FOREX MAKETING / FOREX TRADING / FOREX ANALYSIS

Investing in foreign currencies is a relatively new avenue of investing. There are considerably fewer people are aware of this market than there are people aware of several other avenues of investing. Trading foreign currency, also known as forex, is the most lucrative investment market that exists. There are several factors that make this true among which, successful forex traders earn realistic profits of one hundred plus percent each month. Compared to some of the better known investment markets such as corporate stocks, this is an unheard of return on investment. It's very necessary to mention here that a person who invests in forex must, without exception, make it a point to learn the detailed, but simple strategies and information surrounding the market. This very fact is what makes the difference between successful forex traders and other traders.
A few additional points, which create such powerful leverage for investors within the forex market are: The amount of capital required to begin investing in the market is only three hundred dollars. For the most part, any other investment market is going to demand thousands of dollars of the investor in the beginning. Also, the market offers opportunities to profit regardless what the direction of the market may be; In most commonly known markets investors sit and wait for the market to begin an up trend before entering a trade. Even then, investors, as a rule must sit and wait some more to be able to exit the trade with a nice profit. Given that the forex market produces several up, down, and sideways trends in a single day, it can easily be seen that forex stands head and shoulders above other markets. Additionally there are trading strategies, which are taught that provide for compounded profits; these are profits on top of profits. In addition, free demo accounts are available within the industry of forex trading, which facilitate the sharpening of skills without the risk losing any capital. And the advantage regarding the time factor in trading foreign currency is a very attractive point for any investor. Compared to one of the most sought after avenues of investing, which often requires forty or more hours each week, namely in the real-estate market, the forex market requires a much smaller demand on the investor's time. Forex trading requires approximately ten to fifteen hours each week to earn a full time income. It's easy to see that the advantages and great leverage that exist in the forex market, make it among the most lucrative, time liberating, and easy to enter by far.
I hope this information gives you a clear understanding of how you can turn your investing into a true method of making your money work harder for you.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This adage often brings back the memories of my past days when I was trading initially in the currency exchange market. Indeed, there's nothing more hurtful than losing your invested money in the FX market. But, online currency trading is like life where you're got to learn from your wrong moves and keep moving on. Learning the basic skills of online forex trading could be easy but, practically, one needs to acquire the advanced skills to play safe through thick and thin of FX trading.

I have traded in forex for many years and, if you count on me, I must tell you that the secret of successful trading lies largely on the hunch and intuition of an trader. Technically expressed, you should have the accurate forex alerts and forex signals to be able to make the right moves in the currency market. However, this is easier said than done as the skills of the Currency Trading Signal takes a long time to master. This is why while a few people are able to boost their forex pips in a short span of time, the others take a long time to achieve the same or maybe, some of them get frustrated and just give it up! The reality is that not many people are ready to be entirely devoted to the perilous process of online forex trading.

Having said this, I still wonder why some people choose to be a dare-devil and risk their money instead of simply following an established and renowned Account Forex Online Trading. I began trading in 1997 and there is one important thing I have learnt in my trading career so far, i.e., you have to got to be patient to learn the tricks of making right moves at the right times and profit from your trading.

Since I have led quite a successful career in forex trading, I have been sharing the tips and tricks of online currency trading with many traders around the world through my G7 Forex Trading System which as you know has remained pretty successful for many traders so far. My G7 Forex Trading System is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step trading manual offering in-depth online forex trading review.

If you visit my site (www.forex-science.com) you will find many of my existing customers are pretty satisfied with the performance of their investments and in fact, most of them have been able to increase their forex pips drastically. You would be surprised to know quite a few of them haven't traded for a long time! Now, this is what we call success in the forex trading, eh?

Forex.pk, Pakistan's best forex portal provides you upto the minute forex rates in Pakistan Open Market, Pakistan Inter Bank & International forex market. Here you will find forex rates archives, graphs, charts, forex news, forex dealers directory, currency directory, gold prices, pakistan prize bond results and a wide range of information to help you explore the world of forex.

Top Forex news From all Over the World

Russian Ruble Rises as Oil Hits Six-Month High:
The Russian Stock Market posted a week of gains as the price of oil is rose,Pushed by rising demand in Asia.

