Forex Trading 101: Learning Guide for FX Beginners

Being new to FOREX trading? Don’t worry, getting started in FOREX trading is easy and you can always test your skills first in a demo account before you go ‘live’ with real money. To get started in FOREX trading, we have to get to know what FOREX is. For the inexperienced, FOREX trading involves buying and selling the different currencies of the world. A FOREX deal is made when one buys one currency and sells another at the same time. It is always traded in pairs, Euro/USD, CHF/USD, USD/JPY…you get ‘short’ in a currency every time to buy another and the profit is made when you buy-low and sell-high.

Facts on FOREX market

FOREX market is the largest trading market in the world. It yields an average turnover of $1.9 trillion daily and the figure is nearly 30 times larger than the total volume of equity trades in United States. FOREX trading is very unique as the trades are done between two counterparts via electronic network or telephone connections. There is no centralized location as stocks or futures markets and trades are done around the clock. Everyday FOREX trade begins when the financial centers in Sydney start their day, and moves around the globe to Tokyo, London, and then New York. Traders can always response to the market regardless of the local time.

Although FOREX trading involves such a big volume of trades nowadays, it is not made available for the publics until year 1998. In the past, the FOREX market was not offered to small speculators or individual traders due to the large minimum business sizes and extremely strict financial requirements. At that time, only banks, big multi-national cooperation and major currency dealers were able to take advantage of the currency exchange market's extraordinary liquidity and strong trending nature of world's main currency exchange rates. Only until the late 90s, FOREX brokers are allowed to break huge sized inter-bank units into smaller units and offer these units to individual traders like you and me. Nowadays with the rapid growth of Internet and communications technology, FOREX trading has become one of the hottest make-money-at-home-businesses for those who wish to avoid conventional 9-5 day job.

As a fact in FOREX trading, FOREX is mainly traded in large international bank. According to Wall Street Journal Europe, 73% of the trade volume is covered by the major ten. Deutsche Bank, topping the table, had covered 17% of the total currency trades; followed by UBS in the second and Citi Group in third; taking 12.5% and 7.5% of the market. Other large financial cooperation in the list is HSBC, Barclays, Merril Lynch, J. P. Morgan Chase, Coldman Sachs, ABN Amro, and Morgan Stanley. For market participants segment, approximately half of the transactions done were strictly between dealers (i.e. Bank, or large currency dealer); others are mainly between dealer and non financial institutions.

Why FOREX is popular?

There are several reasons why FOREX had became such a popular investment among world wide speculators.

Being one of the technical method, FOREX charting is based on the principal ‘history repeats itself’. FOREX traders who study charts predict the market future by evaluating past market performance.

In FOREX trading, you can always use technology for your own advantage. The FOREX market has made an amazing transformation since the advent of the internet. Technology has now made it possible for smaller investors to play on the same level as larger corporations and banks. Anyone with a computer and a will to succeed can start trading currencies from the privacy of their home or office. Online FOREX trading has changed the way that investors do business. With access to your portfolio 24-hours a day, it is really very simple to get started. You can choose whether to hire a professional to handle your transactions, or you could choose to do them yourself.

Also, FOREX trading provides relative large leverage rates to individual traders. FOREX traders can do business with up to 200 to 1 leverage rates. With this advantage, ROI is escalated dramatically and traders can always start up small with capital as little as $1,000.

Getting started in FOREX trading

You don’t need much to get started with FOREX trading. A computer with Internet access, a funded FOREX account with foreign currency exchange broker, and a trading system should be sufficient to get things started.

To reduce the risks of losing money, some basic charting knowledge is as well recommended before you start trading FOREX. FOREX charts assist the investor by providing a visual representation of exchange rate fluctuations. Many variables affect currency exchange rates, such as interest rates, bank policies, geopolitics, and even the time of day may affect exchange rates. As stated by expert FOREX trader Peter Bain, charting is an essential tool in FOREX trading. In his newsletter, he reveals that daily charts, hourly charts, and 15-minute charts are used while trading in FOREX. As quoted from his informative newsletter -- “Daily chart will help you define the overall trend from a position trading point-of-view, and the hourly (one hour) chart will give you a feel for the intraday trend. The 15-minute chart is used for entry and exit – with assistance from the five-minute chart, where price is moving quickly, and you need to be closer to the action.”

