Forex Trading Deal

Chaina Forex

2010-07-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Forex broker might sometimes prefer to trade only with strong currencies whose countries have a stable and growing economy. Thus, one of the preferred currencies Forex brokers like to trade in is pounds. You can also study the historic data on pound and make studied guesses and choose the safest bet.
The complaint frequently heard about MT4 is that it was built by programmers not traders. Definitely it was built with a spotlight on the front end and’client side’ rather than the brokers back office side. The platform itself developed from a price and info delivery terminal that became very popular with traders. Users then started to ask whether trading functions could be built into it. Metaquotes used the same architecture and added trading functionality to it, leading some to call MT4 a Frankenstein creation.To meet Forex industry standards, MT5 changes the entire core of position handling. From this point on MT5 traders will be in a position to keep only one position of any single trading instrument/currency pair. This reflection of orders aligns with the new FIFO ( first-in, first-out ) rule implemented by NFA as an industry standard in summer 2009.

The history of Forex market dates back to 1973. This is when the Forex market was established which deal in exchanging foreign currencies. But the practice of exchange business is as old as the pharaohs. But this market boomed gradually because of the profitable transactions that take place every now and then. There are numerous banks and financial institutions that take part in the dealings of Forex. Individual traders are also allowed to transact and the demographic can never restrict the business. This is a global market that can be operated from most of the major business hubs across the world like Sydney, London and Tokyo etc. As the time frame scheduled for operation varies with the world timing, the market remains open 24×7 which is possibly the best part about it. The total worth of money used in transactions of Forex on daily basis is around 3.2 trillions of US dollars. You are free to make small transactions by investing little amounts which keeps the risk of loss limited.
It is not at all tough to start forex trading because you can get ample sources to teach you all about it. You need not work for someone else as Forex trading can bring in complete financial independence. It is always good to develop your own set of strategies while currency exchange. You are free to decide the level of risk that you would like to take up and also the amount of money to be invested. As it is possible to start with a very small amount, the chances of losing hefty amounts is less.

selling stocks. Without the stock market, our companies become slower in their growth and might falter in the increasing competition in the US as well as against international companies.

Another reason for the existence of the stock market is that it also has role in personal financial planning. This is because many individuals buy stock shares as part of their personal financial strategies. More importantly, most Americans have a stake in the stock market because retirement programs invest in stocks. It has shown that retirement programs earn a lot more by investing in common stocks than other options such as saving the funds in banks.

Spreads are preferable to commissions as it is a one time fixed payment. this cost is calculated in pips (Price Index Position).. Needless to say, the higher the spreads, the more you end up paying per trade on the currency pair. Currency pairs made up from major currencies normally have very low spreads. the Yen, Dollar, Euro and the British Pound are all considered major currencies.

However, spreads alone cannot establish if a forex broker is reliable. your funds are held by the forex broker which is why it is vital to select a stable broker. the chances of a client regaining back his or her funds from a bankrupt broker is slim to none. Financial stability is the most essential area to look at when choosing a forex broker. While rare, even major brokers can fall victim to financial woes. Refco is the most famous case where this happened.

For further details on forex broker how to guides as well as online forex trading in general, Click Here or visit the writers forex hub at i-forex-trading.com

Tags: banks, best forex broker, british pound, Choices, Commissions, currencies, Currency, currency pairs, currency rates, Dollar Euro, Financial Stability, Forex, Forex Broker, forex broker review, forex broker reviews, Forex Brokers, forex traders, Forex Trading, Index Position, Popularity, Price Index, profits, Slim to none, Time Payment, Yen Dollar

Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market

2010-06-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

Presently, there are various kinds of financial market, it is divided into: Stock market, interest market (including bond, commercial bill and so on), gold market (including gold, platinum, silver), futures market (including grain, cotton and kapok, oil and so on), option market and foreign exchange market or forex market and so on.

The foreign exchange market is a place to trade foreign exchange currency, or it is also a place for the transaction of all foreign currency. The foreign exchange market therefore is existence, because of:

Trade and investment
Import and export business, people pays one kind of currency when doing business, but when earns another kind of currency when receive the commodity. This means that, when settling account, business people will pay and receive different currencies. Therefore, they must convert the currencies that they received into the currencies that they could buy commodities. With this similar, when buying a foreign property a company must use the concerned country's currency to make payment, therefore, it needs to convert the domestic currency is concerned country's currency.

Speculation
Currencies exchange rates could fluctuate according to the demand and supply between two currencies. A Forex trader buys up one kind of currency in an exchange rate, but up casts this currency in another more advantageous exchange rate, he may gain. Speculation has occupied most of the Forex market.

Hedging
Due to the fluctuation between two currencies, those companies who owns foreign asset (for example factory), when these companies convert these properties into cost country currencies, there consist of certain risks. When the value of a foreign asset which is estimated based on foreign currencies remained unchanged, if the exchange rate changes, when converting this property value according to the domestic currency, there could be profit and loss. The company may eliminate such hidden risk through hedging. This carries out a foreign currency trading, its transaction result just counterbalances the foreign currency property profit and loss which produces by the exchange rate change.

Forex Market Development
The history of the Forex market as an international capital speculation market is much shorter compared the stock, the gold, the stock, the interest market, but it is developing in an astonishing speed. Today, the foreign exchange market daily trading volume has amounted to 150 billion US dollars, it’s scale has gone far beyond the stock, the stock and other finance commodity markets, it has became the world's most biggest sole finance market and the also the speculation market. Since the birth of the foreign exchange market, the fluctuation of the exchange rate of the Forex market is becoming bigger. In September 1985, 1 US dollar exchanged 220 Japanese Yen, but in May 1986, 1 US dollar only could exchange 160 Japanese Yen, in 8 months, the Japanese Yen has revalued 27%. In recent years, the foreign exchange market wave amplitude has been bigger, on September 8, 1992, 1 pound exchanged 2.0100 US dollars, on November 10, 1 pound exchanged 1.5080 US dollars, in the short two months, the pound exchanged US dollar exchange rate to fall more than 5,000, depreciated 25%. Not only that, presently, everyday the fluctuation of the exchange rate of the Forex market enlarges unceasingly, within a day the rise and drop 2% to 3% is commonly seen. On September 16, 1992, the pound exchanged US dollar from 1.8755 to fall to 1.7850, the pound on first lowers 5%.

Due to the large fluctuation of the Forex market, it has created more opportunities for the investor, attracted more and more investors to join this ranks.

