Tips for forex traders
Anyone who is planning to engage in online forex trading wants to be successful and make money. Towards this end, it is in every novice trader’s best interest to follow some of the tips offered by traders who have enjoyed success in their forex trading careers.
Plan a trading strategy
Careful planning can make all the difference between success and failure, and there are a number of factors that should be taken into account when putting a trading strategy together.
One of the most important things to consider is the particular currency pairs on which the trader wants to concentrate. This decision should be made in large part based on the amount of risk the FX trader is willing to take as some currency pairs are much more volatile than others; generally speaking, trading volatile currency pairs will involve a greater risk of loss, but will also offer larger potential profits.
A successful trading strategy will also involve deciding how long to remain in a position; this can range from a matter of minutes to several days. Traders who decide to leave a position open for longer periods of time will need to be aware that they may incur rollover charges.
When taking a position, the trader is advised to have an exit strategy in place. If the position looks to be a winner, a decision has to be made on when it is best to cash out. Alternatively, if the position is a losing one, a decision has to be made as to when to exit and cut losses.
Keep an eye on the forex market
When engaged in forex currency trading it makes eminent sense to know what is happening in the market. This means keeping an eye on the most current forex charts, and keeping up-to-date with forex news. Forex charts are essential for the FX trader; they allow the trader to analyse how the online currency market is faring, and help them to make crucial trading decisions. Forex news keeps the trader in touch with events around the world that influence the markets in general and their currency pairs specifically.
Log trades in a diary
By keeping a forex diary, the trader will be able to avoid previous mistakes which led to losing trades and learn from those strategies which proved to be profitable.
The advantages of automated forex trading
Automated forex trading offers many benefits to online currency traders. Not only can automated trading be carried out on many of the major platforms available for forex trading, but it can also be customised for the individual trader. Individuals who use metatrader are even able to write their own automatic forex trading programs which can then be ported to compatible systems.
Two important advantages of automated forex trading are that it takes the emotions out of trading and that it allows trading to continue around the clock, even when the trader is away from their desk.
Generally speaking, emotions and forex trading do not go together; relying on one’s emotions can cause a trader to make rash decisions, which in turn can lead to unnecessary losses. Automated forex trading systems have no emotions, and so all trades are carried out dispassionately.
Global currency trading never ceases; it takes place 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Individual traders have to eat and sleep, whereas an automated system does not. This means the trader, thanks to his or her automated system, can continue to trade even when they are asleep.
Even though there are many benefits to automated trading, problems can still arise. The quality of the system is extremely important, and so it is worth checking on what is available before selecting a system. It will also be in the trader’s best interest to beef up his risk management strategy when first employing any new automated trading system.
Some individuals choose to employ an automated forex system purely on a secondary account, providing 24/7 trading while the trader performs their primary trades manually using their main account. This will provide added versatility to any forex trading strategy.
Developing a forex trading strategy
Developing a forex trading strategy
To be successful in the forex market a trader needs a strategy; although they may have access to the best forex brokers and utilise the best automated systems, forex robots, and software available, without a well thought out strategy the chances of a trader achieving sustained success will be quite poor. A forex trading strategy cannot be bought off a shelf, however; a particular strategy will be unique to the particular trader.
Why is a trading strategy so important?
While it may incorporate elements of the trader’s personality, as well as lessons learned from previously successful (and unsuccessful) trades, the bottom line is that a successful forex trading strategy must meet the needs and requirements of the trader. In most cases, a working strategy will set the entry and exit rules for each trade, although the complexity of these rules – and how closely they are adhered to in specific trades – will be the decision of the trader based on their comfort level.
The trading strategy will also usually include guidelines for money management within the trader’s forex account, as well as the tools employed for trading. These may include the use of forex charts, indicators (technical or fundamental), market data, as well as favoured sources for forex news. The most important factor is that the trading strategy is one that the trader will be able to understand and follow, and that it fits in with the existing forex account.
