Forex Trading Market

Forex, an alternative investment vehicle, Part 2

2006-10-04T03:25:00.000-07:00

In the first part of this article I have outlined 10 good reasons why Forex (Foreign Currency Exchange Market) is an excellent investment opportunity for anyone to make money, online, even with very little start-up money available. In this part I will explain how to get started.

If you want to make money with Forex, online, you have to think of it as a business and treat it as such. You have to get serious about it and you need to get organised. Initially, you have to 'go to work' just like you would in a conventional business. Set aside some quite, work hours for yourself, in a quite corner of your house so you can concentrate on your business without any interruptions.

Also, as with any other business or trade, you have to train yourself and hone your skills, continuously. The Forex offers an amazing opportunity to make money, with little effort in record time, however, you have to know what you are doing and you do have to put in some work. Just as you would not allow your 10 year old kid to drive your fancy, expensive car, it would not be a good idea for you to jump into trading the Forex without learning how to drive this 'vehicle'.

If you are a beginner spend some time on reading up on the Forex and perhaps find someone who is already trading successfully. Ask them to mentor you or allow you to look over their shoulder. Once you have some idea on what makes Forex tick, you should open a demo account with one of the many reputable online brokers. This is the best way to learn what happens to your money and your account in the real world without actually risking any of it. You also have to develop good record keeping habits. It's not a hard job to do it, you just have to be disciplined enough to keep up with it. Again, it's no different from a normal business except that the rewards can be much, much higher in relation to the work you have to put in and of course you can do it from anywhere as long as you have access to the Internet.

So, here is a simple list of how to get started: 1) Setup a quite corner for yourself as a work-area, 2) You must have a reliable computer and reliable connection to the Internet, if you can afford a second connection to the Internet with a different service provider than it's even better (I'll explain why in a future article). Also make sure you are comfortable and have plenty of light, a dingy, dark corner will soon dampen you enthusiasm, 3) Set aside some 'quality' time for you business the same time, every day in the beginning, you can spend less time as you get more experienced, 4) Find out more about how the Forex works, train yourself and find a mentor who is already trading successfully, 5) Open a demo account with a reputable online broker, 6) Start keeping a record of everything that you do and why you do it. The easiest way I found to do this is with a simple Excel Sheet(c) or something similar, 7) Analyse the results of your actions and see how they affect the balance of your demo account, 8) Make backups of all your records, I can't emphasis this enough, it's really, really important, 9) Revise your actions and record keeping methods then go back to step 4.

It may sound a lot, however, most of it is common sense and applicable to any and all businesses. It is critical that you keep a record of everything that you do, whether it's changing your chair or the lighting, a new trading platform. Whatever you do make sure you have a record for it and an indication of how, if at all, it has affected your trading ability. I have records of everything I do, not just for Forex, but for all of my other businesses going back 7 years! Now, that's a lot of record keeping but with computers it's real easy.

I think we have covered a lot in this second part. I'll go into more details in future articles. Meanwhile, go through this article and start putting my suggestion in to action. If you have any questions about what I've said above or need information on anything related, just refer to the resources and links at the end of this article.

Wishing you success, Ference

Ference is fanatic about currency trading and teaching others about this amazing opportunity. Contact him at ference_kish@yahoo.co.nz or visit his site at http://www.forexguys.com

The Seven Most Traded Currencies in FOREX

2006-10-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

Currencies are traded in dollar amounts called “lots”. One lot is equal to $1,000, which controls $100,000 in currency. This is what is known as the "margin". You can control $100,000 worth of currency for only 1,000 dollars. This is what is called “High Leverage”.

Currencies are always traded in pairs in the FOREX. The pairs have a unique notation that expresses what currencies are being traded. The symbol for a currency pair will always be in the form ABC/DEF. ABC/DEF is not a real currency pair, it is an example of a symbol for a currency pair. In this example ABC is the symbol for one countries currency and DEF is the symbol for another countries currency.

Here are some of the common symbols used in the Forex:

USD - The US Dollar
EUR - The currency of the European Union "EURO"
GBP - The British Pound
JPN - The Japanese Yen
CHF - The Swiss Franc
AUD - The Australian Dollar
CAD - The Canadian Dollar

There are symbols for other currencies as well, but these are the most commonly traded ones.

A currency can never be traded by itself. So you can not ever trade a EUR by itself. You always need to compare one currency with another currency to make a trade possible.

Some of the common PAIRS are:

EUR/USD Euro / US Dollar
"Euro"

USD/JPY US Dollar / Japanese Yen
"Dollar Yen"

GBP/USD British Pound / US Dollar
"Cable"

USD/CAD US Dollar / Canadian Dollar
"Dollar Canada"

AUD/USD Australian Dollar/US Dollar
"Aussie Dollar"

USD/CHF US Dollar / Swiss Franc
"Swissy"

EUR/JPY Euro / Japanese Yen
"Euro Yen"

The listed currency pairs above look like a fraction. The numerator (top of the fraction or "left" of the / however you want to SEE it) is called the base currency. The denominator (bottom of the fraction or "right" of the /however you want to SEE it) is called the counter currency. When you place an order to buy the EUR/USD, for instance, you are actually buying the EUR and selling the USD. If you were to sell the pair, you would be selling the EUR and buying the USD. So if you buy or sell a currency PAIR, you are buying/selling the base currency. You are always doing the opposite of what you did with to base currency with the counter currency.

If this seems confusing then you're in luck. You can always get by with just thinking of the entire pair as one item. Then you are just buying or selling that one item. Thinking like this will still enable you to place trades. You only need to be aware of the base/counter concept for Fundamental Analysis issues.

So why is it important to know about the base/counter currency? The base/counter currency concept illustrates what is actually taking place in a Forex transaction. Some of you reading this, know that short-selling was restricted in the stock market *(Short-selling is where you sell a stock/currency/option/commodity first and then try to buy it back at a lower price later). But in the FOREX you are always buying one currency (base) and selling another (counter). If you sell the pair you are simply flipping which one you buy and which one you sell. The transaction is essentially the same. This allows you to short-sell with no restrictions.

You want to be able to short-sell with no restrictions so you can make money when the market drops as well as when it rises. The problem with traditional stock market trading is that the market has to go up for you to make money. With FOREX trading you can make money in all directions.

Omar Vargas; FOREX Trader and Freelance writer.
http://www.1-forex.com

Neural Networks Learn Forex Trading Strategies

2006-10-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

The latest buzz in the Forex world is neural networks, a term taken from the artificial intelligence community. In technical terms, neural networks are data analysis methods that consist of a large number of processing units that are linked together by weighted probabilities. In more simple terms, neural networks are a model loosely resembling the way that the human brain works and learns. For several decades now, those in the artificial intelligence community have used the neural network model in creating computers that 'think' and 'learn' based on the outcomes of their actions.

Unlike the traditional data structure, neural networks take in multiple streams of data and output one result. If there's a way to quantify the data, there's a way to add it to the factors being considered in making a prediction. They're often used in Forex market prediction software because the network can be trained to interpret data and draw a conclusion from it.

Before they can be of any use in making Forex predictions, neural networks have to be 'trained' to recognize and adjust for patterns that arise between input and output. The training and testing can be time consuming, but is what gives neural networks their ability to predict future outcomes based on past data. The basic idea is that when presented with examples of pairs of input and output data, the network can 'learn' the dependencies, and apply those dependencies when presented with new data. From there, the network can compare its own output to see how close to correct the prediction was, and go back and adjust the weight of the various dependencies until it reaches the correct answer.

This requires that the network be trained with two separate data sets - the training and the testing set. One of the strengths of neural networks is that it can continue to learn by comparing its own predictions with the data that is continually fed to it. Neural networks are also very good at combining both technical and fundamental data, thus making a best of both worlds scenario. Their very power allows them to find patterns that may not have been considered, and apply those patterns to prediction to come up with uncannily accurate results.