How to Trade Forex

2010-05-24T03:07:00.000-07:00

How to Trade Forex

Trading foreign exchange is exciting and potentially very profitable, but there are also significant risk factors. It is crucially important that you fully understand the implications of margin trading and the particular pitfalls and opportunities that foreign exchange trading offers. On these pages, we offer you a brief introduction to the Forex markets as well as their participants and some strategies that you can apply. However, if you are ever in doubt about any aspect of a trade, you can always discuss the matter in-depth with one of our dealers. They are available 24 hours a day on the Saxo Bank online trading system, SaxoTrader.

The benchmark of its service is efficient execution, concise analysis and expertise – all achieved whilst maintaining an attractive and competitive cost structure. Today, Saxo Bank offers one of Europe's premier all-round services for trading in derivative products and foreign exchange. We count amongst our employees numerous dealers and analysts, each of whom has many years experience and a wide and varied knowledge of the markets – gained both in our home countries and in international financial centres. When trading foreign exchange, futures and other derivative products, we offer 24-hour service, extensive daily analysis, individual access to our Research & Analysis department for specific queries, and immediate execution of trades through our international network of banks and brokers. All at a price considerably lower than that which most companies and private investors normally have access to.

The combination of our strong emphasis on customer service, our strategy and trading recommendations, our strategic and individual hedging programmes, along with the availability to our clients of the latest news and information builds a strong case for trading an individual account through Saxo Bank.

Terms of trading are agreed individually depending on the volume of your transactions, but are generally much lower in cost when compared to banks and brokers. Your margin deposit can be cash or government securities, bank guarantees etc. Large corporate or institutional clients may be offered trading facilities on the strength of their balance sheet. The minimum deposit accepted for an individual trading account depends on the account type. Trade confirmations and real-time account overview are built into SaxoTrader, while further account information can be produced in accordance with your specific requirements.

Forex in Globe

2010-05-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

Forex in Globe

Forex Charts

2010-05-22T00:42:00.000-07:00

Forex charts assist the investor by providing a visual representation of exchange rate fluctuations. Many variables affect currency exchange rates, such as interest rates, bank policies, geopolitics, and even the time of day may affect exchange rates.

In order to help the investor attempt to predict when or in what direction a rate may change, advisors provide forex charts. Quality forex websites provide subscribers with a daily newsletter that includes a forex chart, forex signals and a forex forecast.

There are a variety of forex charts available for the investor to use and study. Some are very simple using only a couple of forex signals or indicators and are ideal for beginners. Others include 30 or 40 forex signals or indicators and live on-line streaming data so that the investor may analyze trades quickly and accurately.

In order to make an accurate forex forecast, it would seem that the more indicators, the better, but some analysts prefer a simpler system.

The idea behind studying forex charts is that history repeats itself. Instead of trying to “see the future”, a forex forecast evaluates the past. That is to say that the analyst who is responsible for attempting to predict future currency moves analyzes what happened to an exchange rate yesterday, last week, last month or last year and uses this knowledge to the best degree he knows how.

Some people trade short term, some intermediate term, and some long term. All three types of traders may benefit from the use of forex charts, just adapted to their own trading time frame.

Investors also create their own forex charts to evaluate their own performance. Creating a forex strategy for oneself is the goal of many investors. Instead of looking to a professional to analyze forex signals, these investors choose to create their own forex forecast.

Others, however, create their own strategy but also follow the opinions of professional currency traders at the same time. It all depends on your personal preferences.

There are other forex charts that deal with known correlations between two currency pairs, that is, how they move in relation to each other. Some exchange rates are known to affect other exchange rates, either by moving in the same or the opposite direction depending on the correlation.

Charts are available that explain these correlations in detail and show which pairs have strong correlations or strong negative correlations, so that an investor can use the movement of the exchange rate of one currency as a signal to trade another currency. These correlations are also the basis for some forex forecasts.

It can be difficult and overwhelming to enter the world of forex trading alone. Experts recommend education, practice with a demo account and advice from a reputable broker who is backed by a quality institution. Learning to read forex charts and evaluate forex signals is a skill that comes with time, skills that are essential when an accurate forex forecast is the the goal.

Forex Margin Trading

2010-05-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

Comparing to other investment, the Foreign Exchange margin trading is one of the fairest and the most attractive investment method.
The Foreign Exchange margin trading meaning the traders borrow loan from bank, finance organization or broker house to carry on the foreign currency trading. Generally, the financing proportion is above 20 times, which means the Forex traders’ fund may enlarge to 20 times to carry on the trading. The bigger the financing proportion, means the Forex traders just need to pay very less fund, for example, the financing proportion provided by the financial organization is 400 times, namely the lowest margin request is 0.25%, the traders just need to pay 25 US dollars, then he or she could trade as high as 10,000 US dollars, fully using the contra method to make big profit by only paying a very less price.

Besides the fund enlargement, another attraction of the Forex margin trading method is that it can be traded in both ways, you can make profit by buying the currency when the currency rise (makes many), or to sell a currency when the currency is dropping to make profit (short-selling), thus does not need to be restricted by the restriction so-called bear market is unable to make money.

Making Profit in the Foreign Exchange Market
The currency fluctuate continuously due to reasons such as political, economical reasons, sometimes the changes could be extremely great, therefore, the Forex traders also can have the opportunity in among which makes a profit. For example, the Japanese Yen daily fluctuation is probably between 0.7% to 1.5%, Forex traders may make profit through buying and selling. All trading could be completed in a short time, the trading strategy could be carry up according to the market conditions, it is extremely flexible, even if the direction looks wrong, the lost could be stop immediately, the lost could reduce but profit potential is still great. Therefore, the Foreign Exchange margin trading is the most flexible and the most reliable investment method.
Foreign Exchange Margin Trading elementary knowledge

Currency name	Commonly used currency code
Singapore dollar Thai Bath Swedish krona Danish Krone Norwegian krone Spanish peseta German Mark US dollar Euro Japanese Yen Pound Swiss franc Australian dollar New Zealand Yuan Canadian dollar Hong Kong dollar French franc Italian lira Belgian franc	SGD THB SEK DKK NOK ESP DEM USD EUR JPY GBP CHF AUD NZD CAD HKD FRF ITL BEF

Characteristics of Forex Market

2010-05-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

In recent years, the foreign exchange market could favor more and more people, it becomes a favorite for the international investors, and this is strongly related to the characteristics of the Forex market. The main characteristics of the foreign exchange market are:

1st, It consists market but no trading field
The finance industry in the western countries consist two sets of systems, namely the centralism business central operation and there is no fixed place for such business network. Stock trading is being traded through stock exchange. Like the New York Stock Exchange, the London stock market, the Tokyo stock market, respectively is American, English, the Japanese stock main transaction place, it is a centralism business financial commodity, its quoted price, the transaction time and hand over to the procedure all consist of unification the stipulation, and has established the same business association, it has formulated the same business rules. The investor could buy and sells the commodity through the broker company, this is known as "consist of trading market and trading field".