G20 Summit and U.S. Consumer Sentiment Set To Dominate USD Trading

Today's upcoming G20 Summit of the 20 most industrialized nations in Berlin, Germany today is set to dominate USD trading. Additionally, the forex market is set to go very volatile on the publication on the U.S. Import Prices indicator at 12:30 GMT, and the publication of the U.S. Consumer Sentiment indicator at 13:55 GMT. Forex traders are advised to open their Dollar positions now in order to make profits as today's events unravel.
USD - Dollar Drops despite Positive Data from U.S

The Dollar's downtrend continued yesterday as the USD dropped against all the major currencies. The Dollar's most distinct bearish trend was marked against the GBP, as the pair was traded as high as the 1.6620 level.

In accordance to what appears to be developing into a pattern, the USD dropped in spite of some positive figures published from the US economy yesterday. The weekly Unemployment Claims report, which measures the number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time during the past week, dropped for the fourth time in a row, this time to 601K. The figure is still quite large, and is far from depicting a strong, recuperating economy. However, the trend surely seems to favor the U.S. economy.

The U.S. Retail Sales figures were also published on Thursday, showing a 0.5% increase in the total value of sales at the retail level. This figure reflect a state of mind in which US consumers feel more comfortable to spend, which means they have more confidence that their financial status will improve with time. This kind of behavior is imperative in order to pull the economy out of recession, as only a better cycling of funds has the ability to create a real change in the current gloomy economic conditions.

As for today, there is the G20 Summit in Berlin Germany. Additionally, a batch of data is expected from the US economy, and traders are advised to focus on two main reports. First, the Import Prices which is scheduled for 12:30 GMT. This is one of the earliest publications that try to predict the level of inflation. Traders should also follow the Consumer Sentiment report, as analysts forecast another positive figure for this indicator, which can further support the notion that the U.S. economy returns to the fast lane.

EUR - EUR Looks to Finish the Week Strong

EUR trading on Thursday was highlighted by the EUR/USD climbing back above the 1.4100 level. In a week that was showing bearish movement on the oft-traded pair, the Euro rallied to make up ground on last weeks closing, as it trumped both the greenback and the Yen. Yesterday's push came shortly after the release of US economic data. Positive change in US Retails Sales and Unemployment Claims did not impress enough to drop the EUR for the USD, as the pair went bullish, as traders bought back into higher-yielding assets.
Early Thursday morning, saw the release of the European Central Bank's (ECB) Monthly Bulletin, which reveals data gathered by the ECB Governing Board on the state of the Euro-Zone economy. The report helped get the ball rolling on a bullish EUR trading day.
Traders can look toward Industrial Production at 9:00 GMT and a speech by ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet at 11:30 & 15:30 GMT for some indication to how the rest of the day will go for the EUR. Traders should also follow news from the opening of the G20 Meeting in Berlin, Germany throughout the day for any clues on policy that could add volatility to the forex market.

JPY - JPY Moves on Market Volatility

The Yen's high volatility continued yesterday, as it saw contradicting trends against the major currencies. On one hand, the JPY rose 15 pips against the USD yesterday, as the pair closed at the 97.75 level. On the other hand, the Yen dropped over 50 pips against the EUR, closing at 137.86 level.

It appears that lately the Yen is mostly affected by its counterpart currencies. The USD is currently very weak, and thus the Yen consistently appreciates against it. However, the EUR seems quite strong, and its recent appreciation has pushed down the JPY.

Looking ahead to today, traders are expected to follow the main news events from the US and Western Europe, and the commencement of the G20 Meeting in Germany later today. Traders are advised to follow these events very closely as they may set the pace for JPY trading later today.

Crude Oil - Oil Eyes $75 a Barrel

Crude Oil's bullish trend continues as the price of Crude continues to rise. Oil rose 42 cents to finish trading at $72.39 yesterday. The main reason for Crude's bullishness was the positive economic data released from the US economy. The weak Dollar also helped push up Oil prices yesterday. In addition, the International Energy Agency corrected its demand projection and increased it to 120,000 more barrels a day.

The bullish trend of Crude Oil looks to continue, with the potential of reaching $75 a barrel. Traders should follow the data published from the US, and news coming out of the G20 Meeting later today, as these factors are set to play into Crude Oil's bullishness later today.