Unfortunately, this strength can also be a weakness in the use of neural networks for trading predictions. Ultimately, the output is only as good as the input. They are very good at correlating data even when you feed them enormous amounts of it. They are very good at extracting patterns from widely disparate types of information - even when no pattern or relationship exists. Its other major strength - the ability to apply intelligence without emotion - after all, a computer doesn't have an ego - can also become a weakness when dealing with a volatile market. When an unknown factor is introduced, the artificial neural network has no way of assigning an emotional weight to that factor.

There are currently dozens of Forex trading platforms on the market that incorporate neural network theory and technology to 'teach' the network your system and let it make predictions and generate buy/sell orders based on it. The important thing to keep in mind is that the most basic rule of Forex trading applies when you set out to build your neural network - educate yourself and know what you're doing. Whether you're dealing with technical analysis, fundamentals, neural networks or your own emotions, the single most important thing you can do to ensure your success in Forex trading is to learn all you can.

Duncan McQueen runs the blog at forextech.blogspot.com and owns a company developing software (www.infinite-idea.com) to aid in all forms of trading.

Is There Such A Thing As Hedging In The Forex Market

2006-10-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

Just like hedging your bet at the horse track you can hedge your trading in the Forex Market.

What is the Forex Market: The Forex and the stock market have some similarities, in that it involves buying and selling to make a profit, but there are some differences. Unlike the stock market, the Forex has a higher liquidity. This means, a lot more money is changing hands everyday. Another key difference when comparing the Forex to the stock market is that the Forex has no place where it is exchanged and it never closes. The Forex involved trading between banks and brokers all over the world and provides twenty-four hour access during the business week.

For those who are not familiar with the Forex market, the word "hedging" could mean absolutely nothing. However, those who are regular traders know that there are many ways to use this term in trading. Most of the time when you hear this phrase it means that you are trying to reduce your risk in trading. It is something that everyone who plans to invest should know about. It is a technique that can protect your investments to some degree.

While hedging is a popular trading term, it is also one that seems a little mysterious. It is much like an insurance plan. When you hedge, you insure yourself in case a negative event may occur. This does not mean that when a negative event occurs you will come out of it completely unaffected. It only means that if you properly hedge yourself, you won't experience a huge impact. Think of it like your auto insurance. You purchase it in case something bad happens. It does not prevent bad things from happening, but if they do, you are able to recover a lot better than if you were uninsured.

Anyone who is involved in trading can learn to hedge. From huge corporations to small individual investors, hedging is something that is widely practiced. The manner in which they do this involves using market instruments to offset the risk of any negative movement in price. The easiest way to do this is to hedge an investment with another investment. For example, the way most people would deal with this is to invest in two different things with negative correlations. This is still costly to some people; however, the protection you get from doing this is well worth the cost most of the time. When you begin learning more about hedging, you start to understand why not many people completely know what it is all about. The techniques used to hedge are done by using derivatives. These are complicated instruments of finance and most often only used by seasoned investors.

When you decide to hedge, you must remember that it comes with a cost. You should always be sure that the benefits you get from a hedge should be more than enough to make it worth your while. You should make sure the expense is justified. If it is not, then you should not hedge. The goal of hedging is not to make money. You will not make large gains by hedging yourself. You have to take some risks in order to gain. Hedging is intended to be used to protect your losses. The loss cannot be avoided, but the hedge can offer a little comfort. However, even if nothing negative happens, you will still have to pay for the hedge. Unlike insurance, you are never compensated for your hedge. Things can go wrong with hedging and it may not always protect you as you think it will.

Keep in mind that most investors never hedge in their entire trading careers. Short-term fluctuation is something that the majority of investors do not worry with. Therefore, hedging can be pointless. Even if you choose not to hedge however, learning about the technique is a great way to understand the market a bit more. You will see large corporations and other large traders use this and may be confused at why they are acting this way. When you know more about hedging you can fully understand their strategies.

Whether you decide to use hedging to your advantage or not, you will benefit from learning more about it. You can use it like an insurance policy when trading. You should remember however that hedging can be costly. Always check to make sure the costs of hedging will not run against any profits you may or may not make. Be sure those costs are realistic and that your need for hedging is realistic as well. You will be able to use hedging to help cut your potential losses, however hedging will never guard against the negatives altogether. Learning about it will give you a better understanding at how large traders work the system however, which can in turn make you a better player in the trading game.

Remember that hedging should be left to the Pros of the industry unless you are playing the forex market as a hobby and don't have a lot invested in it.

For more articles from this auctor on this subject visit his article syndication site at http://www.forex-article-directory.com/

Trading Trend And Ranges In Today's Forex

2006-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

First what is Forex: The FOREX or Foreign Exchange market is the largest financial market in the world, with an volume of more than $1.5 trillion daily, dealing in currencies. Unlike other financial markets, the Forex market has no physical location, no central exchange. It operates through an electronic network of banks, corporations and individuals trading one currency for another.

When you choose to start trading in the Forex market, which is often called the foreign exchange market, you will need to know a little trading vocabulary. Learning specific terms and what they mean are essential before you even think about using real money to trade. You would never get into a pilot's seat and try to fly a plane without ever having taken flying lessons. The same goes for foreign exchange market trading. You need to be fully aware of what you are doing. This is a market that is not quickly learned, so you should never assume that once you jump into it, you will learn as you go. While some people opt to do that, they typically end up losing an adequate sum of money because they were not as prepared as they should have been. Knowing the importance of trading trends and ranges in Forex trading is very important. If you are thinking of trading in the Forex market, be sure you know what these terms mean and their implications.

Trading Trend

When price moves consistently in one direction in the Forex, a trend occurs. When the direction is higher, the trend is often called bullish. When the direction of the price is moving lower, the trend is often called bearish. These terms are relative of course. When you define a trend, you should always remember that price peaks and troughs are in the same direction. When you are dealing with a bearish trend, remember that price highs and lows are moving lower. Likewise when you are dealing with a bullish trend, they are moving higher.

Often when trends occur, it is possible to draw support lines under one that is moving higher (an uptrend). You can also often draw resistant lines above one that is moving lower (a downtrend). Once you see these lines break, it can be assumed that the trend is complete. At this point there is a possibility that the trend will begin to reverse. When it does reverse, you will need to know the pattern of what that entails.

Trend Reversal

When you hear of a trend reversal, it simply means that the direction of market prices is changing. Often you will see trend reversals following a four step pattern. Usually, this includes the market making a new high, the trend line being broken, the market making an intermediate low, and a new rally that does not match the first high. Many times you will see prices break the previous low however. You may come across terms such as Double, Triple Tops, and Bottoms, which are all trend reversal patterns. Head and shoulders patterns are also popular reversal patterns.

Trading Range

The trading range is actually a sideways chart pattern. It is often used to represent a resting period before the original trend is resumed. You may see these when you are charting trends and should know what they imply.

Often trends are very important to investors. Those who engage in trend-following are people who look at major trends and make decisions in the direction of the trend. This can be a good strategy, but you must know a great deal about trends and the market in general in order to use this technique successfully. Beginners are not usually very good at tracking trends and using trend-following techniques. One thing that you should also note is that some price movements are trendless. This means that they have no clear direction, which makes trend-following nearly impossible.

Remember, that in order to fully understand trends, you must be educated in the ways of the market and foreign exchange in general. Beginners should not rely heavily on foreign exchange market trend tracking. Once you get more experience you can begin looking into tracking more and more. However, be aware that different things affect and influence the Forex. These influences can change what people expect trends to be. Therefore, you should be a seasoned trader in order to rely on the trends and ranges alone. Educate yourself on these terms and learn to recognize them in the actual market. After all, learning the terms is one thing and being able to see them in reality is different.

For more articles from this auctor on this subject visit his article syndication site at http://www.forex-article-directory.com/

How to interpret Support and Resistance levels

2006-10-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

When you reach a certain level of understanding about how the FOREX market works, you become conscious of the huge significance support and resistance levels have.

Although the internet is populated with a large collection of strategies and rules on this subject, I always found it difficult to understand what lies beneath and how to reliably pinpoint the exact inflexion level on a chart.