But foreign exchange business is done without any unification operation market and business network, it has no centralism unified place like the stock transaction. But, the foreign currency trading network actually is globally, and it has formed a organization which has no formal organization, the market is relied through an approval way and the advanced information system, Forex traders do not consist any membership qualification for any organization, but must obtain colleague’s trust and approval. This kind of Forex market which has no trading field is known as "consist of market but no trading field". Each day, the trading volume in the global Forex market involves billions of U.S dollars, the so huge large amount fund, is being control under both the non-centralism place and non central governance system, plus it is settle based on non-government governance.

2nd, Circulation work
Due to the different geographical position of the various financial centre, the Asian market, the European market, the Americas market because of the time difference relations, it has become an entire day 24 hour continued operation whole world foreign exchange market.

Early morning 0830 (New York time) New York market opens, 0930 Chicago market opens, 1830 Sydney opens, 1930 Tokyo opens, 2030 Hong Kong, Singapore open, before dawn 1430 Frankfurt opens, 1530 o'clock London market opens. So 24 hours uninterrupted movements, the foreign exchange market becomes a day and night market, only on Saturday, Sunday as well as the various countries' significant holiday, the foreign exchange market only then can close.

This kind of continued operation, provided no time and spatial barrier ideal outlet for investors, the Forex trader may seek the best opportunity to carry on the transaction. For instance, Forex trader buys up the Japanese Yen in the morning at the New York market, in the evening Hong Kong market opens the Japanese Yen rises, the Forex trader sells in the Hong Kong market, no matter Forex trader in where, he all may participate in any market, any time business. Therefore, the foreign exchange market may say is does not have the time and the spatial barrier market.

3rd, Zero and Game
In the stock market, the rise or the drop of stock market could influence the value of the stock whether to rise or drop, for example the Japanese new date iron stock price falls from 800 Japanese Yen to 400 Japanese Yen, the value of this stock has been reduced to half. However, in the foreign exchange market, the value of a stock and a currency is being calculated differently, this is because the exchange rate is refers to the exchange ratio both countries currency, the exchange rate change will influence one kind of monetary value to reduce and at the same time another kind of monetary value increase. For instance in 22 years ago, 1 US dollar exchanges 360 Japanese Yen, at present, 1 US dollar exchanges 110 Japanese Yen, this explains the Japanese Yen currency value rise, but US dollar currency value drops, in the end the value will not reduce or increase. Therefore, some people described the foreign currency trading is "zero and the game", exactly said is the wealth shift.

In recent years, investment foreign exchange market fund has continuously increased, the exchange rate fluctuation expands day by day, urges the wealth shift to be larger, the daily trading volume of the global foreign exchange involves 150 billion US dollars, the rise or falls 1%, means that the 150 billion funds has been shifted. Although the foreign exchange rate change is very big, but, any kind of currency will not become waste paper, even if some kind of currency unceasingly falls, however, but generally it represents certain value, only if such currency has been abolished.

Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market

2010-05-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market

Due to the large fluctuation of the Forex market, it has created more opportunities for the investor, attracted more and more investors to join this ranks.

Foreign Margin Markets

2010-05-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

Foreign Margin Markets

Comparing to other investment, the Foreign Exchange margin trading is one of the fairest and the most attractive investment method.

The Foreign Exchange margin trading meaning the traders borrow loan from bank, finance organization or broker house to carry on the foreign currency trading. Generally, the financing proportion is above 20 times, which means the Forex traders’ fund may enlarge to 20 times to carry on the trading. The bigger the financing proportion, means the Forex traders just need to pay very less fund, for example, the financing proportion provided by the financial organization is 400 times, namely the lowest margin request is 0.25%, the traders just need to pay 25 US dollars, then he or she could trade as high as 10,000 US dollars, fully using the contra method to make big profit by only paying a very less price.

Besides the fund enlargement, another attraction of the Forex margin trading method is that it can be traded in both ways, you can make profit by buying the currency when the currency rise (makes many), or to sell a currency when the currency is dropping to make profit (short-selling), thus does not need to be restricted by the restriction so-called bear market is unable to make money.

Making Profit in the Foreign Exchange Market

The currency fluctuate continuously due to reasons such as political, economical reasons, sometimes the changes could be extremely great, therefore, the Forex traders also can have the opportunity in among which makes a profit. For example, the Japanese Yen daily fluctuation is probably between 0.7% to 1.5%, Forex traders may make profit through buying and selling. All trading could be completed in a short time, the trading strategy could be carry up according to the market conditions, it is extremely flexible, even if the direction looks wrong, the lost could be stop immediately, the lost could reduce but profit potential is still great. Therefore, the Foreign Exchange margin trading is the most flexible and the most reliable investment method.
Foreign Exchange Margin Trading elementary knowledge

Currency name

Commonly used currency code

Singapore dollar
Thai Bath
Swedish krona
Danish Krone
Norwegian krone
Spanish peseta
German Mark
US dollar
Euro
Japanese Yen
Pound
Swiss franc
Australian dollar
New Zealand Yuan
Canadian dollar
Hong Kong dollar
French franc
Italian lira
Belgian franc

SGD
THB
SEK
DKK
NOK
ESP
DEM
USD
EUR
JPY
GBP
CHF
AUD
NZD
CAD
HKD
FRF
ITL
BEF

Introduction to Foreign Exchange Markets

2010-05-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Foreign Exchange Markets

Being the main force driving the global economic market, currency is no doubt an essential element for a country. However, in order for all the countries with different currencies to trade with one another, a system of exchange rate between their currencies is needed; this system, is formally known as foreign exchange or currency exchange.

In the early days, the system of currency exchange is supported solely by the gold amount held in the vault of a country. However, this system is no longer appropriate now due to inflation and hence, the value of one’s currency nowadays is determined through the market forces alone. In order to determine the value of a currency’s exchange rate, two main types of system is used which is floating currency and pegged currency.

For floating exchange rate, its value is determined by the supply and demand of the global market where the supply and demand is bound by all these factors such as foreign investment, inflation and ratios of import and export. Normally, this system is adopted by most of the advance countries like for example UK, US and Canada. All of these countries have a similarity where their market is well developed and stable in economic terms. These countries choose to practice this system due to the reason where floating exchange rate is proven to be much more efficient compared to the pegged exchange rate. The reason behind this is because for floating exchange rate, the market itself will re-adjust the exchange rate real-time in order to portray the actual inflation and other economic forces. However, every system has its own flaw and so does the floating exchange rate system. For instance, if a country suffers from economic instability due to various reasons such as political issues, a floating exchange rate system will certainly discourage investment due to the high risk of suffering from inflationary disaster or sudden slump in exchange rate.