11: Methods of Foreign Exchange Trading For Starters

12: Knowing the Foreign Exchange Trading Basics

13: Tips on How to Have the Greatest Forex Training Possible

14: Why the Greatest Investment You Can Have is Forex

15: Forex - A Rewarding Money Potential: How to Make it Build you Wealth.

16: Will I get rich from Forex? Definitely! Are you ready to learn?

17: Online Currency Trading requires Patience

18: Forex - What is it?

19: Short data about the origin and development of the currency exchange market

20: Risks by the foreign exchange on Forex

Price shading is a practice used by forex brokers when they think that the price of a particular currency is on a rising trend. In this case, the broker may choose to add a pip or two to the currency quote. This gives a broker an advantage over its customers. Fortunately, this practice doesn't have to be a strike against traders. Read on to learn more about shading and what you can do to limit its effects if it's happening in your account.

What Is Price Shading?
Before we get into the details of price shading, it is important to remember some background information regarding the forex spot market.

The forex spot market is an interbank market. Banks trade with and among each other. Therefore, prices are created according to the bids and offers of the largest and most liquid banks in any one particular currency. This type of trading is neither regulated nor available in a formal exchange such as a stock market. Therefore, the spot forex market is also referred to as an over-the-counter market. (For more insight, see The Foreign Exchange Interbank Market.)

The interbank prices of currencies are displayed as streaming prices on terminals, such as Reuters or Bloomberg. All the major banks, hedge funds, forex traders and multinationals use these prices to trade with each other. (Learn about the forex market in our Forex Market Tutorial.)

Brokers have accounts with one or more of the banks; they have access to the price offers and bids and can trade directly with the banks. However, brokers usually do not offer the same price that they receive from the banks to their retail customers. Instead, they mark up the price to include a profit for themselves.

Brokers have to make a profit, too, and some go even farther by "price shading," which is the practice of adjusting their prices to gain an advantage over their customers.

How Do They Do It?
First let's look at what a broker usually does. In general, brokers will receive a series of prices from the banks with which they have accounts and then will fix prices based on the aggregate prices they receive. This is the price they offer to their customers, once they have added a margin for themselves. So, for example, if they receive a price of 52 – 53 on 41 when trading the euro, it means that their bank will sell them a euro for $1.4153 or buy it from them for $1.4152. If the broker wants to offer this trade to a retail customer, a margin will be added and the broker will offer to sell it for $1.4154 or to buy it for $1.4151 - a three-point spread. Many brokers offer a fixed spread such as this.

Shading the Price
Some brokers will assess the order flow coming in and might determine that there are many more customers interested in the buy side than the sell side. Because this order flow is from retail customers - and they tend to be wrong - the broker will adjust this offer to charge a little more to all the buyers. This will bias, or "shade", the spread to 1.4155 on the offer and 1.4152 on the bid. Thus the buyer pays a little more and the broker increases profit. The broker believes that the market will sell off and, therefore, will accept the risk of shading the spread.

Why It Works
If there are 100 buyers and 100 sellers, the broker makes one pip on each trade, for 200 pips total. But, if there are 150 buyers and 50 sellers the broker shades the price to two pips for the 150 buyers and no profit for the 50 sellers. This results in a total of 300 pips profit. (Learn more about finding a broker in Forex: Wading Into The Currency Market.)

Detecting Price Shading
The only real way to tell if a broker is price shading is by having a terminal from Reuters or Bloomberg or dealing with a broker that provides "straight-through processing." You could also open an account with two brokers, one with a dealing desk and one with straight-through processing. Typically, dealers that provide straight-through processing do not have a dealing desk and instead charge a commission, such as 50 cents per $10,000 traded, instead of manipulating the spread.

This will allow you to observe whether a broker is consistently higher on the buy side of the interbank rates or consistently lowers on the sell side of the interbank rates. (There are three types of commissions used in this market. Learn how to get the best deal in How To Pay Your Forex Broker.)

