trade against the trend, you will usually cause yourself to suffer psychological worries, and frequently, losses. And never add to a losing position. On Easy-Forex the trader can change their trade orders as many times as they wish free of charge, either as a stop loss or as a take profit. The trader can also close the trade manually without a stop loss or profit take order being hit. Many successful traders set their stop loss price beyond the rate at which they made the trade so that the worst that can happen is that they get stopped out and make a profit.
Forex History
In 1967, a Chicago bank refused a college professor by the name of Milton Friedman a loan in pound sterling because he had intended to use the funds to short the British currency. Friedman, who had perceived sterling to be priced too high against the dollar, wanted to sell the currency, then later buy it back to repay the bank after the currency declined, thus pocketing a quick profit. The bank’s refusal to grant the loan was due to the Bretton Woods Agreement, established twenty years earlier, which fixed national currencies against the dollar, and set the dollar at a rate of $35 per ounce of gold. The Bretton Woods Agreement, set up in 1944, aimed at installing international monetary stability by preventing money from fleeing across nations, and restricting speculation in the world currencies. Prior to the Agreement, the gold exchange standard--prevailing between 1876 and World War I--dominated the international economic system. Under the gold exchange, currencies gained a new phase of stability as they were backed by the price of gold. It abolished the age-old practice used by kings and rulers of arbitrarily debasing money and triggering inflation. But the gold exchange standard didn’t lack faults. As an economy strengthened, it would import heavily from abroad until it ran down its gold reserves required to back its money; consequently, the money supply would shrink, interest rates rose and economic activity slowed to the extent of recession. Ultimately, prices of goods had hit bottom, appearing attractive to other nations, who would rush into buying sprees that injected the economy with gold until it increased its money supply, and drive down interest rates and recreate wealth into the economy. Such boom-bust patterns prevailed throughout the gold standard until the outbreak of World War I interrupted trade flows and the free movement of gold. After the Wars, the Bretton Woods Agreement was founded, where participating countries agreed to try and maintain the value of their currency with a narrow margin against the dollar and a corresponding rate of gold as needed. Countries were prohibited from devaluing their currencies to their trade advantage and were only allowed to do so for devaluations of less than 10%. Into the 1950s, the ever-expanding volume of international trade led to massive movements of capital generated by post-war construction. That destabilized foreign exchange rates as setup in Bretton Woods. The Agreement was finally abandoned in 1971, and the US dollar would no longer be convertible into gold. By 1973, currencies of major industrialized nations floated more freely, as they were controlled mainly by the forces of supply and demand. Prices were floated daily, with volumes, speed and price volatility all increasing throughout the 1970s, giving rise to new financial instruments, market deregulation and trade liberalization. In the 1980s, cross-border capital movements accelerated with the advent of computers and technology, extending market continuum through Asian, European and American time zones. Transactions in foreign exchange rocketed from about $70 billion a day in the 1980s, to more than $1.5 trillion a day two decades later.