Another form of exchange rate is known as pegged exchange rate. This is a system where the value of the exchange rate is fixed by the government of a country and not the supply and demand of the market. This system is called pegged exchange rate because the value of a country’s currency is fixed to another country’s currency. As a result, the value of the pegged currency will not fluctuate unlike the floating currency. The working principle behind this system is slightly complicated where the government of a country will fixed the exchange rate of their currency and when there is a demand for a certain currency resulting a rise in the exchange rate, the government will have to release enough of that currency into the market in order to meet that demand. However, there is a fatal flaw in this system where if the pegged exchange rate is not controlled properly, panics may arise within the country and as a result of that, people will be rushing to exchange their money into a more stable currency. When that happens, the sudden overflow of that country’s currency into the market will decrease the value of their exchange rate and in the end, their currency will be worthless. Due to this reason, only those under-developed or developing countries will practice this method as a form to control the inflation rate.

However, the truth is, most of the countries do not fully practice the floating exchange rate or the pegged exchange rate method in reality. Instead, they use a hybrid system known as floating peg. Floating peg is the combination of the two main systems where one country will normally fixed their exchange rate to the US Dollars and after that, they will constantly review their peg rate in order to stay in line with the actual market value.

The Foreign exchange market, or commonly known as FOREX, is the largest and most prolific financial market because each day, more than 1 trillion worth of currency exchange takes place between investors, speculators and countries. From this, we can deduce that the actual mechanism behind the world of foreign exchange is far more complicated than what we may already know, and that, the information mentioned earlier is just the tip of an iceberg.

Forex Brokers Directory

2010-05-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

Forex Brokers Directory

Choosing the best forex broker is important. The best currency trading broker provide you the services you're looking for. Here at FOREX.pk you'll find information, so you can better choose a forex brokerage firm for yourself. Foreign Exchange Currency trade is conducted via an international network of forex brokers. Until recently, the forex market was confined to larger brokers, major international commercial and investment banks, international money brokers and currency traders.

Russian Federation (1)

United Arab Emirates (8)

United Kingdom (42)

United States of America (41)

Pakistan Open Market Forex Rates

2010-05-21T21:42:00.001-07:00

debt concerns persist •Oil hits new low for year as eurozone debt weighs •Pak gets $1.13b IMF tranche •Bears dominate KSE; Index slips to 10050 points •Oil above $70 after hitting 5-month low •Oil rises above $71 after 2-week sell-off •Textile ministry adamant on yarn duty •Pranab calls for increased India-Pakistan trade

Pakistan Open Market Forex Rates

Currency	Symbol	Buying	Selling	Charts
Australian Dollar	AUD	69.6	70.6
Bahrain Dinar	BHD	222.2	223
Canadian Dollar	CAD	79.7	80.7
China Yuan	CNY	12.5	12.9
Danish Krone	DKK	13.7	13.9
Euro	EUR	103.7	105.4
Hong Kong Dollar	HKD	10.7	11
Indian Rupee	INR	1.85	1.9
Japanese Yen	JPY	0.91	0.92
Kuwaiti Dinar	KWD	288	289
Malaysian Ringgit	MYR	25.9	26.4
NewZealand $	NZD	57.9	58.9
Norwegians Krone	NOK	13.2	13.7
Omani Riyal	OMR	217.4	218
Qatari Riyal	QAR	22.9	23.1
Saudi Riyal	SAR	22.28	22.48
Singapore Dollar	SGD	59.4	60.4
Swedish Korona	SEK	10.4	10.9
Swiss Franc	CHF	73.4	73.9
Thai Bhat	THB	2.6	2.7
U.A.E Dirham	AED	22.78	22.98
UK Pound Sterling	GBP	121.7	123.4
US Dollar	USD	84.15	84.45

INTER BANK RATES

2010-05-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

INTER BANK RATES
Updated at: 22/5/2010 8:41 AM (PST)

Currency

Bank Buying
TT Clean

Bank Selling
TT & OD

Australian Dollar	69.86	70.02
Canadian Dollar	79.33	79.52
Danish Krone	14.27	14.30
Euro	106.21	106.46
Hong Kong Dollar	10.81	10.84
Japanese Yen	0.9356	0.9379
Saudi Riyal	22.51	22.56
Singapore Dollar	59.80	59.94
Swedish Korona	10.69	10.71
Swiss Franc	73.05	73.23
U.A.E Dirham	22.98	23.03
UK Pound Sterling	121.33	121.62
US Dollar	84.4	84.6

Forex Currency Trading For Those New To The Game

2010-05-20T02:25:00.001-07:00

The foreign exchange market was the exclusive province of large banks and financial institutions, but with the advent of the Internet it has become a profitable playground for savvy traders. The benefits of Forex market trading are reviewed in this article.

The Forex refers to the foreign exchange currency market. It is the largest financial market in the world, trading more than $2 trillion on average each day. Comparing an average day of the Forex, the average daily volume of $25 billion on the New York Stock Exchange begins to look like chump change. It does not take long before you begin to appreciate the vast size of the foreign exchange market.

Currencies are traded in pairs on the Forex, which involves the simultaneous buying of one currency and the selling of another. You may trade the Euro dollar and the US dollar (EUR/USD) pair or the British pound and the Japanese Yen (GBP/JPY) pair, as examples.

In effect, you are buying the currency of a particular country. This equates to taking a position in that nation's economic growth. The price of the currency is a direct reflection of what the market thinks about the current and future health of that nation's economy. If you buy the Japanese Yen, you are in effect buying a share in the Japanese economy with the belief that their economy will expand in comparison to the economy of other counties.

The Forex has no physical exchange or central market. Instead, it is an Over-the-Counter (OTC) or 'Interbank' market. The entire market is run electronically, within a network of banks.

The market is available continuously open. This 24-hour market is achieved by a transitioning of trading activity around the globe. Trading begins in Sydney, Australia, then shifts to Tokyo, Japan. Next, London, England takes over and then "passes the baton" to New York. As New York shuts down, Sydney is opening for business.

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The Forex market comes with a series of additional benefit, which make it irresistable to traders. There are only seven major currency pairs. Compare that to tracking thousands of stocks. There are no commissions or exchange fees. Your broker simply makes their money from the difference on the bid / ask spread. This is also the most liquid market anywhere.