Beating a Broker at His Own Game
Price shading does not have to be a total negative for traders. It may seem that your broker is being unscrupulous, but you can use his practices to your advantage. For example, if you can detect that your broker's pricing is consistently biased to one side or the other, it is usually because the majority of the orders coming in from retail customers are biased to one side or the other, creating an order flow imbalance. Because the majority of retail traders are usually wrong, there could be an opportunity to trade against the bias by selling, if the bias is on the buy side, or by buying if the bias is on the sell side. By going against the bias you would also be going against the majority of the other retail traders. If they are mostly wrong, you will be mostly right.

In addition, because the broker has moved the spread to disadvantage the majority of traders, which in the above example were buyers, your broker will have created an advantage for the sellers, who will then be able to enter their positions at a better price than if the broker didn't shade.

The broker also stands to lose if the market goes in favor of the buyers, but generally the broker knows what he is doing and the traders don't. If you have a broker with a dealing desk and you can detect a shading bias in his pricing policies, look out for the bias and trade in the opposite direction. You may just be able to beat the broker at his own game. (Before entering this market, you should define what you need from your broker and from your strategy. Check out Getting Started In Forex.)

Shading Vs. Slippage
Finally, don't confuse price shading with slippage. Slippage is a phenomenon of fast markets and poor liquidity. If a market moves really fast, you may not get filled at the price you see quoted because by the time your order has hit the market, the price may have moved away from where you thought you were going to be executed. To overcome slippage, use limit orders or place your order between the spread. The downside is that you may not be filled if the market moves away from your order. Sometimes it is better to pay the slippage but get the position. This is a personal judgment call. (Read more in What are the rules for placing stop and limit orders in forex?)

Get a Cream-of-the-Crop Broker
When it comes to price shading, the best way to come out ahead is to do your research well. Check out many brokers so that you clearly understand their commission structures and how they get paid. There is no free lunch. A broker is in the business to make a profit, just like you. Try to find a broker whose business practice is transparent and straightforward, but don't be too greedy - you have to pay a commission in some form or another. If a broker says he is not charging a commission, ask yourself how he is making money. Better still, ask the broker directly and always read the broker's documentation. You can also check out the forums and reviews. A good broker's name is like cream - it will always rise to the top.

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10: Best Way to Consolidate All of Your Debt

The Australian and New Zealand Dollars have been fairing pretty well these past few weeks. Optimism about the state of the economy and the transparency of government efforts to save what they can of their thriving commodity export business has done them well. Forex traders are aware of the highs being made by these currencies, and specifically at the US Dollars expense.The recent sale of US Dollars by China had done much to help these countries. With China being the primary buyer of their minerals and metals, the sale of US Treasuries signals China’s unwillingness to stop their rampant buying. I personally feel this is a mistake but I am glad they are doing it as it is helping the currencies I like to trade the most. The problem I see arising in the near term though is the rise in prices of core materials. The Chinese cannot continue funding their purchases by selling off their US reserves, it will only serve to hurt the value of the Dollar in the long run – and as holders of 3 Trillion Dollars worth, it is a significant amount that they have at stake. China needs to come to terms with the state of the economy and slow down on their spending right now. This can help them in two ways:1.The amount of buying they are doing is causing increased demand which is driving up prices, if they slow down, prices fall and they can save money.2. The amount of money they are spending stockpiling raw goods could be better spent taking up larger stakes in the US Dollar, by doing so they increase their political influence and are in a better position to get what they want out of the US. As well, it will help their cause with World Bank members in their efforts to establish a global reserve currency.Online Forex readers know all too well that things are not what they seem. The recent stock selloff in Asia has traders nervous. IT would go a long way to calming markets if China were to step up and seize the moment here – it could also change the way people think en masse about the US Dollar and Renminbi as a valuable trading tool.

