2Bull Forex Blog

The two main currency trading methods we are going to outline in this article are:

1. Using Leverage
2. Taking Ownership

Once a reasonable amount of experience and knowledge has been gained in the currency trading market (FOREX) it can be very profitable to combine both methods. Here are the main characteristics of each:

1. Using Leverage

Beginners in currency trading will typically find an online broker, open a free demo account, read a manual or take a tutorial, and start practicing speculating skills based on technical indicators.

Through the online broker they are able to use leverage so if they eventually decide to open a mini account, a 100:1 leverage means that with $1 they can participate in the market with $1,000. If in time they graduate to a regular account, 1 trading lot of $10 can be leveraged by the broker so $100,000 can be traded for another currency.

Many newcomers to currency trading concentrate on getting small profits, getting in and out of the trade quickly, usually taking no longer than a few hours at the most. Day trading necessitates learning how to read candle charts, recognizing patterns, and anticipating where price is likely to go.

As many new traders find when they have been currency trading for a while, it is possible to have a succession of losing trades, and without proper equity management, their account can be blown necessitating another cash injection to allow them to trade again.

A series of blown accounts can add up and many view this as part of their currency trading education expenses.

Alternating between a demo account and a mini account can reduce the cost so the new currency trader can regain confidence in the demo before going back to live trading again. Eventually, the hope is that the trader will develop a consistent trading pattern so more trades are won than lost so their equity gradually increases.

2. Taking Ownership

This method of currency trading still requires a learning curve as one has to anticipate the market moves and recognize chart patterns. Unlike using leverage however, the risk of financial loss is smaller and you are not in danger of ‘blowing your account.’

It simply means you create a portfolio with whatever funds you wish to commit to currency trading and open bank accounts in each of the currencies you wish to trade.

For example, you may wish to open bank accounts for any of the following:

* US Dollar
* British Pound
* European Euro
* Japanese Yen
* Swiss Franc

Of course, more substantial sums of money are needed to make this method of currency trading worthwhile after taking into account bank transfer charges.

However, if you have x,000 dollars or euros or any of the big five currencies to commit to currency trading this method is certainly worth considering.

After studying technical indicators and learning about support and resistance and Fibonacci calculations, you will soon recognize key patterns on the higher time frame charts. Using daily and weekly charts will bring to your attention currency pairs that are in an up or down trend or pairs that appear to be topping out or reaching a strategic high or low.

If for example the British pound reaches a high against the dollar that is the highest it has been for many years, there is a reasonable possibility that it will not stay at that level. Taking a portion of your equity and buying dollars would make good sense. Within a few days or weeks depending on your profit targets, the pound is like to come down at which time you sell dollars and buy pounds.

For example, with GBP10,000 you purchase dollars as the pound touches 2.000 against the dollar. You now own USD20,000. Within a few days the pound pulls back to 1.9800 at which time you sell dollars and buy pounds giving you GBP10,101 less bank transfer fees.

This is just a quick example of how the ownership method of currency trading works. Of course, the currency may not go in the direction you anticipate in which case your equity will be reduced. You will then need to hold that currency until such time it increases in value. Alternatively, you may see another opportunity involving a different currency cross and be prepared to take a loss in order to use that capital in a new trade.

Once currency trading skills have been acquired, the ownership method can be quite profitable, especially as your equity increases. This method requires patience as ideal setups may not appear very often. But when they do you can commit a reasonable part of your portfolio to the trade with a high probability you will profit.

Currency Trading Is High Risk

Currency trading is viewed as a high risk enterprise, and with good reason. A very high proportion of those who attempt to trade the Forex fail and give up in time, up to 95% according to some authorities. Other veteran traders suggest it can take from a few months to 3 years to gain the necessary skills - quite a learning curve!

Those who have the psychological stamina and determination to ride the bumps, accept the losses, and keep coming back until they are able to make consistent profits, are generously rewarded with a changed financial status.

