How To Become A Currency Trader

If you are anything like me, you probably imagine that it is difficult to become a foreign currency trader. Perhaps there are rules, regulations and other hoops that have to be jumped through. Maybe you need large amounts of cash in order to get started.

No.

Becoming a Forex currency trader is incredibly simple!

Get A Demo Account
As I beginner I'd suggest you sign up with Oanda. Not only do they have a good reputation but they offer other advantages for a beginning trader as well:

• You can sign up for a live account with very little initial capital.


• You can execute trades of just about any arbitrary (small) size.

Of course, you can start with a free demo account before getting a live account. Just about everyone will recommend you do so, including me. However, at some point you need to trade with real money to learn about the psychological aspects of trading.

So, that's what I did. I started with $100 in my account and was off to the markets. Sweet, I'm a forex trader!

Learning To Trade Foreign Exchange
If you have a demo account, enter some trades. See what happens. Then, after the results come in, search for information about what happened. You'll find some helpful advice in blogs, such as mine, as well as various tutorial and forum sites. I would suggest that you buy a book or two on forex trading, technical analysis and perhaps something concerning the attributes of successful traders. I've listed some books that I found helpful on this blog post about getting a forex education.

Trading With Real Money
Don't rush to trade with real money. One of the most important things to realize is that there is always another opportunity -- there is no need to let the fear of missing out intrude on your good sense. In fact, the issue of psychology is immensely important in trading and once you move to real money trading you'll realize this very quickly.

Frankly, though I counsel otherwise, I wasn't be able to trade realistically while not actually risking my own money, so I started trading with a tiny account, funded with $100, almost immediately. Personally, with a few dollars on the table, I found that my interest level, formality and trading style were all upped a notch.

Trading Sessions
Except for weekends the markets are open all the time. However, different periods of time often have different characteristics. This is because trading in currencies generally follows the business day around the world from timezone to timezone.

Account Safety
Oh, I should mention, these days Forex trading with a reputable company (such as Oanda) is quite safe. While there are large risks and large rewards, my risks are essentially limited to the capital that I have put into my account. With wise strategies I can limit risks further, but as a beginner it is comforting to know that I can't lose more than I let sit in my account no matter how foolish a beginner mistake I might make.

I should stress that you could lose all the capital you put in your account, so do not start out with a large account with the idea that you will only conduct small trades. At the very least, create some sub-accounts and keep the majority of your capital out of harms way until you have blown up your play money account, learned a few lessons, and know how to protect your capital.

What You'll Learn
Above and beyond the simple mechanics of opening an account and executing trades there are tons of things you'll need to study to become a successful trader. These include:

• Reading candlestick charts.
• Interpreting indicators.
• Support and resistance levels.
• Fundamental economic analysis.
• National economic news events.

Each of these issues can span multiple chapters or perhaps an entire text depending on the depth of information being presented.

I also invite you to read my blog. I started out from scratch and can address issues in a way that can be helpful for a beginner. Please feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best to point you to useful information if I can't give you a good answer myself.

Recent Forex Results

I've had some success analyzing the AUDJPY over the last few days. In particular, whether by luck or otherwise I managed to spot some channels, one of them an apparent bull flag, a wedge leading to 82.00 and then predicting a breakthrough beyond that level.

It's very rewarding to make an observation and then have results conform to your expectations.

Anyway, I'm still letting my robot do my trading for me. It's earning north of 1% per day and I continue to make minor tweaks in an attempt to push the appreciation rate closer to 2% if I can.

Recent tweaks involve looking at various stochastic values in order to adjust position entry scale to some degree. Obviously, as the robot only opens long positions, the idea is to open less positions during periods of strength and more positions during periods of weakness.

It's never as simple as it sounds.

For more radical tweaks or outright departures from the main trading robot I'll strike out with a small amount of capital in a new account. I have one of these experimental robots running right now. It's very heavily tweaked.

I've got another radical, but simple, idea in the wings. It will have to wait until next weekend so that I'll have time to implement it.

Easy Forex

Easy Forex is planned with simple and completed with Laqueree Crossing.
Tutorial this templete :
1. Waiting dor Blue Dot for Buy and Red Dot for Sell
2. The arrow will confirmed that signal

3. Only entry position if the juice change blue
4. If i-trend crossing please entry position
5. Laqueree crossing down over line .75-->sell
6. Laqueree crossing up over line .15-->buy

Forex Profit System

Nice title "Forex Profit System" ya, but it is depend on you, how smart yu using this software, after give you SS2009 V2 Indicator, now i will share you this nice software.

Basic Rules :

Please see the picture :

• Bolinger Bands stop, heiken Ashi dan SEFC084 # All of this indicators should be on the same trend direction, the probabilities to get false signal is too high if you enter the market without following basic rules.

Forex Profit system can be used in any pair and nice in TF 30 M.

