Hi all!
Today I want to talk about scalping.
What is scalping?
Scalping is the style of buying or selling currency pairs over a short period of time in an attempt to make a series of quick profits. A forex scalper aims to make a large number of trades using the small price movements that are common throughout the day.
Understanding Forex scalping
Forex scalpers usually use leverage, which allows them to open larger positions, so that a small price change equals a solid profit.
Forex scalping risks
Like all trading styles, Forex scalping comes with risks. Even if you risk a small amount on a trade, taking many trades can mean a significant drawdown if many of those trades end up losing money.
This is a viable system, but sometimes a trader cannot exit due to a five pip loss. The market can drop through the stop loss point and they end up with a loss of 20 pips. Thus, they lose four times more than they expected. Some of these slippage scenarios can quickly deplete an account.
Special Considerations
Forex scalpers require a trading account with tight spreads, low commissions and the ability to place orders at any price.
If the spread or commissions are too high, or the price at which a trader can trade is too limited, the chances of a forex scalper being successful are greatly reduced.
Who is scalping for?
Scalping may not be suitable for all traders. The profitability of each position opened by the scalper is usually small, and the profit is achieved by adding up the profit from each closed small position. The scalper must be able to wait until his labor brings profit. To become a successful Forex scalper, you need endurance, attentiveness and discipline.
Scalping requires a lot more time and attention from the trader compared to other trading styles such as swing trading or trend following. A typical scalper opens and closes dozens of positions during a typical trading day. For some, this may be an overwhelming task, creating too much psychological stress.
Advantages and disadvantages of scalping
The main advantages of scalping
The potential profitability of the strategy, both within one trading day and in the long term.
There is no need to wait for the next trend to form in the market. You can scalp in any situation: with the trend, against the trend, in the sideways (Flat).
More simplified market analysis. With the help of technical analysis and indicators, a short-term trend is assessed, fundamental factors are taken into account selectively.
Suitable for trading on small deposits. Thanks to leverage, even on a small account, you can open significant positions and make a profit.
The disadvantages of scalping are
Difficulty in choosing the right broker. Scalping requires favorable trading conditions – minimum spreads and commissions, no critical slippage. Not every broker will be able to provide such conditions.
Increased risk associated with the use of high leverage. When using leverage, even a small movement of the market against a trader can bring serious losses, so in order not to drain the deposit, it is necessary to apply risk control rules.
Large expenditures of time and constant psycho-emotional stress during the trading day. The scalper makes a large number of transactions and this requires constant monitoring of the market. Such active trading consumes a lot of energy and is fraught with possible "burnout" of the trader.
Limitation on the number of used trading instruments. Not all trading tools are suitable for scalping. To reduce costs with a large number of transactions, assets with minimal spreads are selected.
conclusions
Scalping is perhaps the most difficult type of trading that requires maximum concentration and self-control.
This is because it is difficult to predict the future movement of the market, especially the Forex market.
It is worth spending a lot of time to gain enough experience and trade steadily in the plus.
Learn, try and you will succeed!
Good luck!
Traders, if you liked this idea or if you have your own opinion about it, write in the comments. I will be glad 👩