Selecting a Forex Trading Broker

By Bart Icles

If you are a beginner to the foreign exchange or forex market, it would help a lot if you work with a forex trading broker. This broker can help you a lot in representing you during trading in such a way that trading with a broker will help eliminate the chances that you will be making the same trading mistakes again and again. A lot of beginners simply enter the market and they believe that they will eventually succeed out of pure luck. However, they often realize too late that they are making the same mistakes and before they know it, they have already lost all their investments.

However, this does not mean you cannot start trading in the market on your own. If you are one of those beginners who have been equipped with sound knowledge and proper training on how to make use of forex signals, then you can easily take on any trading situation on your own. On the other hand, if you are one of those who have entered the currency market without any clue of what to do, it would be to your advantage to take time to consult a forex broker.

There are certain factors that you will need to consider in looking for the right forex trading broker. Take time to do a little research on the different companies that promise to give you help in forex trading representation and other needs. You will need to be cautious in making decisions because you will be putting the management of your trading account into the hands of someone else.

You can start researching for a forex trading broker online. Go online and participate in online web forums. Try to see if you will be able to talk to someone who has a first-hand experience in dealing with trading brokers. Then, try to ask for recommendations and referrals. Once you have a name, try to do a little background check on that person ? try to gather information on his or her reputation and his or her experience in forex trading.

There is no foolproof way of selecting the best forex trading broker. But it definitely helps to screen several brokers before settling for one. In this manner, you will be able to have a good idea of what they do and how they can potentially help you. In this manner, you will able to determine if he or she can effectively handle your forex trading needs. - 23222

About the Author:

Forex Training starts with a desire to learn and a drive to become a great trader. Becoming a Forex Trader takes dedication and a good teacher. But once you learn how to trade and do so successfully your life will change and you have options and financial resources you never had before.

Forex Mega Droid Made Simple

By Chris Arribbat

Forex trading is all about putting your money into other currencies, so you can gain the interest for the night, for time period or the difference in trading money all around. Forex trading does involve other assets along with money, but because you are investing in other countries and in other businesses that are dealing in other currencies the basis for the money you make or lose will be based on the trading of money.

Constant trading is done in the forex markets as time zones will vary and the markets will open in one country while another is near closing. What happens in one market will have an effect on the other countries forex markets, but it is not always bad or good, sometimes the margins of trading are near each other.

If you are already involved in trading you should have a good idea what it is all about. Usually the bank is the main investor in foreign trading as the deal with trillions of dollars on a daily basis and all over the world. The trading is created when two markets or more are involved in currency exchange due to a combination of goods, services or a combination.

The stock market involves buying shares of a company, and you watch how that company does, waiting for a bigger return. In the forex markets, you are purchasing items or products, or goods, and you are paying money for them. As you do this, you are gaining or losing as the currency exchange differs daily from country to country. To better prepare you for the forex markets you can learn about trading and purchasing online using free game like software.

With this on line game a fake account can be created for you allowing you to buy and sell based on decisions you make and choice of products or services you have shown an interest in. No real money is involved and you can trade with different products to see if you make a profit or loss. It is encouraging to start this way if you have no previous experience in trading as it will only give you knowledge and more understanding. - 23222

About the Author:

Developing Artificial Intelligence To higher Technological Ground, joining It With 38 Years Of Trading Experience And hard work To Produce A Robot which looks Into The Future With Mind Blowing perfection: To The Tune Of 95.82% perfectionAdvanced Artificial Intelligence Extreme Performance, Extreme perfection... Unheard Of CONSISTENCY. Advanced Artificial Intelligence

Find an Online Options Broker, Planning Your Options Trading Strategy

By William Davies

There are a number of issues you need to consider when you are looking for an online options broker to provide you with effective access to forex options on the global markets. Firstly, ask what, if any, is their financial exposure to risky instruments like mortgage derivatives and credit default swaps (CDS). Does the online broker deal with other trade and investment instruments like futures, bonds and stocks, or is it focused solely on forex options?

You will want to have some idea about the size of the company and its operations, and asking about its daily trading volumes, whether it is a million or much more for example, will give you a good idea. A trader considering which online options broker to choose will want to know about how the margin requirements work, whether it operates in real time with the use of automatic limits or with the broker contacting traders at the end of the trading day with a margin call. As options are highly leveraged, what is the required minimum balance?

Some option contracts allow you to exit at any time up to the expiry date while other types of contract must be held to expiry or settlement. So you would need to know what type of options your broker can offer in their online trading platform. There is also the question of cost and whether the online options broker can offer a discount and so lower your trading costs. Under what circumstances would they do this? Do you have to have a premier type account or hold a higher maintenance margin to benefit from a discount?

There can be different types of options in terms of which markets the trader can gain exposure. For example, a plain vanilla options broker offers markets with generally good liquidity and the contract is broadly generic which is traded through the mainstream clearinghouses. Alternatively, there is the exotic options broker who focuses on the smaller, niche markets of minor currencies, which are traded less often and where liquidity is less certain.

When you are deciding which online options broker to select, it is worth checking out the quality and effectiveness of the educational program and support available to clients. As a trader starting out you will find things easier if the firm offers a range of seminar and videos covering the basics of options trading. Find out if the videos offered are designed to let you see the effect of decisions you take in the mock scenario on your trading capital. As well as the educational angle, does the broker give you a report service, newsletters and trade alerts?

You will also want to know what type of trading software the broker provides and how easy it is to use by a relatively inexperienced trader as well as by more seasoned professional traders. When you try out a paper account see how easy it is to follow your trades and to make a decisive decision and act on it through the platform. As for price, you may want to be confident that the online options broker can secure a better price for you than its competitors.