This article addresses the subject in my unique and well-known style. I will share with you my findings as well as the optimum approach to them, trying to extract the essential and propose a simple, yet effective way to show a constant profit.

The S/R levels are the product of the battle between the sellers and buyers, on their perpetual attempt to turn a profit from their market expectations.

This is always dictated by the big players and smaller hands only come to add momentum to any change in direction.

This observation becomes more significant for larger time frames on the chart, given the colossal size of this market (more than 1.5 trillion USD a day).

That is why all technical analysts advise you to wait for the change in direction to occur, and avoid initiating positions in the anticipation of a support or resistance level. This is precisely because no one knows if the big guys are still willing to defend that level.

Of course, they will pack their analysis in vibrant colours and fashionable expressions, but the naked truth is the above-mentioned one.

The advent of so-called "digital options" brought major players at the table. These are the "casino-style" bets, using terms like "one touch" barrier, "double no touch" barrier and similar others. Simply put, you bet that if the rate behaves in a certain fashion, over a specified time frame, you will be paid a certain amount of money, in line with "odds" similar with horse race betting. For instance, you can bet that EUR/USD, currently trading at 1.2300, will not go above 1.2400 for the next seven trading days. If this scenario plays out well for you, the broker pays you in line with the odds of the bet.

This "digital options", together with their "classic options" relatives, are a major supplier of S/R levels in the FOREX market, as players select very specific levels for their bets.

As it is the case with all humans, we tend to simplify things, this approach resulting in "round numbers" for our bets. It is unlikely that we will go for a 1.2328 level and more likely that 1.2350 or 1.2300 will be our choice.

This mechanism initiates the structure of rather predictable S/R levels on any FOREX chart and the most important ones are the clear, full, round numbers as 1.2000, 1.2100 or 1.2200, if we are to take EUR/USD pair as an example.

While I accept that there is more to it than this presentation, a good grasp of these two concepts, the big players and round numbers, will greatly improve any trading activity.

In the process, do not forget that news and economic calendar can play important roles in the formation of S/R levels and they tend to be fiercely defended by the important trading operators.

A word about Trend Lines is appropriate here. Trend lines are a result of the formation of S/R levels and not a way to form them, even if the quasi totality of analysts is presenting them as a method of prediction. They are a great help for the big boys, as they easily show where the vast majority of traders will place their orders. I tend to give them a secondary importance, compared with the round numbers and news related inflexions.

Bogdan VASILE
Further FOREX education available at www.forex-arena.com

Do Not Lose Your Shirt With a Margin Account

2006-10-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

The key to the FOREX market for the average investor is the margin. Without margin trading currency trading would be beyond most investors. I will explain what the margin is and how it works. When you have a margin account you are able to control large amounts of currency with a relatively small cash deposit. When you have a margin account with a broker you are in effect borrowing money from the broker to control a larger lot of currency. Currency is normally sold in lots with a value of $100,000. A common term used when discussing margin accounts is leverage. Leverage is how much you can control with a certain amount of money. The leverage is usually displayed as a ration such as 1:100. That would allow you to control currency worth 100 times the amount of money you have invested. To better explain this in a FOREX exchange with a 1% margin account you could control $100,000 worth of a currency while only investing $1000. Margin accounts can allow you to greatly increase your profit; they also allow you to increase your risk. With a margin account it is possible for a trader to lose more than their initial investment. With a little prudence though losses can be minimized. Most brokers will terminate a trade before the losses exceed the original deposit.

Benefits As discussed before a margin account allows you to buy more with the money you have which can greatly increase your profit on successful trades. By controlling a $100,000 worth of currency for only $1000 the potential gain is greater. When dealing with large lots of currency even small changes can produce significant results. Currency on the FOREX market is traded in far more precise units than actual cash is. As an example the American dollar is traded down to four decimal points. So when you were to quote the dollar against another currency you will see a price like $1.7834 instead of $1.78. A PIP is the smallest unit when trading currencies, when dealing with $100,000 lots then each pip is worth about $10. If the price of the American dollar changes from $1.7834 to $1.7934, you have a net difference of 100 pips. If you have a lot of $100,000 then that 100 pips will translate to $1000 where as if you were not using the margin your original $1000 would only show a profit of $10. Hardly what most would consider a highly profitable trade? In short the primary benefit of using a margin account is that it can greatly increase the profit margin of a trade.

Risks Since there is such a significant increase in profit potential when using a margin account it only stands to reason that there is also an increase. In fact it is quite possible to have your entire margin account wiped out fairly quickly. When using a 1% margin account a shift in the currency of a single penny will cost you $1000. The FOREX exchange has many safety features to help you reduce the risk of this happening. One example is a stop loss order. A stop loss order will automatically close out your position in a currency if the price crosses the point you have set. This allows you to limit your losses while still having the opportunity to realize a profit. Another risk that many people overlook is that if the price nears the point where your losses are close to being equal to the value of your margin account your broker may close out your position. If you were trying to rid out a temporary downturn that you expect to turn around soon you could find that your broker has closed it causing you to lose your entire balance and have no option to make a profit if the price moves up again.

This is a basic introduction to margin accounts and how they work, visit the website listed below to learn more about the FOREX market.

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The Forex Markets and Its Trend Patterns

2006-10-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

As you start analyzing forex charts you will realize that the market often display's some very familiar patterns of price movement. Once a pattern is established, it becomes the most probable course of future price action until the market changes.

There are two types of markets which will become very important for you to identify and understand; these are: trending and trend-less markets. Each market type has two specific patterns which you will also notice over time.

These market types and patterns are defined as follows:

Trending - Steady elongated price movements with less than a 45 degree angel with occasional pauses, profit taking, or resting periods.

In a Trending market, you have also other patterns:

- Uptrends - A pattern of higher highs and higher lows.

- Downtrends - A pattern of lower lows and lower highs.

Trend-less - Erratic price movements which are often steep ( greater than 45 -degree angle ) and cannot sustain and therefore must reverse. Although the movements can move many points in a short period of time, they often result in very little net price movement over time.

In a Trend-less market, you have these patterns:

- Choppy - An erratic pattern of higher highs and lower lows.

- Sideways - A narrow pattern of lower highs and higher lows.

While up-trend and down-trend days can offer excellent trading results, choppy markets often create stop outs, while sideways markets produce for little in either direction making them hard to trade and to make any profit during these periods.

Your trading objective is to get into a trending market and ride the trend until you make your target profit objective.

There are many Trend Trading Strategies that you can find in a number of sources listed in my website. You will learn how to identify and draw your own channel trendlines, support and resistance lines, triangle patterns, chart key top and bottom formations, etc.

Remember, knowledge in the Forex markets is power, and more than power; money.

Adrian Pablo; Forex trader and freelance writer.
http://www.1-forex.com

Forex Trading System: Mechanical vs. Discretionary Systems

2006-10-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

There are basically two types of Forex trading systems, mechanical and discretionary systems. The trading signals that come out of mechanical systems are mainly based off technical analysis applied in a systematic way. On the other hand, discretionary systems use experience, intuition or judgment on entries and exits. But which one produces better results? Or more importantly, which one fits better your trading style? These are the answers we will try to answer on this article.

We will first analyze the pros and cons about each system approach.

Mechanical systems

Advantages This kind of system can be automated and backtested efficiently. It has very rigid rules. Either, there is a trade or there isn't. Mechanical traders are less susceptible to emotions than discretionary traders.

Disadvantages Most traders backtest Forex trading systems incorrectly. In order to produce accurate results you need tick data. The Forex market is always changing. The Forex market (and all markets) has a random component. The market conditions may look similar, but they are never the same. A system that worked successfully the past year doesn't necessary mean it will work this year.

Discretionary systems

Advantages Discretionary systems are easily adaptable to new market conditions. Trading decisions are based on experience. Traders learn to see which trading signals have higher probability of success.

Disadvantages They cannot be backtested or automated, since there is always a thought decision to be made. It takes time to develop the experience required to trade successfully and track trades in a discretionary way. At early stages this can be dangerous.

