Why You Should Trade FOREX Over Other Investments

Everyone has heard of stocks and shares, probably even the futures market, but trading the FOREX (Foreign Currency Exchange, or FX) market is a relatively new phenomenon. Until recently, FOREX was the domain of the banking fraternity (large banks can trade billions of dollars daily), and the elite in financial and business circles. But now it is possible for the average person to be a part of this incredible - and very profitable - way of making a living, thanks to the personal computer and an internet connection. All done electronically and considered an over-the-counter (OTC) market, trading is far easier and less risky than either the futures or the stock markets. Money can be made both on a rising and falling market, unlike the stock market, which relies on shares increasing in price to create profit.

More and more astute internet entrepreneurs are shunning the traditional financial markets and turning to FOREX trading. They know that it is possible to earn a full-time income from part-time effort - if you'd like to make $200 to $3,000 for as little as ten minutes' work, and with minimal risk, then FOREX is for you.

FOREX, the spot (cash) market for buying and selling currency, is the largest financial market in the world. Every day more than $1.5 trillion (yes, trillion) is traded globally and, unlike the stock market, which has fixed hours, it is a market that never sleeps. Somewhere in the world, at any time of day or night, FOREX is open for business, six days a week. The market starts each day in Sydney and moves around the globe as other FOREX financial centers open: first to Tokyo, then London and New York.

In simple terms, currencies are traded in pairs, for example the Euro and the US dollar (EUR/USD). The first currency - in this case the Euro - is known as the base currency; the second currency (here, the US dollar), is the counter-currency. All trades result in the simultaneous buying of one currency and the selling of the other. Thus, in this example, if you place an order to buy the EUR/USD, you are buying the Euro and selling the US dollar. If you were to sell the pair, you would be selling the Euro and buying the US dollar. There are many other currency pairs, such as USD/JPY, GBP/USD, EUR/GBP, USD/CHF and so on.

What makes trading FOREX an incredible way to make money online, is that price movements are highly predictable, creating trends that can be anticipated when it comes to decide when to buy and sell. Contrasting with stocks and shares, FOREX trading through brokers is commission free. It is also possible - and definitely recommended - to open a demo (practice) account with a broker first, where you can learn to trade and gain experience before you part with a cent of your own money.

Do you want financial freedom? With huge advantages over other more conventional money markets, why not experience the excitement of pips, rollovers, leverage, lots, long and short positions, limit orders etc. and start to trade FOREX. Good luck!

Penelope Housden.

For more information on FOREX trading, and a FREE report showing how you can turn $300 into $30,000 in as little as 6 months, go to: www.firstclassforex.com

New Discovery Gives You A Mini Forex Trading Advantage

Why trade forex? Why spend the time and effort to understand a large and complex market like the Foreign Exchange? Well, mainly for the chance to make large profits, while incurring low costs. The mini forex trading market is a very lucrative market, for a variety of reasons. I`ll go over a few of them in this article.

First, think margin. In the mini forex trading market, a trader`s money can play with 5-times as much value of product as a futures trader`s, or 50 times more than a stock trader`s.

Just like futures and stock speculation, a mini forex trading market trader has the ability to control a large amount of currency by putting up a small amount of margin. However, the margin requirements that are needed for trading futures are usually around 5% of the full value of the holding, or 50% of the total value if you are trading stocks. The margin requirements for the mini forex trading market are about 1%. For example, the margin required to trade foreign exchange is $1000 for every $100,000.

This can be a very profitable way to trade, but it`s important that you fully understand the risks that are involved. Always make sure that you know how your margin account is going to work. Read the margin agreement between you and your clearing firm carefully. Talk to your account representative if you have any questions.

The positions that you have in your account could be partially or completely liquidated if the available margin in your account falls below a predetermined amount, and you may not get a margin call before your positions are liquidated. Because of this, you should monitor your margin balance on a regular basis and utilize stop-loss orders on every open position to limit risk.

That covers the profits end, but what about the costs? When you trade in futures, you have to pay exchange and brokerage fees. The mini forex trading market is commission free, a much better scenario. Currency trading occurs on a worldwide inter-bank market that lets buyers be matched with sellers in an instant. But even though you do not have to pay a commission charge to a broker to be matched up with a buyer or seller, the spread is usually larger than it is when you are trading futures. And the spread is where the brokerage makes their money.