Being one of the technical method, FOREX charting is based on the principal ‘history repeats itself’. FOREX traders who study charts predict the market future by evaluating past market performance. The time frame used for charting might differs for different traders, some analyze the past one week, some prefer six months analysis, and there are also traders who analyze the market for the past five to ten years before getting involved in a FOREX trade. A huge variety of FOREX charts are available in the market. Some charting methods are very simple, using a few FOREX indicators to show trading direction; other charts may include up to forty indicators and those are mainly for advance traders that are more skillful. MACD Divergence, RSI, RSI range, and price are some of the well known indicators in charting.

Choosing the right FX dealer is a way to avoid unnecessary risks. FOREX dealers are not all regulated the same way. Although FOREX dealers must be regulated by law, firms and individuals can solicit retail accounts for FOREX dealers and manage those accounts without being regulated. As a trader you should take up the responsibility of finding out if your FOREX dealers are regulated. If they are not, you may be exposed to additional risks. Also, beware of dealers with investment schemes that sounds too good to be true. Pay extra cautions to dealers that you first knew and always look into the investment offers. If you are from United States, you can always refer to CFTF (at http://www.cftc.gov) or NFA (at http://www.nfa.org) for further information.

Conclusions

You come to this article probably because of you are new to FOREX and were looking for some readings on the Internet. To be frank, FOREX can be very profitable but the risk lie beneath is equally great. Remember to always trade with proper investment plan and strategy. Read books, attend courses, watch video seminars, read papers, or even practice first with a dealer’s demo account to get yourself ready. Trade smartly, and gain the maximum out of FOREX – good luck!

Teddy, experienced writter and webmaster. Learn more on Forex trading education on his latest work at http://www.golearnforex.net.

Forex Rates

Forex rates (currency prices) are a reflection of the supply and demand for currencies. The two main factors of forex rates are the strength of the economy and interest rates. Economic factors such as trade balance, GDP and foreign investment reflect the general state of a economy and are repsonsible for the changes in supply and demand for that currency. Economic data is released on a regular basis by countries which in turn affects the overall strength or weakness of their particular forex rates. The main data that should be looked at closely is - international trade and interest rates.

International Trade affects a countries trade balance and forex rates dependant on the net difference between a countries imports and exports. If the country imports more than it exports, their trade balance will show a deficit. If the deficit is more than the markets expect, then this data will trigger a negative price movement in the value of that countries currency prices. If the deficit is less than expected then there will generally be a strengthening or positive price movement in that countries forex rates.

Interest rates can directly affect forex rates. Generally, if a country raises its interest rates, that countries respective forex rates will strengthen in relation to other nations as global investors move funds to that country to gather a larger return on their investment. Lowering of interest rates will generally have the opposite effect on a countries forex rates.

Indicators that have the greatest impact on a countries interest rates and in turn, forex rates are the Producer Price Index (PPI), Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data that is released by countries central banks.

For further info and resources visit:

Forex Rates Guide

Excellent Forex Trading Course

FOREX Real-Time Data Providers: Learn What Is Best For You

Many articles have been written on the subject of FOREX trading. The vast majority of them have detailed analysis advice as well as investing tips. What just few of them found interesting enough is the subject of selecting the right real-time data provider. Simply stated, this is the software platform used to deliver quotes and charts, together with various technical indicators for each currency pair.

While real time FOREX quotes are available free of charge from many sources, as Bloomberg and Reuters, and various FOREX brokerage houses, the real need is for a comprehensive charting package.

As FOREX trading is essentially an intensive short-term speculation, the Technical Analysis approach is what a professional operator needs. This must be delivered through a stable and reliable real-time charting platform.

Even if the advertisements may be appealing for most of them, some key characteristics must be checked, in order to make sure you get the best price/content ratio. Ranging from freeto several hundred dollars a month, they offer various levels of proficiency, regarding the number of currencies pairs, frequency of their updates, number of contributors and technical analysis capabilities.

There is a huge difference between a provider that offers updates from just one stream every minute and another one feeding your platform 10 times a second from 50 interbank players.

With the first one, you will obtain a valid quote but you will not feel market’s rhythms, which are of utmost importance in gauging various games people play when speculating. This is particularly important immediately following news announcements, as key players implement their trading strategies.

