Free Forex Power Indicator

In this blog post I want to introduce a new indicator that has recently been created by Casey Stubbs (from Winners Edge Trading). It's called the Forex Power Indicator and it basically tells you the strongest trending pairs at any given time on various different time frames including the daily, 4 hour, 1 hour and 15 minute charts. It will also tell you which particular currencies are trending strongly at the moment, such as the GBP, EUR or USD, for instance.
This information is useful because whatever trading system you use to trade the forex markets, you should always be trading with the overall trend rather than against it.
What I like about this indicator is that you can click on a time frame and get immediate information on which pairs you should consider trading right now. So for example at the time of writing I have just clicked on the daily time frame and the Forex Power Indicator is telling me that the Euro is currently the strongest currency and the Swiss Franc is the weakest. It is also telling me that the best trade to consider right now is to go long on the EUR/CHF pair, based on this information.

How Do Forex Markets Move?

If you want to successfully trade the various forex currencies, you need to have a basic understanding of how forex markets move because they all follow similar patterns.
The best way of demonstrating this is by looking at long-term charts of various currency pairs. Let's take the GBP/USD as an example.
If you look at the 30 year weekly chart and draw an EMA (100) to show the trend, you will notice that apart from a few periods of sideways movement, the pair is nearly always trending upwards or downwards, and often for long periods of time.
For example, between 1981 and 1985 there was a long sustained downward trend where the price went from about 2.4500 to around 1.0400.
Similarly it then rebounded and trended upwards reaching it's peak in 1992, and if we look closer towards the present time we can see that the GBP/USD has been trending upwards since 2002.

So the point I want to make is that the forex markets generally move in trends (short-term and long-term), so by identifying these trends you know you should only be trading with the trend and not fighting against it. Your decision therefore is when to enter, and not which direction you should be trading.

Also, although there are clearly defined trends, prices do not move in a straight line. You will notice that price patterns move in waves and there are always retracements along the way. You ideally want to long pairs at the bottom of a wave and sell at the top, and vice versa, but it's obviously easier said than done.

However, the best way is to use technical analysis for confirmation of a new wave upwards or downwards.

For example if there's a strong uptrend, and you see a sharp sell-off, and then a new move upwards, a good entry point would be when the price starts moving upwards again after the sell-off and technical analysis confirms the uptrend is still intact.

An example of this would be in 2005 when the GBP/USD was heavily sold off going from around 1.9500 to just over 1.7000. We can see that after crossing below the EMA (100), it crossed back above it at just under 1.8000 in 2006 and continued to rise, so this would have been a good entry point (and as it turns out a highly profitable one as well as it's continued upwards ever since).

So to sum up, the simplest way of trading is simply to identify the trend and trade in the direction of this trend because forex markets are nearly always trending upwards or downwards. This way your only decision is when to enter, and you can use technical analysis to determine this.

For more forex tips and strategies, including full details of my main 4 hour trading strategy, simply sign up to my newsletter by filling in the short form above.

New Forex Video - Day Trading The Forex Markets

Today I want to share with you a comprehensive trading video all about forex day trading. In this video you will learn about some of the misconceptions people have about this form of trading, and why it is in actual fact one of the most profitable ways to trade the markets, particularly in the current economic climate.

You will also learn the four key components that every good day trading method should have and you will be introduced to three brand new trading methods that Bill Poulos uses to trade the markets. These methods can be used on any time frame and are ideal for trading a variety of different intraday trading conditions.

Of course this video does act as a teaser for the upcoming product launch of Bill's new trading course, but I would still recommend you watch it because it is very educational and does make some great points about forex day trading.

Tips to Make Money Fast in Forex

This is all about making a fortune with Forex. Most traders just go with the flow and make average gains, with this article you will learn what makes some traders stand out and a lot richer than others!
We are going to assume that you know how to trade, and has quite an experience in trading.
With simple changes in your trade selection, money and risk management, and mindset, you can change that average gains into larger ones!
Fast money is in Forex, it is a lifestyle. here is it how its done.
Tip 1 . Embrace Changeability and Risk With a Smile
Forex systems have instability.
If you cannot manage and calculate your risk, then don't ever think about trading in Forex. Many traders back away from forex because of this ( why do you even traded in the first place?). But taking manageable risks has its rewards.
It's just simple, you know what your losing if ever it doesn't work out, yet what you gain is unpredictable but sure is high! That is what I call excitement, my friend.
To a well-educated Forex trader, this is something you shouldn't be afraid of, might as well embrace it.
Tip 2. Trade Less, gain more
Most traders think that if they don't trade, another door has closed, or miss some move. The tendency, they trade frequently. Most of the trades that come big come a few times in a year. Focus on the trades that make the really big gains. Be alert, and informed.
Tip 3. Diversify is a no-no
Most Investors accept the fact that diversification can make money fast - in reality it does exactly the opposite.
Tip 4. Money and Risk Management
This article has been concentrating on the Big gains, because this is your money, so every penny should be controlled, this is where money management kicks in.
Control your risks, but increase your chances of success:
- Give yourself staying power by buying options at or in the money, this prevents you from getting stopped out. Many traders lose not by the market direction, but because they were stopped out by a instable move, and options will give you staying power.
- Keep your stop in its original position - until the move is well in profit, before moving it up.
- Trading fast and selectively - have the courage to trade when you feel it is good. and enjoy the cash.
Tip 5. Compound growth has its benefits
The way to make money fast in forex, is to understand the power of compound growth. For example, if you target 50% a year in your trading, you can grow an initial $20,000 account, to over a million dollars, in under 10 years.
Break the norm, and gain more. Follow some of these tips and make your way into the big gains!

