Two Currency Trading Methods- Which Will You Choose?

February 1, 2010 · Posted in Forex Exchange · Comments Off 

The two main currency trading methods we are going to outline in this article are:

  1. Using Leverage
  2. Taking Ownership

Once a reasonable amount of experience and knowledge has been gained in the currency trading market (FOREX) it can be very profitable to combine both methods. Here are the main characteristics of each:

1. Using Leverage

Beginners in currency trading will typically find an online broker, open a free demo account, read a manual or take a tutorial, and start practicing speculating skills based on technical indicators.

Through the online broker they are able to use leverage so if they eventually decide to open a mini account, a 100:1 leverage means that with $1 they can participate in the market with $1,000. If in time they graduate to a regular account, 1 trading lot of $10 can be leveraged by the broker so $100,000 can be traded for another currency.

Many newcomers to currency trading concentrate on getting small profits, getting in and out of the trade quickly, usually taking no longer than a few hours at the most. Day trading necessitates learning how to read candle charts, recognizing patterns, and anticipating where price is likely to go.

As many new traders find when they have been currency trading for a while, it is possible to have a succession of losing trades, and without proper equity management, their account can be blown necessitating another cash injection to allow them to trade again.

A series of blown accounts can add up and many view this as part of their currency trading education expenses.

Alternating between a demo account and a mini account can reduce the cost so the new currency trader can regain confidence in the demo before going back to live trading again. Eventually, the hope is that the trader will develop a consistent trading pattern so more trades are won than lost so their equity gradually increases.

2. Taking Ownership

This method of currency trading still requires a learning curve as one has to anticipate the market moves and recognize chart patterns. Unlike using leverage however, the risk of financial loss is smaller and you are not in danger of ‘blowing your account.’

It simply means you create a portfolio with whatever funds you wish to commit to currency trading and open bank accounts in each of the currencies you wish to trade.

For example, you may wish to open bank accounts for any of the following:

  • US Dollar
  • British Pound
  • European Euro
  • Japanese Yen
  • Swiss Franc

Of course, more substantial sums of money are needed to make this method of currency trading worthwhile after taking into account bank transfer charges.

However, if you have x,000 dollars or euros or any of the big five currencies to commit to currency trading this method is certainly worth considering.

After studying technical indicators and learning about support and resistance and Fibonacci calculations, you will soon recognize key patterns on the higher time frame charts. Using daily and weekly charts will bring to your attention currency pairs that are in an up or down trend or pairs that appear to be topping out or reaching a strategic high or low.

If for example the British pound reaches a high against the dollar that is the highest it has been for many years, there is a reasonable possibility that it will not stay at that level. Taking a portion of your equity and buying dollars would make good sense. Within a few days or weeks depending on your profit targets, the pound is like to come down at which time you sell dollars and buy pounds.

For example, with GBP10,000 you purchase dollars as the pound touches 2.000 against the dollar. You now own USD20,000. Within a few days the pound pulls back to 1.9800 at which time you sell dollars and buy pounds giving you GBP10,101 less bank transfer fees.

This is just a quick example of how the ownership method of currency trading works. Of course, the currency may not go in the direction you anticipate in which case your equity will be reduced. You will then need to hold that currency until such time it increases in value. Alternatively, you may see another opportunity involving a different currency cross and be prepared to take a loss in order to use that capital in a new trade.

Once currency trading skills have been acquired, the ownership method can be quite profitable, especially as your equity increases. This method requires patience as ideal setups may not appear very often. But when they do you can commit a reasonable part of your portfolio to the trade with a high probability you will profit.

Currency Trading Is High Risk

Currency trading is viewed as a high risk enterprise, and with good reason. A very high proportion of those who attempt to trade the Forex fail and give up in time, up to 95% according to some authorities. Other veteran traders suggest it can take from a few months to 3 years to gain the necessary skills – quite a learning curve!

Those who have the psychological stamina and determination to ride the bumps, accept the losses, and keep coming back until they are able to make consistent profits, are generously rewarded with a changed financial status.

Author: Michael A Jones
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: PCB Prototype & Manufacturing

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Currency Trading Guide – Get Started Today!

January 17, 2010 · Posted in Forex Exchange · Comments Off 

What is Currency Trading?

Currency trading is the buying and selling of currencies from around the world. It is the largest and most active trade happening, making trillions of dollars daily. Unlike other trade like stock exchange, currency trading has no specific time of trading. It happens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Currencies

In currency trading, there are currency pairs. A currency pair consists of two currencies, one of which is being bought and the other is the currency used to buy the other currency.

