Archives for August 2007

?What Forex Quotes Can Do For Your Trading Moves

Trading in the Forex market should not be a spur of the moment decision. You should research and evaluate every move you make to be a successful trader. When you are trying to evaluate what trading moves you should make, it is often necessary to look at Forex quotes to help you decide what to do. Although this may seem simple enough, many new traders have no idea how to even read a Forex quote. Before you make your first trade, be sure that you are informed on how to read and use Forex quotes. If you are not educated on the matter, you will likely lose money because of lack of knowledge on the subjects pertaining to the Forex market.

Reading a Foreign Exchange Quote

When you first look at a foreign exchange quote, or Forex quote, you will likely be a little confused. It can be very confusing however once you learn how to read the Forex quote; you will gain a lot about the system itself. The first letters listed are the abbreviation for the first currency in the quote. This currency is considered the base currency. The value of this currency is always 1, unless otherwise noted. You may see things such as USD/JPY, USD/CHF, and USD/CAD. When you see these currencies with numbers behind them, such as USD/JPY 112.01, it means that one US dollar is equal to 112.01 Japanese yen. When the base unit and the quote rises, it means the dollar has gotten stronger and the other currency has weakened.

There are several exceptions to this rule however. When dealing with the British pound (GBP), the Australian dollar (AUD), and the Euro (EUR), things are a bit different. You may see something that looks like GBP/USD 1.6366. This means that one British pound equals 1.6366 US dollars. When you are dealing with these situations, remember that when you see the quote rising, the US dollar is weakening. A higher quote typically means the first currency (the base currency) is getting stronger. When the quote is lowering, the base currency is getting weaker.

Where to Learn More

Trying to decipher what Forex quotes mean can be challenging. Quotes can really help you decide what’s going on in the market and help you make trading decisions. However, you really need to know more about quotes than just how to read them. You should learn different trends that are seen via Forex quotes and be able to apply them to the market today. When you can easily do this, you will find it easy to use the foreign exchange market to make profits.

If you are interested in learning more about how to read and use Forex quotes, there are several things you can do. You can first decide to learn on your own. When you decide this, you should visit reputable websites in order to conduct your studying. You can also get new books on the subject and read on what the quotes mean and how they can help you. Many people love to engage in self-study because it gives them freedom. When you are learning on your own, you can do it at your own pace. You can go through things as quickly or as slowly as you need to and really soak up information you need. Self-study can be done during lunch breaks or late at night. Some people would rather have a more traditional approach to learning however.

Forex markets are a large part of the curriculum at most business schools today. If there is a business school in your area, you may want to contact them about taking a course on the subject. If you are someone who has the time to spare, taking a course with others interested in learning is a great idea. The class may cost more than a book you can buy, but hands-on-learning is often the best form of education. You will likely learn about markets, trading, strategy, and more. So, if you are interested in learning with a group, a course is likely the best option for you. When you become more educated on the subject, you will be able to see exactly why knowing all about Forex quotes can be important in successful trading.

?Mind Games ??” The Psychology of Forex Market Trading

When it comes to trading on the Forex market, winning is a matter of the mind rather than mind over matter. Any trader who’s been in the game for any length of time will tell you that psychology has a lot to do with both your own performance on the trading floor and with the way that the market is moving. Playing a winning hand depends on knowing your own mind ??” and understanding the way that psychology moves the market.

Studying the psychology of the market is nothing new. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that any arena that rides and falls on decisions made by people is going to be heavily influenced by the minds of people. Few people take into account all the various levels of mind games that motivate the market, though. If you keep your eye on the way that psychology influences others ??” including the mass psychology of the people that use the currency on a daily basis ??” but neglect to know what moves you, you’re going to end up hurting your own position. The best Forex coaches will tell you that before you can really become a successful trader, you have to know yourself and the triggers that influence you. Knowing those will help you overcome them or use them. Are you saying ‘Huh?” about now? Believe me, I understand. I felt the same way the first time that someone tried to explain how the mind games we play with ourselves influence the trades and decisions that we make. Let me break it down into more manageable pieces for you.

Anything involving winning or losing large sums of money becomes emotionally charged.

All right. You’ve heard that playing the market is a mathematical game. Plug in the right numbers, make the right calculations and you’ll come out ahead. So why is it that so many traders end up on the losing end of the market? After all, everyone has access to the same numbers, the same data, the same info ??” if it’s math, there’s only one right answer, right?

The answer lies in interpretation. The numbers don’t lie, but your mind does. Your hopes and fears can make you see things that just aren’t there. When you invest in a currency, you’re investing more than just money ??” you make an emotional investment. Being ‘right’ becomes important. Being ‘wrong’ doesn’t just cost you money when you let yourself be ruled by your emotions ??” it costs you pride. Why else would you let a loser ride in the hope that it will bounce back? It’s that little thing inside your head that says, “I KNOW I’m right on this, dammit!”

