Why Every Trader Needs a Mentor: Learn from the Experts
Trading can be a lucrative career, but it's not easy to navigate the markets on your own. This is where a mentor comes in - an experienced trader who can guide you through the ups and downs of the stock market, teach you strategies and provide valuable insights that will help you succeed in trading. In this article, we will explore the benefits of having a mentor in trading and provide examples of how a mentor can help you achieve your financial goals.
1. Gain a wealth of knowledge:
2. Get personalized guidance and support:
3. Build confidence:
4. Network and gain exposure:
In conclusion, having a mentor in trading is a valuable asset for any trader who wants to succeed in the markets. Whether you are a new trader or an experienced professional, working with a mentor can provide you with personalized guidance, expert knowledge, network building opportunities and help you build your confidence. So don't hesitate to seek out a mentor to take your trading career to the next level.
Hey traders, let me know what subject do you want to dive in in the next post?
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Mastering CFD Trading: A Comprehensive Beginner's GuideContracts for Difference (CFDs) have garnered significant attention as derivative products that offer traders the ability to speculate on the price movements of various assets without the need to own them physically. These financial instruments emerged in the latter part of the 20th century, propelled by the advent of the internet revolution, which revolutionized trading by facilitating swift and convenient short-term transactions.
CFDs have since become an integral part of the repertoire offered by prominent brokers, providing traders with enhanced leverage and access to an extensive range of markets that encompass stocks, indices, currencies, and commodities. This broad market coverage has contributed to the popularity and widespread adoption of CFDs among traders seeking diverse investment opportunities.
The historical roots of CFDs can be traced back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was during this period that derivative trading witnessed significant advancements, driven by technological progress and regulatory changes. The introduction of electronic trading platforms and the availability of real-time market data allowed traders to execute trades swiftly and efficiently, leading to the development of CFDs as a viable financial instrument.
The operational mechanics of CFDs are relatively straightforward. When trading a CFD, the trader enters into a contract with a broker, mirroring the price movements of the underlying asset. This contract stipulates that the trader will pay or receive the difference in price between the opening and closing positions of the CFD. If the price of the underlying asset moves in the trader's favor, they stand to make a profit. Conversely, if the price moves against their position, they may incur a loss.
One of the key advantages of trading CFDs is the ability to utilize leverage. Leverage allows traders to control a larger position in the market with a smaller initial investment. This amplifies potential gains, but it is important to note that it also magnifies potential losses. Traders should exercise caution and employ risk management strategies when using leverage in CFD trading.
Furthermore, CFDs offer traders the flexibility to profit from both rising and falling markets. Through a process known as short-selling, traders can speculate on price declines and potentially profit from downward market movements. This ability to take both long and short positions provides traders with opportunities to capitalize on market trends and volatility.
However, it is crucial to acknowledge that CFD trading carries inherent risks. Due to the leverage involved, losses can exceed the initial investment, potentially resulting in significant financial losses. Moreover, CFD trading is subject to market volatility, and sudden price movements can lead to rapid and substantial losses.
Throughout this comprehensive article , we shall delve into the historical backdrop of CFDs, elucidate their operational mechanics, and present an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages associated with trading these financial instruments.
History Of CFD:
Towards the conclusion of the 20th century, the landscape of exchange trading underwent a profound transformation, thanks to the advent of the Internet. This revolutionary technology empowered traders to engage in rapid short-term trades with unparalleled ease. Consequently, intraday trading emerged as a prominent trend, and astute brokers swiftly recognized the burgeoning demand for this segment among individual traders.
However, a significant predicament persisted within the trading realm - exchanges were highly specialized and compartmentalized. Currency exchanges, stock exchanges, and futures exchanges operated as distinct entities, precluding traders from capitalizing on opportunities across multiple asset classes. For instance, a trader operating with a currency broker lacked the means to profit from futures or stocks.
While opening multiple accounts with different companies was a possible solution, it was far from optimal. Furthermore, another obstacle loomed large: high leverage was imperative for generating profits through short-term transactions, yet traditional stock exchanges were averse to the risks associated with margin trading.