Now, which approach is better for Forex traders? The one that fits better your personality. For instance, if you are a trader that finds it hard to follow your trading signals, then you are better off using a mechanical system, where your judgment won't play an important role in your system. You only take the trades that your system signals.

If the psychological barriers that affect every trader (fear, greed, anger, etc.) puts you in unwanted scenarios, you are also better off trading mechanical systems, because you only need to follow what your system is telling you, go short, go long, close a trade. No other decision has to be made.

On the other hand, if you are a disciplined trader, then you are better off using a discretionary system, because discretionary systems adapt to the market conditions and you are able to change your trading conditions as the market changes. For instance, you have a target of 60 pips on a long trade. But the market suddenly starts trending up pretty strongly, then you could move your target to say 100 pips.

Does it mean that trading a discretionary system has no rules? This is absolutely incorrect. Trading discretionary systems means that once a trader finds his/her setup, the trader then decides what to do. But every trader still needs certain rules that need to be followed, such as the size of the position, conditions that have to be met before thinking to get in the market, and so on.

I am a discretionary trader. The main reason I chose a discretionary system is that my trades are based on price behavior, and as you already know, the price behaves similar to the past, but it is never identical, therefore the outcome of every trade is unknown. However, I do have rigid rules on my system, certain conditions have to be met before I even think in getting in a trade. This keeps me out of trouble, once my setup is present and in accordance with the rules I have set, I closely watch the price behavior and finally decide whether it is a good opportunity or not.

Whether you choose to be a discretionary or a mechanical trader there are some important points you should take in consideration:

1. You need to make sure the Forex trading system you are using totally fits your personality. Otherwise you will find yourself outguessing your system. 2. You also need to have some rules and most importantly have the discipline to follow them. 3. Take your time to build the perfect system for you. It's not easy and requires time and hard work, but at the end, if done correctly, it will give you consistent profitable results. 4. Before going live, try it on a demo account or even on a small account (I will go for the second option, since psychological barriers will be present.)

Raul Lopez is a full time Forex trader and founder of http://www.straightforex.com/ a high quality Forex training company.

Demo Before Taking The Plunge

2006-10-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Demo trading is one way to get yourself started in forex trading. This is the same as the real trading, except that you are using "pretend money". Demo trading allows the new trader to know how the market works and the events that affect its movement. Geopolitical, macroeconomics and global finance are some of the teaching that demo trading gives. All these will prove to be helpful in your future, real trade.

Demo trading also teaches about greed. To some people the only reason they have why they are into forex trading is because of the money. The more money the traders achieve, the more they are prone to greediness. In the end, it becomes a domineering factor and takes complete control of the decisions made in the trading. This is one of the important points that demo trading is focusing on.

The trader does not have anything to fear in demo trading. If you start losing badly on a demo account, you can simply start a new one. The thing that is given emphasis is your successes and not your failures. This trading does not teach you about fear because it is one of the emotions that leads to failure. Demo trading is more focused on instructing people about self-confidence. Being confident in how you go about your trade and the decisions you will be making without having to think about the possibility of making wrong judgments in the process of forex trading. The most common fear that traders experience is the fear of losing money that would eventually lead them to cut their losses without taking the risks that they might start to rise anytime.

The capitalization in the demo account is enough to sustain losses and will still come out on top. When it comes to the real account though, the tendency is for it to be undercapitalized. If you are planning to achieve the same returns that you got on your demo account, chances are you are going to blow up quickly. That is the one of the differences between the demo and the real account. Some of the things you are capable of doing in the former will not really pattern exactly to the latter.

Every reputable forex dealer allows would-be customers to download a free demo version of their software. This is where they can test their skills and learn the basic things in forex trading. If the dealer wants the trader to be part of their team, then it is important that the trader should be acquainted with the layout and the platform that they are using. Every demo account is different because it caters to the dealers who are representing them.

Once the traders must already mastered the mechanics, they are now ready to experiment with the demo platform to get a feel of what it is like to trade. This demo software has certain features that traders can use to determine what kind of trader they would want to become and the kind of personality they will be presenting in the forex market.

Bear in mind that demo trading is in no way similar to the real trading money. You may be very calmly trading huge amount of money in the demo trading and be completely ecstatic when you earn a small amount in the process.

To make demo trading more productive, it is best to treat the account as though the money is real. That way, you will be conscious of the way you are using your money and will probably do a lot of thinking before you start "throwing" them away in a useless trade, maybe.

The judgment you will be making in a demo trading should also pattern what it is you will be doing if it is the real thing.

Demo accounts may not be the real thing but they serve as your training ground if ever you will be getting into the real thing. It is better to think of what you are doing as something that you would have done in real trading.

In demo trading, you will get to encounter situations that are very closely similar to the real forex trading. it would be useful to remember how you went about it and if successful, you can try it out on your real account.

Kevin Anderson is the owner of http://www.forextradingcenter.info/. A site devoted to showing people the correct way to http://www.forextradingcenter.info/ to make a profit.

Forex: Professional Market Investor Reveals A Short-Cut To Mastering Stock Market Investing Rules

2006-10-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

To operate effectively in any forex market investing environment, you need rules and boundaries to guide your behaviour. No matter what system you`ve developed, the potential exists to do financial damage to yourself - damage that can be greater than you think is possible. There are many types of trades which the risk of loss is unlimited.

To prevent this kind of loss, you need to create an internal structure in the form of guide lines that determine your behaviour so you always act in your own best interest. This structure has to be internal because the market won`t provide it for you. The markets provide structure in the form of behaviour patterns that indicate when an opportunity to buy or sell exists. But that`s where the structure ends; with a simple indication. Nothing happens until you decide to start or forex market investing; you continue to trade as long as you want; and there is no end until you decide to stop.

All the beginnings, middles, and endings of your trades are the result of your interpretation of the information available from the market. However, while the average trader may want the freedom to make these choices, but that doesn`t mean they are ready and willing to accept the responsibility for the outcomes. The reality of forex market investing is that, if you want to be successful, you have to accept that no matter what the outcome may be, you are completely responsible. Not the market, not the economy, not world events - you.

Traders who are not ready to accept this responsibility can find themselves in a dilemma: How do you participate in an activity that allows complete freedom of choice and avoid taking responsibility if the outcomes of your choices are poor? This can be accomplished by adopting a forex market investing style that is random. Random trading can be defined as poorly planned trades, or trades that are not planned at all.

Randomness in trading is unstructured freedom without responsibility. When we trade without well-defined plans and with an unlimited set of variables, it`s very easy to take credit for the trades that turn out to our liking, because in our minds we used some kind of method. But at the same time, it`s very easy to avoid taking responsibility for the trades that didn`t turn out the way we wanted, because there`s always some variable we didn`t know about and therefore couldn`t take into consideration beforehand. Random forex market investing is an unorganized approach that doesn`t allow you to find out what works and what doesn`t.

If the market`s behaviour were truly random, then it would be difficult, if not impossible, to create consistent results. If it`s impossible to generate consistent results, then we really don`t have to take responsibility. However, direct experience with the market tells a different story. The same market behaviour patterns present themselves over and over again. Even though the outcome of each individual pattern is random, the outcome of a series of patterns is consistent and statistically reliable.

These patterns can aid your forex market investing if you choose to use a disciplined, organized, and consistent approach. Many traders spend hours doing market analysis and planning trades for the next day. Then, instead of making the trades they planned, they do something else. The trades they make are usually ideas from friends or tips from brokers. By making unstructured, random trades, they are able to avoid responsibility.

Why would they do this? When you act on your own ideas, you put your abilities on the line and get instant feedback on how well your ideas worked. It`s difficult to rationalize away any unsatisfactory endings, since they`re the direct results of actions. On the other hand, when you enter an unplanned, random trade, you shrug off the responsibility by blaming your friend or broker for their bad ideas.

