Thursday, February 19, 2009

Fibonacci method in Forex

Fibonacci Retracement Levels are:
0.382, 0.500, 0.618 — three the most important levels
Fibonacci retracement levels are used as support and resistance levels.

Fibonacci Extension Levels are:
0.618, 1.000, 1.618 — three the most important levels
Fibonacci extension levels are used as profit taking levels.

So, what we will learn today is how to apply Fibonacci tool and how to interpret results that we see on the screen.

To set up Fibonacci on the chart we need to find out:
1. Is it uptrend or downtrend?
2. Highest and lowest swings in the chart formation (A, B points).
And go with the trend!

So, click on Fibonacci tool from trading platform that you use. Now, as shown on the Figure 1:



We have an uptrend. A — our lowest swing, B — our highest swing. So, we will look to BUY some lots at the good lowest price and go up with the trend.

Click on A and drag your cursor to B, click. There you go! You must see different lines appeared on your chart. Those lines are called Fibonacci Retracement and Extension Levels.

To calculate Fibonacci levels yourself, refer to How to calculate Fibonacci levels.

So, what we are expecting is next: the price should retrace (go down) from point B to some point C, and then continue up in the direction of the trend.
Those three dotted lines (0.618, 0.500, 0.382) at the bottom on our picture shows three Fibonacci retracement levels where we expect the price to take a U-turn and go up again. There we will place our BUY order.
The best situation would be to buy at the lowest level — 0.618 — point C. And on practice the price usually gives us this chance. However, 0.500 is also a good level to place a BUY order.

Well, let's take a look at the progress.



The price has successfully reached the lowest 0.618 point and made a U-turn.

So, now when we have our BUY order placed at desired point C, we would like to set some targets to take our profit in the future. For profit taking levels we use Fibonacci extension levels (0.618,1.000, 1.618). The most common is 0.618 extension level, but when the price shows good potential to reach next 1.000 or even 1.618 level, you can leave your trade to get that target too. We will choose 0.618 extension level as our profit target, and according to Figure 2, D is our point for taking profit.

Important note: In this Fibonacci tutorial 0.618 extension level (as well as 1.000, 1.618 levels) are calculated in relation to the point B, which means that B point represents a 0% extension.Some Forex traders like to start counting from point A, then the distance from A to B would be already 100% of the price move. Thus moving further from B would be 1xx.x %.
For example: looking at the last picture, if to start counting from point A, then point D would be a 1.618 Fibonacci extension level or a 161.8% of the price move.

Forex market hours. When to trade and when not to

Forex market is open 24 hours a day. It provides a great opportunity for traders to trade any time of the day or at night. However, although it seems to be not very important at the beginning, the right time to trade is one of the most crucial points to be successful in trading at the forex market.
So, when should one consider trading and why?

The best time to trade is when the market is the most active and therefore has the biggest volume of trades. More active currency moves will create a good chance to catch the trade and make some profit. A calm, slow market is literally wasting of time — turn off your computer and don't even bother!

Forex trading hours, trading time:

New York opens 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST
Tokyo opens - 7:00 pm to 4:00 am EST
Sydney opens - 5:00 pm to 2:00 am EST
London opens - 3:00 am to 12:00 noon EST

Open ForexMarketHours application in a new window

And so, there are hours when two sessions are overlapped:

New York and London — 8:00 am — 12:00 noon EST
Sydney / Tokyo — 7:00 pm — 2:00 am EST
London / Tokyo — 3:00 am — 4:00am EST

For example, trading EUR/USD, GBP/USD currency pairs would give good results between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon EST when two markets for those currencies are active.

At those overlapping trading hours you'll find the highest volume of trades and therefore more chances to win in the foreign currency exchange market.

Tips On Forex Trading Signal Software

If I ask you to name the five most important things in your life without which you can not possibly survive, you would probably count money in. Money is indeed an absolute necessity these days to live a comfortable life. You need money not only for your basic needs such as feeding your family, but also to buy things that help you to live a happy and content life.

There are various ways to earn money and it depends on an individual to choose the right way of making money. Some people work for an organization and trade their services for money, while others prefer running independent businesses to earn the money they need.