The Explosion of the Euromarket
A major catalyst to the acceleration of Forex trading was the rapid development of the eurodollar market; where US dollars are deposited in banks outside the US. Similarly, Euromarkets are those where assets are deposited outside the currency of origin. The Eurodollar market first came into being in the 1950s when Russia’s oil revenue-- all in dollars -- was deposited outside the US in fear of being frozen by US regulators. That gave rise to a vast offshore pool of dollars outside the control of US authorities. The US government imposed laws to restrict dollar lending to foreigners. Euromarkets were particularly attractive because they had far less regulations and offered higher yields. From the late 1980s onwards, US companies began to borrow offshore, finding Euromarkets a beneficial center for holding excess liquidity, providing short-term loans and financing imports and exports. London was, and remains the principal offshore market. In the 1980s, it became the key center in the Eurodollar market when British banks began lending dollars as an alternative to pounds in order to maintain their leading position in global finance. London’s convenient geographical location (operating during Asian and American markets) is also instrumental in preserving its dominance in the Euroma
The Explosion of the Euromarket
A major catalyst to the acceleration of Forex trading was the rapid development of the eurodollar market; where US dollars are deposited in banks outside the US. Similarly, Euromarkets are those where assets are deposited outside the currency of origin. The Eurodollar market first came into being in the 1950s when Russia’s oil revenue-- all in dollars -- was deposited outside the US in fear of being frozen by US regulators. That gave rise to a vast offshore pool of dollars outside the control of US authorities. The US government imposed laws to restrict dollar lending to foreigners. Euromarkets were particularly attractive because they had far less regulations and offered higher yields. From the late 1980s onwards, US companies began to borrow offshore, finding Euromarkets a beneficial center for holding excess liquidity, providing short-term loans and financing imports and exports. London was, and remains the principal offshore market. In the 1980s, it became the key center in the Eurodollar market when British banks began lending dollars as an alternative to pounds in order to maintain their leading position in global finance. London’s convenient geographical location (operating during Asian and American markets) is also instrumental in preserving its dominance in the Euroma
Forex for Dummies
Forex Basics
If you've already read our What is Forex? section then you should know what Forex market is and what it is all about. If not, please, do so. There are five essential aspects of foreign currency market a beginner trader (and an old one as well) should be aware of:
1. Forex Fundamental Analysis
2. Forex Technical Analysis
3. Money Management
4. Forex Trading Psychology
5. Forex Brokerage
Understanding and mastering these sides of trading are crucial to organize your Forex trading experience.
Forex Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysis is the process of market analysis which is done regarding only "real" events and macroeconomic data which is related to the traded currencies. Fundamental analysis is used not only in Forex but can be a part of any financial planning or forecasting. Concepts that are part of Forex fundamental analysis: overnight interest rates, central banks meetings and decisions, any macroeconomic news, global industrial, economical, political and weather news. Fundamental analysis is the most natural way of making Forex market forecasts. In theory, it alone should work perfectly, but in practice it is often used in pair with technical analysis. Recommended e-books on Forex fundamental analysis:
1. Reminiscences of a Stock Operator
2. What Moves the Currency Market?
Forex Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is the process of market analysis that relies only on market data numbers - quotes, charts, simple and complex indicators, volume of supply and demand, past market data, etc. The main idea behind Forex technical analysis is the postulate of functional dependence of the future market technical data on the past market technical data. As well as with fundamental analysis, technical analysis is believed to be self-sufficient and you can use only it to successfully trade Forex. In practice, both analysis methods are used. Recommended e-books on Forex fundamental analysis are:
1. The Law Of Charts
2. Candlesticks For Support And Resistance
3. Trend Determination
Money Management in Forex
Even if you master every possible method of market analysis and will make very accurate predictions for future Forex market behavior, you won't make any money without a proper money management strategy. Money management in Forex (as well as in other financial markets) is a complex set of rules which you develop to fit your own trading style and amount of money you have for trading. Money management play very important role in getting profits out of Forex, do not underestimate it. To get more information on money management you can read these books:
1. Risk Control and Money Management
2. Money Management (A chapter from The Mathematics of Gambling)
3. Money Management Strategies
Forex Trading Psychology
While learning a lot about market analysis and money management is an obvious and necessary steps to be a successful Forex traders, you need to master your emotions to keep your trading performance under strict control of mind and intuition. Controlling your emotions in Forex trading is often a balancing between greed and cautiousness. Almost any known psychology practices and techniques can work for Forex traders to help them keep to their trading strategies rather to their spontaneous emotions. Problems you'll have to deal while being a professional Forex trader:
1. Greed
2. Overtrading
3. Lack of discipline
4. Lack of confidence
5. Blind following others' forecasts
These are very professional books on psychology written specially for financial traders:
1. Calming The Mind So That Body Can Perform
2. Emotion Free Trading
3. The Miracle of Discipline
Forex Brokerage
Every Forex trader like any other professional needs tools to trade. One of these tools, which is vital to be in market, is a Forex broker and specifically for Internet - on-line Forex broker - a company which will provide real-time market information to trader and bring his orders to Forex market. While choosing a right Forex broker things to look for are the following:
1. Being a professional company you can trust
2. Provide you with real-time quotes
3. Execute your orders fast and accurately
4. Don't take a lot of commissions
Support the withdraw/deposit methods you use
For beginning Forex traders I recommend these three broker companies, which are probably best Forex brokers to start with:
LiteForex - broker that supports MetaTrader 4 Forex trading platform and doesn't require a lot of money to start with. FXcast - good because you can start trading Forex with as little as 1$. They have easy-to-use trading platform (FXcast Swing) along with a Metatrader 4
If you've already read our What is Forex? section then you should know what Forex market is and what it is all about. If not, please, do so. There are five essential aspects of foreign currency market a beginner trader (and an old one as well) should be aware of:
1. Forex Fundamental Analysis
2. Forex Technical Analysis
3. Money Management
4. Forex Trading Psychology
5. Forex Brokerage
Understanding and mastering these sides of trading are crucial to organize your Forex trading experience.