Take a look at this example: GBP/USD where GBP is the British Pound. The GBP is what we call the ‘base currency’ which has the initial value of 1. This is the currency being bought. Next is the USD or the US dollar. This is what we call the ‘quote-currency’ and has the value of how much one of the base currency is worth. For example: EUR/USD 1.2436, one Euro is worth 1.2436 US dollars. If you need 1000 Euro, you’d have to exchange it for 1243.6 US dollars. Other major currencies traded are Canadian dollar (CAD), Japanese Yen (JPY), Australian dollar (AUD, and the Swiss Franc (CHF).

The Spread

In currency trading, a currency pair has a corresponding ‘bid’ and ‘ask’ price. The ‘bid’ price is how much the base currency is being sold by the currency broker while the ‘ask’ price is how much the currency is being bought by the trader. The bid price is usually lower than the ask price and this is where sales are made by the brokers. The difference between the ‘bid’ and ‘ask’ price is called the ‘spread’.

Changes in the Currency Values

Knowing how currency values changes is important in currency trading. In a nutshell, buy a currency when its value is low and sell it when its value is high. The changes in currency values depend on political and economic events. Foreigners going in a country triggers currency exchange as well as large purchases of commodity from one country to another. Also, we should not forget the influence of speculators in currency trading. They speculate on the increase or decrease of value of a currency therefore will make decisions in advance. It is important to be updated in these influences to the trade to be able to keep up with the fast-paced volatility of the currency trade.

Why Venture on the Currency Trade?

As mentioned, currency trading occurs 24 hours on a daily basis. Traders can decide when to trade their currencies. As changes could happen any time, the trader should always keep watch on the best time to trade. Currency trade does not need a big capital to start. Beginners can start with small amounts and eventually increase their trading resources. There is also no need to play on all currencies on the market. A novice can focus on two currencies at first while getting the hang of it and then expand later on for bigger profits.

Risks in Trading

Naturally, like all trading, there are risks. A trader should keep in mind that the risk in currency trade is high and wrong decisions could lead to losses. Playing safe is okay but the higher the risks, the higher the profit. Decisions are vital so it is best to ask advice from the expertise of brokers whenever necessary.

Author: Jeff C Daniels
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker

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Boost Investment Profits: Learn Forex Trading

October 3, 2009 · Posted in Currency Trading · Comments Off 

If the stock market has been a rough ride this year, learn Forex trading and get your investment portfolio back on track. The benefits are greater than playing the stock market and, unfortunately, the losses can be just as great. However, if you educate yourself and increase your understanding of the market, trading currencies in the Foreign Exchange market could be a very lucrative shift in your investment strategy.

The Forex, or FX which is an abbreviated reference to the Foreign Exchange market, is the biggest money market in the planet. It’s even larger than the stock market. Due to the Forex factors, which include low volatility, good liquidity and the ability to leverage, you can gain and lose money very quickly.

The fundamentals of Foreign Exchange are fairly simple. It’s the simultaneous purchase of currency, such as the US dollar while selling another currency, such as the Japanese Yen. Currencies are always traded in twos and are traded electronically. The Forex market isn’t in a physical place, such as the New York Stock Exchange. They’re referred to as an OTC market, or “over-the-counter.”

It’s important when you’re first starting out to identify which global currencies are most often traded. These are generally from countries with stable administrations, credible banking systems and low inflation. Those currencies include the US Dollar, Swiss Franc, Australian and Canadian Dollars and The Euro.

There was a time when money trading was an activity which was restricted to institutions such as banks, hedge funds and big corporations. Because of the Internet, the Forex market is now accessible by individual investors. Some of these traders are in it for the sheer speculation, hoping to cash in on profits gained from instant fluctuations in exchange rates. Others are seeking a way to protect their investments from adverse fluctuations in rates in the future. Businesses in particular fall into this second category trying to hedge against risk should future exchange rates fall dramatically.

The Forex market is open all day long over a five day week. This is to accommodate trades across the globe in all time zones. This allows investors the freedom to trade at any time of the day, capitalizing on a market that changes, virtually, when the wind changes direction.

If the Forex market has captured your imagination, speak to your financial adviser to ensure that you have a good understanding of currency trading. You’ll want to minimize your losses when you first get going. There are many websites on the internet where you can practice Forex trading by making simulated trades without using real money.

As an internet marketer, Jan Erik Miranda is also trading Forex for quite sometime now. For more articles on currency trading such as this one, visit My Money Maker at http://bit.ly/98A91

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/currency-trading-articles/boost-investment-profits-learn-forex-trading-1295335.html

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