Types of forex trading strategies
There are two basic types of currency trading strategy; mechanical and discretionary. When a mechanical strategy is employed, trades are based on strict mathematical rules. Mechanical trading strategies do not allow for much flexibility, and provide little leeway for dealing with fluctuations in the market.
A discretionary strategy does not make as much use of mathematical calculations, and rather leaves trading up to the discretion of the trader. The advantage of a discretionary trading strategy is that it allows for more flexibility which can prove advantageous, especially to experienced traders. The main disadvantage of discretionary forex trading strategies is that they allow the traders to make trades based on emotions or “hunches” which can lead to disaster, particularly for inexperienced traders. Discretionary trading strategies should only be employed by traders who can keep their emotions in check and look at each trade both dispassionately and logically.
How a forex forum can help the trader
Online currency trading can be a lonely occupation. The trader may be using the best forex systems and platforms available, but in many cases he or she will be spending the vast majority of their time in front of a computer screen and not interacting with others. However, despite the generally solitary nature of online forex trading, a trader will still need to keep in contact with other traders to pick up new ideas, hear about the latest trends, and continue to hone their trading skills.
An excellent way to maintain contact with fellow traders and learn more about the world of online forex is through the use of forex forums. A forex forum is an online community which allows participants to discuss and share ideas about forex currency trading.
Sharing experiences on these forums is very important for forex traders, especially ones new to the business. A good forex forum will provide a platform for novices to pick up ideas and tips from experienced traders, and new traders will often find that those with more experience are very willing to share successful strategies and give them sound advice.
There are quite a few forex forums on the internet, and while not every forum will appeal to every trader, most traders will be able to easily find a forum they are comfortable with. Most forums provide separate sections for various topics, meaning that traders should be able to find discussions relevant to the aspects of FX trading that they are interested in quickly and easily.
What is forex? A beginner’s guide
Forex, quite simply, is the foreign exchange market where currencies are traded by governments, banks, corporations and individuals. Forex is a decentralised market with transactions conducted directly between two parties, resulting in a highly liquid market; between three and four trillion US dollars are traded every day.
How forex works
Exchange rates are the rate at which one currency can be traded against another, and the rates are written out in that way. For example, if one Euro buys 1.29550 US Dollars it is displayed as EUR/USD 1.29550.
The value of a currency against another is affected by many factors, including:
- Interest rates.
- Central/government bank meetings.
- National government decisions and policies.
- Economic news and forecasting.
- Global industry news.
- The weather.
Understanding these factors is the key to making a profit, buying when a currency has a low value and selling when its value has risen.
Being able to keep a keen eye on these factors is the key to successful trading, and there are a growing number of specialised websites dedicated to providing you with the best trading information.
Forex explained
We are all aware that currencies fluctuate or move up and down relative to each other. You only have to ask any holidaymaker how a difference in the exchange rate can make them feel richer or poorer when they travel abroad. For example, if the pound rises in value against the Euro, anyone on a holiday in Spain for example can buy more with their pounds and have a cheaper holiday. Of course the reverse can happen when the pound falls against the Euro and our holiday costs increase.
This is the basis of Forex trading which is how you can make or also lose money when your chosen currencies fluctuate. A huge amount of money is exchanged every day - by some estimates, about $3.2 trillion worth of currency changes hands every day. To give an example of how Forex works, this is typically done through a broker. What happens as a Forex trader you would choose a currency pair that in your opinion is going to change in value, shall we say Euros and US Dollars. Let us assume that you had purchased €1,000 at a time when €1 was worth $1.2, this would have cost you $1,200. Over a period of time if the currency changed in favour of the Euro and was now €1 was worth $1.3 your €1,000 would now be worth $1,300 or a gain of $100.
This is the simple basis of Forex trading and you can choose as many different pairs as you wish, if you want to become a Forex trader, the first thing that you should do is to find a good online broker and use their platform to practice Forex trading before you invest.
Is Forex more of an investment or a hobby?
Investors who visit Tradeforex and similar sites are interested in Forex trading for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons why it is such a popular investment choice is that it offers a very diverse range of options. Most people think of it as an investment activity, although some also pursue it as a hobby. The good thing about Forex is that it offers the advantage of an exciting hobby that can also generate an income.