Making Forex Day Trading Successful

If you're serious about Forex day trading, where open positions are usually only held for one day, then you'll need to set aside a chunk of time each day to make it happen. Many day traders might try to balance their regular full-time job with Forex trading, but it can be difficult to juggle both endeavors. However, it can be done if you plan it right and make the necessary time commitment and thoroughly try to keep abreast of the latest Forex trading news and offerings.
Scheduling your time
Just like anything else that you're serious with, you'll need to keep set hours for day trading. If you work a 9 am - 5 pm job, you can easily day trade from 7 pm - 10 pm since the Forex market is open 24 hours a day, six days a week. You can even day trade on Sunday, when you don't have to worry about your other job. That extra day can really give you the opportunity to study the latest Forex market trends.
Online resources
Online Forex trading offers some of the sleekest and most impressive total package offerings. Many sites provide the latest Forex news in daily online journals where you can keep current with the latest happenings. You can read about such news items as projected interest rate cuts in Europe or the weakening of a certain country's currency due to the political climate. Not only are daily news articles available, but also fundamental and technical news alerts. These alerts can be sent to you around the clock, up to five or six times per day, so you get the latest information before you make that trade. Online Forex trading systems can send these all-important alerts via your email or even mobile phone, so that you have this information at your fingertips wherever you're located. You don't have to wait until you come home to open your account to see the latest happenings. It gives you a real heads-up on the market so you'll be able to make that day trade decision even that much quicker.
Another invaluable resource to make your day trading that much more successful are the online Forex seminars. It can help you brush up on your overall Forex knowledge and give you invaluable trading strategies for your Forex investments.

Forex Profits

Forex, FX and the Forex market are some common abbreviations for the Foreign Exchange market. Actually it is the largest financial market in the world, where money is sold and bought freely. In its present condition the Forex market was launched in the seventies, when free exchange rates were introduced, and only the participants of the market determine the price of one currency against the other proceeding from demand and supply. As far as the freedom from any external control and free competition are concerned, the Forex market is a perfect market.
With a daily turnover of over trillions of dollars, the Foreign Exchange market conducts more than three times the aggregate amount volume of the United States Equity and Treasury markets combined. The Forex market is an over-the-counter market where buyers and sellers conduct foreign exchange business using different means of communication.
Unlike other financial markets, the Forex market has no physical location or central exchange. Since the Forex market lacks a physical exchange, the market trades continuously on a 24-hour basis, moving from one time zone to the next, across each of the world's major financial centers every day. Trillions of dollars of foreign exchange activity takes place every day. From 1997 to the end of 2000, daily forex trading volume surged approximately from US$5 billion to US$1.5 trillion and more (according to various recent studies it has touched $1.7 trillion per day and dwarfs all other markets for trading in size and volume). It is really difficult, if not impossible; to determine an absolutely exact number because trading is not centralized on an exchange. But one thing is for sure that the Forex market continues to grow at a phenomenal rate.
Before the advent of Internet and ecommerce, only big corporations, multinational banks and wealthy individuals could trade currencies in the Forex market through the use of the proprietary trading systems of banks. These systems required as much as US$1 million to open an account. Thanks to advancements in online technology, today investors with only a few thousand dollars can have access to the Forex market 24 hours a day and around 5 ? days of a week.
The Forex market is a nonstop cash market where currencies of nations are traded, typically via brokers called forex brokers. Foreign currencies are constantly and simultaneously bought and sold across local and global markets while traders increase or decrease value of an investment upon currency movements. Foreign exchange market conditions can change at any time in response to real-time events so it is also considered to be a highly volatile and fragile market too. Conditions of the Forex market never remain the same they changes every second.
The foreign exchange market dwarfs the combined operations of the New York, London, and Tokyo futures and stock exchanges. According to its size and scope it is many times larger than all other markets. Stats shows that spot transactions and forward outright Forex trading take place in the inter-bank market. 51% of the market is in spot Forex transactions, followed by 32% in currency swap transactions. Forward outright Forex transactions represent another 5% of this daily turnover, with options on 'interbank' Forex transactions making up another 8%. Therefore the inter-bank market accounts for 96% of the global foreign exchange market, with the remaining 4% being divided among all the global futures exchanges.
For traders, Forex trading provides an alternative to stock market trading. While there are thousands of stocks to choose from, there are only a few major currencies to trade (the Dollar, Yen, British Pound, Swiss Franc, and the Euro are the most popular). Forex trading also provides a lot more leverage than stock trading, and the minimum investment to get started is a lot lower. Add to that the ability to choose flexible trading hours (forex trading goes on 24 hours a day) and you have the reason why so many stock traders have flocked to day trade currencies.