In response to these challenges, visionaries at UBS Investment Bank conceptualized a new trading instrument known as the contract for difference (CFD). This innovative derivative allowed traders to profit from the price fluctuations of various assets without the need to physically own them or conduct transactions on the underlying exchanges. Traders could now conveniently engage in trading shares, oil, and other commodities using a single broker. Additionally, CFDs provided the desired leverage for short-term trading, overcoming the limitations imposed by traditional stock exchanges.
Over time, CFDs became widely available, offered by popular brokers operating in diverse markets, including the forex market. Presently, this versatile financial instrument is successfully utilized by both short-term traders and long-term investors, catering to a broad spectrum of trading styles and planning horizons. The flexibility and accessibility of CFDs have made them an indispensable tool in the arsenal of market participants seeking to capitalize on price movements and maximize their trading potential.
CFD Leverage Explained:
One of the notable features of CFD trading is the availability of margin trading, which enables traders to borrow funds from their brokers. This concept is closely tied to the notion of leverage, which has a significant impact on the trading process. Leverage allows traders to control larger positions in the market with a smaller amount of their own capital.
To illustrate the concept, let's consider an example. Suppose a trader utilizes a 1:50 leverage. This means that with just $1,000 of their own funds, they can open a position equivalent to $50,000. In this scenario, the borrowed funds provided by the broker amplify the trader's purchasing power, enabling them to access larger market positions.
The level of leverage available in CFD trading varies depending on the underlying asset being traded. For instance, when trading shares, the leverage typically ranges up to 1:20. On the other hand, for commodities like oil, leverage can often reach as high as 1:100.
It is important to note that when comparing leverage in CFD trading to leverage in forex currency pairs, the ratios may appear different. A 1:20 leverage in CFDs might seem relatively lower when contrasted with the leverage commonly available in forex trading. However, it is crucial to consider these ratios within the context of their respective markets.
In traditional stock markets, equity leverage is typically limited and rarely exceeds 1:2. This means that traders in those markets have less flexibility in terms of controlling larger positions with a smaller amount of capital. In contrast, CFDs provide traders with significantly higher leverage, allowing them to amplify their potential gains and losses.
It is important to approach leverage in CFD trading with caution and exercise risk management strategies. While leverage can magnify profits, it also amplifies potential losses. Traders should be mindful of the increased risk associated with higher leverage levels and consider their risk tolerance and trading strategies accordingly.
Comparing leverage ratios across different markets provides insights into the varying degrees of flexibility and risk exposure available to traders. Understanding and utilizing leverage effectively is an essential aspect of CFD trading, enabling traders to optimize their trading strategies and potentially enhance their profitability, while remaining cognizant of the associated risks.
How CFDs Work:
Let's break down the scenario provided to understand the implications of trading CFDs compared to traditional stock ownership.
Assuming the Ask price per share is $171.23, a trader purchasing 100 shares would need to consider additional costs such as commissions and fees. In a traditional brokerage account with a 50% credit on margin, this transaction would require a minimum of $1,263 in available funds.
However, with CFD brokers, the margin requirements are typically much lower. In the past, a 5% margin was common, which would amount to $126.30 for this trade.
When opening a CFD position, the trader will immediately experience a loss equal to the size of the spread at the time of the trade. For example, if the spread is 5 cents, the stock price must rise by 5 cents for the position to reach the breakeven level.
If the trader owned the stock directly, they would make a 5 cents profit. However, it's important to consider that owning the stock directly would entail paying a commission, resulting in higher overall costs.
Now, let's consider the scenario where the offer price of the stock reaches $25.76. In a traditional brokerage account, positions could be closed at a profit of $50, resulting in a 3.95% return on the initial investment of $1,263.
However, in the case of CFDs, when the price reaches the same level on the national exchange, the bid price on the CFD may be slightly lower, let's say $25.74. Consequently, the profit from trading CFDs would be lower since the trader must exit the trade at the bid price. Additionally, the spread in CFD trading is typically wider compared to regular markets.
