Sunday, June 7, 2009

Do Not Underestimate Free Currency Trading Platforms

By Hugh Kimura

In this article I will briefly outline the evolution of currency trading platforms and what this means to today's at-home trader. I first got involved with currency trading way back when the government deregulated it and made spot foreign currency exchange available to the public. Back then, currencies were the wild west of trading. Traders still had to execute trades via phone because they primarily had to deal directly with the banks.

Slowly brokers came out with Java applets for online browser based charting that were free but were very difficult to use. Every time the cookies on my computer were erased, I had to set up my charts all over again. It was such a hassle. Order entry was still web page based and your execution price depended a lot on the speed of your internet connection.

Then a lot of the higher end trading platforms like Tradestation started to allow you to trade foreign currency on their sophisticated platforms. Of course this cost a ton of money a month just for you to have an account and be able to use their charting and execution platform.

Now fast forward to the present day. The quality and sophistication of the free currency trading platforms available to the average retail trader have improved significantly. Capabilities that were once only available to traders who could afford to pay the exorbitant monthly fees are now available to everyone.

For example, my favorite currency trading platform is Metatrader 4. This is a charting and execution platform that many forex brokers give their clients for free. Of course there are many other proprietary currency trading platforms out there, but Metatrader is probably the most widely used.

Not only can you enter trades but you can also write automated trading programs and back test them on historical data. In addition, you can write custom indicators that you can just plug into the Metatrader charts. This is the same functionality that some traders used to pay hundreds of dollars a month for.

What this means to at-home traders is that they don't have to spend a lot of money on overhead and that money can go into education or their actual trading accounts. Isn't technology amazing? My advice is to look around the internet for a platform that suits you best but before you put down that credit card to pay a monthly fee, check out the free options...they may surprise you!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Creating Foreign Exchange Trading Strategies

By Pete Miguel

Foreign exchange trading strategies are important so that you can fully understand how it's like to manage this type of business. Forex is a very dynamic type of business. It changes easily depending on the current business climate and it is also largely affected by many different factors. So the best thing you can do to ensure survival is by means of coming up with your own foreign exchange trading strategies. To help you through the process of finding out what type of strategy fits you best, here are some important factors which you can consider:

1. Different types of trading methods - The reason why forex is indeed a very dynamic type of trading business is because there are actually different types of trading mechanisms being used. One of the most popular types of currency trading is known in the business as spot currency trading. This trading mechanism occurs at indefinite periods of time between the buyer and the specified seller. Another type of trading mechanism being used is known as option trading. In here, there is a preexisting when both parties would agree to make their trade. There's also the option left for both parties to leave their agreement should they wish to do so.

2. When to opt to buy and when to sell - Every foreign exchange trading strategies rely heavily on their choices of when they would buy and when they would sell their own currencies. It's actually difficult at first to really specify when it would be best to make a sell and when it would be best to buy so you would have to study your market and note drastic changes. You need to have a keen eye for detail and develop your sense of intuition when it comes to making things work for you. Studying the market also allows you to plot your own plan and make sure that you follow through your outline. Studying the market will also make you more aware of the impact of varying factors on the fluctuation of different currencies.

3. Working hours - One of the biggest challenges that people face in the forex business is the need to have a very flexible time. These days, the burden of having to work almost all around the clock has been alleviated through the use of forex software and other forex tracking devices. But still, there exists the need to stay on top of the business by personally supervising things. You would have to figure out the best time for you to personally man the business versus those periods when you can simply let your business run on autopilot as you take care of other similarly important things and priorities.

Creating your own foreign exchange trading strategies allows you to be able to have a better way of dealing with things. It lets you take full control of your business and make sure that you can fully function despite the tough and sometimes demanding business environment. Creating your own strategy also allows you to discover new things about the forex industry.

To develop your own forex trading strategy, you should consistently expose yourself with the latest forex currency trading news updates.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Fibonacci Retracements

By Ahmad A Hassam

Forex traders use Fibonacci ratios to determine future levels of support and resistance based on previous moves in the currency markets. In other words, previous moves in the market determine where the Fibonacci levels will be placed.

Fibonacci analysis is used in determining and identifying the support and resistance levels during both the trend retracement and the trend continuations. It is based on a number of ratios derived from the Fibonacci sequence. This interesting and remarkable sequence was discovered by an Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano in the 13th century.

The sequence begins with the three numbers 0, 1 and 1. After that, the next number in the sequence is obtained by adding the previous two numbers. For example, by taking the first two numbers 0 &1; the next number obtained is 0+1=1 and by taking the next two recent numbers, 1 & 1; the next number obtained will be 1+1=2. So the Fibonacci sequence develops like this: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55.

The remarkable thing about this sequence is that the ratio of numbers at specific intervals would consistently be the same, no matter how high you count the numbers. Fibonacci sequence gives us two very important ratios. These two ratios appear over and over again in nature such as sunflowers, shells, pine cones etc. These two ratios also appear in forex markets.