Forex Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysis is the process of market analysis which is done regarding only "real" events and macroeconomic data which is related to the traded currencies. Fundamental analysis is used not only in Forex but can be a part of any financial planning or forecasting. Concepts that are part of Forex fundamental analysis: overnight interest rates, central banks meetings and decisions, any macroeconomic news, global industrial, economical, political and weather news. Fundamental analysis is the most natural way of making Forex market forecasts. In theory, it alone should work perfectly, but in practice it is often used in pair with technical analysis. Recommended e-books on Forex fundamental analysis:
1. Reminiscences of a Stock Operator
2. What Moves the Currency Market?
Forex Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is the process of market analysis that relies only on market data numbers - quotes, charts, simple and complex indicators, volume of supply and demand, past market data, etc. The main idea behind Forex technical analysis is the postulate of functional dependence of the future market technical data on the past market technical data. As well as with fundamental analysis, technical analysis is believed to be self-sufficient and you can use only it to successfully trade Forex. In practice, both analysis methods are used. Recommended e-books on Forex fundamental analysis are:
1. The Law Of Charts
2. Candlesticks For Support And Resistance
3. Trend Determination
Money Management in Forex
Even if you master every possible method of market analysis and will make very accurate predictions for future Forex market behavior, you won't make any money without a proper money management strategy. Money management in Forex (as well as in other financial markets) is a complex set of rules which you develop to fit your own trading style and amount of money you have for trading. Money management play very important role in getting profits out of Forex, do not underestimate it. To get more information on money management you can read these books:
1. Risk Control and Money Management
2. Money Management (A chapter from The Mathematics of Gambling)
3. Money Management Strategies
Forex Trading Psychology
While learning a lot about market analysis and money management is an obvious and necessary steps to be a successful Forex traders, you need to master your emotions to keep your trading performance under strict control of mind and intuition. Controlling your emotions in Forex trading is often a balancing between greed and cautiousness. Almost any known psychology practices and techniques can work for Forex traders to help them keep to their trading strategies rather to their spontaneous emotions. Problems you'll have to deal while being a professional Forex trader:
1. Greed
2. Overtrading
3. Lack of discipline
4. Lack of confidence
5. Blind following others' forecasts
These are very professional books on psychology written specially for financial traders:
1. Calming The Mind So That Body Can Perform
2. Emotion Free Trading
3. The Miracle of Discipline
Forex Brokerage
Every Forex trader like any other professional needs tools to trade. One of these tools, which is vital to be in market, is a Forex broker and specifically for Internet - on-line Forex broker - a company which will provide real-time market information to trader and bring his orders to Forex market. While choosing a right Forex broker things to look for are the following:
1. Being a professional company you can trust
2. Provide you with real-time quotes
3. Execute your orders fast and accurately
4. Don't take a lot of commissions
Support the withdraw/deposit methods you use
For beginning Forex traders I recommend these three broker companies, which are probably best Forex brokers to start with:
LiteForex - broker that supports MetaTrader 4 Forex trading platform and doesn't require a lot of money to start with. FXcast - good because you can start trading Forex with as little as 1$. They have easy-to-use trading platform (FXcast Swing) along with a Metatrader 4
Forex - The Role of Trading Signals
or the purposes of this article, we're going to assume you already have a basic understanding of the Forex market and are looking for additional information to make your Forex trading as successful as possible. When to buy and sell, triggered by observing trading signals, can provide you with one of the keys to making successful Forex trades. And that's what we're going to examine today.