While simple platforms will exhibit a “jump” in the price from one minute to the next, the professional ones will clearly show the tension and “fight” for each PIP in the arena.

Usually, brokerage houses offer some basic packages free of charge and use their own data feed to update the programs, but you will have just limited understanding on what is really going on.

Thanks to more than 10 years in the market, I believe you will be better off with a subscription to an independent real-time data provider. Even if the cost is higher, the performance is far superior.

As this is their primary business, they tend to allocate important resources to you as a customer and of course, they update and improve their platform on a regular basis.

Because I will avoid advertising any company names on this article, I will just invite you to consider asking the following questions before deciding.

Web-based or desktop-based platform. While the first one is more mobile, the second one tends to have more features.

Number of regularly updated currencies pairs. The key is to have at least the majors regularly updated (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, USD/CHF), but of course, the more pairs the better.

Number of real-time data contributors. The bigger the better, as this will offer larger exposure to the trading community.

Number of updates per minute. The bigger the better (strongly influenced by your internet connection), as this will help you “feel” the market.

Number of technical indicators and analysis instruments (trend lines, time intervals, Fibonacci Levels, printing, colours, etc…). The bigger the better, as your analysis potential is increased.

Technical support available at least during market hours. It is of paramount importance to make sure you have a comprehensive technical support, in case something goes wrong during your trading activity. Also, ask if the service is free of charge or fee based.

While there can be more to look for, if you follow the above rules, chances are you will end up with a better, more reliable and finally highly competitive real-time FOREX data provider.

Bogdan Vasile

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

Mr. VASILE is the founder and President of VORTEX Capital Management, a seasoned FOREX trader, member of the Securities & Investment Institute in London and author of the revolutionary SyncronDec™ training program used in his professional FOREX course. He is also the owner of www.forex-arena.com, a professional website, dedicated to FOREX analysis and education.

Trading Forex - 8 Steps To Becoming A Winning Trader

You're new to forex, or perhaps you're not new. You're just not making any money. I know it's not comforting, but you're not alone. As I'm sure you've heard, an estimated 90% of traders lose money.

So, what are you to do about it? Hope and pray that you're trading turns around? Buy any and every new trading product that comes on the market? Just give up? Bury yourself in heavy books about the physiology of trading?

There is a better way. Listed below are the eight steps that will (guaranteed) take you from loser to winner if you just work at following them exactly.

1. Get the idea of trading with real money out of your head. You are not making money, so why would you continue? If a vending machine took your money and didn't give you any product, would you keep feeding it money?

Obviously not. The same rule applies with trading. Don't throw good money after bad. Stop trading.

2. Buy a ready-made system that is proven to do well. Beware! I did not say to just go buy any system, or to buy an expensive system. There is a place and a time for expensive (proven) systems. However, you do not need one as you learn to trade profitably.

They are readily available. Don't let catchy sales copy sway you into buying something worthless.

3. Study everything you can on the internet and in books about money management. You are now in school. Learn the system you purchased. Study everything you can on trade size and risk. Realize that picking winning trades is easy compared to the self-control of proper money management.

4. Demo trade the system applying sound money management. Only now do you begin to trade again and only with pretend money.

5. After six month (longer if you're not profitable yet), start trading with real money. You want to trade as small of an account as you can.

Do not get impatient! I know six months sounds like forever. I have just one question for you? Do you want to lose money?

6.If you are not trading profitably with real money, then start looking for a proven signal provider.

Evaluate your trading after several months of real money. How are you doing? If you are profitable, skip to step eight. Otherwise, continue.

7. Trade with the signal provider while you continue to turn your trading profitable. Do not rush to pick a signal provider. There are a lot of snakes in the grass. Ask questions in forums. Talk to people. Pick someone with whom you are comfortable and who is proven.

8. Their will come a time when you're trading will become profitable because you don't have the burden of having to be profitable (the signal provider is profitable for you). So you will then find your own trading making you money as well.

You have made it. Congratulations! You are now in the elite (and small) class of traders who consistently take money from the market.

Nathan Pennington is author of the (sold-out) forex trading book "The Rubber Band Method": How to Trade Against the Trend for Consistant Profits.

His current website is http://www.moneymakingforex.com/ which shows forex traders how to become winning traders.

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