Japan has evolved as a major market for gold for fabrication and investment since trading was liberalised in 1974. But the gold business in Japan has much earlier origins. Gold mines in Japan in the 17th century exported through the Dutch East India Company to East Asian countries. Tokuriki Honten, still an important refiner and fabricator, traces its history back to 1727. Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo, the leading precious metal refiner and trader, was established in 1885.
Actual mine production is limited. The only significant mine is Sumitomo Metal Mining's Hishikari on Kyushu island, opened in 1985, with output between seven and eight tonnes (0.25-0.26 million oz) annually. The Japanese market is supplied, therefore, both by imports of bullion and by-product gold from imported concentrates.
Total gold demand in Japan ranges between 200 and 275 tonnes (6.4 – 8.8 million oz), embracing jewellery fabrication, electronic and industrial uses, dental applications and physical bar investment . Japan is the world's foremost user in electronics, using over 100 tonnes (3.21 million oz) in 2000 according to GFMS (although this fell sharply, to around 70 tonnes or 2.25 million oz, in 2001 on the back of the slowdown in global demand). Japan's use of dental gold in 2001 was around 21 tonnes (675,000 oz) according to GFMS. Physical bar hoarding is also much higher than in other industrial countries, and is an anonymous way of holding wealth outside of the banking sector. GFMS estimate that it averaged just under 60 tonnes (1.9 million oz) over the past decade and exceeding 100 tonnes (13.2 million oz) in 1999. The first few months of 2002 saw a surge in Japanese hoarding demand due to fears about the health of the banking system.
It is also the custom in Japan for companies to give gifts of 24 carat ornaments such as teapots, saki cups, vases and chopsticks. The gold tea ceremony room at the Moa Art Museum in Shizuoka Province used 50 kilos (1,607 oz) for teapots and cups, plus gold leaf for its walls.

Turkey has been an important regional gold market for many years; during the 1990s domestic jewellery fabrication averaged 125 tonnes (4.02 million oz). In addition, Turkey has been a key source of bullion for several neighbours countries. Turkish bullion imports, which normally exceed 100 tonnes (3.2 million oz) on an annual basis, came to 107 tonnes in 1999 but then rose significantly in 2000 to 205 tonnes (6.6 million oz). However, the following year bullion imports fell sharply. According to GFMS, this was partly due to the sharp devaluation of the Turkish currency and the associated economic and banking crises which affected the country. On a separate note, Turkey's position in the international market was enhanced by the full liberalisation of the local gold market in 1998 and the opening of the Istanbul Gold Exchange on 26 July 1995.

Every one has his days when no matter how well he has planned out his trades, he may find some of his trades not performing to what is planned. It is only natural for one to feel upset, but for the follower of a forex trading system, making money or losing money from that trade is not the paramount objective.

Why is this so?

For the trader who employs a forex trading system, he can still face the losing trade with a smile, because he has had followed through the trading signals in a disciplined way, and it is only when a trader follows a system, he can be sure of keeping his losses small and to live to trade again another day.

By using a forex trading system, the trader can have a cool head, and can face his trades rather unemotionally. He can execute his trades following pre-determined price levels of initial stop loss, trailing loss and computed and projected price profit.

He knows his tolerable level of loss, his threshold of pain - and of course, his risk to reward ratio even before he trades.

Now when a trader has a trading system and follows through the trading plan, making profits is a natural result when he makes a correct trade. But when his trade is wrong, his forex trading system will very quickly show him that the direction of his trade is wrong, so that he is out of the game fairly quickly.

I am often flabbergasted at some very broad claims of some traders who condemn day trading systems and relegate them to the garbage bin. When you look at forex trading systems, review them quickly by peer recommendation whenever possible. By peer recommendation, I mean you can ask existing traders their experience on the trading system, and how they are doing with it. Posting to the numerous reliable trading forums will allow you to receive some independent reviews fairly quickly. At the same time, my personal experience, and that of many other professional traders is that day trading can be profitable, though it is never easy to day trade. Otherwise, how is it that so many day traders are able to earn their income day trading the short swings of the market daily for a living? So it is important for you to have a broad view of forex trading systems if you are contemplating of learning or purchasing any trading system that relates to day trading.

If you ever wish to trade successfully, whether you day trade or swing trade, it is important that you have a trading system that will allow you to approach trading in a disciplined manner. It is only when you are a disciplined trader that you can see consistent large gains and small losses.

Are you a disciplined individual? According to expert Forex traders, the only ones who succeed in the Forex market are those people who stay disciplined despite their success or failure. Automated Forex trading has changed the way traders make their transactions. If you’re a savvy Forex trader, you can definitely benefit from using these automated systems.