What exactly are trading signals?
Trading signals are indicators of Forex market trends, generally based on a trading system, that tell the trader the best time to buy or sell a currency. These trends can include everything from currency pairs near moving averages, to support and resistance levels, to Fibonacci levels. Different trading systems can require different signals and trends for their recommendations. Some systems can include as many 26 indicators in their development of trading signals.
Why are trading signals important?
The Forex market is one of the volatile markets in the world. Currency shifts can occur for a wide variety of reasons, including economic conditions, political shifts, government spending, consumer spending, even weather conditions. These influences can trigger changes in the currency, which are reflected in nearly instantaneous shifts in the market. Trading signals, based on technical analysis of market conditions, allow traders to anticipate these shifts to their advantage.
As a Forex trader, you can utilize a charting service to study the trends and track the signals for yourself. Or you can use a Forex signal service. In addition, some brokers may offer a signal service which integrates into their trading software. In either case, the services monitor and analyze the market for you. When specific signals show themselves, the service will send you a notice via your computer, by email, or even SMS on your cell phone or pager.
Most services offer signals on EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF currency pairs, but specialized services may offer other currency pairs. In addition, some services even offer auto-trading, which allows you to auto-execute their signals direct into your broker account. In such instances, you will have already established a number of options, such as lot size, in advance.
Technical signals are based on technical indicators, which are precise mathematical formulas applied to market prices within a given period of time. Traders are always on the look out for easy and clear technical signals that indicate the right time to enter or exit a particular segment of the market. This is sometimes missed by beginning traders. It's equally as important to know when to exit a trade as it is to know when to enter one. This is where limit exits, trailing stops, and fixed stops can play a vital role in your trading.
Forex trading signals are a personal decision. However, once that decision is made, you need to be committed to it (at least long enough to know if it's working for you). Most signal systems do work. Traders can learn to anticipate the market movements and conditions before making their trading decision. The problems arise when emotions are allowed to take over and the system is ignored. Don't let this happen to you.
What exactly are trading signals?
Trading signals are indicators of Forex market trends, generally based on a trading system, that tell the trader the best time to buy or sell a currency. These trends can include everything from currency pairs near moving averages, to support and resistance levels, to Fibonacci levels. Different trading systems can require different signals and trends for their recommendations. Some systems can include as many 26 indicators in their development of trading signals.
Why are trading signals important?
The Forex market is one of the volatile markets in the world. Currency shifts can occur for a wide variety of reasons, including economic conditions, political shifts, government spending, consumer spending, even weather conditions. These influences can trigger changes in the currency, which are reflected in nearly instantaneous shifts in the market. Trading signals, based on technical analysis of market conditions, allow traders to anticipate these shifts to their advantage.
As a Forex trader, you can utilize a charting service to study the trends and track the signals for yourself. Or you can use a Forex signal service. In addition, some brokers may offer a signal service which integrates into their trading software. In either case, the services monitor and analyze the market for you. When specific signals show themselves, the service will send you a notice via your computer, by email, or even SMS on your cell phone or pager.
Most services offer signals on EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF currency pairs, but specialized services may offer other currency pairs. In addition, some services even offer auto-trading, which allows you to auto-execute their signals direct into your broker account. In such instances, you will have already established a number of options, such as lot size, in advance.
Technical signals are based on technical indicators, which are precise mathematical formulas applied to market prices within a given period of time. Traders are always on the look out for easy and clear technical signals that indicate the right time to enter or exit a particular segment of the market. This is sometimes missed by beginning traders. It's equally as important to know when to exit a trade as it is to know when to enter one. This is where limit exits, trailing stops, and fixed stops can play a vital role in your trading.
Forex trading signals are a personal decision. However, once that decision is made, you need to be committed to it (at least long enough to know if it's working for you). Most signal systems do work. Traders can learn to anticipate the market movements and conditions before making their trading decision. The problems arise when emotions are allowed to take over and the system is ignored. Don't let this happen to you.
Forex - The Psychology of Trading
Psychology plays an important role in any trading program, and this is equally true for Forex trading. For instance, we all have our own level of risk before we panic. The key to successful Forex trading, however, requires that we develop the ability to distance ourselves from our emotions and instead solely rely on our knowledge and the Forex system we're using.