In this example, the CFD trader would earn approximately $48, resulting in a 38% return on the initial investment of $126.30.
It's worth noting that these figures are specific to the example provided and may vary depending on various factors, including the specific brokerage, market conditions, and the pricing dynamics of the underlying asset.
Why Trade CFDs / Pros And Cons Of Trading CFDs
Indeed, one of the significant advantages of trading CFDs is the expanded range of tradable instruments compared to the classical forex market. While the forex market primarily deals with currencies, CFDs provide traders with the opportunity to trade a wide array of assets. Most brokers now offer CFDs on various instruments such as gold, stocks, and stock indices, greatly diversifying the available trading opportunities.
However, it is important to note that CFDs are not a direct replacement for the underlying assets. Although the price of a CFD contract reflects the price movements of the underlying instrument, there may be differences in the actual returns. These differences can be attributed to factors such as spreads, commissions, and other costs associated with CFD trading.
Speaking of commissions, it is crucial to consider that CFD commissions may differ from those applied to the underlying asset. This distinction becomes particularly relevant in longer-term trading scenarios. Traders need to carefully evaluate the commission structure and any associated fees when assessing the overall costs of trading CFDs.
Now let's delve into the main advantages and disadvantages of trading CFDs:
Pros of CFD Trading:
1 ) Expanded Market Access: CFDs provide access to a wide range of markets, including stocks, commodities, indices, and more, allowing traders to diversify their portfolios and capitalize on various asset classes.
2 ) Leverage and Margin Trading: CFDs offer the potential for higher leverage, allowing traders to control larger positions with a smaller initial investment. This amplifies potential profits (as well as losses) and can enhance trading opportunities.
3 ) Ability to Profit from Both Rising and Falling Markets: CFDs enable traders to take advantage of both upward and downward price movements. Through short-selling, traders can speculate on price declines and potentially profit from falling markets.
Cons of CFD Trading:
1 ) Counterparty Risk: When trading CFDs, traders are exposed to counterparty risk, as they enter into contracts with the broker rather than owning the underlying assets. If the broker encounters financial difficulties or fails, it can impact the trader's positions and funds.
2 ) Potential for Higher Costs: CFD trading may involve additional costs such as spreads, commissions, and overnight financing charges. These costs can impact overall profitability, especially for longer-term trades.
3 ) Market Volatility and Risk: CFDs are subject to market volatility, and sudden price movements can result in rapid and substantial losses. The use of leverage in CFD trading can amplify both gains and losses, making risk management crucial.
It is essential for traders to consider these pros and cons when deciding to engage in CFD trading. Adequate risk management strategies and a thorough understanding of the underlying markets and associated costs are essential for successful and informed trading decisions.
Risks Of Trading CFDs:
Trading CFDs (Contracts for Difference) involves inherent risks that traders should be aware of before engaging in such activities. Understanding these risks is essential for making informed decisions and implementing appropriate risk management strategies. Here are some of the key risks associated with CFD trading:
Leverage Risk: CFDs allow traders to access larger market positions with a smaller initial investment. While leverage can amplify potential profits, it also magnifies losses. Traders need to be cautious and manage leverage effectively to avoid significant financial setbacks.
Market Risk: CFDs are directly linked to the price movements of underlying assets, which can be influenced by various factors, including economic indicators, news events, and market sentiment. Rapid price fluctuations can lead to substantial losses, especially if positions are not managed appropriately.
Counterparty Risk: When trading CFDs, traders enter into a contractual agreement with the CFD provider. This exposes them to counterparty risk, which refers to the possibility of the provider failing to fulfill its obligations. It is crucial to choose a reputable and regulated CFD provider to minimize this risk.
Operational Risk: CFD trading platforms can experience technical issues, such as system outages or errors, which may prevent traders from executing trades or managing positions effectively. Traders should be prepared for such operational risks and have contingency plans in place.