The nature of forex market investing itself also makes it easy to escape responsibility. Any trade has the potential to be a winner, whether you`re a great analyst or a poor one. It takes a lot of effort to create and follow a disciplined approach that will make you a consistent winner. But, if you invest the effort, you can achieve success as a trader, and reap the benefits of the market.

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Trading Foreign Exchange the Black Box Way

2006-10-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

There's an ongoing debate among financial experts about the determinants of portfolio returns. Some maintain that asset allocation accounts for up to 90 percent of long-term gains. Others are convinced that low costs are the magic bullet. Probably the best course of action is to keep your eye on both.

What this means is that investors with a high, or even moderate, tolerance for risk might consider allocating a tiny portion of their portfolio to commodities, including foreign exchange, commonly called forex.

Indeed, lackluster returns in the fixed income and equity markets over the past few years have sent investors in search of alternative investments like real estate and commodities. So not surprisingly, experts in foreign exchange trading have stepped up the marketing of their wares to savvy and neophyte investors alike.

Among these experts are forex black box traders. These professionals have a proven track record of success in trading foreign exchange. Their services are especially attractive to people with little knowledge of the vast and idiosyncratic foreign exchange market - those who are comfortable relying on forex trading experts to lead the way.

The black box approach refers to a computerized system that automatically executes trades based on an algorithm or strategy. A forex black box trader develops a proprietary model through historical analysis of trading patterns. The trader then applies the model in real time to a computer program that generates buys and sells 24/7 in the global foreign exchange markets - hopefully at a profit but, of course, there's no guarantee.

There are three types of black box trading models: fully disclosed, gray and undisclosed. A fully-disclosed model reveals all about the technical indicators that trigger trades and the relationships among various indicators - so investors know exactly what prompted a trade.

The gray box approach discloses only some of the indicators that spark trades. And with undisclosed black box trading, nothing about the model's logic is known - so either the investor has a lot of confidence in it or so little money at risk that this leap of faith won't keep him or her awake at night.

It may seem counterintuitive, but there are good reasons for forex black box traders to operate on an undisclosed basis. To do otherwise could invite other traders to replicate the strategy. So for the average investor, the most relevant consideration is the profitability of a particular black box model.

Proponents of black box trading think that this quantitative approach is the only way to make money over the long term - and that taking emotion out of the equation in this way is key. In a volatile market, even seasoned forex traders react emotionally and sometimes change course. Black box trading is probably a good solution for investors who can let go and let the model's discipline prevail.

Besides removing the human emotional component, there are other practical reasons for developing computer models to capture profits in foreign exchange trading. For one, it's a 24/7 market - and the computer never sleeps. So whenever the optimal conditions specified in the model present themselves, you're virtually guaranteed an execution.

And, unlike the equities markets, the forex market is very fragmented. There are scores of banks that make markets in currencies. Combine this with the explosion in available trading data (quotes, bids and offers) and the need to make split-second decisions - and it becomes clear why working with a forex black box expert is a practical way to participate in this market.

If you're considering forex black box trading, be sure to use a trading system that features a demo account you can easily download and use without providing a lot of personal information. This will give you a chance to trade on a trial basis before you allocate a larger sum to the foreign exchange portion of your portfolio. Also, make sure the system has a track record of profitability.

Be wary of systems that require significant up-front fees to get started. This could be a red flag that the system is locking in its returns right away - but you may end up struggling to turn a profit. Most reputable systems offer a money-back guarantee if you're dissatisfied.

The bottom line: If you're an investor with a medium to high tolerance for risk, foreign exchange black box trading could add a new dimension to your diversified portfolio.

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Forex Time Zones and Currency Relationships

2006-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Knowing when to enter the market is crucial to exercising a good technical trading strategy. There are many pitfalls that inexperienced traders experience because they are entering the market when the probability for making a successful trade is reduced. So when is the best time to look for a trade and why?

The best time to look for a trade is when there is heavy volume in the currency markets. Since the Forex market is open 24 hours per day, it's best to find the times when multiple countries markets are trading at the same time. Every Forex market in the world operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in their respective time zones. In order to take advantage of the chance of many trades developing, one needs to look at when the Forex market times in different countries overlap. In the overlapping times when multiple markets are open, generally there is the most volume and pip movement.

For instance, it is best to trade the EUR/USD, USD/CHF, or GBP/USD between 8am EST and 12pm EST because the US market is just opening at 8am EST while the European market is finishing up for the day. Another good time to trade is in the middle of the night from 1am EST to 3am EST as many trades develop as the Asian markets are closing and the European markets are opening. The Australian and Asian Markets overlap between 7pm and 10pm EST as well which offer good opportunities. Generally speaking, one can just shut off their computer and not bother looking for trades from 4pm-6pm EST as the US markets close and there are no overlapping markets in those times, so although there may be profitable trades one could enter, the volume is much lower and it is far less likely great trades will develop. The Canadian market does not play a big role in affecting the markets so just trade along with the US market times when the European, Asian, or Australian markets are open.

Many currency pairs tend to trend in the same direction (parallel) or opposite directions (inversely). Traders can use this information to plan to trade more than one pair knowing that they have a high probability of moving in the same or inverse direction.

The general rule is that these pairs listed below tend to trend in parallel relationships. The Euro and Cable tend to move together the most. EUR/USD and GBP/USD USD/CHF and USD/JPY AUD/USD and NZQ/USD

And, these pairs below tend to move inversely the most. The Euro and the Swissy tend to move inversely the most. EUR/USD and USD/CHF GBP/USD and USD/JPY AUD/USD and USD/CAD

Lastly, remember that when trading, Bulls and Bears make money, but pigs get slaughtered. Don't be too greedy. Trade with proper equity management and never risk more than 2% of your trading account on a single trade. Look for 10%-30% pip gains and move on to the next trades. Building small consistent profits will add up to large long-term gains. Trade during times when markets overlap, and use information on parallel and inverse relationships to determine whether or not to enter on trades on multiple currency pairs at the same time.

Wishing You Success! David Molina

If you are interested in furthering your FOREX education and want to get a FREE e-book "Forex Freedom", please visit: www.fxtradingmentor.com

Are You Winning? Calculating FOREX Profits and Losses

2006-10-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

When trading currency you deal with much smaller divisions than when dealing with actual cash. For example the smallest denomination of US is currency is the penny ($0.01) but on the FOREX market it can be traded down to $0.0001. The smallest division that a currency can be traded at is known as a pip. A pip is short for Price Interest Point; this is sometimes also referred to as points. Currencies are traded in very large lots so even a small change in the value can create a significant profit or loss. If you are trading $100,000 in US dollars a single pip is worth $10 so a change of 60 pips or 6/10 of one cent will generate a profit or loss of $600 depending on the direction of the move.

When trading currencies various lot sizes are not unusual but 100,000 units are considered a standard lot. A single unit is what ever the name of that particular currency is for example when trading Japanese currency a single unit is the Yen. Some trades are done in lots of 10,000 these are commonly referred to as mini lots. Even though lots of various sizes are possible the majority of trades involve standard lots of 100,000 units.

The size of the pip is based on the currency type; different types of currencies have different pip sizes. For example the Yen pip is 0.01 where as the US dollar has a pip of 0.0001. Both the type of currency as well as the size of the lot determines the actual value of the pip. Using the US dollar as the quote currency (second currency) such as CAD/USD then the pip always equals $10 for a standard lot and $1 for a mini lot. For other currencies it is easiest to use a pip value calculator to determine the pip value.

In the FOREX market there are a variety of order types available for making trades. You need to have a solid working knowledge of the different order types to be a successful FOREX trader.

Market Orders - This is simply an order to buy or sell at the current market price. Market orders can be used to enter or exit a position. Market orders can be dangerous during times of high market volatility. The price can change significantly between the time that you enter your order and the time when it is actually recorded or executed. The amount that the market changes between the time that an order is placed and when it is executed is known as slippage. Depending on market conditions slippage can result in the gain or loss over several pips.

Limit Order - This is an order to buy or sell at a specific price. These are used to help you control your trades without having to constantly monitor the market. If you have a sell limit in place for a price higher than the current rate your order will be executed as soon as the market rate rises to match your limit. If you have a buy order in place to purchase a currency at below the current market price your order will not execute until the current rate drops to match your limit.