Easier said than done.
If you've ever done any day trading or gambling or even overeating, you know that there's a psychological component that can sometimes be difficult to control. For many people, if a trade is going well (of in the case of gambling, if the betting's succeeding, or in the case of overeating if food isn't currently an issue) they feel completely in control. This makes it much easier to do the things they know they should be doing. Logic prevails over emotion.
However, when a trade has turned bad (and it happens to even the best Forex traders, no matter how much knowledge they have or how long they've been trading), suddenly logic moves to the back and emotion steps forward.
Like the amateur gambler, there's a shift in thinking. It'll turn around, becomes your mantra. Instead of following pre-determined stops, you let your trade dip below your exit strategy with the hope (emotional) that the trade will turn around and you'll not only recoup your losses but you'll come out ahead.
Or as in the case of the overeater, there's almost a masochistic resignation. The thinking goes something like this: well, the damage is done now (I've eaten that slice of cake that was forbidden), the trade's turned bad, it's lost, I might as well ride it all the way and see what happens, because there's nothing else to lose at this point. Again, a clear indication that your emotions have taken over.
All the Forex training in the world, all the knowledge and skills, charts and strategies are worthless if you disregard them when a trade has taken a turn for the worse.
So what's your psychological foundation? Do you turn to your emotions when situations become difficult or work against you? Do you double your bets as a gambler? Do you get a pint of Ben & Jerry's out of the freezer as a dieter? You're the only one who knows how your psychology works. And you're the only one who knows if you have the ability to control yourself or not.
Just remember this: success as a Forex trader is not the result of how you react when your trades are going well. It's the result of how you react when your trades are going bad.
Easier said than done.
If you've ever done any day trading or gambling or even overeating, you know that there's a psychological component that can sometimes be difficult to control. For many people, if a trade is going well (of in the case of gambling, if the betting's succeeding, or in the case of overeating if food isn't currently an issue) they feel completely in control. This makes it much easier to do the things they know they should be doing. Logic prevails over emotion.
However, when a trade has turned bad (and it happens to even the best Forex traders, no matter how much knowledge they have or how long they've been trading), suddenly logic moves to the back and emotion steps forward.
Like the amateur gambler, there's a shift in thinking. It'll turn around, becomes your mantra. Instead of following pre-determined stops, you let your trade dip below your exit strategy with the hope (emotional) that the trade will turn around and you'll not only recoup your losses but you'll come out ahead.
Or as in the case of the overeater, there's almost a masochistic resignation. The thinking goes something like this: well, the damage is done now (I've eaten that slice of cake that was forbidden), the trade's turned bad, it's lost, I might as well ride it all the way and see what happens, because there's nothing else to lose at this point. Again, a clear indication that your emotions have taken over.
All the Forex training in the world, all the knowledge and skills, charts and strategies are worthless if you disregard them when a trade has taken a turn for the worse.
So what's your psychological foundation? Do you turn to your emotions when situations become difficult or work against you? Do you double your bets as a gambler? Do you get a pint of Ben & Jerry's out of the freezer as a dieter? You're the only one who knows how your psychology works. And you're the only one who knows if you have the ability to control yourself or not.
Just remember this: success as a Forex trader is not the result of how you react when your trades are going well. It's the result of how you react when your trades are going bad.
Foreign Exchange Trading
oreign exchange trading is a mammoth undertaking, with more trading occurring than in the stock market and all other trading combined. Foreign exchange trading, or Forex trading for short, is the practice of using the currency of one country to buy the currency of another. Because of the continuously changing exchange rates, variations in prices occur and investors can use these price differences to make profits. There are a number of factors that affect foreign currency trading. Some of these factors include: government budget surpluses or deficits, trade surpluses or deficits, inflation and countries economic growth and health.
Governmental Budget Surpluses or Deficits
A country’s ability to govern within the money available in its budget is a huge factor in its overall fiscal health. Foreign exchange trading views a budget surplus as a favorable factor in the worth of a currency while a deficit can lower the value of a currency when trading Forex. Such a theory is evidenced when the United States announces its annual budget or makes monthly statements about its fiscal standing and the Forex news and markets adjust based on the reports.
