Taking a step into the wondrous and complex land of currency trading for the very first time might feel a tad bit daunting, but by keeping the helpful tips listed below in mind, you will soon find yourself trading currency on par with some of the best traders in the market.
If you are going to participate in mtm forex trading, a great tip is to recognize that forex trading is a zero sum game. There are longs and shorts with many more longs than there are shorts. The shorts are the larger positions and must be well capitalized. The longs are small, and with any sudden change in prices, they will be forced to liquidate.
Once you see that a position is losing, do not add any more money to it. Short-term predictions are often the only ones you will be able to make accurately. Thus, you should make decisions based on what you see in the moment. Adding to a losing position is generally too great a risk.
To find reports of forex brokers and brokerage companies that are scamming people, do a Google search using the search terms [company name] + [scam]. This helps you quickly find reviews, blog posts and websites with fraud complaints against the company which allows you to avoid shady brokers and brokerage companies.
Find out who is behind your broker for more safety. Your broker probably works with a bank or a financial institution. Find out if this bank is located in the U.S. and if they have a good reputation. A foreign bank or an establishment with a bad history should be red flags and you should move on to another broker.
Use your personality as a guide to determine who you are as a trader. You might like the thought of quick successful trades putting money in your pocket often, which would make you a scalper. Do you like a consistent flow of profits from well thought decisions in the short run? You are a day trader. If you prefer the possible returns from a well formulated, time invested plan then you are a swing trader. Know yourself and trade the market accordingly.
It may become difficult to stick to your written plan when you hit a losing streak. Revenge trading is not the answer and will most likely end with you broke and out of the trading for a while. Step away from the market for a day or two to recover from such a bad streak.
Make sure you read the instructions that come with your signal software and understand the types of signal you are receiving. Some software offer very detailed information about the volatility of a currency, or if it has been overbought or oversold. Learn how to use these indicators to make informed decisions.
When trading with Forex, make sure you use a secure connection, or a platform that uses a safe method of encryption if you are trading from your mobile phone. Even if the odds seem slim, your account could be hacked in and your money stolen. Do not give your account information to anyone.
If you are new to Forex, one of the key components you will need to become a successful Forex trader will be patience. Forex markets are volatile and therefore there are many instances where people get rich quickly, but there are also many cases where people lose everything quickly also. So while it might be tempting to jump right in, in order to be a good investor, you will need patience to learn the concepts and develop a strategy that will consistently get you returns time after time.
Implement good risk control. Never put more than 3-4 percent of your trading capital at risk with any trade. Pre-plan the point at which you will exit the trade, before actually getting into the trade. If your losses hit your pre-determined limit, take a break and analyze what went wrong. Don;t get back into the market until your confidence returns.
Preserve your capital by cutting your losses in time. If you are losing more pips when you lose than what you make when you win stop trading for a few days. A losing streak can turn into a trend and you can lose all or most of your money. Take a break, clear your mind and come back in a few days.
Make sure you learn the currency symbols and the currencies of the major players of the world economy. Following the economic trends in the countries of which currency you chose to trade can help you predict trends and make solid trading decisions. Don’t forget to master the basic skills first.
The most important Forex tip to know is that you should cut your losses early on. Capital preservation is of the utmost importance. If you do not follow this rule you will almost certainly never be able to make consistent profits as a Forex trader. Not cutting losses early on is the number one mistake Forex traders make.
Even with trading on a short time frame, you should take a look at the larger picture. If you notice a negative trend that only appears on the long term, chances are your short time investment is not going to be a good decision. If you are having trouble determining a trend, always look at a larger time frame to get a general idea.
So, after reading and applying the helpful tips listed above, you should feel a bit more at ease in the land of trading currency. You have the tools; it’s time to use them. You should feel empowered and ready to begin your currency trading journey to reach for better trades and larger profits.