Liquidity Risk: In certain cases, CFD markets may lack sufficient liquidity, meaning there is a limited number of buyers and sellers. This can make it challenging to enter or exit positions at desired prices, particularly during volatile market conditions. Traders should be cautious when trading illiquid CFD markets.
Hidden Costs: Some CFD brokers may impose additional fees and charges, such as overnight financing fees or spread mark-ups. These hidden costs can reduce profitability over time, and traders should carefully review the fee structure of their chosen CFD provider.
To mitigate these risks, traders are advised to implement risk management techniques, including setting stop-loss orders to limit potential losses, conducting thorough market analysis, and continuously monitoring positions. It is also crucial to conduct due diligence when selecting a CFD provider, ensuring they are regulated and offer transparent pricing structures and reliable customer support.
By understanding and effectively managing these risks, traders can enhance their chances of success and navigate the complexities of CFD trading more confidently.
Choosing A Broker For CFD Trading:
When selecting a broker for CFD trading, certain parameters take precedence. These include:
1 ) Reliability and Reputation: When it comes to CFD trading, the importance of a broker's reliability and reputation cannot be overstated. Given the instrument's relative lack of popularity, there may be instances of limited liquidity, which increases the temptation for unethical practices such as manipulating charts or altering quotes. It is crucial to choose a broker known for their trustworthiness and positive reputation.
2 ) Variety of CFDs for Trading: It is advisable to thoroughly examine the broker's website and review the comprehensive list of available contracts. Ensure that the list includes the specific CFDs you intend to trade. Having access to a wide range of CFD options allows you to diversify your portfolio and pursue various trading opportunities.
3 ) Contract Specifications: Identify the CFDs in the broker's list that you plan to trade frequently. Pay attention to the contract specifications, including spreads, commissions, and swaps, as they should align with your trading style and objectives. If you require high leverage, verify the leverage availability for each CFD category.
By carefully considering these parameters, you can make an informed decision when choosing a broker for CFD trading. This will contribute to a more satisfactory trading experience and help you align your trading strategy with your goals.
Conclusion:
Contracts for Difference (CFDs) provide traders with a gateway to a diverse range of popular exchange-traded assets. Through a single CFD broker, traders can engage in trading activities involving stocks, indices, and even cryptocurrencies.
The key to achieving success in CFD trading lies in the trader's level of proficiency in understanding the intricacies of specific instruments. The most favorable outcomes are typically attained by individuals who concentrate their efforts on a particular asset class or even a specific instrument within that class. By acquiring comprehensive knowledge and a deep understanding of the various factors that influence prices, traders can surpass market performance and reap the rewards they rightfully deserve. This focused approach enhances their ability to make informed decisions, seize profitable opportunities, and maximize their potential gains in the CFD market.
Learn The Market Volatility | The Double-Edged Sword
Have you ever wondered why the certain trading instruments are very rapid while some our extremely slow and boring?
In this educational article, we will discuss the market volatility, how is it measured and how can it be applied for making smart trading and investing decisions.
📚 First, let's start with the definition. Market volatility is a degree of a fluctuation of the price of a financial instrument over a certain period of time.
High volatility reflects quick and significant rises and falls on the market, while low volatility implies that the price moves slowly and steadily.
High volatility makes it harder for the traders and investors to predict the future direction of the market, but also may bring substantial gains.
On the other hand, a low volatility market is much easier to predict, but the potential returns are more modest.
The chart on the left is the perfect example of a volatile market.
While the chart on the right is a low volatility market.
📰 The main causes of volatility are economic and geopolitical events.
Political and economic instability, wars and natural disasters can affect the behavior of the market participants, causing the chaotic, irrational market movements.
On the other hand, the absence of the news and the relative stability are the main sources of a low volatility.
Here is the example, how the Covid pandemic affected GBPUSD pair.
The market was falling in a very rapid face in untypical manner, being driven by the panic and fear.
But how the newbie trader can measure the volatility of the market?
The main stream way is to apply ATR indicator, but, working with hundreds of struggling traders from different parts of the globe, I realized that for them such a method is complicated.
📏 The simplest way to assess the volatility of the market is to analyze the price action and candlesticks.