If you can see your trade risk and option price in real time this offers you a great advantage, so try to find software that achieves these capabilities and help you improve your trade performance. It may also pay to see whether the firm offers data covering volatility and other trading measures as well as macroeconomic data like interest rates. Finally, after taking all the above into account you may be in a much better position to choose an online options trader that is right for you. And remember that trading these derivative products means there is a risk of losing your capital. - 23222

About the Author:

William Davies contributes articles for a Commodities Trading website, giving an informational guide for those wanting to learn more about commodities, futures and options. Find an appropriate online options broker for your trading style.

British Pound Currency Profile (Part III)

By Ahmad Hassam

UK tends to share a more common set of views with the United States. Economically, the United Kingdom is more free-market oriented than Europe. The United Kingdom cant totally disassociate itself from Europe at the same time, given its history and its geography. The upshot is a currency that is affected by politics at home and on the two continents to which its destiny is so closely related.

6% of the all the global currency trading involves GBP as either the base or counter currency. The GBP/USD is one of the most liquid currency pairs in the world. The British Pound GBP is active against the dollar and the euro, offering good opportunities to trade both pairs (GBP/USD and USD/GBP).

One of the reasons for GBP liquidity is the countrys highly developed capital markets. GBP is also in the four most traded major currency pairs EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY and USD/CHF in the world.

UK is an important foreign investment destination. Many foreign investors seeking to diversify their investment other than the United States send their funds to the UK. Foreigner investors need to convert their local currency into GBP in order to create these investments.

A few years ago, GBP had one of the highest interest rates in the developed countries. Although Australia and New Zealand had still higher interest rates but their financial markets are not as well developed as UK. GBP was full of speculators one to two years back.

As a result, carry traders would use GBP as the lending currency and would go long against USD, JPY and CHF. Carry trading was popular with many hedge fund managers. It is a long term fundamental trading strategy.

UK Treasury had to intervene heavily in the market by pumping money into a number of failing banks in order to stabilize the financial markets. The present global financial crisis has taken a heavy toll on the British Banks as well. There have been a number of high profile bankruptcies.

Interest rate differentials between UK gilts/US Treasuries is a barometer for GBP/USD flows and UK gilts/German Bunds is a barometer for EUR/GBP flow. These interest rate differentials are widely watched by the professional forex traders to judge where the money will flow between US, UK and EU. Interest rates have been lowered. An exodus of carry traders took place that increased volatility in GBP with the lowering of the interest rates.

The three month eurosterling futures reflect market expectations for on UK interest rates three months into the future and can help predict fluctuations of GBP/USD. Indications on adopting the Euro usually put negative pressure on GBP while further opposition to Euro boosts GBP.

GBP/USD currency pair tends to be more sensitive to the developments in the US economy. GBP/USD currency pair is more liquid than EUR/USD pair. However, EUR/GBP is the leading gauge for GBP strength. EUR/GBP is a more pure fundamental pound trade as EU is the UK primary trading and investment partner. GBP has positive correlation with the energy prices. You must keep these facts in mind while determining your bias for GBP as a currency trader. - 23222

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done Masters from Harvard University. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Try These 1500 Pips A Day Forex Signals From Heaven. Know Forex Rebellion!

Euro Currency Profile (Part III)

By Ahmad Hassam

ECB publishes monthly bulletin detailing analysis of economic conditions. This bulletin can give important signals to changes in the monetary policy. Forex market participants widely watch the comments by the members of the Governing Council of ECB. These comments frequently tend to move the Euro.

All major euro crosses are highly liquid. Now EUR/USD cross is the most liquid currency. The movements of EUR/USD currency pair are used as the primary gauge to judge the health of both European and the United States health. Euro is also known as the anti-dollar since it is the dollar fundamentals that have dictated the movements in the EUR/USD pair from 2003-2008.

EUR/USD and EUR/GBP are great trading currencies as they have tight spreads, make orderly moves and rarely gap. EUR/JPY and EUR/CHF are very liquid pairs too and are used to judge the health of the Japanese and Swiss economies.

Euro was launched in 1999. It is still a new currency. Euro has unique risks. There are number of risks unique to the Euro. The most important is the exposure to the economic, political and social development of 15 member countries.

If a member country drops Euro and reverts back to its original national currency because it believes that ECB actions are not in its best interests, it could affect the stability of the entire region although more countries are expected to join EMU.

ECB has the power to determine monetary policy for its 15 member countries. However, we can say Euro is a currency without a country. With that comes the political pressure of 15 governments. This political pressure frequently tests the actions of ECB.

The present global financial crisis is unlike any in the past. It is deep and may continue for some more years. It started from the sub-prime markets in the US and then spread to the rest of the world. Many big banks became the victims of this financial crisis. However, the rapid response of ECB to the present global financial crisis in the shape of deep liquidity injections has transformed its reputation. The spread between 10 year US Treasuries and 10 year bunds can indicate Euro sentiment.

Another important interest rate that you must know as a forex trader is the Euro Interbank Offer Rate (Euribor). This is the rate offered from one large bank to another on interbank term deposits. Traders and investors tend to compare the Euribor futures rate with the Eurodollars futures rate.

Lower spreads between these two interest rates make the European assets less attractive. Higher spreads between the two rates makes the European fixed income assets more attractive. Merger and Acquisition activities between US and European multinationals have important implications for EUR/USD pair. Large deals have often significant short term impact on EUR/USD if in cash.

Important indicators for Euro are Harmonized Index of Consumer prices (HICP), M3, German Unemployment, Preliminary GDP that includes France, Germany and Netherlands, German Industrial Production, Individual country budget deficit. The largest countries in EMU are Germany, France and Italy. Study of the economic data of these three large countries is also important. - 23222

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done Masters from Harvard University. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Try Strignano's Forex Signals free. Discover a revolutionary Forex Robot Trading System!