For example, if you are trading a Japanese Yen/US Dollar pair, a mini forex trading market trade would have about a 3 point spread (worth $30). Trading a JY futures trade would likely have a spread of only 1 point (worth $10), but you would also be charged the broker`s commission on top of that. This price could be as low as $10 for self-directed online trading, or as high as $50 for full-service trading. However, this is generally all inclusive pricing. It`s a good idea to compare both online mini forex trading and your specific futures commission charges to see which commission is the greater one. Still not convinced? Consider the fact the mini forex trading market is highly liquid, ensuring that a trader will never be trapped in a position, as you can be in an equity or futures market. Or that it trades 24 hours a day, allowing a trader to act on major market events when they happen, rather than waiting for the opening bell. And last, but certainly not least, it is simply to largest market in the world. It is not regulated. No central bank can do more than influence the market. You will never need to worry about government interference.

mini forex trading trading is a great alternative to futures and commodities trading. Unless you are a broker, you will likely want to get some help in mini forex trading. As with any type of trading, there are always some risks involved, but if you take the time to understand the market, and design a trading system that is right for you, you will be successful.

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Hot Tips for Successful Online Forex Trading - Part One

There is no one-size-fits all solution for online forex trading. You will do your most successful online forex trading with a system that is customized to fit your needs, your style of trading and your risk comfort level. Then you need the discipline to follow your system, capital to work with and a willingness to approach each trade with energy and enthusiasm.

That being said, there are always a few things you can watch for with your online forex trading career. A few pointers that will help you steer clear of mistakes and keep you on the path to success. I`ve gathered some of these useful tips in this article. Keep them in mind for when you`re uncertain what to do, and incorporate them into your system. They will make a difference in your trades.

Online Forex Trading Tip #1 - Never add to a position that is losing. This is one of the few trade rules that you should never break. If you`re losing money on a position exit the trade, don`t add to it. This is how small losses become large losses, which leads to traders no longer trading.

Online Forex Trading Tip #2 - Always set your stop losses and decide when you will take profits before you enter a trade. Place stops that are based on market information, and not your account balance. If a "proper" stop is too expensive for you, don`t make the trade. Be sure to decide when you are going to take your profits and follow through on it. Successful traders are successful because they keep their losses small, and they take their profits often.

Online Forex Trading Tip #3 - Pay attention to the market. Exit and enter trades based on market information. Don`t wait for a price you think the currency should hit when the market has changed direction on you.

Online Forex Trading Tip #4 - There are times when, due to a lack of liquidity or excessive volatility, you should not trade at all. On a similar note, never trade when you are sick. You can`t count on yourself to be alert to the shifts of the markets, and make good decisions.

Online Forex Trading Tip #5 - Trading systems that work in an up market may not work in a down market, and a system that works for trending markets, or for range bound markets may not work in other markets. Have a system for each type of market.

Online Forex Trading Tip #6 - Up market and down market patterns are ALWAYS there, but you have to look for the dominant trends. Always select trades that move with the trends Online Forex Trading Tip #7 - During the blow-out stage of the market, either up or down, the risk managers are usually issuing margin call position liquidation orders. They don't generally check the screen to see what`s overbought or oversold; they just keep issuing liquidation orders. Make sure you stay out of their way. Online Forex Trading Tip #8 - Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong about a trade, don`t make it. It`s better to be superstitious than to loose money.

Online Forex Trading Tip #9 - Rumour is king. Buy when you hear the rumour, sell when you hear the news.

Online Forex Trading Tip #10 - The first and last tick are always the most expensive. Get in the market late, and out early. And never trade in the direction of a gap, either opening or closing.

Online Forex Trading Tip #11 - When everyone else is in, it's time for you to get out. If a stock or currency is overbought, it`s time to exit your position.

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The Forex Market

* This article is divided into three sections. The first section is for beginners. The second section is for advanced traders. The third section is for everyone.

Section #1. For beginners . . .

On this article I will briefly describe what the Forex Market is for those who don't know about this subject. Also I will describe other trading opportunities that exist today on the Internet. I think that trading is one of those dream businesses that many people rush into, but to start trading online without the required knowledge could be a big mistake.

What's appealing about this business opportunity is the financial freedom it can bring to your life. Successful traders make lots of money working from home with their computers. Keep in mind that on this business . . .

1) You don't have to create any product.

2) You don't have to advertise anything.

3) Basically you just invest some money and multiply it more and more.

There are different trading opportunities on the Internet nowadays. I think that the hottest of them right now is The Forex Market. I will explain you why.