Stop Order - These are used to limit your losses if the market moves in the opposite direction of what you are expecting. This will cause your currency to be sold at below the market price or purchased above the current price. A stop loss is executed when the market crosses the threshold set by the trader when placing the order.

To be successful on the FOREX market it is essential that you learn to figure profit and losses and to use the various order types to their fullest potential.

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What Are The Order Types Used By Forex Traders?

2006-10-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

During the last decade, Forex trading has become one of the most attractive business opportunities to ever hit people's interest around the world. Every day people from many walks in life is actively considering entering the profitable world of the currency markets due to its accessibility and trading characteristics.

One of the first things you will do once you decide you want to enter and learn about the forex markets will be to choose your forex broker and then download the free trading platform software from your broker website.

When you first open your trading station software, you will find that there are a number of ways to enter the market or, said in another way, there are a number of ways to place an initial order to buy or sell any currency pair.

One of these types of orders is what is called a "Market order"; this is an order to buy or sell a currency pair at the market price considering the instant that the order is received and processed (which is usually within seconds of hitting the "OK" button on your trading platform). When a market order is placed, you are simply saying "I'll buy or sell the currency pair at whatever price it is at when my order gets processed."

There is a different way to enter the market that is called an "Entry order"; this is an order to buy or sell a currency pair when it reaches a certain price target; which you should determine by using your knowledge of technical and fundamental indicators. In theory this can be any price. You could set an entry order for the low price of a time period, or the high price of the same time period'; it all depends on your intentions, to sell or to buy. As an example, one usual recommendation is that you should always set an entry order to be the same price as the 'open price" of the time period. When you place an "entry order" to buy, for example, you are simply saying "I want to buy this currency pair at a given future price and if it never reaches that price, I won't purchase the pair."

Stop and Limit orders are two different ways to exit a trade, automatically (i.e., without closing out your position via the click of your mouse or manually), after the trade is entered. And they are widely used as safety locks so you won't end losing everything in a bad trade. In short, you must always use stops and limits when trading the forex markets.

A "stop order" is used to stop losses. A "limit order" (recommended if you can't monitor your open trade) is used to redeem profits. Where these orders are placed, in relation to your open trade, depends on the direction of the entry order, this is; if you buy or sell.

Remember; a "stop order" is always placed below the current market value of that currency pair when you are in a long (buy) trade. And a "limit order" is always placed above the current market value of that currency pair when you are in a long (buy) trade.

Adrian Pablo is a Forex freelance writer with articles published in a number of places. Get a free report on Fibonacci Trading and learn more about the world of forex trading , visit:
http://www.1-forex.com

Fibonacci And The Forex Market

2006-10-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

First what is the Forex market: The FOREX or Foreign Exchange market is the largest financial market in the world, with an volume of more than $1.5 trillion daily, dealing in currencies. Unlike other financial markets, the Forex market has no physical location, no central exchange. It operates through an electronic network of banks, corporations and individuals trading one currency for another.

The Forex, or foreign currency exchange, is all about money. Money from all over the world is bought, sold and traded. On the Forex, anyone can buy and sell currency and with possibly come out ahead in the end. When dealing with the foreign currency exchange, it is possible to buy the currency of one country, sell it and make a profit. For example, a broker might buy a Japanese yen when the yen to dollar ratio increases, then sell the yens and buy back American dollars for a profit.

Strategies for anticipating and capturing significant turns in stocks, stock indices and exchange-traded funds in Forex trading are known as Fibonacci strategies. Classic principles and applications of Fibonacci numbers and a trading system known as the Elliott Wave are used. Basically the idea is to calculate and predict key turning points in the markets, analyze business and economic cycles and identify profitable turning points in interest rate movement. Forex traders also benefit from the system and from Fibonacci.

Fibonacci was the name used by the Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano from 1170 to 1250. The son of Guilielmo and a member of the Bonacci family, Fibonacci sometimes used the name Bigollo, which may mean good-for-nothing traveller. Fibonacci was a genius ahead of his day. He was a brilliant mathematician who wrote several books. He is most well known today for the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, etc, which figures prominently in what is today known as Fibonaccian mathematics, and has a quarterly scholarly journal devoted to it. Until that time the Western world had used the Roman numeral system, Fibonacci introduced the West to the modern decimal system, imported from Babylonia. The Fibonacci number sequence is studied as part of number theory and hase applications in the counting of mathematical objects such as sets, permutations and sequences, as well as in computer science.

It was Fibonacci's belief that Arabic numerals were simpler and more efficient than Roman numerals. He traveled throughout the Mediterranean world and studied under the major Arab mathematicians returning to Pisa around 1200. In the year 1202, at the age of 32,Fibonacci published his findings in The Book of Calculation. In it he showed the practical importance of this new number system by applying it to commercial accounting and to conversion of weights and measures. He also showed how to apply it to the calculation of interest, money changing, and many other applications. The book was well received and had a profound impact on European thought. Despite this, the use of decimal numbers did not become widespread until the invention of printing almost three hundred years later. Fibonacci was honored to be a guest of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II who was a fan of mathematics and science. In the year 1240 his city, the Republic of Pisa honored him by paying him a salary from the city.

Fibonacci's numbers are used in the run time analysis of Euclid's algorithm determining he greatest common divisor of two integers. It was also used by Yuri Matiyasevich to solve Hilbert's tenth problem. The numbers are also used in a formula about diagonals Pascal's triangle. He said that every positive integer can be written uniquely in a way as the sum of one or more distinct Fibonacci numbers and in that way the sum does not include any two consecutive numbers, which is called Zeckendorf's theorem. A sum of Fibonacci numbers that satisfies these ideas is a Zeckendorf representation

The numbers are also commonly found in nature. They have been found in the patterns of leaves, grass and flowers, and branches in bushes and trees. Fibonacci numbers can also be found in the arrangement of tines on a pine cone, in raspberry seeds and other natural sources. Genes too and enzymes often show Fibonacci patterns.

Fibonacci, known in his day and recognized as a genius, was able to see patterns that escaped others. It is only with the modern age of computers that his numbers and patterns can be utilized anywhere near what he envisioned. Fibonacci's translation of Arabic numerals, replacing the limited and bulky Roman system of numerals, is a debt the entire modern world owes to him. Serious Forex traders also owe a debt to the man from Pisa.

The genius of continues today in the Fibonacci strategy and its use on the Forex market.

For more articles from this auctor on this subject visit his article syndication site at http://www.forex-article-directory.com/

Forex Glossary

2006-10-03T08:54:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the most common terms used in FOREX trading.

Ask Price - Sometimes called the Offer Price, this is the market price for traders to buy currencies. Ask Prices are shown on the right side of a quote - e.g. EUR/USD 1.1965 / 68 - means that one euro can be bought for 1.1968 UD dollars.

Bar Chart - A type of chart used in Technical Analysis. Each time division on the chart is displayed as a vertical bar which show the following information - the top of the bar is the high price, the bottom of the bar is the low price, the horizontal line on the left of the bar shows the opening price and the horizontal line on the right of bar shows the closing price.

Base Currency - is the first currency in a currency pair. A quote shows how much the base currency is worth in the quote (second) currency. For example, in the quote - USD/JPY 112.13 - US dollars are the base currency, with 1 US dollar being worth 112.13 Japanese yen.

Bid Price - is the price a trader can sell currencies. The Bid Price is shown on the left side of a quote - e.g. EUR/USD 1.1965 / 68 - means that one euro can be sold for 1.1965 UD dollars.

Bid/Ask Spread - is the difference between the bid price and the ask price in any currency quotation. The spread represents the broker's fee, and varies from broker to broker.

Broker - the intermediary between buyer and seller. Most FOREX brokers are associated with large financial institutions and earn money by setting a spread between bid and ask prices.