Trade Deficits or Surpluses
This is another economic factor that can have a huge impact on the Forex markets. Trade deficits and surpluses speak to the economic health of a country. In most cases, a country that has a trade surplus is more prosperous and stable than a country that is operating at a deficit. For example, foreign exchange trading views the American dollar as less stable and less valuable because of the huge trade deficits that the country experiences. Forex currency trading for beginners should always include a discussion of the effects of trade imbalances on the price of currencies in foreign exchange trading.
Inflation
There tends to be a delicate balance between the phenomenon of inflation and recession. The state of a country’s economy is never stationary. It is either growing too fast or too slow. This pendulum-effect is not lost on successful traders in foreign exchange trading. A recessed economy can have a positive effect on a currency because investors perceive that people have more money to spend. Inflation tends to have a negative effect on investment philosophy because it reduces people’s spending power and in turn, demand for a particular currency in foreign exchange trading.
The Power of Technical Analysis
With so many outside factors involved, how can investors prosper in foreign exchange trading? Like investing in the stock market, the answer is relatively simple. For an investor to be successful in foreign exchange trading, he or she needs to follow some simple rules: create and follow a trading plan, perform technical analysis and use a charting system to monitor movements in the market.
By outlining your objectives and investment strategies in a non-emotional way, you are able to find investment methods that work best for you. After doing this, your technical analysis becomes very important because knowing the conditions affecting a country’s currency can make it easier to predict what it will do. Finally, using a charting system can help investors to see trends in foreign exchange trading. Finding a trend can go a long way to an investor make a profit. The best system for tracking and charting currency is Japanese Candlesticks. This system has a proven history of helping traders to identify trends and make successful trades.
Conclusion
Foreign exchange trading is affected by various factors and the results can be demonstrated by losses and successful trading. Understanding these and other factors can help you to make better investment decisions in foreign exchange trading.
Governmental Budget Surpluses or Deficits
A country’s ability to govern within the money available in its budget is a huge factor in its overall fiscal health. Foreign exchange trading views a budget surplus as a favorable factor in the worth of a currency while a deficit can lower the value of a currency when trading Forex. Such a theory is evidenced when the United States announces its annual budget or makes monthly statements about its fiscal standing and the Forex news and markets adjust based on the reports.
Trade Deficits or Surpluses
This is another economic factor that can have a huge impact on the Forex markets. Trade deficits and surpluses speak to the economic health of a country. In most cases, a country that has a trade surplus is more prosperous and stable than a country that is operating at a deficit. For example, foreign exchange trading views the American dollar as less stable and less valuable because of the huge trade deficits that the country experiences. Forex currency trading for beginners should always include a discussion of the effects of trade imbalances on the price of currencies in foreign exchange trading.
Inflation
There tends to be a delicate balance between the phenomenon of inflation and recession. The state of a country’s economy is never stationary. It is either growing too fast or too slow. This pendulum-effect is not lost on successful traders in foreign exchange trading. A recessed economy can have a positive effect on a currency because investors perceive that people have more money to spend. Inflation tends to have a negative effect on investment philosophy because it reduces people’s spending power and in turn, demand for a particular currency in foreign exchange trading.
The Power of Technical Analysis
With so many outside factors involved, how can investors prosper in foreign exchange trading? Like investing in the stock market, the answer is relatively simple. For an investor to be successful in foreign exchange trading, he or she needs to follow some simple rules: create and follow a trading plan, perform technical analysis and use a charting system to monitor movements in the market.
By outlining your objectives and investment strategies in a non-emotional way, you are able to find investment methods that work best for you. After doing this, your technical analysis becomes very important because knowing the conditions affecting a country’s currency can make it easier to predict what it will do. Finally, using a charting system can help investors to see trends in foreign exchange trading. Finding a trend can go a long way to an investor make a profit. The best system for tracking and charting currency is Japanese Candlesticks. This system has a proven history of helping traders to identify trends and make successful trades.
Conclusion
Foreign exchange trading is affected by various factors and the results can be demonstrated by losses and successful trading. Understanding these and other factors can help you to make better investment decisions in foreign exchange trading.
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