Currencies from many different countries were backed up by gold about one hundred years ago. It was called The Gold Standard. This basically meant that to print certain amount of paper money a predetermined amount of gold was needed. Also you could walk into the bank and request that your currency bills would be converted to gold. Then you could leave the bank with the gold.

This was a treaty between many countries and it lasted a few decades. Suddenly something happened that changed everything. Due to economic circumstances The Gold Standard was changed into a more flexible economic system.

Now, most countries were not required to back up their currencies with gold anymore, as long as they backed up their currencies with US dollars, everything was OK. Eventually this didn't work well either. So, at the beginning of the 70's decade this rule was totally abandoned and currencies started to float freely on the market.

This means that since that era until present time world currencies are not backed up by gold anymore, nor are they backed by any other particular type of money either. There are exceptions though. For example, some currencies of European countries are pegged to the Euro. Their exchange rate is fixed.

The same happens with the US dollar in relationship with other no so popular currencies. That's another story that I won't explain right now. The point is that most currencies change in value freely on the Forex Market today. Forex is an acronym for Foreign Exchange Market.

For a long time this market was reserved only for 'BIG BROTHERS'. In order for you to access this market you needed astronomical amounts of investment capital.

Everything changed with the computer age. As I have always said, everything is easier on the Internet. So, new online brokers emerged that allowed 'the little guys' play this game. Now you can open an account with as little as $300 when you needed millions just to think about starting on this business a few years ago.

The good thing about this market is the huge leverage you get. The brokers usually lend you up to 100 times as much as you have for trading. What does this mean? For example, if you open an account with 1,000 US dollars, you can control, as much as 100,000 units of the foreign currency.

Let's say that the EUR/USD pair is trading at 1.2000. In that case with 1,000 US dollars you can purchase approximately 80,000 Euros. The broker lends you the money to do it!

Anyway this is a very interesting topic but it is also wide. I can't give you all the details in here. So, I will proceed to share some advanced ideas for advanced traders and then I will tell you about other trading opportunities on the Internet.

Section #2. For advance traders . . .

Many traders are looking for the perfect trading system. They want to find the Holy Grail of Trading, which is an entry strategy that allows them to win, win, win and never lose. Even advanced traders fail because of this. They can't realize where the money is made.

Online trading can be regarding and profitable but you have to take it seriously. One of the biggest trading secrets of all is that you should use proper money management techniques as well as trading sizing strategies. That's how the BIG DOGS make the money.

Small traders know that they can't be always right. There is not such a thing as the perfect win, win, win and never lose strategy. If something like that exists then very few people know about it. Still, how do you think that many traders can be profitable month after month, year after year? How can they be consistently profitable?

I already gave you the answer above. The secret is on your money management techniques and your trading sizing strategies. Also, it is important to find a good entry and exit trading system.

If you combine these three aspects of trading above, you are almost guaranteed to succeed at it. This is easy once someone teaches you how to do it. Moreover, if you like this business you will have plenty of time to practice your strategies before you start trading with real money. In my book Easy Web Riches you can find valuable information about this subject.

Section #3. For everyone . . .

What else can you do to make money on the Internet without creating anything and without selling other people's stuff? You will find many other trading opportunities out there. For example, there are advance techniques to trade on the Stock Market that most people don't know. These are strategies that allow you to trade like a real professional.

Also there are other markets where you can make a lot of money. Many people don't know about The Futures Market. They have never even heard about it. I find that some traders are also interested in the options markets. You see, it is a matter of choosing what is right for you.

The Futures Markets is a market where farmers, big corporations, financial institutions and small traders, trade contracts on commodities, which will be executed at some time in the future. This market has existed for hundreds of years but today people trade commodities on the Internet like stocks and currencies.

Options are derivative financial contracts. They derive their value from the underlying securities, commodities, Futures contracts, etc. Options can explosively multiply your buying power, but they are dangerous too. They are always recommended for advanced traders only, not for the novice.

As you can see, there are different trading opportunities for you on the Internet. In fact there are others that I have not mentioned here. There is money to be made on these markets.

Once you learn the details, profiting from this business becomes quick and easy. Remember that this is a business in which you don't have to create anything nor sell anything either. All you do is to invest your money and multiply it.

EasyWebRiches.com

Simply the most important information! Ignore this and all your efforts to make money on the Internet will be futile! Visit www.easywebriches.com for . .

Forex Pivot Points: Mapping Your Time Frame

It is useful to have a map and be able to see where the price is relative to previous market action. This way we can see how is the sentiment of traders and investors at any given moment, it also gives us a general idea of where the market is heading during the day. This information can help us decide which way to trade.