For beginners in the Forex trade, be warned that most of the trading systems sold or offered online are considered junk and useless. Oftentimes, these systems provide tested simulations and cleverly hyped marketing strategies that do not work. By using ‘junk’ trading systems, you can lose your investment.

There are simple trading systems offered online which can yield higher returns when used properly and consistently. The simpler the automated trading system, the easier it is to use; you see, complicated systems do not guarantee success at all times so be very careful when choosing the appropriate Forex system.

For example, if you think that a certain currency is going to maintain four weeks high standing, buy it. If you have a low-standing currency, you can sell it before the price goes down further. This system is also called breakout wherein all your moves within the Forex market is based on the highs and lows. Soon, you will be able to penetrate the market’s big trends.

Big trends usually last for several weeks, months, or even years. Take a look at the Forex chart and study it. The whole system is automatic and the rules are quite objective. This system is also known as a Forex robot and it can operate fifteen minutes everyday. The creator of this Forex robot was Richard Donchian, a Forex trader.

If you want a simple system, the Forex robot may work for you. Traders who prefer complex trading systems often expect more from this system and so they would rather opt for another system which can meet their expectations. The Forex robot is not fussy and it can help you in identifying the top picks and the bottom picks.

Successful Forex traders spend enough time and effort to make informed trading decisions. As a wise trader, you should not rush things. Allow the system to work. Don’t believe in the myth that complex and expensive systems are more efficient. If you’re serious in Forex trading, you can earn lots of profits with minimal effort.

Observe today’s market trends. If you think that the Forex robot will work for you, considering the existing trends in the Forex market, you can use it because it is logical, very simple, and continuously works. the automated trading system can be obtained for free online just case you want to see how it works. If you think that the Forex robot is another junk like all other systems, check its background. Try to review ratings and testimonials to find out more about this excellent and efficient system.

The modern world is very different from that of long ago. Many of today’s basic tasks are now handled automatically. If you want an automated Forex system, you can make use of the Forex robot. Hurry and look for this system online; if you want, you can also check Richard Donchian to find more info about it. You will greatly benefit from this system over the long run. Don’t overexert yourself in studying the Forex market because with the aid of the automated system, you can go a long way.

GCI now offers both ICTS trading software (windows and java-based) and MetaTrader trading software:

ICTS Trading Software

Trade currencies on 2 pip spreads from the Dealing Rates Table or directly from real-time charts. You can set alerts, place conditional orders, and take advantage of our AFX news feed, live quotes, comprehensive real-time position and account tracking, and mobile trading access.

Prices from the "Dealing Rates" windows are constantly updating and can be clicked on at any time to place a trade. This full-featured trading platform also provides real-time account balance, P&L, and margin information, and real-time charts and news. Recent enhancements include the ability to "hedge" (enter opposite positions in the same currency without offsetting or using additional margin).

Click here for a Free ICTS Forex Trading Demo Account...

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MetaTrader Trading Software
GCI now offers Forex and CFD trading on the popular MetaTrader 4 trading platform. Trading directly from charts, fractional lot capabilities, the ability to program trading signals, and unlimited charts and technical indicators are among the many benefits. MetaTrader is ideal for novice traders and professionals alike. All major currency orders are filled directly in the interbank market, with no dealer intervention or delays.

State-of-the-art trading software. The GCI trading software provides real-time prices in currencies, global equity indices, gold, silver, and crude oil. Live charts, and real-time P&L and account equity tracking are fully integrated into the free software.

Zero commissions. Client trading performance is enhanced by eliminating all commissions and transaction fees.

USD or Euro Denominated Trading Accounts. GCI clients can now choose to maintain their account balance and P&L in either US Dollars or Euros.

Trade on 2 pip spreads. Clients can trade on tight spreads in major currencies and crosses, 24 hours a day. Unlike many competitors, GCI's spreads are consistent in all market conditions and will never widen during volatile times or news releases.

Hedging Capability. Clients can open positions in the same currency in opposite directions, without the positions offsetting and without using additional margin.

Product Offerings. You can also trade Gold, Crude Oil, S&P 500, DAX 30, Nikkei 225, and Dow Jones on the same trading platform - with the same low margin requirements and zero commissions.