However, there is another way to make money which is called trading. People trade in a number of things, such as stock trades, commodity trades etc. But those who trade in money make millions of dollars in a very short time.

This kind of trade is called Forex trading. In the Forex market, you buy or sell currencies. Forex is the largest and the most liquid financial market in the world that operates 24 hours a day and produces monetary transactions that amount up to 2 trillion dollars in a single trading day.

One distinguishing fact of the Forex market is that, unlike the stock market, the Forex market has no centralized location. Markets across the world have different time for opening and closing which means that this type of trading is open 24 hours a day. Trade starts in Australia and ends the next day in New York.

It's a fact that the Forex market is one of the best money making financial markets in the world. A lot of people have made millions of dollars in the Forex market and that too in a very short amount of time. Some people consider the Forex market as one of the best career that anyone can ever get into. And for this reason, people have quit their regular jobs and ventured in the Forex market to get a piece of this huge pie.

However, as you can guess, along with the money making advantage, there is equal amount of risk in the Forex trading, which you can not overlook. As the rate of the potential returns increases in any market, the risk of losing money increases too. It is a known fact that many people who ventured into this very large financial market have lost a lot of money and some even suffered huge financial losses. This is why you should think hard about it first before you even consider entering this financial market that offer huge potential to make money and also equally risky market.

Sound financial and market knowledge is an important aspect to any type trading. To be successful in Forex market, you should have the right knowledge and skills to trade currency. The basics of a Forex market is that you should buy low and sell high in order to make a profit. In addition, there are many different strategies involved using which you can earn money even when the market is down. You should also practice few techniques that help minimize the losses.

With time, trading in Forex has become possible from the comfort of your home. Thanks to the improvement and the advancement in communications technology, everyone who has investment potential and forex trading skills can now trade online and earn money from home.

All you need is a fast computer dedicated to your Forex trades alone and a fast Internet connection to avoid lags in updates in prices. You will also need a software program which acts as trading platform and assists you with your trades in the Forex market.

Obtaining the software program is easy. When you register and open a Forex account with your preferred Forex broker, the broker or the brokerage company will provide you with either an online version of software program or a downloadable and installable software program that you can install and run from your computer.

As there are many software programs available for Forex trading, it is important to choose the right one to suit your needs. You have to determine if the software has all the necessary things to assist you with your trades. For example, a good Forex trading software program should allow you to see real time charts, real time price updates and also let you use different tools that you need to effectively trade in the Forex market.

Safety and reliability are the two other points that you should consider in making the right choice for Forex trading software. The software should save you from hacker attacks or malicious transactions and should offer a safe channel for data exchange. The software should allow you to back up your data and also to restore it back in case of any damage or problem.

Information from this article should give you a basic understanding of Forex trading and guide you in obtaining resources for trading effectively in the Forex market. You can rest assured that with the right knowledge, skills, and the right Forex trading software, you can increase your chances in making a profit and decrease the risk of losing money in Forex market.

About Forex Mobile Trading Software

The Forex market, which has made a number of people rich in a very short of time, is the largest and the most liquid financial market in the world. With transactions occurring worth up to 2 trillion dollars each trading day, who wouldn’t want to join and make big bucks?

Sure, not many people knew about Forex earlier, but now a lot of people are beginning to realize that this particular market can really give them the opportunity to make lots of money. If you learn the tact of this business and do your homework right, it can turn you into a millionaire overnight.

Of course, with great rewards come greater risks too. Do not forget to consider that the Forex market also has its risk. You have to consider that aside from the fact that it can give you a chance to earn a lot of money, you should also realize that the risk is also equally great, maybe even more. It is a fact that people who have entered this financial market without the right knowledge and skills have lost a lot of money.

In the past, as per its strict policies, the Forex market allowed only large financial institutions and multinational companies to participate in trading. However, thanks to the advancement of communications technology and the availability of high speed Internet, the Forex market have opened its doors to individual traders and brokers. Even a common man like you and me can now trade in the Forex market without any trouble.