The first ratio, 38.2%, is calculated by dividing any number in the Fibonacci sequence by the number two places higher in the sequence. For example, in the above Fibonacci sequence, divide 21 by 55 (two places higher), you get 21/55=38.2%.

The second important ratio is 61.8% obtained by dividing any number in the Fibonacci sequence by the next number in the sequence. For example, divide 34 by 55 (the next number), you get 34/54=61.8%.

Trends in currency markets don't go in a straight line. Up trends never go straight up and down trends never go straight down, the price will always trace along the way as buyers and sellers enter and exit the markets. The important question in every investor's mind is how far these retracements will penetrate into the previous price movement. This is where the Fibonacci ratios become useful and is extensively applied.

Most forex traders use the three additional ratios of 0%, 50% and 100% in conjunction with the two primary Fibonacci ratios to round out the retracement analysis tools. Two secondary Fibonacci ratios, 161.8% and 261.8% are also used in the trend continuation projections. The ratio 161.8% is obtained by dividing any number in the sequence by the number preceding it. For example, in the above sequence dividing 55 by 34 gives 55/34=161.8%. Similarly the ratio 261.8% is obtained by dividing any number in the sequence by the two preceding it. For example, divide 55 by 21, you will get 55/21=261.8%.

Fibonacci ratios are used by currency traders and investors in making entry and exit decisions for each trade. The first ratio 38.2% is used as an entry point in a trending market. The ratio 0% is used as the exit point. The question that you may ask is what the reason markets react to these levels is. You should not forget currency markets are just investors and speculators buying and selling currencies. So if many investors and speculators start believing in a thing, it starts becoming a self fulfilling prophecy. As most of the investors use Fibonacci analysis in determining the support and resistance and placing there entry and exit orders based on these ratios, the markets starts reacting to these levels.

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading and swing trading stocks and currencies.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Forex Broker - 6 Tips on Choosing the Best Forex Broker For Trading Success!

By Josh Koopman

Forex broker is an agent that does trading on your behalf. As such, the collect some commission everytime you make a trade no matter if you're making losses or earnings. So, here are a few points to consider when you're choosing a forex broker.

Reputation

Reputation of a broker usually exceeds them and it's easy to see who makes money and who are experienced. In this case, you can check their record to see whether they are consistent in forex trading. In this part you should do a thorough check because it is important to see who you have as your broker.

Broker regulations

As been said before, determining which broker you want includes checking their profiles. One way to do this is by checking with Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission(CTFC) and a member of the National Futures Association(NFA). Find a broker that has a squeaky clean record and save yourself from worrying while making your trades.

Reasonable Deposit

One way of choosing a broker is by looking at initial deposit that they ask. Initial deposit is not needed as it is not for investment purposes, but just to pay the broker in case they're not paid during the course of investment. The ideal payment should be between $200 to $500 depending on the market movement.

Good software

A good software should be simple, easy to use and at the same time is clear on the investment that you're making. If you are new to forex trading, your broker should be able to let you trade on a demo account. A demo account works the same as a real software but it gives you the opportunity to test it before you actually make your first real trade.

Variety of Currency Pairs

Every good broker should be involved in different currency pairs and that makes them offer a lot of selections. So, choose at least a broker that has currency pairs that you are most interested in. Remember that every currency pairs have their own patterns in the market.

Customer support

With every currency pairs that you trade in, its actually different across the whole world. Therefore, you won't want to call a broker who is sleeping half a world away when you want to make your trade. Therefore, it is vital to have a broker who can take your orders anytime you want. Try to contact the customer service desk and see how they respond to your questions regarding forex trading. Make sure you're comfortable as these guys are who you entrust your money with.

Therefore, make sure you do enough homework regarding the aspects above before you really proceed into the forex market!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Why Learn Forex Trading? 4 Reasons Forex Trading Beats Stock Investing

By Steve Schulman

There's no doubt about it, times are tough for a lot of people - especially if they've seen their life's saving shredded by the stock market.

Because of the recent chaos that the equities market have been through, many people are now looking for other places to invest their money. Many successful speculators have found it in the foreign exchange - called the Forex or FX for short.

If you're anything like them, there are at plenty of reasons why you should learn Forex trading. Most have to do with why currency trading beats stock investing.

Some of them are:
(1) currencies tend to trend and are more predictable,
(2) the Forex is more transparent - corporations cannot hide information from you,
(3) the FX is an extremely liquid market - it is very easy to enter and exit trades quickly from the comforts of home, and
(4) start up costs are less.

Learn Forex Trading Because Currencies Tend To Trend

Many astute currency traders believe that the Forex market moves in patterns that can be read and, to a degree, predicted.