Today, Forex trading is a popular form of investment for many people, and many of them do not have experience or training in short-term trading. However, there are now two Forex trading systems that can help you with this exciting vocation. First, you have the Mechanical Trading System that works off the premise of technical analysis. The Discretionary Trading System, on the other hand, involves using your experience, intuition, and judgment. It is discretionary because you can choose what factors to use when deciding to buy or sell currencies. Before you stake your preference on either system, let us take a closer look at the benefits and concerns of
each system.

The first major benefit of the Mechanical System is you can automate this system and back test it when you need to. However, it does have rigid rules you will need to follow. This is a great system if you want to keep your emotions in check as you decide on your trades.

On the other hand, the back testing feature is great only if you know what you are doing. This means you can back test and produce wrong information for trading. You can, however, subscribe to a tick data service to ensure you have the correct information. This also means paying for the extra service.

You also have to keep your technical analysis uptodate. Not all the equations will change in a day or two, but in one year, or two years market conditions will have changed many times. If you keep using the old equations, you will get the same results that were applicable when you first bought the system.

But the mechanical system is the one for you if you just want to know when to enter and exit the market with your trades.

Now, let us look at the discretionary system. The great thing about this particular Forex trading system is that is easily adaptable to new market conditions. This works well for the constantly changing Forex market and is a major advantage over the mechanical system. Also, as you use the Discretionary system for some time, you will get to know how to interpret easily the buying and selling signals. This means you have a higher likelihood of profitable trades.

Your concerns would include your inability to either back test or automate the discretionary system. After all, how can you automate your habits, judgments, and aha moments. If you could, you would not trade but sell your system for profit.

It also takes time to gain experience, as well as develop a successful trading strategy. Some people have spent many years before they can master this aspect of trading. But once you get it right, you are well on your way to big checks from your broker. Though, in the early stages of trading, you could expose yourself to risk because of ignorance.

There you have a brief analysis of the benefits and concerns of the two Forex trading systems. You need to decide one or the other based on your personality. You may have a better edge with the Mechanical system if you can follow instructions well. On the other hand, if you prefer using your emotions and experience, the Discretionary System might suit you better.

I thought such an eye-catching title would be appropriate for an article on risk management. Often times, beginning traders forget the fundamentals of proper trading in their quest for instant riches in the stock market. Those of us who have been trading for some time now are fully aware of the danger in that type of thinking.

I was a cocky beginning trader. Soon after attending a stock trading seminar, I had several big wins. In my own mind, I was the exception to any and all stock market trading principles. I could do no wrong. My short-lived reign as a trading Adonis came to an abrupt end. All my money began raining down into the pockets of real stock market professionals. Fortunately, I wised up before it was too late.

In short, I was a young punk who knew everything about nothing. I often times had to learn things the hard. Learning to trade in the stock market was no exception. So, here are my top three ways to prevent an STD.

1. Way To Avoid An STD

Perform thorough market research! Taking proper research for granted is a one-way ticket to Brokeville. Trust me, I know. Due diligence is required in order to side step a poor stock decision. Remember, getting into a bad trade is simple…getting out is costly. Give market research the time and attention it deserves.

2. Way To Avoid an STD

Remove hope from your emotional make up when trading! Wishful thinking is a dangerous mindset to be in when you are a stock trader. Hope and wishful thinking lead to irrational decisions based on emotions rather than factual information. Going down with the ship is far from an act of nobility. You will make mistakes. As a trader, you must be willing to make corrections quickly. In the stock market, making too many errors, too fast will certainly cause you to be prematurely ousted from the markets if you do not adhere to the method #1.

3. Way To Avoid an STD

Make use of a protective stop loss! After placing your order, ALWAYS set a protective stop. Failure is not to far off in the distance for a trader who handles the duties of risk management in the absence of a stop loss. A stop loss is not perfect but the only insurance policy a trader has against stock trading career ending losses. Stop being a philanthropic trader who continues to give money away to the markets.

Using a protective stop loss continues to be the most effective method of risk management. Fortunately, it is also the easiest of the three to apply. Methods 1 and 2 are developed over time as you gain experience. Simply use my top three ways of preventing an STD and you have cut your chances of getting burned.