The forex market is a super-competitive, fast-moving market that will eat you alive if you aren’t careful. Bid-ask spreads for many currency pairs are in the hundredths of a cent, so even minor trading errors can be quite costly when aggregated. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls when trading on the Forex market.
Analyze and carefully study your personal financial goals prior to engaging in forex trading. Making certain your risk tolerance and capital allocation are neither excessive nor lacking will save you from taking a bigger financial risk than you can afford should you lose your investment.
Before your purchase an automated Forex trading software system make sure that you have one that fits your own needs. The software is useless to you unless you know it will suit you. For example, there are systems that cover many currencies and others that cover brokerage and trading activities. Do your research on the software before you purchase it.
The account package that you choose should fit your knowledge level and expectations. It’s important to accept your limits and work within them. You will not become a professional trader overnight. Using a low amount of leverage is a piece of advice that is often given to those who are just starting out and in fact, some successful traders use a smaller amount of leverage in their approach. If you are just starting out, get a smaller practice account. These accounts have only a small amount of risk, if any at all. Start out smaller and learn the basics.
You should have a chart, showing current gold prices visible, when you are trading the USD. Gold is one of the commodities that is most affected by the value of the USD. Historically, the price of gold and the USD, trend in opposite directions, so observing trends in the gold market, can help you to predict the future value of the USD.
Before you settle for one broker, you should read as many reviews as possible. If you know someone who uses this broker, ask them to show you how it works. Once you get an account, you might have to stick with it for a little while. Make sure you choose the right broker.
Avoid trading in the forex markets on Monday unless you spot a highly lucrative opportunity. In general, Monday trading activity is tentative, with lots of minor, contradictory trades and low-activity stretches. In this environment it is especially hard for you to read the trend of the market, and trading without knowing the trend is dangerous.
It’s not a good idea to get into trading via Forex with a currency that’s currently unpredictable, much like the U.S. Dollar. With the FED printing more money, Congress spending more money, and uncertainty looming, Americans would do well to stay away from the USD and go with another, more stable currency.
Familiarize yourself with a little bit of European geography “in a financial sense” when trading with forex. One great point to remember is that the Swiss Franc has a very close relationship with the Germans, meaning that it’s tied in closely to the Euro zone. Information like this can help you plot a plan of attack.
Start your forex trading using a demo account. Instead of jumping right in to forex trading with your life savings, choose a reputable broker and start a demo account. Get comfortable with the broker’s trading interface and tailor the preferences to your trading style. Investigate the different currency pairs and practice trading at different times of the day, depending on which markets are open. Demo accounts are the easiest way to learn trading strategies without losing all of your hard-earned money in the process.
Trading on the forex market without doing a lot of research and staying current on market trends is like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Put the tips from this article into use as part of a larger plan, and watch as your trades beat the market over and over again.