Risk is limited to deposited funds. GCI's sophisticated margin and dealing procedures mean that clients can never lose more than their funds on deposit. All customer funds are insured and maintained in separate accounts.

Tools for successful trading. GCI clients benefit from a wide array of resources to improve their trading results, including market analysis and research, real-time charts, and free forex trading signals.

What is Forex Scalping?

Forex scalping is the art of using high leverage and a large number of short term trades to steadily increase an account. Usually, only 1 to 5 pips are targeted for each trade. This type of trading appeals greatly to day traders and those looking to minimize the risk involved in trading currencies. Next to money management, “risk control” is the single most important trait to a surviving (and thriving) currency trader. The small amount of time that is spent in the market limits much of the risk in exposure in comparison to a longer term system. Also, the freedom involved in a speedy Forex scalping system in such a liquid market is a “magnet” that drives many traders from other markets to try their hand in currency. A disciplined and steady scalper could seamlessly double or triple an account, and spend only a fraction of the time in the market as a common day trader.

Forex Scalping - The Problem

Though Forex scalping may seem like a preverbal “holy grail” at first glance, there are still many unseen hurdles that surround the controversial method of trading. If you do wish to add scalping to your trading toolbox, it is extremely important to pick a broker who can support a scalpers’ system. You will quickly find that many brokers do not allow scalp trading, as the method of quickly entering and exiting trades may actually cause the broker to lose money at the dealing desk. Forex scalping also does not give the broker a means to trade against their clients which is a way of money making for them. Out of the hundreds of online Forex brokers, only a handful support scalping. It is a very thin line between scalping and short term trading. Generally if you hold trades for a minute or less, you may have problems with brokers. They could warn you and then if you continue shut down your account. However, if you trade in minutes or more, most likely you will not have problems with dealing desk brokers. Non dealing desk (ECN) brokers allow scalping where you can hold a position for seconds however the minimum to open an account is higher ($2,000 and above).

Forex Scalping Strategy

Effective Forex scalping strategies take advantage of extremely slight price fluctuations (sometimes only 1-3 pips) many times in order to steadily build an account. Because of the smaller number of pips gained per trade, larger than normal leverages play a key role in a successful Forex scalping strategy. By leveraging much more than a standard day trader in a liquid environment, a very skilled scalp trader is able to make just as much money as the day trader in a shorter period of time. However, this is an obvious double-edged sword. The market can just as easily move against you on a high leverage, which could produce substantial blows to your account.

Also, it is important to take into consideration the physical and mental speed of a trader who will only stay in the market for seconds to minutes. Executing a scalping strategy by hand can be extremely difficult considering the quick amount of time you must be in and out of the market for your strategy to be affective. Many successful Forex scalping strategies are built to be automated; the rules to the system are coded into a trading platform to automatically perform scalp trades around the clock. Though it is completely possible to trade a Forex scalping strategy manually, the majority of today’s traders would agree that automating the process based on a set of rules would be the best way to ensure speed and reliability. When choosing a platform to automate your scalp strategy, it is extremely important to stick with those platforms that allow the execution of your system on every tick (such as MetaTrader 4). This ensures that your entrances and exits will be on a per-tick basis, and will give you a much higher probable rate of success than those platforms who will execute your code more periodically.

To understand the full challenge of scalping as a trading style, consider this: hard work and small gains accumulated over a decent period of time could easily be wiped out with one large loss. Finding a balance between profit levels and size of acceptable losses presents the most difficult challenge to scalper’s strategy.
Forex scalping can be a good method of growing a managed Forex account quickly, but should not be looked at as the “holy grail” of trading. Most brokers do not support scalping, and a consistently profitable Forex scalping strategy can be very difficult to engineer. However, if much time and effort is spent in system optimization and setting up a good relationship with a scalp supporting broker, the benefits could be well worth the time spent.Forex Trading Methods - Scalping

What is Swing Trading?

Swing Trading sits in the middle of the continuum between day trading and trend following. Swing traders hold a particular stock for a period of time, generally between a few days and two or three weeks, and trade the stock on the basis of the general upward or downward trends.