There are other benefits, but you probably have an idea as to why currency trading is quickly growing in popularity with retail traders. The obstacles to accessing these benefits have been largely eliminated, with knowledge the only barrier between you and forex trading profitability.

Fortunately, the need for education is being addressed. If you wish to learn more about the basics of how the foreign exchange market works, you will find numerous resources on the Internet and can access reliable information from reputable Forex brokers. Once you understand the basics and choose to take the next step, you will want to invest in a solid trading course from a reputable source.

With good instruction, there is very little that stands between you and the ability to benefit from trading the foreign exchange currency market.

5 Must Have Tips

2010-05-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

This article goes out to investors who are new to the FOREX market. Over the years I have gained much experience in dealing with FOREX and I have gathered here a little bit of advice, so that you have a safe landing when you take your first jump into the world of foreign exchange. Here are my five most essential tips that I believe should be your fundamental guidelines:

#1: Use the "Stop-loss" system.
Do not counts neither profitable trades nor losing trades. The smart investor knows how to increase his winning value and cut his losses to the minimum. The bottom line in FOREX is how much money you have made – it is the dollars and cents you gained rather than your win to loss ratio.

#2: Learn the foreign currency exchange market.
After choosing the currencies you’ll be trading, educate yourself about the country whose currency you’re trading. Use the media that nowadays is freely available to everyone, and learn every aspect possible so that in time you will be able to predict trend movements as accurately as possible.

#3: Margin and leverage is NOT free money.
Two of the so-called advantages of FOREX are leverage and margin. In my opinion, margin trading is nothing short than a safe and a fast way to lose a lot of money (in sums you never thought possible). Learn about the margin trading system and unless you are one hundred percent sure what you are doing, stay away from the margin.

#4: FOREX trading system and consistency is everything.
Choose a trading system that fits you and stick to it. Experienced FOREX brokers and trades will back me up on this one - acquiring a system lets you automate your trades based on history, charts, trends, predictable peaks and valleys, and not by your emotions and urges. Haste decisions based on urges will usually lead to lose.

#5: Open a FOREX demo account.
Practice FOREX trading by using a demo account, they are great for studying the market and learning how trading really works. Always remember, demo accounts aren’t the real world, so when you feel like you have learned enough from the demo account and that you are ready to start doing some serious FOREX trading, I suggest switching to a mini FOREX lot, thus minimizing your risks while learning the big-boys game.

May good luck shine upon you in all your future trades!

Forex Currency Trading Online

2010-05-20T02:22:00.000-07:00

As like many before you, when you first start trading on the Forex market you will soon realize that a lot of the traders lose money rather than gain.

So if you do not want to end up in the same situation as many before you, here are some tips in relation to Forex currency trading online that can help you gain more and lose less.

1. Forget the Hype

Too often you will see sites that are promoting ways in which you can get rich through Forex trading as long as you purchase their book for $100. However, instead of spending your money on something that is probably completely worthless, all you need to do is spend some time searching the internet and you will soon discover everything you need to know and all for free.

If however you really want to learn what the top traders are doing and obtain advice from them, there are plenty of good quality books that you can purchase through such online stores as Amazon.

2. Day Trading - Forget It

Unfortunately a lot of people starting out in Forex trading have often heard that you can make good money through day trading. This is simply not true and those that have listened to this have soon learnt the hard way.

Ask any reputable vendor online and they will soon tell you that the only way you will be able to make any money and real profits in forex currency trading online is over the long term.

3. Be Smart

When it comes to Forex trading you need to be smart so it is important that you learn as much as you can about the subject as possible. Look at the various tools and systems that are available and soon you will discover that you are able to trade on the markets much more easily after just a couple of weeks.

4. You need to be a risk taker

Unfortunately with any form of trading there are some risk involved and so if you are not prepared to take any risks then forget about getting involved in Forex trading. Only those who are willing to accept the risks and be prepared to make some loses are going to be successful when it comes to Forex trading.

5. Find a simple system

Simple Forex trading systems work much better than the more complicated types. Certainly when first starting out,it is best to use a system that uses both support and resistance practices as well as breakout methodology. Plus a system that uses confirming indicators also. By keeping your system as simple as possible you will find it much easier to understand and learn everything you need to know to ensure that you maximize your gains but minimize your losses.

If you include these few tips to any plan you are devising for your Forex currency online trading then you should soon be on your way to making some decent money.

A Simple Investment for BIG Capital gains

2010-05-20T02:21:00.002-07:00

Here we are going to outline a simple investment anyone can do and target 50% + annual gains - making this investment a good diversification from volatile stock markets. Lets take a look at it in more detail. The investment is a simple buy and hold strategy in currencies.

Here is the logic the US Dollar is under pressure due to sluggish economy and debt by selling it against currencies that have strong economies and vast natural resources, which are in high demand and you can make solid long term gains.

The currencies that look a great long term investment (and have been producing solid gains for several years) are the Australian and Canadian dollar. Not only do they have solid economies and strong GDP; these countries also have vast natural resources, which are in demand to fuel global economic growth.

Canada for example, has the second biggest known reserves of crude oil in the world, with only Saudi Arabia having more. In addition Canada has been the biggest exporter to the US for the last seven years and the US is buying in ever greater quantities, from its stable and friendly neighbor.

Australia is the world’s third largest gold producer and produces a number of minerals and base metals that are in high demand as well and just like Canada has seen its currency soar in value in the last few years.

This is not an investment that you need to continually trade in and out - you simply buy and hold and if you look at a forex chart you will see how lucrative this investment could have been. You don’t need a lot of money either.

Today, you can open a currency trading account with just a few hundred dollars furthermore, when you open an account you can leverage your cash. Most brokers will grant you a leverage of 200:1, so if you put a $1,000 down you can trade $200,000!

You don’t need all this leverage to make big gains, a leverage of just 10:1 would be enough to get a growth rate of 50% per annum. This strategy is simple, has solid reasons for doing it and the risk reward is excellent. Take a look at it’s potential and you may be glad you did.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF CURRENCY INVESTING

Becoming a Millionaire

2010-05-20T02:21:00.001-07:00

Many people don’t know about the largest traded market in the world. Currently over 1.2 trillion dollars is traded on a daily basis in the forex market. Forex, or the foreign currency exchange market was a market that only large investors could play in and until just recently has become available to smaller investors.

For those of you that don’t know, here is an example of how the forex market works. If one were to take a vacation to Europe from the United States, you would have to exchange your US dollars into the Euros. When you came back to the United States, you would then have to exchange your Euros back to US dollars. During the time you were on vacation market news may have caused the US dollar to strengthen against the Euro. Therefore, when exchanging your Euros back to US dollars, you may have made a bit of money.