Currencies have a tendency to trend. And, as many traders say, "The trend is your friend, until the end, when it bends." In other words, if you have learned how to read the charts and have found the beginning of a trend there's the possibility of riding it for quite a while in order to enjoy substantial profits.

Historically, currency pairs have followed certain pattern movements. During times of crisis, for example, there are "safe" currencies that investors flock to. Certain patterns repeat. If you can recognize those patterns it's possible to capitalize on them.

Learn Forex Trading Because the Forex Market is More Transparent

Stocks and bonds are not as predictable as the foreign exchange because, as we have found, what often is said to be real has ended up being just smoke and mirrors.

Wall Street corporations have gotten a reputation for having the nasty habit of not telling their investors everything. Worse yet, at times they have stifled the truth because of the negative effect it could have on corporate bottom lines.

Although the Forex is affected by a huge number of variables, at least you can know about them.

Learn Forex Trading Because the Forex is an Extremely Liquid Market

The FX is an over-the-counter market that trades 24 hours a day, 5 1/2 days a week. Its volume dwarfs the stock market. No one can deny that a market this large is extremely liquid. You won't lose money while you wait for your broker to transact your trade.

Also, virtually all Forex orders are executed immediately. However, there are some currency pairs that the seasoned FX trader tends to avoid because at times they are less liquid than the others.

Learn Forex Trading Because of Low Startup Costs

You do not need a lot of money to start trading the Forex and most brokers do not charge a commission. As a matter of fact, it's easy to start trading with as little as several hundred dollars. And, if you have learned how to trade the Forex, it is possible to multiply your investment in a relatively short amount of time.

Learn Forex Trading with Currency Trading Courses

Because there is risk involved, most people invest some time in order to learn how to trade the Forex before they sign up with a Forex broker. There's a wealth of currency trading courses available on the Internet.

If they're quality currency trading courses most people feel that any money they spend will be repaid many times over by the knowledge they gain. That's because what they learn will stop them from making costly mistakes and teach them how to trade profitably.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Want to Make Some Extra Money From Your Computer? Here's How to Make Money With Forex Trading

By Richard Busbridge

Although we typically write about the stock market, we thought to have a look at a different area of the investing world. There's a good deal of people that have heard about forex and are curious about how they can make money, so hopefully this article is useful.

Because it's easy to trade currencies directly on your computer, there is a lot more individuals generating money in these markets.

Like stocks, you need to buy when the price is low and sell when the price is high. All currencies are constantly changing in rate, so if you can sell a certain currency for a higher price than it was acquired for, cash is made.

Let's take a look at why various currencies will change in value. We'll discuss a couple of the most common causes, although there are a lot factors.

The prevailing interest rates in a country has a big affect on the price of their domestic currency. The greater the rates in the country, the more foreign investors seek to invest in the country. These new investments lead to an increased demand for the country's money and it rises in value. When you have the ability to predict when a country will boost it's rates and buy the currency before the increase, it is very likely that you will earn a tidy profit.

Next, several countries have a currency whose price is largely related to commodity prices. As an example, Canada is a big exporter of oil and other natural resources. If oil prices rise, this leads to a bigger demand for the Canadian dollar as more of the currency is needed to make purchases of these resources. If oil prices increase, it is highly likely that the Canadian currency will grow in tandem.

One of the strongest tips I can offer for those wishing to be involved in forex trading is to get a computer forex trading software. There are pieces of software that have been assembled to examine the forex markets based on market information and then find lucrative trades. There are plenty of currency traders make use of only these types of programs to earn their cash, however I like to utilize them in addition to trades based on my own research.

Forex Trading is not only exciting, but there's also a good deal of cash that you can make when you use the right tools.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Forex Autopilot Systems - Learn How to Trade on Autopilot

By Tiffany Nelson

Buying and selling currencies on the foreign exchange market has become popular with investors in the past few years, mostly because of the many fluctuations in the market. A smart and lucky investor stands to make a huge profit with the highly liquid forex market.

Like other types of investments, those who enter forex trading can choose different levels of involvement in the trading process. Some like to be completely in control of their trades, which is not recommended without plenty of experience. Others like to be key players in their trading but want the added assistance of forex trading signals to help them make trading decisions. And others, especially new forex investors, choose Forex autopilot software to show them the ropes.

Forex autopilot is automated software that takes control of your trading strategies and helps you make the most profit possible. Forex Autopilot Group says that if you are currently getting less than 50% profit per year, then you need the assistance of its services. These "robots" are automated and customizable. You can work with it to develop and outline your trading strategy and goals, and then it helps to execute the trades that will bring you the result you desire.

Beginning traders, or just those who have a nagging suspicion that they aren't making the profit that they could be making, can benefit from automated forex robots. They can watch what the robot does and learn successful forex strategies in real-time. This is much better than a hypothetical online tutorial, because the market conditions are not simulated. They are all completely real, and you are learning how to trade in the real forex market.