Swing Trading takes advantage of brief price swings in strongly trending stocks to ride the momentum in the direction of the trend and combines the best of two worlds - the slower pace of investing and the increased potential gains of day trading. Swing Trading is not high-speed day trading. Some people call it momentum investing, because you only hold positions that are making major moves. By rolling your money over rapidly through short term gains you can quickly build up your equity.

What are the (dis)advantages of Swing Trading?

Swing Trading combines the best of two worlds - the slower pace of investing and the increased potential gains of day trading. It works well for part-time traders - especially those doing it while at work. While day traders typically have to stay glued to their computers for hours at a time, feverishly watching minute-to-minute changes in quotes, Swing Trading doesn't require that type of focus and dedication.

While day traders gamble on stocks popping or falling by fractions of points, swing traders try to ride "swings" in the market. Swing Traders buy fewer stocks and aim for bigger gains, they pay lower brokerage and, theoretically, have a better chance of earning larger gains. With Day Trading, the only person getting rich is the broker. "Swing traders go for the meat of the move while a day trader just gets scraps." Furthermore, to swing trade, you don't need sophisticated computer hook-ups or lightning quick execution services and you don't have to play extremely volatile stocks.

Of course, the problem with both swing trading and long-term trend following is that success is based on correctly identifying what type of market is currently being experienced. Looking back over the past few years, trend following would have been the ideal strategy for the raging bull market of the last half of the 1990s, while swing trading probably would have been best for 2000 and 2001. With the 2002 bear market, the best strategy would have been to follow the trend and short everything in sight. As economists and traders would agree, the most accurate insight into trends is viewed in retrospect.

There is a risk that prices will break the channel and that swing traders buy or sell at the worst time; thus losing invested capital. The 'preservation of capital' as a paramount consideration across all trading, and also applies when Swing Trading. Other risks inherent in equities or financial instruments trading exist, such as market risk, sector risk, and company risk.

How does Swing Trading work?

The basic strategy of Swing Trading is to jump into strongly trending currencies after its period of consolidation or correction is complete. Strongly trending currencies often make a quick move after completing its correction which one can profit from.

It should be noted that in either of the two market extremes, the bear-market environment or bull market, swing trading proves to be a rather different challenge than in a market that is between these two extremes. In these extremes, even the most active stocks will not exhibit the same up-and-down oscillations that they would when indices are relatively stable for a few weeks or months. In a bear market or a bull market, momentum will generally carry stocks for a long period of time in one direction only, thereby ensuring that the best strategy will be to trade on the basis of the longer-term directional trend. The swing trader, therefore, is best positioned when markets are going nowhere—when indices rise for a couple of days and then decline for the next few days, only to repeat the same general pattern again and again. A couple of months might pass with major stocks and indices roughly the same as their original levels, but the swing trader has had many opportunities to catch the short terms movements up and down (sometimes within a channel).

So, swing traders are not looking to hit the home run with a single trade—they are not concerned about perfect timing to buy a stock exactly at its bottom and sell exactly at its top (or vice versa). In a perfect trading environment, they wait for the stock to hit its baseline and confirm its direction before they make their moves. The story gets more complicated when a stronger up-trend or down-trend is at play: the trader may paradoxically go long when the stock jumps below its EMA and wait for the stock to go back up in an uptrend, or he or she may short a stock that has stabbed above the EMA and wait for it to drop if the longer trend is down.

When it comes time to take profits, the swing trader will want to exit the trade as close as possible to the upper or lower channel line without being overly precise, which may cause the risk of missing the best opportunity. In a strong market, when a stock is exhibiting a strong directional trend, traders can wait for the channel line to be reached before taking their profit, but in a weaker market they may take their profits before the line is hit (in the event that the direction changes and the line does not get hit on that particular swing).

Swing Trading, while a good trading style for beginning traders, still offers significant profit potential for intermediate and advanced traders. Swing traders can realize sufficient rewards on their trades after a couple of days, which keep them motivated, but their long and short positions of several days are of ideal duration so as to not lead to distraction. By contrast, trend following offers greater profit potential if a trader is able to catch a major market trend of weeks or months, but there are few traders with sufficient discipline to hold a position for that period of time without getting distracted. On the other hand, trading dozens of stocks per day (Day Trading) may just prove too great a white-knuckle ride for some, making Swing Trading the perfect medium between the extremes.