Candlestick Chart - A type of chart used in Technical Analysis. Each time division on the chart is displayed as a candlestick - a red or green vertical bar with extensions above and below the candlestick body. The top of the extension shows the highest price for the chart division and the bottom of the extension shows the lowest price. Red candlesticks indicate a lower closing price than opening price, and green candlesticks indicate the price is rising.

Cross Currency - A currency pair that does not include US dollars - e.g. EUR/GBP.

Currency Pair - Two currencies involved in a FOREX transaction - e.g. EUR/USD.

Economic Indicator - A statistical report issued by governments or academic institutions indicating economic conditions within a country.

First In First Out (FIFO) - refers to the order open orders are liquidated. The first orders to be liquidated are the first that were opened.

Foreign Exchange (FOREX, FX) - Simultaneously buying one currency and selling another.

Fundamental Analysis - Analysis of political and economic conditions that can affect currency prices.

Leverage or Margin - The ratio of the value of a transaction to the required deposit. A common margin for FOREX trading is 100:1 - you can trade currency worth 100 times the amount of your deposit.

Limit Order - An order to buy or sell when the price reaches a specified level.

Lot - The size of a FOREX transaction. Standard lots are worth about 100,000 US dollars.

Major Currency - The euro, German mark, Swiss franc, British pound, and the Japanese yen are the major currencies.

Minor Currency - The Canadian dollar, the Australian dollar, and the New Zealand dollar are the minor currencies.

One Cancels the Other (OCO) - Two orders placed simultaneously with instructions to cancel the second order on execution of the first.

Open Position - An active trade that has not been closed.

Pips or Points - The smallest unit a currency can be traded in.

Quote Currency - The second currency in a currency pair. In the currency pair USD/EUR the euro is the quote currency.

Rollover - Extending the settlement time of spot deals to the current delivery date. The cost of rollover is calculated using swap points based on interest rate differentials.

Technical Analysis - Analysis of historical market data to predict future movements in the market.

Tick - The minimum change in price.

Transaction Cost - The cost of a FOREX transaction - typically the spread between bid and ask prices.

Volatility - A statistical measure indicating the tendency of sharp price movements within a period of time.

This article provided courtesy of http://www.daytraderfutures.net

Are FOREX Signals Fool Proof?

2006-10-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

Monitoring the market for good entrance and exit points is by far the most time consuming part of trading on the FOREX exchange. You could easily spend the better part of your life setting in front of a computer screen monitoring the price changes.

You can use automated orders like stop loss and limit orders to help alleviate some of this problem. They will at least allow you to get a way from you computer for a while knowing that any losses will be limited. The downside is that you could easily miss out on some potential profits by not being there to monitor your limits.

If you really do not want to spend the rest of your life in front of your computer but you still want to make a profit trading FOREX then you should consider signing up with a service that provides FOREX signals. A signal service monitors and analyzes the market and then notifies you of the results. This information can be sent to your email, pager or even directly to your cell phone.

A FOREX signal service is a paid subscription service, you will have to sign up and pay either a monthly or annual subscription fee to receive this information. In some cases you will find that your broker provides this as an add on to their basic software system, in this case you can also receive notices as a pop up inside of the main software as well as the other notification options.

Most services will only offer signals on a certain number of currency pairs, the most common pairs that are provided are: EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CHF. You may find that some services though will offer signals on less mainstream combinations.

Most companies mainly utilize technical analysis to generate their signal information. They frequently use a combination of indicators to determine trends and identify entry and exit points. This information is then forwarded to the subscribers that can choose to act on it if they wish. Some companies even offer the option of having the trades automatically executed.

A variety of signals can be generated from currency charts by using multiple technical studies. The Simple Moving Average will generate buy signals when a currency moves above the average line and sell signals when it moves below the average price line.

Moving Average Convergence Divergence is also used to generate a buy signal when it moves above the line or a sell signal if it moves below.

Volume indicators are also used to monitor the market. High volume, especially if it is near the bottom of the market can indicate the beginning of a new trend; where as low volume shows a lack of trader confidence.

Another indicator of changes in the in the market are Bollinger Bands. When the bands tighten you will usually see sharp price changes with prices that touch one band moving all the way to the other band.

Volatility and momentum are taken in consideration as well to confirm the information provided by other signals. All of these factors taken together will provide a fairly reliable indicator of how the market is behaving.

Signals are in no way guaranteed to be accurate; if they were completely accurate then every trader would become a millionaire. Signals can provide good recommendations as to what trades to make but now signal service will guarantee their information. Reputable firms though will show you their history and track record so you can make an informed decision about using them.

The price of a good signal service will run anywhere from $50 t $200 a month. Signals will never replace trader education and common sense; they are merely another tool in the arsenal of an educated trader.

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Are FOREX Signals Fool Proof?

2006-10-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

What Affects Foreign Exchange Rate?What Affects Foreign Exchange Rate?

2006-10-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Yen! Euro! Dollar! Franc! Pound! There are many choices and decisions to make when it comes to forex trading, and the task can seem pretty daunting. If you have decided to try your hand at the foreign exchange market, newly opened to the individual investor through the advantages of online trading, the fact is that all the information you will need to gather and all the factors that will need to be taken into account in order to be profitable in your venture will only add to the confusion. There are several areas to consider when it comes to foreign exchange, factors that have their effects in many areas of a country's economy and thus on the rate of foreign exchange.

Do not assume that just because you have chosen to invest in foreign exchange means that you are free from other areas of the market. Stocks have a direct and sometimes massive effect on a country's rate of exchange. If a large corporation is planning on outsourcing or opening big offices in a country, whether the country is large or small, the news will have a direct affect on the rate of exchange. Locating to a country is an investment move on the part of the company itself, and thus signals its confidence in that country as a prospective capital gainer. The exchange rate of the country's currency can be expected to directly reflect this view as corporate investors begin to invest in the company in foreign currency to match interest rates.

Likewise, commodity prices also have a direct impact on forex rates. A country with a large amount of a commodity that is in demand, such as oil and recently copper, will inevitably se its economy begin to grow stronger as a result of the rising prices. This will also affect any countries that are short on the commodity in demand, as they grow increasingly dependent on other countries for their economic functions at the ground level.

The domestic policy of a country in terms of economics can also directly impact its currency on the exchange market. In this way, democracy can have a huge role to play as far as the forex trader is concerned. An elected government that ushers in fiscal policies aimed at reducing debt and eliminating deficit will mean a stronger economy as less monies are put towards interest payments. The boost will inevitably play out in the currency value of the country.

It should be fairly obvious that any person who hopes to be a player when it comes to foreign exchange will need to commit to a certain amount of homework. The natural resources ofa country, its governmental policy, and its interest rates are all very important factors and can make or break a forex trade.

Willie Reynolds, on his Forex investing website shares many of the http://forexsage.com/ .

If You Want to Make Money You Need to Learn How

2006-10-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

If you want to be successful as a FOREX trader then proper training is the key. A we trained trader will be more knowledgeable about the market and how it can be expected to move under a given circumstance. This knowledge will give you a greater chance of making profitable trades. Trying to trade without this knowledge is the same as shooting blind, your chances of successful trades is very slim. While you may get lucky and make some money on some trades in the long run you will most likely lose.

The Internet abounds with information on how to trade and make money doing it. There are literally hundreds of web sites with beneficial information and there are a multitude of books available to help you learn about all aspects of FOREX trading. If learning from a book is difficult for you there are training systems available that will teach you in an easy to learn step-by-step style.

If you have the time to invest in it you can find all of the information you need for free on the Internet or at your local library. The only problem with the information on the Internet is that it tends to be poorly organized if it is organized at all. All of the information is there but it may be difficult to pull it all together in a usable format.

There are courses available that will present all of the information in an easy to understand and structured manner to make learning about FOREX much easier. While this information is not free it might be well worth the investment in saved time as well as thoroughness of knowledge. There are courses available for all levels of expertise.

The cost of these training courses can vary dramatically anywhere from free courses to $1000 or even more. As is so often the case you get what you pay for. There are many free online courses that will give you at least the rudimentary skills for trading but will not have some of the deep level training such as analyzing and reading charts.