Take Profit : 20pips dan Stop Loss : 40 pips

Entries and Exits

Well, I just returned from some well earned rest & relaxation! It is always a good time to escape the heat of the desert during the summer months. One of the things I like to do during my down time is to catch up on my reading. One of the key points on the Roadmap to Forex Success (visit FX Trade Central for more details) is continuous education and one of my favorite ways is to read.

I just finished "Entries & Exits: Visits to Sixteen Trading Rooms" by Dr. Alexander Elder. I have added this book to the "must read" category for anyone who trades. It really does not matter what instrument you trade, this is a gotta have to any success library!

The long and short of it is the Dr. Elder visit 16 traders that he has met and mentored throughout his career. The traders explain, in short story format, how and why they trade the way they do. This is followed my Dr. Elder's commentary on their trades. The "gem" of this book is to follow the commentary of each trader. In theirs words you will gain great insight and knowledge and determine they are no different than us, so similar and so unique. These trader have cracked the code and the nuggets provided will help you do the same. It is a very easy read, a kin to 16 short stories. I encourage you to read each story and reflect on what lessons you can bring into your own trading room.

FEAR and FOCUS

Is fear preventing your from achieving forex success? By now I know everyone has heard of the acronym for F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real). Sometimes to get over the hump and put fear in our rear view mirror only requires an attitude check! Adjusting our attitude can build our confidence and basically get our heads out of the way and journey on to forex success!

Author’s Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield (both from the famous Chicken Soup series of bestsellers) has another overlooked book on the market called The Power of Focus. In the nook they discuss strategies to combat fear and build confidence. Some of these strategies include;

• Remind yourself that you did some things well in your trading everyday.
  
• Read inspiring biographies and autobiographies. These can fall outside of the trading world.
  
• Be thankful. You are taking massive action to take control of your financial future!
  
• Build a support network around you. Use the mastermind principal to build a support team of traders and non-traders.Chunk it down! Take your long term goals and plans and chunk them down into smaller bits like mastering trading channels in your demo account.
• Celebrate your success! If you can’t do this than repeat the first step (and do not collect $200!!!).

Forex Discipline

When it comes down to it, all successful traders have learned to mastery one important skill … discipline! As I progress as a trader, whether it is on my home court (the forex market) or on a road trip (trading options), discipline has been the skill that has made me more profits and lack of it has been the major contributor of all of my losses!

Living in the western portion of the United States requires local forex traders to either stay up late to trade the London session or wake up early to trade with the east coast. I am a morning person, so it is no brainer that I do the majority of my FX trading during the London-New York overlap period. A good nights sleep and a fresh morning coffee and I am ready to go hunting PIPS! Well I broke my rule last night and after tackling receipts going into tax season and looking at some option positions I had on, I took a look at my forex charts for a swing trade opportunity. I saw a nice opportunity for the euro to move up over the next several days. A long story short, I was yawning and could hear my bed calling. I shut down the computer and patted myself on the back for not placing any trades while I was so tired. I was disciplined in recognizing that I just do not trade well during the late evenings.

What happened today?

The euro was strong all day, and as of the writing of this post, had moved up 123 pips!!! Not the ending you were expecting!

My point is, discipline made me aware I was at my low point mentally and should not be placing forex trades in my current state of mind. I bring this up because this will happen to all traders a one point or another. 99 times out of 100 this would have been a losing trade!

Know yourself, establish your style and stay true to your plan. If you follow this simple formula success will just be a matter of time. Forex education is the key to developing a solid discipline trading approach.

Forex Trading Tools

I was discussing with some friends about setting yourself up to begin trading currencies. I found this good article (a little general), but provides a good outline for what do if your are ready to dive in and start learning!

Forex Trading Tools - Trading Computers, Forex Charting Software, Trade Stations, Trading Platforms, Forex Advisories,, Forex News:

"This is a collection of Forex 'Tools of the Trade' -- products and services that we have found to be the best of all we have tried over many years, and additonally selected because the companies behind them have demonstrated reliable service, integrity and value. They are beginner-friendly, yet offering a growing trader lots of support. Look for the Forex-Trader discounts.
To trade Forex successfully you will need the basics:

1. A reliable, reasonably fast computer, preferably with high speed access to the internet (DSL or Cable Modem for example). An Internet dial-up account or the telephone becomes your back-up should your primary access fail.

2. Good foreign currencies 'charting software' with a reliable, accurate data feed so that you can track currency movements in real time and perform the technical analysis necessary to trade effectively.

3. An on-line Forex trading account with a brokerage firm which provides a reliable Trading Platform, fair 'spreads', quick execution of trades, good on-line reporting, and excellent customer service.

4. A subscription to at least one Forex Trading 'Advisory Service' which provides market overviews at least daily. This gives you the context and overall directions of the market and will greatly assist in your own analysis and decision making.