What makes the forex arena so popular is the leverage one can use when trading in this market. Most brokers offer a 100:1 leverage. Traditionally a trader needs 100,000 US dollars or we say 1:1 leverage (trading cash). However, with 100:1 leverage, a currency trader is only required to deposit 1/100th of the amount needed, 1,000 US dollars. Some brokers offer as much as 400:1 leverage.

Learning how to trade forex and using the leverage available, it is very possible to make good money. However at the same time it’s very possible to lose a lot of money. Approximately 95% of forex traders lose when they decide to play in the forex market. There are many reasons for this, your psychology, discipline, greed and fear will have a major impact on your trading success.

When looking at the forex market, the price is constantly changing every second. Forex traders measure the price fluctuation in pips also known as the minimum fluctuation or smallest increment of price movement. One pip could be $1, $5, $50, or $100, whatever you decide to risk on each trade.

Using good money management with a well thought out plan can easily turn into profits in the forex arena. Learning to cut your losses and let your winners run is the key to success. A simple money management system to follow is to always look to win 3 times the amount you plan to lose. Yes, you will lose and it’s important to accept losses when trading. For example, if you set a stop-loss to 10 pips, you need to look to win 30 pips. If you set a stop-loss to 20 pips, then you need to look to win 60 pips. This way you only have to be right 33% of the time to be profitable in this market.

8Forex Day Trading Systems - Fast & Furious

Day Trading systems for the forex traders. Learn how day traders are taking advantage of the forex market.

Today, a majority of investors buy shares or commodities with the intention of them rising in value. There is a difference between an investor and trader. Traders are more of market predators looking to scalp out a few points during the trading day. So both require different systems for there financial success.

Forex day trading systems have developed a more risky approach toward trading the markets. Since the forex market is such a volatile market, with a constant rise and decline in values. It offers the day trader ample opportunities to cash in big.

Longer term systems are more basic in understanding the currency mechanics because you are only deciding that the value will move in one direction. Day trading adds more complexity because the trader has to determine points to buy and sell in short periods of time. This usually makes forex day trading systems more complex to understand. They usually also are also considered the quick set to riches since you realize your profit sooner than later.

Support and resistance areas play a big part in forex day trading systems. These areas provide extreme points in price value where price has turned in the past. Understanding these aspects has to be a crucial part of your understanding when trading the shorter time framed markets. If a trader is unaware of past support and resistance areas then they could be out of their money really soon.

A traders decision time also is shortened when day trading the forex market. Instant decisions have to be made since they reflect what your judgment will be to the price. If you are hesitate, it could mean your account.

Advantage to day trading though is that if you do not have patience to wait months or even years for your investment to grow, you are able to realize your profit or loss within the trading day. If you are one that is constantly looking to be in the markets then day trading could be your forte.

Trading forex should fit your personality. If you want the action of quick moving, higher profit day trading then you want to familiarize yourself with some forex trading . For more information of forex systems check out http://www.ForexTrading101.info What kind of trader are you?

Traders are flocking to the forex

2010-05-20T02:20:00.003-07:00

The growth of the forex is astounding. You may want to see it yourself.

The forex or Foreign currency exchange is vast and growing everyday. The forex market is larger than all other markets combined. Literally trillions of dollars are traded daily on the exchange. The forex does not have an actual trading floor. It is made up of a network of banks and telecommunication systems, including the internet. Because of the accessibility of this market on the net it has exploded in recent years. In the past the forex was only for banks to use to monitor the values of various currencies around the world. Back then only the richest people in the world were allowed on this playground and they made fortunes. With the advent of the Internet, many of the financial markets were opening up more to the public. Soon the banks that operate the forex saw that this could be a major benefit to them also. Thus the forex as we know it was born. The forex is also a 24 hour per day market which makes it perfect for those who want ot trade part time The sheer size of the forex is the attraction for many traders. The forex is large enough to accommodate any size trade position with ease. Execution of trades are instantaneous and there is no slippage. Another big difference is there is no commissions on the trades. All profit by the banking systems are generated by the spread. The spread is the difference in price between the seller and buyer. These factors make the forex irresistible to traders. Because of the attraction of this market it is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the future. There are several trading strategies that fit in well with the forex market. As I mentioned earlier this market is made for those who want to trade part time

Forex Software – Choosing the Best

2010-05-20T02:20:00.001-07:00

This article tells you everything you need to know about forex software and the things you need to look for...

When it comes to forex trading the forex software you choose is essential. There are so many forex trading companies all competing for your business that choosing the right forex software can be quite a difficult task. Most of the forex software products available offers live online forex trading platforms but what other components are vital when it comes to your forex software.

Key Elements For Your Forex Software

Before purchasing any forex software there are a few essential items that should be included. The most important is security and your online forex trading software should include a 128 bit SSL encryption which will prevent hackers from accessing any of your personal details and information such as your account balance, transaction history, etc.

Providing the best security for your forex trading will include a company that provides 24 hour technical server support for your forex software, 24 hour maintenance should anything go wrong, daily backups of all information, and a security system that has been designed to prevent any unauthorized access. Along with these security protocols there are also some forex trading companies that use smart cards and fingerprint scanners to ensure that only their employees can have access to their servers.

Another important factor when it comes to choosing your forex software is to check what the company’s downtime is like. When it comes to trading forex and particularly your online forex trading you need to ensure that the forex software you choose is reliable and available 24 hours a day. The forex software you choose for your forex trading should also have technical support available at all times should your session be cut short.

Ensuring that all the above features are listed in the forex software you choose will help to ensure your forex trading success.

FOREX Signals Providers and My Experience

2010-05-20T02:19:00.001-07:00

FOREX signals can make money, however it's difficult to find a reliable FOREX signals service. This article breaks down some extremely reliable FOREX signals providers.

Trading FOREX can be extremely stressful and time consuming. In fact 95% of traders lose money in their first year trading FOREX. Many people feel as though if they are a stock broker, commodities or securities trader, they can come to FOREX and apply the same trading system and profit. This is where these people go wrong. The FOREX market an extremely volatile and unique market that can see huge market moves in a matter of minutes.

With the failure rate so high for first year traders, many have taken to FOREX signal providers. I can be the first to say that a lot of the FOREX signal providers are terrible. However, through my extended research I have come across a few that do work.

When using a FOREX signal provider, they usually send you their trading signal through charting software, e-mail or SMS. I did find it easy to receive the signal; however I was not always able to take the signals due to a day job. This really frustrated me since the service I was using was making money with their signals, however I wasn’t always able to act on the signals provided.

