Saturday, February 28, 2009

Forex Maestro: Is This For Real?


Successful Forex trader Mike Johnson has just released his powerful money-making software called Forex Maestro. This Forex robot has been tested in real life trading for the past five years and has returned astonishing results, according to Mike.

Here are some figures:

* $320 turning into $7,600 in 3 short days.

* $2,700 generates $6,621.14 in profit within only 40 days.

* $5,000 into $31,200 within 53 days.

* Maestro system of picking and choosing profitable trades has an average success rate of 91.25%.


On Mike's own words here's how Forex Maestro works:

1. It runs a particular forex trading opportunity through a multitude of possible scenarios created by extremely complicated mathematical and scientific formulas.

2. The built-in neural network inside Maestro picks the trades with the highest possibility to win AND with the biggest profit potential.

3.Then it finds the most profitable entry and exit points and place the trades for you... 100% on autopilot... with absolutely no human intervention.


Does it work? Well the sales page contains several live testimonials from people who have used it and turned out making big profits with it.

What does it cost? There is a special introductory price of $397 available only during this official launch period.($197 if you buy it today!) After that, you'll have to pay the regular subscription price of $997 per year. As usual, it comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.

The question is: who wouldn't write a check for $997 in return for tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars that Forex Maestro could put in your pocket in one year?




Thursday, February 26, 2009

The 5 Needed Rules To A Trading Plan

In trading more so then in any other business, when you fail to plan, you plan on failing. In trading you must have a plan of action written out before you place the trade. The Forex market is way too fast to think you can make sound judgments on the fly. It is full of price reversals and head fakes, and if you have not prepared yourself for the obstacles ahead of you, you are not going to succeed.

You need to have studied your Currency Market and plotted out your support and resistance levels before you pull the trigger on a trade. More so then knowing your forecasted price points your Money Management system needs to be sound and in place. Trading Plans are 85% Money Management and 15% analysis. In this article we are going to focus on some of the Analysis.

I have a whole section in my E- Book on Money Management and it needs a lot of depth. It is the most important aspect to your trading.

Part of it is Position Size which I went over in previous articles. I will not belabor the points here, but I do suggest you reread them if need be. The trading plan has more to do with how you are able to trade the currency market, based on your risk capital.

However, no money management system can make profits for a trader that is hap hazard and makes bad trading decisions, conversely and excellent market timer with great trade selection will not be guaranteed profits without good money management. It is a double edged sword. That's part of the 85% of the trading plan. I will now go over some of the more important minor (most often overlooked) aspects.


Minor Rule Number 1


Before you enter your trades write down the price move you forecast that you can capture. Look for modest profits; don't always be looking or a home run. Get on base often and learn to use trailing stops, this way the market takes you out of the trade. When you are in a good position you will be able to ride the wave longer and capture more profits with less head games occurring. Always be mindful of your risk/reward ratio it should be a minimum of 1.7:1. Example you risk $1000. You should be looking for $1700 in profits.


Minor Rule Number 2


Establish profit objectives. It is a bit different then rule number one. In rule one you have your modest gain that you are looking to capture. In this rule we are going that step further where we are in a run away market that is in our favor and have perhaps broke a support or resistance level. You should have an overall profit objective based on a percentage gain to your equity that you would want to lock in.

Example could be a 12% gain of your account equity. You will move your Trailing Stop to that level and let the market take you out if a retracement occurs. This is a crucial point to keep in mind, I have seen trader's double accounts in one day, and lose all the gain and Base equity because of greed and fear, in another trading session. There can be nothing worse then having a great trade turn bad and not having an exit hatch to jettison out of. Believe me you want to keep those gains; it is really annoying when you let them slip away.


Minor Rule Number 3


Have a maximum amount of capital that you are willing to commit at one time. You have to limit your exposure so you do not begin to over trade. Don t open 5 different positions in different currencies at once. Go to were you believe the action is and plan your trades accordingly. If you feel you need excitement go do something that quenches that thirst. Don' t use your trading account to escape boredom.


Minor Rule Number 4


Have plan for increasing or decreasing your positions. If you want to add to a position do it at certain predetermined levels. Always add less then your base position. (Pyramid Profits with a larger base on first) Example would be if you have 100,000 euro on and you are going to add do 50,000 more, then another 50,000 at a different level. When you go to liquidate the position if you're long sell into the rally at predetermined levels (Stepping).