Most importantly, you will need effective training and/or mentoring to master the techniques and discipline which 90 percent of beginning traders lack. This can be home study via cd's or on-line lessons, classes you travel to, or trainer/mentors who come to you. "

My blog is dedicated to helping those on the journey that currency trading has become for me!

Also I have established a training curriculum to guide the "new" currency traders through their first year of trading the forex market.

Trading Thoughts

Trade to be great and not just good.
Trade to be profitable
Don’t trade not to lose.
Embrace the challenges of the day.
Dismiss the distractions.
Be decisive.
Know your expected outcome before executing the trade.
Don’t focus on the results.
Focus on the execution.
Take responsibility for the outcome.
Be realistic and committed.
Believe in yourself without doubt.
Focus on the pips and not the balance.
Become your own coach and cheering section.

It is Better in Groups

Banks and Hedge Fund Managers do it! And you should too!!

Too often I hear about the lonely trader who sits at their computer while the Forex market forces devour their capital. These are the same people who say currency trading is too risky and it doesn't work.

So you have taken the classes and read the books. Most humans don't learn that way. We must also be shown how to do it. In our case we must be shown (and repeatedly) how to trade, when to trade and when not to trade. Repetition is the key to learning.

And so is trading in a group!

If you do not have a group of traders then form your own group. Just look on Skype to see the myriad of Forex traders out there. Ask questions in forums (know you source though). You interaction with other enhance your Forex trading skill and acumen.

This just may be what the doctor ordered to have that breakout that puts you well on your way to Forex success!!

The Power of the Process

Here is a little advice for those just starting their Forex Journey.

To learn to trade Forex (or any liquid market for that matter) requires no great skill. It only requires perseverance and desire. There is, however, a learning curve that all traders must ascend. There are, in my opinion, 3 areas that traders must gain supreme confidence with in order to succeed.

1. Strategy

You must learn the language of trading, the tools and when to use the tools. If you where training to be a carpenter you would have to learn the language other carpenters use such as 2X4, chalk line and plum. We have our own jargon such as pairs, dealing platforms and spreads.

You have to know the tools. A carpenter has a hammer and we have our moving averages. And you have to know when to use these tools. A carpenter would not grab a hammer to paint, and we have tools designed for specific market condition such as MACD and Stochastic.

Oh, and another piece of advice around strategies taught to me by Raghee Horner. In a training awhile back she asked the class to use her strategies exactly as she presented it. She had tested her strategies backwards and forwards.

I’ve seen so many traders take a strategy and immediately add or subtract something and blame the strategy for not working. Personally responsibility is a cornerstone of trading. This really goes to my point number 3.

I have another way of looking at it:

Dance the dance you are shown until you learn a dance of your own.

2. Money Management and Risk Control

I have personally proven that having a so-so strategy with solid money management skills is profitable and the inverse is not! The clear fact is, and I am going to use a baseball analogy, it is more profitable to lead the league in batting average than home runs.

It is the accumulation of the little winners that will get the new trader of and running. It is a process!


3. Personal Self-Mastery

In my opinion, this is the single most under served area of knowledge to the individual currency trader. It is the truly holy grail of trading. Knowing your personal strengths and weakness brings a level of awareness like no other.

Once we are made aware of the factors that influence our trading, we can bring to bear strategies to neutralize our weaknesses and leverage our strengths.

There is no single skill trading more important than self-mastery! It is your own personal mastery that will determine your ability to deploy time tested strategies and risk control methods.

The truth is little winners lead to bigger and bigger winners. Mastering the process of trading is mastering to repeatable little winner.

The biggest mistake I see new traders make is that the focus is placed square on making money. Master the process of trading described and not focusing on the money is the surest way to make money is this risky area. This is why in my training on Forex Journey Live Market Training, the process is super-emphasized and the word “money” is strictly forbidden!

The Power of Expectation

One of the most powerful emotional triggers we can bring into our trading is the power of expectation. Expectations are the fuel that makes our trading goals seem to rush towards us. Therefore, setting positive expectations is a critical component of our emotional mindset, especially when we are trading.

Here are some thoughts to help you set profitable expectations before beginning your trading session:

• Trade to be great! Enter every trade with the expectation of making profit and not losing money.
• Embrace the challenge of the market. It is through these challenges were growth lies.
• Don't focus on the results. Instead focus on the process and the results will take care of themselves.
• Believe in yourself.
• Commit that nothing will take you off of your "A" game while trading
• Be decisive and except full responsibility for the outcome.
• Have positive self-talk. Negative talk will lead to negative results.

Expect to be profitable even in the face of obstacles. You have a choice. You can move forward in action or backwards in fear. Positive expectations will promote the positive results and positive results in our business always leads to profit!

This is a sample of the trading methodology at Forex Journey. We go way beyond trend lines and chart patterns!