Because of all the advantages that the Forex market offers, a lot of people have entered this very large liquid financial market with the ambition of making it big. Though it doesn’t take much time to learn the basics of how to trade currencies, it needs extra efforts to learn about the different strategies and skills essential for successful trading.

The basic trading rule in the Forex market is that you have to buy when the price is low and sell when the price of the particular currency you are holding is high. If you already have this basic knowledge about the Forex trading, the next thing you should do is to learn and practice different trading techniques.

As such for performing Forex trading, you need just 3 things- a computer that is dedicated for your Forex trades, a fast and reliable Internet connection to avoid slippages and Forex trading software to help you with your trades in the Forex market.

The Forex trading software is used as a trading platform and can easily be downloaded from the internet for a certain fee. You can also use online software that many online Forex brokers offer. All you need to do is register and open an account with a Forex brokerage website. After you open an active and funded account, you will then be granted access to their Forex trading software that you can use in your Forex trades.

You must ensure that the software has the following features:
Real time updates of prices to avoid slippages.
Show prices of currency pairs.
Shows charts and should have charting features.
Stop loss button for risk management.
Open Positions window
Closed positions window
Account window

Other than these, many software companies offer real time alerts and tools for strategic planning. You can also consider few other key features such as guaranteed stop-loss rate and rate freezing, before making a decision about the software.

Since the Forex market is a very risky market, you should get the best software with the best features. In order to know which software can suit your needs, you only have to try out different software programs by opening a dummy account with the Forex brokerage company. Most Forex brokerage companies online can offer you a free trial of their software to enable you to determine if the software suits your needs or not.

Forex trading is a complex business and must be performed carefully. You need to have right tools and techniques as much as up-to-date knowledge of the Forex trading market. Thus choosing the right software becomes the key to effortless and successful trading.

The Latest Online Forex Trader Brokers System

Some brokers are exceedingly distinguished people to their clients, but there are those that are not. Brokers may work for insurance companies, real state, and even companies which supply trading systems. They are influential people which many individuals can rely on whenever they would need help of some sort. But a broker system differs.

The online forex trading broker system has a principal function of supplying clients with trading platforms. Trading platforms are well-known as the place to trade. There are also forex broker systems which supply training and programs which educate clients on how to invest money and how forex trading is being completed.

The training that is provided by these broker systems help several trade investors to reduce risks whilst maximizing profits. Investors therefore are able to profit a lot from these broker systems due to the facr they may also be able to acquire forex advice, help, knowledge, currency analysis, stock, and the coming market. Some also supply trading ideas and daily picks from newsletters.

The final goal of almost any forex broker system is to make an investor succeed. And this can only be achieved with a system having accomplished professional teachers and advisors who are able to give directional market tuition and forex training.

Beginners of the trade should be made aware that forex trading is a high risk investment. The currency market offers a lot of opportunity to earn huge amounts of profits but at the same time coupled with a lot of risks. Currency trading can give you a fortune in minutes, days and hours. But the sad truth is that it can also be lost just at the same time.

Currency forecasting is not an easy task, which is why many traders should not forget to gain knowledge of the trade first before they decide on making a trade. An intensive forex trading course can help in the learning of all the in and outs of trading. The pros can supply you with the needed educational knowledge before entering the real world of forex.

You can find a complete forex trading course that is of reasonable cost either online or in a traditional class. Look around, or you can ask around for a good trading course available.

Additional services are now provided by many broker systems to draw the attention of prospects and clients. Forex is considered as a sophisticated game, which is why you need a forex broker system.

Get scrolling updates and information for the individual currency trader. Federal Reserve's intention about the interest rate is also required by traders, and a broker system will help in finding and providing this information. Professional traders repeatedly write newsletters that can be of good use by other forex traders, they will be able to supply information about technical and fundamental analysis. Set up alerts are sometimes provided to give traders certain ideas for them to make more money.

Broker systems are entrusted by many individuals to buy and/or sell on their behalf. Make sure that the broker is registered as an FCM with the CFTC. FCM stands for futures commission merchant; and CFTC is commodity futures trading commission.