Because Forex is such a major power in the financial market, many investors have been trying to get their share of the income potential. The currency market generates trades at a rate that far surpasses the securities market. In many ways, it has far fewer risks than the securities market, making it a better choice for more conservative investors. Many people have made a lot of money with much smaller investments.
Forex can easily be seen as a hobby as well as an investment. There is a certain amount of excitement involved with the trading process, especially for those who are interested in finances. Making predictions based on the current market conditions in a given country is very exciting indeed. Those who engage in Forex trading as a hobby often prefer to use fundamental analysis, which relies heavily on data collection.
There is a lot of value in treating Forex trading as both an investment and a hobby. Many people desire to have a hobby that is profitable, which makes currency trading a satisfactory choice. It is quite common for Forex traders to do their trading at night, on weekends or at other times when they are not working. Regularly taking part in profitable trading has allowed some to reduce the number of hours that they work or move into full time investing.
Making the most of your Forex trading mistakes
Forex news sites are very valuable resources for any trader. When you have access to good charts and other resources, you can do a better analysis of the trade decisions that you make. This is an effective way to learn from your mistakes so that they are not repeated.
Finding a healthy balance between a good analysis and over-analysing to the point of obsession is essential. Some people follow their trades so obsessively that they become mired. It is more helpful to observe the mistakes and make notes of them whilst moving on to the next task. Traders who spend too much time dwelling on their mistakes could end up repeating them.
Make sure that there is a trading plan that you intend to use and stay with. When you deviate from this plan in any way, you should make note of where your mistake happened. After making note of any mistakes, think of how you can stay with your plan in order to avoid further mistakes. Review the plan that you use regularly to evaluate whether you are closely following it.
Always evaluate losses in light of whether you used a proper trading plan, as well as any wins. It is not uncommon for a trader to try a new technique that brings them a lot of money. You will want to make sure you carefully document anything new that you try. This could be a winning strategy that can be used again.
Traders who use diaries will be able to make the most of any mistakes. The diary can be referred to at any given time to learn what techniques should be avoided. Make note of even the smallest mistakes, because these could prove to be quite important later on. Use either a traditional diary or a word processing document on the computer.
Choosing a Forex trading approach that works
There is quite a bit of analysis that needs to be undertaken in order to make the right trading decisions. If you familiarise yourself with the most common approaches, you will have a better idea of what works in your situation.
Fundamental analysis relies heavily on different factors that may affect the trading process. Local economic issues, such as job rates and inflation, frequently come into play with this method. People who prefer this method generally find these factors to be better indicators of whether they should make a trade or not. When using the fundamental analysis method, most people will rely on economic news to help them make their decisions.
Many others prefer using a technical analysis. Rather than studying economic trends, this method relies on price trends with the currency that is being traded. Most people who prefer the technical analysis method feel that this is more reliable than the fundamental analysis approach. Studying Forex charts is a major part of this particular method.
Before deciding which type of analysis to use, investors should consider what their strengths and weaknesses are where data is concerned. Fundamental analysis requires going through a large amount of data on a regular basis. This approach works best for those who only deal with a single currency pair. Technical analysis makes the comparison process much easier and also requires less research.
What is Forex?
Forex is short for foreign exchange market and is also known as currency trading. It is a global marketplace, open 24 hours a day, in which traders buy and sell currencies with the aim of profiting from fluctuations in their values.
Some businesses trade Forex simply to allow them to pay for goods and wages to overseas branches or subsidiaries. Many individuals and businesses trade Forex simply to make a profit. It is one of the fastest growing global marketplaces.
Traders use high-speed internet to buy and sell currency using a trading platform. They often use Forex brokers, who act as intermediaries between themselves and the corporation they are buying or selling currency from. Different brokers offer different leverage, the amount of lending and charge different spreads, the gap between the buying and selling price of a currency at a specific moment.
The aim is to buy currency while it is low in value and sell it when it is worth more. The bigger the difference between the buying and selling price, the more profit will be made.