Pivot points, a technique developed by floor traders, help us see where the price is relative to previous market action.

As a definition, a pivot point is a turning point or condition. The same applies to the Forex market, the pivot point is a level in which the sentiment of the market changes from ?bull? to ?bear? or vice versa. If the market breaks this level up, then the sentiment is said to be a bull market and it is likely to continue its way up, on the other hand, if the market breaks this level down, then the sentiment is bear, and it is expected to continue its way down. Also at this level, the market is expected to have some kind of support/resistance, and if price can?t break the pivot point, a possible bounce from it is plausible.

Pivot points work best on highly liquid markets, like the spot currency market, but they can also be used in other markets as well.

Pivot Points

In a few words, pivot point is a level in which the sentiment of traders and investors changes from bull to bear or vice versa.

Why PP work?

They work simply because many individual traders and investors use and trust them, as well as bank and institutional traders. It is known to every trader that the pivot point is an important measure of strength and weakness of any market.

Calculating pivot points

There are several ways to arrive to the Pivot point. The method we found to have the most accurate results is calculated by taking the average of the high, low and close of a previous period (or session).

Pivot point (PP) = (High + Low + Close) / 3

Take for instance the following EUR/USD information from the previous session:

Open: 1.2386
High: 1.2474
Low: 1.2376
Close: 1.2458

The PP would be,
PP = (1.2474 + 1.2376 + 1.2458) / 3 = 1.2439

What does this number tell us?

It simply tells us that if the market is trading above 1.2439, Bulls are winning the battle pushing the prices higher. And if the market is trading below this 1.2439 the bears are winning the battle pulling prices lower. On both cases this condition is likely to sustain until the next session.

Since the Forex market is a 24hr market (no close or open from day to day) there is a eternal battle on deciding at white time we should take the open, close, high and low from each session. From our point of view, the times that produce more accurate predictions is taking the open at 00:00 GMT and the close at 23:59 GMT.

Besides the calculation of the PP, there are other support and resistance levels that are calculated taking the PP as a reference.

Support 1 (S1) = (PP * 2) ? H
Resistance 1 (R1) = (PP * 2) - L
Support 2 (S2) = PP ? (R1 ? S1)
Resistance 2 (R2) = PP + (R1 ? S1)

Where , H is the High of the previous period and L is the low of the previous period

Continuing with the example above, PP = 1.2439

S1 = (1.2439 * 2) - 1.2474 = 1.2404
R1 = (1.2439 * 2) ? 1.2376 = 1.2502
R2 = 1.2439 + (1.2636 ? 1.2537) = 1.2537
S2 = 1.2439 ? (1.2636 ? 1.2537) = 1.2537

These levels are supposed to mark support and resistance levels for the current session.

On the example above, the PP was calculated using information of the previous session (previous day.) This way we could see possible intraday resistance and support levels. But it can also be calculated using the previous weekly or monthly data to determine such levels. By doing so we are able to see the sentiment over longer periods of time. Also we can see possible levels that might offer support and resistance throughout the week or month. Calculating the Pivot point in a weekly or monthly basis is mostly used by long term traders, but it can also be used by short time traders, it gives us a good idea about the longer term trend.

S1, S2, R1 AND R2...? An Objective Alternative

As already stated, the pivot point zone is a well-known technique and it works simply because many traders and investors use and trust it. But what about the other support and resistance zones (S1, S2, R1 and R2,) to forecast a support or resistance level with some mathematical formula is somehow subjective. It is hard to rely on them blindly just because the formula popped out that level. For this reason, we have created an alternative way to map our time frame, simpler but more objective and effective.

We calculate the pivot point as showed before. But our support and resistance levels are drawn in a different way. We take the previous session high and low, and draw those levels on today?s chart. The same is done with the session before the previous session. So, we will have our PP and four more important levels drawn in our chart.

LOPS1, low of the previous session.
HOPS1, high of the previous session.
LOPS2, low of the session before the previous session.
HOPS2, high of the session before the previous session.
PP, pivot point.

These levels will tell us the strength of the market at any given moment. If the market is trading above the PP, then the market is considered in a possible uptrend. If the market is trading above HOPS1 or HOPS2, then the market is in an uptrend, and we only take long positions. If the market is trading below the PP then the market is considered in a possible downtrend. If the market is trading below LOPS1 or LOPS2, then the market is in a downtrend, and we should only consider short trades.