If you're short buy into the dips at predetermined levels as well.


Minor Rule Number 5


Do Not Force A Trade!

This is really not a minor rule; really there are no minor rules just ones that seem to have less glamour then others. I would like to go over something that I feel is a real important point. Realize how fortunate you are that you do not have to trade every day.

When I worked at the bank I was forced into trading every day and night at times due to customer orders, Interest Rate Swap tails that needed to be bought or sold, Money Market desk activities; that's the borrowing and lending of currencies taking interest rate positions. So my point is do not force a trade if it s not there for you. Enjoy the process of being a sniper, and entering on your terms.

This is an article written by Thomas Strigano, from Forex Confidante.




Saturday, February 21, 2009

Recognizing Patterns In Forex Trading Markets

In order to become a successful Forex trader it’s important to develop a pattern of recognition. The forex markets often display a specific pattern that repeats over time across assorted time scales. Forex traders can develop an expertise by acquiring the information around the patterns and then discovering how to recognize these patterns for what they are.

An analogy of a medical student who is learning how to diagnose a disease will explain this better. Every disease, for instance, pneumonia, is defined by a distinct set of symptoms. By running the right tests and making ethical observations of the patient in question, the medical student will collect all the information needed to recognize that the disease is indeed pneumonia. A medical student can never become an expert doctor until he has seen a number of patients, thus gaining practice in putting the pieces of the puzzle together rapidly and correctly.

The brightest illustration of gaining the trading expertise is through pattern recognition and the large literature on technical analysis. Many of the technical analysis books look like the books that are carried around by medical students. They attempt to combine market symptoms into identifiable patterns that are aimed to help the trader diagnose the market. Some of these patterns may be chart patterns, while others may be based on identifying cycles and configurations, and so on. Like the medical student turned doctor, each technical analyst must cultivate a level of expertise by recognizing the various markets and by learning how to identify the patterns.

Notice how the pattern recognition and research answers lead to very dissimilar approaches to the training of forex market traders. The traders tend to learn how to improve their trading by doing their research by learning how to use more sophisticated tools, collect more data, expose the best predictors, and so on.

However, from a pattern recognition advantage point, being successful at trading will not come from conducting more research. Instead, gaining the knowledge directly from the experts and through a great deal of practice will lead to the solid development of competence. The research viewpoint fundamentally treats trading as a type of science. Like scientists, we gain our knowledge by unveiling new observations and pattern recognition through a perspective that treats trading as a functioning activity. Expertise is gained through mentors and by constantly practicing the trades.




Thursday, February 19, 2009

Today's Technical News

EUR/USD

There appears to be a bullish cross forming on the daily chart's Slow Stochastic, indicating that an upward correction is expected in the near future. However, almost all other oscillators are stuck in neutral territory, signaling that this pair may be less volatile than expected. Going long with tight stops might be the right strategy today.

GBP/USD

A bearish cross on the 4-hour chart is forming, signaling a potential price drop, while the Bollinger Bands are also tightening, pointing to an imminent volatile price movement. However, the daily chart's Slow Stochastic indicates a recent bullish cross, signaling a possible upward movement. In the short-term traders may expect a downward correction, but longer-term traders may want to maintain their long positions today.





USD/JPY

The price of this pair appears to be floating in the over-bought territory on the 4-hour chart's RSI and there appears to be an imminent bearish cross on the Slow Stochastic, indicating a downward correction may occur soon. The price also appears to be floating in the over-bought territory on the daily chart's RSI which also lends support to this notion. Going short might be the right choice today.

USD/CHF

The pair has been range-trading for a while now with no specific direction. The daily chart's Slow Stochastic is providing us with mixed signals, however it's Bollinger Bands are tightening, implying that a violent breach may take place. Until that will happen, 4 hour chart reflects quite a stable fluctuation within a flat channel thus providing traders a chance to make profits from buying on dips and selling on highs.





Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Four Reasons To Start In Forex Trading

Forex trading on the internet is without a doubt the quickest way to use your investment capital to its maximum. The foreign exchange markets offer certain advantages to the smaller and larger traders, thus making the foreign exchange currency trading more preferable than the other markets such as stocks, options and all of the traditional futures. Here are some of the top reasons why you will want to use the forex trading on the internet, in order to become a more successful forex market trader.