The easiest and most effective way around this problem of not having access to a computer all day everyday is finding a service that provides signal updates through a cell phone. Once the signal is received through a cell phone via text message, you can then call the trading desk and execute the trade.

The only downfall with a decent FOREX signals provider is the times that the signals may come in. FOREX signals can come at any hour. If you are sound asleep at 3:00am and a signal comes in, either you wake up and take the signal or miss out on a trade that may or may not have made you money. However, this can work to your benefit from time to time in that missing a trade here and there may better your position taking the signal at a later date.

Lastly, choosing a FOREX broker is important. Many FOREX brokers offer a 3 pip spread on all the majors, some are much higher. You will want to choose a reliable FOREX broker that provides you with the lowest spread. A lot are around 3 pip spreads and very few have 1 to 2 pip spreads, but they do exist.

Which ever FOREX system you decide to go with, be sure to discipline yourself and stick to your plan. One mistake many people make with FOREX signals providers is that they use their service then they cannot bring themselves to take the signals. The key to making money in FOREX is money management and discipline.

Forex Signals Reviewed

2010-05-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

Enlarge Image

I started in the FOREX market in June of 2002. With hardly any experience at all, I really did not know what I was getting into, other than I wanted to be a full-time trader making tons of money from home. Little did I know from the start that my lifestyle as I knew it was about to change drastically.

The Problem

I initially began with a demo account and did okay for a month. Throughout the course of a month I managed to compile 23 wins and 2 loses, for a net profit of $1,219. I thought to myself, this is excellent; I am ready to begin with a live account and to trade for myself. Moving from a demo account to a real my psychology was blind sided. I was afraid to trade using the same techniques and trading system I had used to become successful with my demo account. The ending wasn’t pretty. I ended up losing a lot of sleep, $4458 and the only thing I gained was un-wanted stress. Out of cash and with other investments failing, I needed to find something quick that was going to get me where I wanted to be financially.

The Solution

I did not need the stress of trading anymore, so I decided to look for a decent FOREX signals provider. I wanted a system that was going to make me money every month and better yet a system that would trade for me.

I tried program after program only to lose more money. It seemed as though either the signal providers sent too many signals or the FOREX signals were horrible to begin with. Still trying to work my day job as a CPA, I was not always able to catch every signal either. I was in desperate need of an automated FOREX trading system.

I happened to be browsing the internet one day looking for things such as FOREX signals, automated trading signals and FOREX profits. I did manage to stumble across an extremely reliable trading system that has averaged 600 pips per month over the past 3 years. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and they had the data to back up there trading track record. It’s 2006 and I have been using this piece of software for exactly 1 year now and I could not be happier. The software offered excellent signals that I was able to take in the evenings and if I wasn’t at my computer I had a text message sent to my cell phone so that I could call into the trading desk and place the trade. As of January 2006, my total net profit from trading has amounted to $82,000.

2010-05-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

Avoiding Forex-Related Frauds and Scams

A lot of people have been ‘burnt' from scam operations on the Internet. Their sites may look so perfectly legitimate that you doubt whether they would have gone through all that trouble building a trading platform just to steal your money. Beware.

The first thing I look for is the geographical location of the broker. If I find that they are based in a country where the financial industry is, in my opinion, relatively unregulated and under-developed, I quickly forgo signing up. This is terrible news for honest brokers in those countries, but your job as a trader is to protect your capital. If you lose that, then you cannot trade. The onus is on them to convince you that they will do the right thing by you as an investor.

I started out with an Australian broker. Currently I am using an American one. I have not tried UK-based brokers but the British financial industry is one of the best. Companies that are based in countries such as Japan , Germany and France are probably just as good too, if their website speaks your language.

Notice any license numbers that they may have registered with regulatory bodies that act like government watchdogs who oversee the finance and investments industries. These are organizations that impose strict rules to safeguard your investment. Some of these rules may include the requirement that brokers segregate all customer funds from the operational funds of the business. Your money is required to be put in highly-reputable banks and the funds are only withdrawn from these accounts upon specific withdrawal requests.

Take note that there are some fake regulatory bodies being thrown around in cyber-space as well. Take a look at how long they have been operating for. Try and search out any reviews or comments made about them. See if you can find forums where traders have discussions about their brokers.

Below is a list of things to keep in mind to help you avoid being a victim of a scam:

• Stay Away From Opportunities That Sound Too Good To Be True

There are people who may have just acquired a large amount of money just and recently are the same and are shopping around for safe investment vehicles. These may include retirees who have access to their retirement funds. It is understandable why retirees would be drawn to ‘high-return, low-risk investments'. This is also what makes them very vulnerable. If you identify yourself to be one of these people, be careful. A lot of deceitful characters are after your money. Furthermore, only allocate a tiny amount of your money to trading until you can start growing it. Not all people can trade successfully, so it is a venture you should take on haphazardly. It is your life savings at risk.

• Avoid Individuals Or Organizations Who Claim To Predict Or Guarantee Large Profits

Any form of trading is hard. Trading currencies is no different. Be wary of statements that make it sound easy. Statements like:

• "Whether the market moves up or down, in the currency market you will make a profit";

• "Make $1000 per week, every week";

• "We are out-performing 90% of domestic investments";

• "You'll make returns of 70% a year";

• "Here is a no-risk strategy".

If they could make such returns, why would they even bother letting you know about it.

• Be Wary Of Companies Who Downplay Investment Risks

Hold your wallet tight and zip up your purse when companies say that written risk disclosure agreements are routine formalities imposed by the government. Watch out for statements like:

• "With a $10,000 deposit, the maximum you can lose is $200 to $250 per day";

• "We promise to recover any losses you have ".

• Be Wary Of Companies That Claim To Trade In The ‘Interbank Market'

Do not believe it when some people say that they have access to the ‘Interbank market' or that they can give you access to trade in that market because that's where bargain prices can be obtained. This is not true. The ‘interbank market' is not a place, it is not a physical building. It is simply a loose network of currency transactions that are negotiated between big financial institutions and other large companies.

• Ethnic Minorities Are Often Targeted

Ethnic newspapers and television ‘infomercials' are sometimes used to attract Russian, Chinese and Indian minorities. Sometimes these ads offer so-called ‘job opportunities for account executives to trade foreign currencies', whereby the recruited ‘account executive' is expected to use his own money to trade currencies and would often times be encouraged to recruit members like their friends and family to do the same.

• Seek Out The Company's Background

Check any information you receive to be sure that the company is who they claim to be. If at all possible, try and get the background of the people operating the company. Do not rely solely on oral statements and promises made by the company's employees.

• If You Are In Doubt, It Is Not Worth Risking Your Money

If after trying to solicit information and at the end of it all, you are still in doubt about the credentials of a particular company, my suggestion is to start looking elsewhere.