The psychology behind this approach is simple. We know that for some reason the market stopped there from going higher/lower the previous session, or the session before that. We don?t know the reason, and we don?t need to know it. We only know the fact: the market reversed at that level. We also know that traders and investors have memories, they do remember that the price stopped there before, and the odds are that the market reverses from there again (maybe because the same reason, and maybe not) or at least find some support or resistance at these levels.

What is important about his approach is that support and resistance levels are measured objectively; they aren?t just a level derived from a mathematical formula, the price reversed there before so these levels have a higher probability of being effective.

Our mapping method works on both market conditions, when trending and on sideways conditions. In a trending market, it helps us determine the strength of the trend and trade off important levels. On sideways markets it shows us possible reversal levels.

How we use our mapping method?

We use the mapping method in three different ways: as a trend identification (measure of the strength of the trend), a trading system using important levels with price behavior as a trading signal and to set the risk reward ratio of any given trade based on where the is the market relative to the previous session.Raul Lopez is a full time Forex trader, his trades are based on a price behavior approach. Raul is also founder of http://www.straightforex.com a high quality Forex training company.

Online Forex Trading Advice

 

Technological Advances

Technological Advances

FOREX has changed dramatically in the last 10 years due to technological advancements. With real-time streaming technology and faster computer systems, almost anything is available at the click of a button. I would like to go over a few of the benefits of online FOREX trading. Consult with your broker to determine if trading online is right for you.

Take a class

If you are new to the world of technology or online FOREX trading, you may want to consider taking an online FOREX trading class. I recommend you get the course by Peter Bain. Click here to learn more. There are a wide variety of options out there if you are looking for a quick easy way to improve your skill set.

Many will include a free trial of their particular software and tips on how to make the most out of your trades. Consult your broker to see if they recommend a particular company or program. Most are free, and you can be well on your way to trading within hours!

Try it before you buy

Before you spend any money on an online FOREX trading program or subscription, ask about free trial offers. Many companies will allow potential customers to try out their software and tools before making an investment. This is a quick and easy way to begin trading immediately. Spend some time reading through the system tutorials and practice a few test trades. There will no doubt be a learning curve, and you want to make sure that you dont have a large investment riding on that curve. If you have a friend or family member that is in the online FOREX trading market, find out what program or system they use. They may be willing to walk you through a trade and give you their opinion on the program. This is an excellent way to find out if a program is really worth it or not.

Practice makes perfect

One of the best ways to get a feel for the market or a particular program is to try it out. No one wants to experiment with their own money however; so many companies have come up with an innovative way to take all the risk out of trying a new program. Its called simulation trading and the premise is simple. The program is an exact copy of the broker or trading systems real-time trading program. The main difference is that they allow you to play the market just as you would if you were actually investing. You can do a simulation with a set amount of money, usually around $100,000 dollars. You can practice setting bid and ask prices, and using their various analysis tools.


The benefits of such a system are two-fold. First, you get a feel for the program itself, so that you can determine if it is right for your needs and skill level. Second, you get to practice trading in the market. You can practice using the various tools and research available to you to make good trading decisions. Dont worry if you dont get it right away- since its play money, you dont lose anything!

The amount of time needed to understand the system will vary depending on your level of experience. Many programs offer similar functions, so if you are simply in the market for a different program you may be able to switch over quickly.

Benefits of online FOREX trading

1. Real-time access- this is one of the great benefits of online FOREX trading. Most brokers and trading companies offer their clients real-time quotes and data. This is very important when making decisions. Currencies are a very volatile market, and things can change at anytime. So having your thumb on the pulse of the market is very important to long term success.

2. 24-hour availability- another great feature about online FOREX trading. In todays hectic world many traders find it difficult to manage their portfolio during normal business hours. The internet allows traders the ability to access their portfolio virtually anywhere and anytime. This is great for part-time traders that have a full-time day job.

3. Speed of transactions- cant be beat! With a good computer and a high speed connection you can process a transaction within minutes. This is a far cry from having to call up your brokerage firm or worse yet make an office visit. This is perhaps the main reason that day trading has become as popular as it has!

In Summary

Brokerage firms have become very skilled in online FOREX trading over the past 10 years, and can serve as your guide into the technological world. Be patient with yourself during the learning process, and keep your eye on the prize. The more research and preparation that you partake in before trading; the better your chances are for success. So keep an open mind, and explore all the benefits that online FOREX trading has to offer. Brian Channell is an online entrepreneur. Please visit www.MyForexEducation.com to learn more about Forex trading