Your FOREX trading potential can be predicted by looking at your daily emotional behavior

As hundreds and thousands of articles have been written on the subject of trading the markets, and with the emergence of new financial instruments every day, I feel compelled to put together a dissertation on the most important element of trading, the emotional effect.
Before detailing the key elements, I will offer to you the thoughts of two prominent individuals. They do not need any introduction, as their work is known and appreciated all over the world. I am sure you will love their insight into the human psyche.
"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic but creatures of emotion". Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)
"Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it". Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
In a world apparently dominated by logic, it is very interesting to find such "heretic" ideas. There is nothing more debilitating than the thought of us acting not on our heavily trained conscious, but rather on the unknown subconscious impulses.
I would like to add just one more fact to my presentation, in order for you to fully grasp the importance of this new approach to trading and in general to any business activity.
The Institute for Health and Human Potential, with offices in U.S.A., Canada and Australia is a research and learning organization that uses Emotional Intelligence to leverage performance and leadership. Fortune 500 companies, the world's top business schools, professional athletes and Olympic medallists seek their expertise.
According to their studies, "Research tracking over 160 high performing individuals in a variety of industries and job levels revealed that emotional quotient was two times more important in contributing to excellence than intellect and expertise alone"
Shocking? Not at all. It is our way to act on impulse, without questioning the triggers. .
It is well known already that the two emotions dominating trading are GREED and FEAR. What is less grasped is the extent to which these emotions influence our decisions.
While amateur traders are greedy when they lose and fearful when they win, professional operators have an exactly opposite attitude, being fearful when losing and greedy when winning.
While simple psychological training could help you discipline your impulse reactions, it is the experience you get "in the ring" that makes you understand how to play with these primal emotions.
We all hate to lose, not necessarily money. The sentiment is very powerful. ALL professional operators are well versed in dealing with it day in and day out. Although they have been through tense moments due to financial losses, they have learned the most important rule in trading the markets: losses are the COST OF DOING BUSINESS. They have a high emotional management procedure and are trained to implement it no matter how hard their "ego" may suffer.
This is easier said than done, as emotions kick in and all theory crash and burn together with any trading plan.
Here you have some easy steps to help you start taming your emotional horses.
— What you see is NOT what you get, as opposed to what you have been taught all your life. The way you act is just a consequence of years and years of education and interaction with others and not your genuine attitude. You are the product of an outside education, not necessarily positive.
— In the long run, your Forex business is just PART of your whole life, together with your family, friends, hobbies, long-term projects and various other activities. I personally use a very powerful "mantra" when in pain following a loss. LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY!
— Never lose sight of the general picture. That is your primary goal. For a professional Forex operator, the primary goal is the PROTECTION of his or her trading capital. Keep a trading journal and learn from your mistakes.
— If you want to get a pretty accurate picture of your trading prospects, take a look at your daily emotional decisions. Most of the time, you will repeat all emotional behavior in your professional life.
If you take your time to sit back and observe your daily routines, the picture will emerge with greater clarity, helping you foresee hurdles along your trading career. Do you have a swinging mood? Do you change your mind very often? Are you capable of keeping a commitment? Do you lose your temper easily? Are you on the "half-full glass" or "half-empty glass" side of life?
These traits will not change just because you start trading. That is why you have to be very careful with your expectations. Base them both on your assets as well as liabilities, in order to obtain an accurate picture.
That is just the beginning, but a very resourceful one on a journey few of us have started yet.
I have seen traders taking NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) lessons, practicing the Tai-Chi art or simply meditating. They try to get in touch with unseen forces at work deep inside, vectors of influence that rule our inner world.
The way to succeed in life has infinite variations but one common start, superbly crystallized in the following aphorism, inscribed in golden letters at the entrance to the Temple Of Apollo at Delphi and attributed to Socrates, among several other ancient Greek philosophers: NOSCE TE IPSUM,(Know yourself).
The magic of success is within our grasp. We just need to find the wand!