You may find further information by contacting government ‘watchdogs' because they keep up to date with trends and reports regarding scams and other fraudulent activities. Please check the resource section of this site for the information of organizations that regulate the securities industry, sorted by country. There is also a list of brokers that you may want to look at.

This is an excerpt, modified from the book: The Part-Time Currency Trader.

About The Author:

Marquez Comelab is the author of the book: The Part-Time Currency Trader . It is a guide for working men and women interested in trading currencies in the forex market. It explains how to create your own trading methodology, market analysis, tools, trading systems, risk management strategies, discipline and psychology. See: http://marquezcomelab.com. His other articles can also be found athttp://thefreedomtochoose.com; along with other helpful articles.

Forex Pivot Points

2010-05-20T02:06:00.000-07:00

Forex Pivot Points

Pivot points is well known techniques used to trade in financial markets. We will discuss how to apply this great technique to the Forex market, as well as alternative uses for pivot points.

It is useful to have a map and be able to see where the price is relative to previous market action. This way we can see how is the sentiment of traders and investors at any given moment, it also gives us a general idea of where the market is heading during the day. This information can help us decide which way to trade.

Pivot points, a technique developed by floor traders, help us see where the price is relative to previous market action.

As a definition, a pivot point is a turning point or condition. The same applies to the Forex market, the pivot point is a level in which the sentiment of the market changes from "bull" to "bear" or vice versa. If the market breaks this level up, then the sentiment is said to be a bull market and it is likely to continue its way up, on the other hand, if the market breaks this level down, then the sentiment is bear, and it is expected to continue its way down. Also at this level, the market is expected to have some kind of support/resistance, and if price can’t break the pivot point, a possible bounce from it is plausible.

Pivot points work best on highly liquid markets, like the spot currency market, but they can also be used in other markets as well.

Pivot Points

In a few words, pivot point is a level in which the sentiment of traders and investors changes from bull to bear or vice versa.

Why PP work?
They work simply because many individual traders and investors use and trust them, as well as bank and institutional traders. It is known to every trader that the pivot point is an important measure of strength and weakness of any market.

Calculating pivot points
There are several ways to arrive to the Pivot point. The method we found to have the most accurate results is calculated by taking the average of the high, low and close of a previous period (or session).

Pivot point (PP) = (High + Low + Close) / 3

Take for instance the following EUR/USD information from the previous session:

Open: 1.2386
High: 1.2474
Low: 1.2376
Close: 1.2458

The PP would be,
PP = (1.2474 + 1.2376 + 1.2458) / 3 = 1.2439

What does this number tell us?
It simply tells us that if the market is trading above 1.2439, Bulls are winning the battle pushing the prices higher. And if the market is trading below this 1.2439 the bears are winning the battle pulling prices lower. On both cases this condition is likely to sustain until the next session.

Since the Forex market is a 24hr market (no close or open from day to day) there is a eternal battle on deciding at white time we should take the open, close, high and low from each session. From our point of view, the times that produce more accurate predictions is taking the open at 00:00 GMT and the close at 23:59 GMT.

Besides the calculation of the PP, there are other support and resistance levels that are calculated taking the PP as a reference.

Support 1 (S1) = (PP * 2) – H
Resistance 1 (R1) = (PP * 2) - L
Support 2 (S2) = PP – (R1 – S1)
Resistance 2 (R2) = PP + (R1 – S1)

Where, H is the High of the previous period and L is the low of the previous period

Continuing with the example above, PP = 1.2439

S1 = (1.2439 * 2) - 1.2474 = 1.2404
R1 = (1.2439 * 2) – 1.2376 = 1.2502
R2 = 1.2439 + (1.2636 – 1.2537) = 1.2537
S2 = 1.2439 – (1.2636 – 1.2537) = 1.2537

These levels are supposed to mark support and resistance levels for the current session.

On the example above, the PP was calculated using information of the previous session (previous day.) This way we could see possible intraday resistance and support levels. But it can also be calculated using the previous weekly or monthly data to determine such levels. By doing so we are able to see the sentiment over longer periods of time. Also we can see possible levels that might offer support and resistance throughout the week or month. Calculating the Pivot point in a weekly or monthly basis is mostly used by long term traders, but it can also be used by short time traders, it gives us a good idea about the longer term trend.

S1, S2, R1 AND R2...? An Objective Alternative

As already stated, the pivot point zone is a well-known technique and it works simply because many traders and investors use and trust it. But what about the other support and resistance zones (S1, S2, R1 and R2,) to forecast a support or resistance level with some mathematical formula is somehow subjective. It is hard to rely on them blindly just because the formula popped out that level. For this reason, we have created an alternative way to map our time frame, simpler but more objective and effective.

We calculate the pivot point as showed before. But our support and resistance levels are drawn in a different way. We take the previous session high and low, and draw those levels on today’s chart. The same is done with the session before the previous session. So, we will have our PP and four more important levels drawn in our chart.

LOPS1, low of the previous session.
HOPS1, high of the previous session.
LOPS2, low of the session before the previous session.
HOPS2, high of the session before the previous session.
PP, pivot point.

These levels will tell us the strength of the market at any given moment. If the market is trading above the PP, then the market is considered in a possible uptrend. If the market is trading above HOPS1 or HOPS2, then the market is in an uptrend, and we only take long positions. If the market is trading below the PP then the market is considered in a possible downtrend. If the market is trading below LOPS1 or LOPS2, then the market is in a downtrend, and we should only consider short trades.

The psychology behind this approach is simple. We know that for some reason the market stopped there from going higher/lower the previous session, or the session before that. We don’t know the reason, and we don’t need to know it. We only know the fact: the market reversed at that level. We also know that traders and investors have memories, they do remember that the price stopped there before, and the odds are that the market reverses from there again (maybe because the same reason, and maybe not) or at least find some support or resistance at these levels.

What is important about his approach is that support and resistance levels are measured objectively; they aren’t just a level derived from a mathematical formula, the price reversed there before so these levels have a higher probability of being effective.

This mapping method works on both market conditions, when trending and on sideways conditions. In a trending market, it helps us determine the strength of the trend and trade off important levels. On sideways markets it shows us possible reversal levels.

How we use our mapping method?
We use the mapping method in three different ways: as a trend identification (measure of the strength of the trend), a trading system using important levels with price behavior as a trading signal and to set the risk reward ratio of any given trade based on where the is the market relative to the previous session.

About the author:
Raul Lopez is a full time Forex trader; his trades are based on a price behavior approach. Raul is also founder of http://www.straightforex.com aForex training company.