1. The foreign exchange market is the largest financial market on earth giving forex traders unlimited flexibility and liquidity. That’s over three times larger than the equity market and over five times larger than futures.

2. Forex trading can fit into anyone’s schedule because it is available on the internet 25 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no waiting for markets to open; they are always open day in and day out. This flexible schedule makes the forex market extremely attractive to those professional and potential traders and investors.

3. Forex trading on the internet encompasses buying one currency while simultaneously selling another currency; therefore you have an equal opportunity to make a profit no matter what direction the currencies are heading. Another great advantage to consider is that there are currently only fourteen pairs of currencies to trade. Compare those fourteen currencies to the thousands of stocks, options and futures when you’re considering the pros and cons of delving into the trading game.

4. Investors and traders are flocking to the forex internet trading as a way to gain a higher leverage to their investments. Some brokers even offer margin ratios of 200/1 in open forex trading accounts. There are also those mini-forex accounts that can be opened for a minimum of $200, offering a margin of 0.5%, where $50 in trading capital will control a ten thousand unit currency position.

The forex prices are often predictable, allowing the currency prices to create trends that can be followed to allow the technically trained forex trader to be able to spot, and even take advantage of, the many entry and exit points. One of the best parts about forex trading on the internet is that there is no charges for commissions, any exchange fees or any other hidden fees. The forex market is a very easy market to research the countries and currencies involved. The only fees come from the forex brokers, who only make a very small percentage of what the bid/ask price is. Plus, there is no need to calculate any commissions or fees when completing a trade and your transactions are made a confirmed within seconds. Also because this is all done electronically, with no people involved, there is not much that can slow you down.




Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Brief Information For Traders

Here's a short daily analysis from Forexyard Experts:

EUR/USD

The hourlies show quite a wide range-trading with no specific direction; however, the daily chart's Bollinger Bands are tightening, indicating upcoming increased volatility. A bearish cross on the 4-hour chart's Slow Stochastic indicates an upcoming test of the 1.2800 level once again. If that level is breached, swinging in the trend would be the best strategy.

GBP/USD

The pair's bullish price movement continues within the bullish channel, which still has yet to be breached. The bullish cross forming on the hourly chart's Slow Stochastic supports the upward notion as well. The RSI is floating above the 50 level pointing to the continuation of the upward movement. Next testing point might be around 1.4950.

USD/JPY

After touching a base at 90.89, the pair now consolidates a bit higher at around the 91.46 level. All oscillators show that the bullish momentum will probably continue. The Slow Stochastic of the 4-hour chart is showing no crosses in the horizon, and the bullish momentum there appears to be intact as well. On the daily chart, this pair is still trending upwards and there are no imminent indications of a reversal. Therefore, traders can maximize profits by entering steady long positions.

USD/CHF

The bullish momentum continues full steam ahead within the bullish channel which still has yet to be breached. The 4-hour chart is showing a strong bullish cross, and the RSI on the hourly chart also supports the continuation of the bullish movement. Next testing point should be around 1.1780. Going long appears to be preferable today.




Sunday, February 8, 2009

Five Beginner Forex Trader Mistakes To Avoid

Making mistakes is a natural part of any learning process. When learning to trade or invest in the Forex market, mistakes can lead to losses and become very expensive. Mistakes are made not only by new but also by experienced traders.

Here's some of them:

1. Do not use too much margin when trading or investing. Margin is the use of borrowed money to purchase securities. While it is true that using margins can increase your profits, it can also make your losses bigger. Never look at margins as “free” money, otherwise your potential to lose much more money will greatly increase. Margin is not free money and using it too much can end up making more debt than profits. You would not buy stocks using a credit card, so you should not use margins to trade currency. When investors use margins in Forex trading, it requires the investor to watch their investments much more closely than when margins are not used. Margins should never be used if the investor does not have the experience or time to closely monitor their trades.

2. Do not buy and trade on unfounded tips. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common mistakes, even with more experienced traders. It is easy to be tempted to buy or trade currency or even stocks when you overhear someone talking about the next big “thing”. Do not fall victim of investing and trading based on tips you hear or read about on television or on the Internet. If you hear about a trade that interests you, do some research and talk to your broker before trading or investing. If possible get a second opinion about a Forex tip before buying, selling or trading any form of currency.