There are two major types of study courses available. You can either take an actual classroom class where you will attend physical classes with other people. You can also sign up for online courses where you will do y our learning on your pc from your home. You can find these classroom classes available in most cities, there are classes for beginners that cover the basics of trading as well as more advanced classes that will teach you higher-level skills.

With a classroom class you have the advantage of personal attention, you will have an instructor that can answer your questions directly. The downside is that the classes are not as convenient and your are stuck with the class schedule and must be sure to attend all classes.

You can also attend seminars to learn more, to benefit from a 1 or 2 day seminar though you should at least be pretty knowledgeable about the basics of trading. Just like classes these seminars are available in most major cities and are usually available every couple of months. Seminars are usually lead by well-known FOREX professionals who will share strategy and techniques with the attendees.

If you prefer to study at your own pace then you should investigate an online or CDROM course. You can use these as your schedule allows from the comfort of your home or office.

If you have the option the absolute best way to learn FOREX is with an individual instructor or mentor. Someone who will teach you at your pace and learning style.

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What's the Difference of Trading Mini Lots Vs. Full-sized Lots in Forex

2006-10-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

In Forex trading there is something called, a Mini Account, and it uses a different leverage calculation than a regular (100k) account. This is, instead of trading full-size currency lots (100,000 units), you'll trade in lots that are just 1/10 the size (10,000 currency units), which in turn greatly reduces your risk. Pips in a Mini Account are worth, on average, $1 instead of the $8 to $10 value they have in a regular account. The Mini Forex account offers up to 200:1 leverage, this means that just a $50 margin deposit will allow you to trade lots worth roughly $10,000 , but the smaller lot sizes, with correspondingly smaller pip values, means that you'll be assuming less total risk. For example, while a 20-pip loss on a 100,000 USD/JPY position would be $200, the same loss on a 10,000 USD/JPY position in a Mini account would amount to $20.

Here you have an overview of leverage (Margin, Account Size) on each of the two accounts discussed above:

100K (Regular Full-sized Account) - Minimum required account deposit = $2,000 - Recommended required account deposit = $5,000 to $10,000 - Traded in 100,000-unit currency lots - Default Margin: set at 1% ($1,000 per lot) - Leverage = 100:1 or 50:1 (if margin is set at 2%)

Mini Account - Minimum required account deposit = $300 - Recommended required account deposit = $2,000 - Traded in 10,000-unit currency lots - Default Margin: set at 0.5% ($50 per mini-lot) - Leverage = 200:1

There is no downside to trading a mini account , you will be still enjoying all the benefits that full-size FX account holders enjoy; including, same state-of-the art trading software, charts, resources, and tools, etc. This mini accounts are ideal for a new Forex trader to develop a disciplined, rational forex trading strategy without excessively focusing on profits and losses.

Also there is no maximum trade volume when you use a mini account. Although the standard trade size is 10,000 units, you are not limited to trading one lot. For instance, you can trade 10,000 units, 50,000 units or 200,000 units. This means as you become more seasoned and build up confidence you can slowly increase the size of your positions to maximize profits. In fact the trade size of 10,000 units allows for more flexibility in terms of customizing the size of your trade. The ability to customize the size of the trade allows you to have a better risk management. With less capital at risk in a Mini FX account, it is easier for you to develop a disciplined trading methodology, as well as the confidence needed to be a successful currency trader, without the anxiety and distractions that come with large Profit and Lose swings.

Adrian Pablo; Forex trader and freelance writer.
You can download a free Fibonacci trading report at his website:
http://www.1-forex.com

Winning Strategies With Forex Charts

2006-10-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

As you read forex charts, remember that the two fundamental approaches for online forex trading: fundamental analysis and technical analysis.

Fundamental analysis doesn't rely on forex charts. It scrutinizes political and economic indicators to determine trades. Charts here are deployed as used as a secondary reference.

Technical analysis on the other hand, attempts to predict price swings by analysis of historical price activity. Those who use technical analysis study the relationship between price and time.

The most actively traded pair of currencies is the Euro and the US dollar, so we will use them in our example. The dollar is on the right hand side of the chart and the Euro is on the left hand side. The currencies are expressed in relationship to each other in pairing. Forex charges will always display how much of the currency on the right hand side is necessary to buy a unit of the currency on the left side. Looking at the typical EU-USD, chart you will notice the last price displayed per given date. This number is always emphasized. The time is tabbed horizontally across the bottom of a chart and the price scale is displayed vertically along the right hand edge of the chart. The time and the price are set in all caps to help the trader remember that technical analysis rests upon the relationship between time and price.

The trader observes the price and time movement on a chart. These include bars, lines, point and figure, and Japanese candle sticks-- the most favored method. With the candlestick method there is a large, red section that is the body of the candlestick. Lines protrude from the top and bottom and they are the upper and lower wicks. When you look at all the candles on a chart it is apparent that bodies come by difference sizes. Sometimes no body exists at all.

The same is true with wicks. Candle wicks come by many difference sizes; there may be no wick at all. The length of the body and the length of the wick are determined by the price range for the candle. Longer candles will have had more price movement during the time that they were open. The top of a candle wick is the highest price for that currency while the wick's bottom is the lowest price. A currency is bullish when the close of the candle is higher than the open. In simple terms this means that there were more buyers than there were sales during the opening time period. Sometimes the candles will not have wicks. The price opened and it dropped off until it closed.

Forex charts don't offer bullet proof trading hints, but they can help a trader. Past trends do have their place in forex trading as most traders will admit, and using the charts to track historical trends can assist a trader in making a snap decision.

The online investor typically joins a service that provides realtime charts that updates on currency activity. Charts can be checked on a minute to minute basis. For those who primarily do their trading based on historical accuracy this can ease the burden of prediction.

Most forex traders however use a combination of fundamental and technical analysis. They may chart historical trends, but they will also pay close attention to political, cultural and economic indicators within a region. They might use charts and other techniques to check correlation between political climate and currency fluctuations. But even the most sophisticated technical analysis software or tool has its limitations. A trader must be prepared to take risks... and invest money that is not needed for the immediate future.

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Short Introduction to Elliot Waves as a Resource in Forex Trading

2006-10-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

The Forex market has the largest volume of trades per day among all the capital markets you can trade. This characteristic together with it’s high leverage and around the clock trading schedule makes Forex very attractive for traders around the world.

Once you enter the world of forex trading you will realize that this market has strong trends that seem to follow a repetitive pattern in all the different time frames you can use to analyze the market conditions.

Ralph Nelson Elliot also observed this and after analyzing a great number of charts he discovered in the late 1920’s that the markets move in a repetitive manner that is far away from being a totally chaotic behavior. The markets move in cycles and they reflect the mass psychology of the active elements participating in them, with a characteristic ebb and flow that can be divided and analyzed as “waves” of this active elements psychology in their daily dealing with the markets.

But Elliot not only discovered the repetitive nature of the markets cycles but he also realized that this patterns had a fractal nature. This means that the patterns not only repeated with time but that in a given period of time the characteristic wave pattern would repeat at different scales (days, hours, minutes).

The Elliot wave pattern can be divided in five constitutive waves with the first of the waves called the impulsive wave. The fractal nature if this waves was evident to Elliot when he observed that in every impulsive wave, when observed at a smaller time scale he would find the characteristic five waves of the pattern he had found and if he now looked at the impulsive wave of the smaller impulsive waves in an even smaller scale he would find again five ways, etc.

Elliot waves are very important in Forex because he identified the specific patterns that you can observe when trading this market and considering the repetitive nature of this patterns you can make a pretty accurate forecast of what the markets will do next. Giving you a huge advantage in your daily encounters with the currency markets.

Adrian Pablo is a freelance writer with articles published in a number of places. Get a free report on Fibonacci Trading and learn more about the world of trading, visit=> http://www.1-forex.com

Short Introduction to Elliot Waves as a Resource in Forex Trading

2006-10-03T08:34:00.000-07:00