Bottom line: You can’t keep emotions out of the picture, but you can learn not to let them control your decisions.

To most people, being right is more important than making money.

Here’s the deal. The way to make real money in the forex market is to cut your losses short and let your winners ride. In order to do that, you have GOT to accept that some of your trades are going to lose, cut them loose and move on to another trade. You’ve got to accept that picking a loser is NOT an indication of your self-worth, it’s not a reflection on who you are. It’s simply a loss, and the best way to deal with it is to stop losing money by moving on ??” and really move on. Moving on means you don’t keep a running total of how many losses you’ve had ??” that’s the way to paralyze yourself. This brings us to the next point:

Losing traders see loss as failure. Winning traders see loss as learning.

Not too long ago, my twelve year old son told me that before Thomas Edison invented a working light bulb, he invented 100 light bulbs that didn’t work. But he didn’t give up ??” because he knew that creating a source of light from electricity was possible. He believed in his overall theory ??” so when one design didn’t work, he simply knew that he’d eliminated one possibility. Keep eliminating possibilities long enough, and you’ll eventually find the possibility that works.

Winning traders see loss in the same way. They haven’t failed ??” they’ve learned something new about the way that they and the market work.

Winning traders can look at the big picture while playing in the small arena.

Suppose I told you that last year, I made 75 trades that lost money, and 25 that made money. In the eyes of most people, that would make me a pretty poor trader. I’m wrong 75% of the time. But what if I told you that my average loss was $1000, but my average profit on a winning trade was $10,000? That means that I lost $75,000 on trades ??” but I made $250,000, making my overall profit $175,000. It’s a pretty clear numbers game ??” but how do you keep on trading when you’re losing in trade after trade? Simple ??” just remember that one trade does not make or break a trader. Focus on the trade at hand, follow the triggers that you’ve set up ??” but define yourself by what really matters ??” the overall record.

?Top Four Traits of a Successful Forex Market Trader

Forex trading on the internet is the quickest way to use your investment capital to its maximum. The foreign exchange markets can offer certain advantages to the smaller and larger traders, thus making the foreign exchange currency trading more preferable than the other markets such as stocks, options and all of the traditional futures. Here are some of the top reasons why you will want to use the forex trading on the internet, in order to become a more successful forex market trader.

1. Forex is the largest market, trading at a volume of almost two billion, giving forex traders virtually unlimited flexibility and liquidity. That’s over three times larger than the equity market and over five times larger than futures.

2. Forex trading can fit into anyone’s schedule because it is available on the internet 25 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no waiting for markets to open; they are always open day in and day out. This flexible schedule makes the forex market extremely attractive to those professional and potential traders and investors.

3. Forex trading on the internet encompasses buying one currency while simultaneously selling another currency; therefore you have an equal opportunity to make a profit no matter what direction the currencies are heading. Another great advantage to consider is that there are currently only fourteen pairs of currencies to trade. Compare those fourteen currencies to the thousands of stocks, options and futures when you’re considering the pros and cons of delving into the trading game.

4. Investors and traders are flocking to the forex internet trading as a way to gain a higher leverage to their investments. Some brokers even offer margin ratios of 200/1 in open forex trading accounts. There are also those mini-forex accounts that can be opened for a minimum of $200, offering a margin of 0.5%, where $50 in trading capital will control a ten thousand unit currency position.

The forex prices are often predictable, allowing the currency prices to create trends that can be followed to allow the technically trained forex trader to able to spot, and even take advantage of, the many entry and exit points. One of the best parts about forex trading on the internet is that there is no charges for commissions, any exchange fees or any other hidden fees. The forex market is a very easy market to research the countries and currencies involved. The only fees come from the forex brokers, who only make a very small percentage of what the bid/ask price is. Plus, there is no need to calculate any commissions or fees when completing a trade and your transactions are made a confirmed within seconds. Also because this is all done electronically, with no people involved, there is not much that can slow you down.

For the newbie’s in the forex trading game, you will need to know the forex terminology. Here is a list of some basic terms and concepts you will need to know in forex trading:

Spot Market- The market for buying and selling currencies that are usually for settlement within 2 business days, also known as the value date. For example: USD/CAD = 1 day.

Exchange Rate- This is when the value of one currency is expressed in the terms of another. For instance, the EUR/USD has an exchange rate of 1.3200, and then 1 Euro is worth 1.3200 USD.

Currency Pair- All currencies must be sold in pairs. There are two currency’s that make up an exchange rate, so when one currency is bought, the other is simultaneously sold and vise versa.

Base Currency- This is the first currency in a pair.

Counter Currency- This is the second currency used in a pair. The counter currency can also be known as the “terms” currency.

Broker- This is a firm that will match a buyer to a seller for a small fee or commission.

