Stress is one of the most common emotional problems that traders face, and trading while under stress can (read as will) have a significant impact on a trader's profit and loss. There are many different forms of stress, but for the purposes of this discussion, we will consider stress as being either trading stress (i.e. stress caused by trading) or external stress (i.e. stress from non trading sources).
Trading Stress
Trading stress is stress that is caused by the act of trading. For example, the fear of losing money can place a trader under significant stress. Perversely, trading stress only compounds the original problem. For example, if a trader is having difficulty making a trade management decision, the stress that ensues will only make it harder to make the decision, and will almost guarantee that the decision is made badly.
The solution to trading stress is knowledge and experience. Knowledge gives a trader the ability to trade well, and experience (i.e. practice) give a trader the confidence to trust in their knowledge. When a trader knows that they have the ability to be profitable, and they also have the confidence to believe in themselves, it is much easier to overcome any stressful situations that might arise.
External Stress
External stress is stress that comes from any source other than trading. For example, a trader might be having relationship problems with their husband or wife (which happens more often than you might think due to the solitary nature of trading). External stress is the most difficult type of stress to avoid, because its cause is often out of the trader's control.
The solution to most external stress (at least from a trading perspective) is to temporarily trade in simulation instead of trading live. Trading in simulation during stressful times allows a trader to continue trading, but without risking any real money. Once the stressful situation has been resolved, the trader can go back to trading live without having to make up any stress related losses.
How Stress Affects Profit and Loss
Stress affects a trader's profit and loss in a number of different ways, and the exact manifestation will be different for each trader. For some traders, stress might cause them to trade more than usual (perhaps in a desperate attempt to make more money), while for other traders, stress might cause them to trade less than usual (perhaps because they are unable to make any decisions). However the stress is realized, the result will always be a negative impact on the trader's profit and loss. So if you suddenly find yourself trading badly, consider your emotional state and whether that might be the cause, before you decide to make any adjustments to your trading (e.g. changing your trading system, etc.).
Monday, 10 May 2010
MISTAKE FOREX TRADERS MAKE
When getting started in forex trading, there are common mistakes to be avoided. This is a list of common forex trading mistakes.
1. Using Too Much Leverage
One of the biggest advantages of forex trading is the ability to use leverage or trading on margin. One of the most common mistakes that forex traders make is using too much leverage. Using too much leverage is when you have a small account balance, but make a big trade. If the market moves against your position by just a small amount, it can result in large losses. Commonly, the beginning forex trader will get emotional and nervous and close the trade for a sizable loss.
2. Over Trading
Over Trading occurs when traders try to look for trading opportunities that are not really there. It happens to new traders very often, because they just want to trade. The result is usually a poorly executed trade that results in an eventual loss. Over trading can also result in traders making too many trades at once and using too much margin.
3. Picking Tops and Bottoms
Many new traders attempt to try to pinpoint where a currency pair will turn around and start moving the opposite direction. This is something that is difficult even for professional traders.
1. Using Too Much Leverage
One of the biggest advantages of forex trading is the ability to use leverage or trading on margin. One of the most common mistakes that forex traders make is using too much leverage. Using too much leverage is when you have a small account balance, but make a big trade. If the market moves against your position by just a small amount, it can result in large losses. Commonly, the beginning forex trader will get emotional and nervous and close the trade for a sizable loss.
2. Over Trading
Over Trading occurs when traders try to look for trading opportunities that are not really there. It happens to new traders very often, because they just want to trade. The result is usually a poorly executed trade that results in an eventual loss. Over trading can also result in traders making too many trades at once and using too much margin.
3. Picking Tops and Bottoms
Many new traders attempt to try to pinpoint where a currency pair will turn around and start moving the opposite direction. This is something that is difficult even for professional traders.
BENEFITS OF FOREX TRADING
There are five things give trading the forex market some unique advantages.
1. 24 Hour Market
Since the forex market is worldwide, trading is continuous as long as there is a market open somewhere in the world. Trading starts when the markets open in Australia on Sunday evening, and ends after markets close in New York on Friday.
2. High Liquidity
Liquidity is the ability of an asset to be converted into cash quickly and without any price discount. In forex this means we can move large amounts of money into and out of foreign currency with minimal price movement.
3. Low Transaction Cost
In forex, typically the cost for a transaction is built into the price. It is called the spread. The spread is the difference between the buying and selling price.
4. Leverage
Forex Brokers allow traders to trade the market using leverage. Leverage is the ability to trade more money on the market than what is actually in the trader's account. If you were to trade at 50:1 leverage, you could trade $50 on the market for every $1 that was in your account. This means you could control a trade of $50,000 using only $1000 of capital.
5. Profit Potential from Rising and Falling Prices
The forex market has no restrictions for directional trading. This means, if you think a currency pair is going to increase in value; you can buy it, or go long. Similarly, if you think it could decrease in value you can sell it, or go short.
1. 24 Hour Market
Since the forex market is worldwide, trading is continuous as long as there is a market open somewhere in the world. Trading starts when the markets open in Australia on Sunday evening, and ends after markets close in New York on Friday.
2. High Liquidity
Liquidity is the ability of an asset to be converted into cash quickly and without any price discount. In forex this means we can move large amounts of money into and out of foreign currency with minimal price movement.