3. Understanding how the foreign exchange market works, the terminology and terms used in the Forex is very important to new traders. Go through the tutorials and free demos widely available on the Internet that show how to use the Forex market to your advantage. It is also wise to choose an experienced broker that can help you trade and invest. Brokers should know everything about the Forex Market and be able to help traders and investor make wise choices. To be on the safe side, find a broker that is tied with a good financial institution and that has experience in the Forex.

4. Avoid buying or selling any currency just because the rate is low.
Sometimes this may be a good move, but a low rate does not necessarily mean that it will profit the investor. Instead of choosing a currency to buy or trade just because it is low, it would be best to look at all of the factors that affect the exchange rate and look at the trends and history. Most of the time, there is a distinct reason why these rates are low. Research the trends of the currency and find out, which ones are the best profit makers when trading on the foreign exchange market.

5. Do not underestimate your trading ability. Some investors feel that they do not understand the Forex well enough to trade to their fullest ability. Anyone with willingness to learn the Forex can profit with some education and research. The process of learning all the aspects of the foreign exchange market can take some time, but it is within the reach of new investors to learn how to obtain success and profits in forex trading.






Thursday, February 5, 2009

How To Guarantee Failure In Forex Trading


Right now due to the Worldwide economic crisis Forex trading has become one of the most exciting new ‘games’ in town. The stakes are variable enough that almost anyone can play, and the potential winnings are high enough to tempt even the most conservative into the running. There’s something romantic and dashing about trading in money – something that stock, bonds and mutual funds just don’t have. With trillions of dollars changing hands everyday, it seems like everyone’s got a fail-safe method that will make you rich overnight.

Here are nine failsafe facts that will guarantee that you fail in forex trading.

1. There is a failsafe method to make money on every trade.

Just like there’s no such thing as a free lunch, there’s no such thing as a failsafe method. You WILL lose money on some trades, it’s inevitable. Expecting to always win is a guarantee that you will hang on to trades long past the point that an experienced trader would have found an out.

2. You don’t need to know anything about the market to make money in it.

Not knowing your playing field is a sure way to hit every bump and hole in it. It’s not enough to read a few articles from your dealer. You need to make a concentrated effort to understand the forces that drive the market so you’ll know the best times to make a move.

3. You can play a winning game by making frequent trades with small profits.

If your goal is to make a few hundred dollars a day, you may be ahead of the game, but you’re seriously limiting your profit potential. The only people getting rich on frequent tiny trades are the dealers taking commission on them.



4. You don’t need a plan to make money in the currency market – making money IS a plan.

Trading without a well-thought out plan is like jumping out of a plane without a backup chute. Your plan is what keeps your eye focused on your goal, and gets you through the inevitable losses. Currency trading isn’t a short-term game, but most new traders (95%) quit within the first year because they didn’t have a plan to follow.

5. If you stick with a losing trade long enough, it will turn around.

Sticking with a losing trade is a good way to lose more money. When a deal isn’t going the way that you expected, it’s hard to admit that you were wrong and get out – but it’s the best way to avoid losing even bigger money. Winning on one trade isn’t going to make you rich overnight. Consistently knowing when to get out – whether it’s to cut your losses or grab your winnings – is the way to be a successful currency trader.

6. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Rumors are just that – rumors – 99% of the time. If you want to win at the game, base your trades on reality, not hearsay. On the other hand, rumors can alert you to look at what’s really happening and make a decision based on the movement that you see.

7. The more currencies you trade, the better your chances are of scoring a big profit.

The more you know about a currency, the easier it is to predict how and when it will move. The more intimately you understand the way it behaves, the better your chances are of consistently making successful trades in that currency. If you’re trying to focus on too many different currencies, you’ll be spreading yourself too thin to really get to know any one of them.

8. Thinking long-term and trading short-term is a sure way to make money in the long run.

That’s one of those logical fallacies that sound good on the surface. Look at it more closely though. If you’re trading in the short term, then you need to keep your eyes on the short term rather than trading to what you think the market will be in a week. Today is today – if you make your best trade today every day, you’ll consistently be ahead of the game.

9. The way to make money in forex is to always have a trade in motion.

Sometimes there just isn’t a trade that’s going to profit you. Making a trade just to make a trade is a sure way to do yourself no good – and possibly a great deal of harm.