Sell Quote- This quote is normally displayed on the left side and represents the price that you can sell the base currency for. The sell quote is also referred to as the “bid” price. For instance: EUR/USD quotes 1.3200/03, and then you can sell one Euro for 1.3203 USD.

Buy Quote- This quote is normally displayed on the right side and represents the price that you can buy the base currency for. The buy quote is also referred to as the “ask” or “offer” price. For instance, EUR/USD quotes 1.3200/03, and then you can buy one Euro for 1.3203 USD.

?Time line for Daily Forex Trading – When are the Optimum Moments?

In today’s foreign exchange market, investors and traders can literally trade currencies worldwide 24 hours a day, in any trading zone. The top three currency trading is among the currency dealers in London, Japan and New York. These currencies are being traded 24 hours a day and the only time that currencies stop trading is on Friday when Japan closes its doors. There is a one day window after Japan closes before Europe steps in on Monday morning to open for business.

Companies that sell and buy foreign currencies as part of their business, like independent brokers and currency dealers, only make up a small portion of the foreign exchange currency trading. With a majority of trading come from banks, brokerages and investment companies. As even more currency traders become aware of the foreign exchange markets potentiality for earning and raising capital, the forex market will continue to develop and grow at a steady pace. The forex market reaches an average daily turnover of 30 times higher than any other U.S. market.

Along with the drive for supply and demand, the forex market presses on as the enormous scope for profit potential among the currency dealers is steadily rising. The forex market also uses the free floating system that is considered more practical for today’s foreign exchange market which can experience a change in the currency rates at an estimated 4.8 seconds. After developing from connective financial centers to one unified market, the forex market is taking on a prodigious role in the country’s economy. Having expanded worldwide, the forex market is reflecting the constant growth of all international trades and their countries. When you consider the size of the foreign exchange market, it would be important to understand that any transactions that are made with a future trading broker or an independent broker, can lead to more transactions. This can be due to the brokerage businesses as they work to readjust their positions.

In order to be an effective day trader, you must understand your overall portfolio and its sensitivity to market unpredictability. This is especially important when trading foreign exchange currencies, because these currencies are priced in pairs and no single pair will trade completely independently of others. Once you gain an understanding of these correlations and how they can change, then you can use them to your advantage to control your portfolio’s exposure.

Correlations Defined

There is a reason for the interdependence of foreign currency pairs, for instance, if you were trading the British pound (GBP) against the Japanese yen (JPY) or GBP/JPY pair, then you’re trading a type of derivative of the USD/JPY and GBP/USD pairs. Therefore, the GBP/JPY must be slightly correlated to one or both of the other currency pairs. Even so, the interdependence amongst these currencies will stem from more than the fact that they are in pairs. While there are some currencies that will move one right behind the other; the other currency pairs can move in different directions that often result in a more complex force. In the financial world, correlation is the statistical measure of a relationship between two securities.

Then there is the correlation coefficient that ranges between -1 and +1. The correlation of +1 indicates that two currency pairs can move in the same direction nearly 100% of the time. While the correlations of -1 indicates that two currency pairs are likely to move in the opposite direction 100% of the time. If the correlation is zero, this indicates that the relationships between the currency pairs will be completely at random.

Yet, it’s clear that correlations are not always stable. Correlations do change, as the global economic system and other various factors can change on a daily basis, making the ability to follow the shift in correlations very important. The correlations of today may not be in line with the long term correlations between any two currency pairs. This is why it’s suggested to take a look at the past six months trailing correlation to provide a more clear perspective on the average relationship between the two currency pairs. This change comes from a variety of reasons, with the most common including a currency pair’s predisposition to commodity prices, the diverging monetary policies and unique political and economic circumstances.

?How Does the Japanese Yen Stack Up Against the US Dollar in Forex Markets?

The Japanese yen is the official currency of Japan and after the euro and the US dollar is the most widely traded form of currency on the Forex. The foreign exchange market can trade currencies from all over the world with each other. There are many individuals who trade on the Forex to make a profit. When doing this, it is important to understand how each form of currency works in relation to others. The Japanese yen is very comparable to the US dollar on the Forex market.

The Japanese yen was first recognized as currency in 1870 and was modeled after the monetary system in Europe. After War World II, the Japanese yen lost most of its value due to instability. Now, the yen has more value and compares more consistently with the US dollar.

The value of the Japanese yen is mostly determined in the foreign exchange markets and by simple supply and demand. When a yen holder wants to exchange that form of currency for other currencies in order to purchase goods, services or assets, the money is traded on the Forex. When the demand for the yen is high, the value goes up. Until the Bretton Woods System collapses in 1971, the value of the Japanese yen was set at Y360 per US $1. Those prices helped stabilize the Japanese economy. When that system was done away with, the value of the yen compared to the US dollar became more competitive. Up to that point in time, the yen was undervalued.