First, you would need to have an account before you can set up a broker system. You can find a lot of them online, but make sure that you choose one wisely. You must ask about the fees being charged.

Friends and co-workers are a good source of trusted brokers; ask about the broker's information and the troubles that they encountered, if any.

Online forex broker systems provide different services, but they should particularly be quick in buying or selling and automatic execution. The 'spread' should be clearly identified, whether variable or fixed.

Pay thought to even the littlest thing before signing up for a forex broker system. The margin terms are also of utmost consideration. Ask how margins are calculated and margin requirements.

The broker system should be trustworthy and its efficiency as to performance should not be questionable. The trading software used by the trader is quite indispensable, that is why you should first see all the available options for you. Take advantage of free demos, this will help you greatly in making an informed decision.

Check all the policies of the forex broker system. Read especially those in fine print; oftentimes it is the most important part that the investor fails to read.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Warning Do not invest money you cannot afford to lose

There is significant risk in any foreign exchange deal. Any transaction involving currencies involves risks, including, but not limited to, the potential for changing political and/or economic conditions, that may substantially affect the price or liquidity of a currency.

Moreover, the leveraged nature of Forex trading means that any market movement will have an equally proportional effect on your deposited funds. This may work against you as well as for you. The possibility exists that you could sustain a total loss of your initial margin funds and be required to deposit additional funds to maintain your position. If you fail to meet any margin call within the time prescribed, your position will be liquidated and you will be responsible for any resulting losses. �Stop-Loss� or �Take-Profit� order strategies may lower an investor's exposure to risk.

Penny Stocks Trading: Tips to Create Wealth

Penny Stocks are often defined as stocks priced below $5. The stocks that are traded at a very low cost, for even under $1, often for under a penny, are given the name 'Penny Stock'.

It is often implied, but isn’t necessarily true, that penny stocks are also micro caps with capitalization of less than about $250 million, and is therefore capable of creating vast wealth.

It is interesting to note that penny stocks are found across the full range of capitalization from micro caps to large cap stocks. For example, Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: SUNW) met the definition of a penny stock for much of 2004, trading between $4 and $5. In late 2004, trading between $5 and $6 per share, its capitalization was over $18 billion! These are typical micro cap penny stocks.

The small investor has a clear-cut advantage over others when an early position in a good micro cap penny stock is taken by him. As a group, micro cap penny stocks are generally avoided by large funds since prices are very easily affected by sizeable buy and sell orders. Also, capitalization is too small to affect a large fund’s bottom line.

There are insider responsibilities involved in buying more than 10% of a publicly held company. To avoid this, large funds usually don’t take up penny stocks – not even the micro cap ones.

Apparently low-stake and low-load, penny stocks can be quite risky because prices move too often. That is the reason why most wise stock market investors avoid them, even when money is there to be made in this market.

High risks exist in these because of their wildly fluctuating prices. Hence the first tip to create wealth with penny stocks is: try to get into investing in these stocks if you have prudence and low tolerance limits.

You may feel especially attracted to these, since it is possible to put small money in search of high returns. In that case you must try to know the company the stocks represent carefully and extensively. And only then can you expect big money from your penny stock.

Keep away from unknown companies. Most penny stocks come from newly instituted companies which are as a matter of fact, totally unknown, so the investor has hardly any information to depend upon when attempting to make an investment decision. Sometimes behind the widespread ignorance they are of companies in very serious financial state or may be almost on the verge of bankruptcy. It is better to avoid penny stocks unless you have dependable information from insiders.

Another high-risk pitfall comes from the important difference in how penny stocks are traded. They are confined to secondary markets – to the Pink Sheets, for example. There the liquidity measure of how easy it is to buy and sell a stock is much lower than they are in the majors.

Given the low per-share price, it is not unusual for individuals to hold hundreds of thousands of shares. Frequently the liquidity evaporates soon, making it impossible to exit such large positions without severely dragging the share price further down.

So if you are attracted by the high liquidity in secondary markets, don’t lose your control, and keep note of every small tendency. Good research and its application will be needed if you want to avoid the hidden pitfalls of the penny stock market and try to make a profit.