3. Low Transaction Cost
In forex, typically the cost for a transaction is built into the price. It is called the spread. The spread is the difference between the buying and selling price.
4. Leverage
Forex Brokers allow traders to trade the market using leverage. Leverage is the ability to trade more money on the market than what is actually in the trader's account. If you were to trade at 50:1 leverage, you could trade $50 on the market for every $1 that was in your account. This means you could control a trade of $50,000 using only $1000 of capital.
5. Profit Potential from Rising and Falling Prices
The forex market has no restrictions for directional trading. This means, if you think a currency pair is going to increase in value; you can buy it, or go long. Similarly, if you think it could decrease in value you can sell it, or go short.
HOW NOT TO LOSE MONEY IN FOREX
That's the right type of question every Forex trader should start with.
Here are the rules:
- Start with a mini account and a mini lot
Why? Every beginner Forex trader goes through the first psychological challenge of making first trades. There is a whole mix of emotions, but most importantly there is real money involved, and no one wants to lose real money.
It is very important to leave through your first experience unharmed. You should risk very little at first, this will take off the pressure of making first trades.
Important: with a mini accounts of under $500 you should trade no more than 0.01 lot. Otherwise, there is 95% chance to lose your first account!
- Have a trading system
..Not just any system, but the one which eliminates any misinterpretations and double meanings of entries, exits, stops etc. Avoid systems that call for using intuition or act upon common sense, or use own judgment according to the situation.
The best systems are the ones you make yourself, or, if you start with an adopted method, you should, at least, put an additional work into it.
Polishing a system takes months, but once perfected, it adds tons of confidence into a trade.
- Learn to be break-even on every trade
Ability to protect your starting capital is paramount. Break-even trades are great, since you lose nothing. When you learn how to be break-even, you will be able to make a so called "free trades" - a trade, where a stop loss is set to break-even and a position is allowed to run for maximum profits.
- Trade during active market hours only
Although Forex market is open and can be traded 24 hours a day, the most active market hours are from 3am EST to 5pm EST. Avoid trading during other hours, there isn't much to earn there, but there is plenty of opportunities to make losing trades.
- Avoid trading during news time
Check Forex Economic Calendar and avoid news hours. Try to avoid trading 20 min before the news and 20 min after the news. News trading is one of the riskiest adventure. Always look back at possible losses before admiring possible profits.
Not every Forex broker offers perfect trading conditions during news hours, make sure you know the policy of your broker.
- Don't over trade
Don't trade too much. You won't be able to make more money than Forex market is willing to offer.
Don't compromise your trading system. If a trading setup is not perfect, don't take a trade.
- If you start to lose - stop trading
If you begin to lose, it is better to make a pause. It is either your fault and lack of discipline, or there is a change in the market behavior and your system can no longer produce results. In any case pausing helps.
- Practice, learn, improve
Always continue researching, learning and working on your system rules, your discipline and your risk appetite.
Most importantly: don't think about quitting your day job. It is a very high goal, which may put a pressure on you to start earning money in Forex faster than you would normally do. Take you time, learn, test.
Here are the rules:
- Start with a mini account and a mini lot
Why? Every beginner Forex trader goes through the first psychological challenge of making first trades. There is a whole mix of emotions, but most importantly there is real money involved, and no one wants to lose real money.
It is very important to leave through your first experience unharmed. You should risk very little at first, this will take off the pressure of making first trades.
Important: with a mini accounts of under $500 you should trade no more than 0.01 lot. Otherwise, there is 95% chance to lose your first account!
- Have a trading system
..Not just any system, but the one which eliminates any misinterpretations and double meanings of entries, exits, stops etc. Avoid systems that call for using intuition or act upon common sense, or use own judgment according to the situation.
The best systems are the ones you make yourself, or, if you start with an adopted method, you should, at least, put an additional work into it.
Polishing a system takes months, but once perfected, it adds tons of confidence into a trade.
- Learn to be break-even on every trade
Ability to protect your starting capital is paramount. Break-even trades are great, since you lose nothing. When you learn how to be break-even, you will be able to make a so called "free trades" - a trade, where a stop loss is set to break-even and a position is allowed to run for maximum profits.
- Trade during active market hours only
Although Forex market is open and can be traded 24 hours a day, the most active market hours are from 3am EST to 5pm EST. Avoid trading during other hours, there isn't much to earn there, but there is plenty of opportunities to make losing trades.
- Avoid trading during news time
Check Forex Economic Calendar and avoid news hours. Try to avoid trading 20 min before the news and 20 min after the news. News trading is one of the riskiest adventure. Always look back at possible losses before admiring possible profits.
Not every Forex broker offers perfect trading conditions during news hours, make sure you know the policy of your broker.
- Don't over trade
Don't trade too much. You won't be able to make more money than Forex market is willing to offer.
Don't compromise your trading system. If a trading setup is not perfect, don't take a trade.
- If you start to lose - stop trading
If you begin to lose, it is better to make a pause. It is either your fault and lack of discipline, or there is a change in the market behavior and your system can no longer produce results. In any case pausing helps.
- Practice, learn, improve
Always continue researching, learning and working on your system rules, your discipline and your risk appetite.
Most importantly: don't think about quitting your day job. It is a very high goal, which may put a pressure on you to start earning money in Forex faster than you would normally do. Take you time, learn, test.
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