As time progressed, the Japanese government was concerned that if the value of the yen rose, it would hurt the export business in Japan. They thought it might make Japanese products less competitive and would negatively affect the industry. This is when the Japanese government often intervened with the Forex to affect the value of the yen. This was not helping and the value of the yen climbed steadily. When the increased costs of oil began to change from 1974 to 1976, the yen began to depreciate. There were several fluctuations of the yen during the late seventies and early eighties as the price of oil increased. The yen was weak compared the US dollar until the late eighties when the value began to rise because of the trade surplus that was taking place in Japan.

When the big push came to invest in overseas companies and products, the yen began to have more value. Japan currently enjoys incentives from overseas investments. With the large rise in the value of the yen, Japanese companies began to search for lower production costs and costs associated with importing and exporting.

With the popularity of exchanging and trading the Japanese yen to US dollars, the exchange rates on the Forex are important. The exchange rates represents the link between on country and their partners in other countries. The trading between countries can either negatively or postively affect the relative price of goods and services that are being traded at any one give time. The exports and imports, the assets and the profit from these trades all affect the currency rates. Japan is major import and export country. The yen is widely used and recognized on the foreign exchange market.

Over time, the fixed, or constant, rates can be predicted by looking at a wide variety of factors including the government policies of a country, current events, supply and demand and even consumer attitudes. The Forex boasts flexible rates, which means that the rates are always changing based on the trade flows, interest rates, rates of inflation and the prediction of future events.

It is also important to remember when comparing the Japanese yen to the US dollars that the foreign exchange market is the most liquid market in the world. It is not like the stock market. Money is constanly changing hands from financial instiutions to other institions. It takes an experienced broker or profeessional that knows and understand the various currencies and trends to understand to trade sucessfully on the Forex market. The Japanese yen is more comparable to the US dollar now than it was in the past. It is one of the major currencies that is traded every single day on the foreign exchange market.

?Six Trading Tips for the Forex Newbie

For those of you who are new to the forex market, or even for those of you who are considering becoming a forex market trader, this article is for you. Welcome to forex 101, where you will learn exactly who forex is and what it does. Also for the forex newbie’s, you will find a list of six trading tips that will help you in your transactions.

For those of you who are new to the forex trading market, first you will need to know the meaning of the term “forex” which stands for FOReign EXchange market. This pertains to the international foreign currency exchange market where currencies of all kinds are bought and sold. The forex market got its start back in the early 1970’s when floating currencies and free exchange rates were first introduced. At this time, the forex market traders were the only players on the market to decide upon the value of one type of currency against another, all solely based upon a particular currency’s supply and demand.

The forex market is very unique for a number of reasons. First of all, this is one of the few markets that require very little trading qualifications and is free from any external control and can not be manipulated in any way. As the largest financial market, with trades reaching up to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars, or USD, the money moves so fast, it’s impossible for a single investor to substantially affect the price of any major foreign currency. In addition, unlike any stock that is rarely traded, forex traders are able to open and close any positions within seconds, because there are always a number of willing buyers and sellers.

1. To open a forex account, all you have to do is simply fill out an application and provide all the necessary identification. The application will include a margin agreement will state if the broker will be allowed to intervene with any trade when it appears too risky. This agreement is made to protect the interests of the broker because most trades are done by using the broker’s money. However, once you have established an account, you can fund it and begin trading in the forex market.

2. In order to become a successful trader, you will need to adapt your own trading strategy. There is no one strategy that will work for all the traders, each individual trader will need to develop their own approach to the market. While some traders may relay solely on technical analysis, others may prefer a more fundamental approach, while the more successful traders use a combination of both. Each individual trader will need to learn the best approach for them selves in order to gain a more comprehensive overview of the forex market in order to prepare for any entry and exit points.

3. Understand that prices move by trends. Forex has a popular saying, “The trend is your friend.” there are certain movements that have been studied over many years in order to identify a pattern in the trend. These trends need to be understood in order to understand a good trading strategy. For small accounts that are $25,000 and under, trading with a trend may help improving your odds when compared to bi-directional trading. Most newbie’s will look to trade in any direction, when they should be trading with a trend.

4. Before you take any position, look over the top five currencies to make sure you’re not missing something. The top five foreign in forex are: USD/Yen, Swiss franc/USD, Euro/Yen, Euro/USD and Pound/USD.

5. For newbie’s, it would be safest to have two accounts because you learn as you play the trading game. Keep one real account, one that you will actually use to trade real money; and the second account should be a demo, one that you can use to test alternative moves in the trading game. You can easily use your demo account to shadow the trades in your real account so you can widen your stops to see if you are being too conservative or not.

6. Always examine the one hour, four hour and daily charts that concern your trades. Although you can trade at 15 and 30 minute time intervals, doing so requires a handful of dexterity.