Tips for trading Forex successfully
Trading currencies on the Forex is chock full of benefits for beginners, be it those experienced in other forms of trading like stocks or bonds, or those who literally are “newbies”. To start with, the Forex market is a unique venue where the promise of enormous payouts is actually feasible – alternatively though, it can also be a place where in the blink of an eye it can decimate all the equity in an account. Historically, to be more specific in the years leading up to global consumer access to Forex trading, 90% of investors who were not banks or institutions would lose money trading currencies. However, modern technology and the expansion of the FX market to a 3 trillion dollar a day entity has lowered that statistic considerably. If you are careful, if you follow some simple guideline, you might not make a mint overnight – but you will see a steady flow of tangible results.
With that said: Below are a few tips at how to maintain a positive result in trading currencies.
1. Strategy
It is important that before you actually make a trade, you know what the end game for that trade is – up or down. The Forex is highly competitive market known for volatility and “unconventional” swings – think the internet bubble of the late 90’s although every single day. If you trade without a strategy that will define your target gains and acceptable losses, you will lose out. A proper trading strategy will make sure that you trade using logic – a system of sorts – keeping your personal and emotional feelings out of it. The most successful traders can get out of a position that has lost them money in the same demeanor as they do when it has made them money. As well, a successful trader will never hold onto a winning position once it has reached their target – being able to get out of a position with a smaller profit, knowing that if you hold on a bit longer you could have a bigger profit is the mark of a truly disciplined and most probably successful trader.
2. Account management
The ability to regulate your account is vital. Never “bet it all” but rather be conservative with the amount you trade. If your trading company gives you 1:400 leverage, us 1:100 or 1:150 to preserve your equity and allow for more trades. It is harder than it seems to actually do. People tend to “go for broke” to try and reap the great reward all in one shot – this is called gambling. Trading is a discipline and needs to be managed as such. Disconnect yourself from the Ferrari’s and Yachts you dream of and think of this venture as a means to supplement your income. I guarantee that in the end it will become your primary income – but you need to manage your account wisely and not recklessly in order to get there.
3. Familiarity
The best way to trade successfully is to trade what you know. There are many who branch off into the “exotic” pairs of currency, like the Mexican Peso or Chinese Renminbi as the yields – that is the rate of return – tends to be higher, meaning you make more for less. But if you are no familiar with the underlying fundamentals of the currencies you choose – you might be in for a short trip. Trading involves a lot of technical elements, however as you are dealing with the national monetary instrument of a sovereign country, the fundamentals are just as, if not more important. Think about what could happen to your position, say the US Dollar against the Mexican Peso, should a drug cartel assassinate the Mexican head of state. Even though the charts and graphs might indicate that the Peso is set to soar against the Dollar, an event like that can make all the technical analysis moot – and send the Peso falling faster than you can click the sell button.
4. Read, Read, Read
Always read the data and the news, both political and financial. The key to make winning decisions is to keep current on market data, currency movements, and economic developments. Read national and global news that can make an impact on currencies. Forex currency trading is more about research. You should spend quality time studying market data and trends so you can make the right decisions.
5. Expect losses, they will happen
Not every trade is going to make you money. There will be losses, sometimes the losses can come in waves – this is normal and will serve to test your strategy, your resolve, your discipline. Everyone who trades, no matter if it is currency, stocks, commodities or even used cars, experience losses – it is part of the game. Being able to manage the risk and weather the losses with a disciplined approach as mentioned above will ensure that when the storm settles, you are still left on top.
There is no doubt that Forex is a highly profitable market. You can easily double your investment in a day but that should NEVER be a goal – because if it is, chances are you are more likely to lose it all in a day. Currency trading is a risky proposition and takes a stomach of steel, mental toughness and, as I said before, a disconnect from the fact that YOUR money is on the line with each trade.