The main element of the volatile market is occasional appearance of large candlestick bars - the ones that have at least 4 times bigger range than the average candles.
Sudden price moves up and down are one more indicator of high volatility. They signify important shifts in the supply and demand of a particular asset.
Take a look at a price action and candlesticks on Bitcoin.
The market moves in zigzags, forming high momentum bullish and bearish candles. These are the indicators of high volatility.
🛑 For traders who just started their trading journey, high volatility is the red flag.
Acting rapidly, such instruments require constant monitoring and attention. Moreover, such markets require a high level of experience in stop loss placement because one single high momentum candle can easily hit the stop loss and then return to entry level.
Alternatively, trading a low volatility market can be extremely boring because most of the time it barely moves.
The best solution is to look for the market where the volatility is average, where the market moves but on a reasonable scale.
Volatility assessment plays a critical role in your success in trading. Know in advance, the degree of a volatility that you can tolerate and the one that you should avoid.
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5 STUPID Trading Advice SayingsIt’s true.
When it comes to financial trading, everyone has an opinion, and there is no shortage of advice floating around.
However, some advice is just plain ridiculous and some tips can be downright detrimental to your trading success.
I want to cover the 5 stupid trading advice points, that many traders still follow and why you should avoid them by all means.
#1: Go Big or Go Home
This advice suggests that you should take significant risks in trading.
You should aim for massive gains.
And you should adopt the casino mentality of going full port!
It is true that higher risks can lead to higher rewards.
But when you adopt a “go big or go home” mentality, it can result in substantial losses that are difficult to recover from.
Instead, follow a disciplined approach to risk management, using appropriate position sizing and stop-loss orders to protect your capital.
Risk little to make a little more. Risk 2% to make 4%. Or risk 1% to make 3%. Those small gains will eventually outweigh the losses.
#2: The Next Trade Will Be Better
If you believe that the next trade will magically be more successful than the previous one, you’re in for a bad time.
This is nothing but a dangerous mindset to adapt to.
This belief can lead to overtrading and a lack of discipline when you stick to your trading strategy.
To avoid falling into this trap, focus on maintaining a consistent and well-defined trading plan, rather than trying to chase the elusive “better” trades.
#3: Follow Your Heart
Emotions are proven to be the trader’s worst enemy.
They will often cloud judgment and lead to impulsive decisions.
“Follow your heart” in trading and you’ll find you’ll ignore your strategy and you’ll take irrational risks.
Instead, rely on your trading plan, technical analysis, and fundamental research to make informed decisions, and always keep your emotions in check.
#4: Everything Happens for a Reason
When you depend on fate, the stars and the mysterious cosmic plan, it is a surefire way to lose money in trading.
The stock market doesn’t work on esoterical means. It works on simple demand, supply and volume.
The financial markets are also influenced by countless factors, from economic data releases to geopolitical events, and it’s essential to understand these factors to make well-informed trading decisions.
Don’t rely on fate or superstition when trading.
Instead, focus on analysis, strategy, and risk management.
#5: Work Harder and You’ll Win More
While hard work and dedication are essential for success in any field.
The belief that you need to work harder in a trading day, will guarantee more wins in trading is misguided.
If the environment is not conducive. Or trades have not aligned according to your strategy, it’s pointless taking more trades for gain.
Think of sideways markets.
Whether you buy (go long) or short (go short), you’re more likely to fail.
Trading is not just about putting in the hours; it’s about working smart, refining your strategy, and maintaining discipline.
Instead of trading harder, focus and develop a comprehensive trading plan, continually educate yourself on market dynamics, and consistently reviewing and refining your strategy.
And of course. JUST TAKE THE TRADE – When it lines up according to your strategy.
Can you think of anymore?
Learn THE BEST Breakout Trading Strategy
Hey traders,
Breakout trading is one of the most popular trading strategies.
Being quite simple in theory, it remains quite complex and complicated in practice.
In this post, we will discuss 7 steps every breakout trader must follow.
💬And just in brief about a breakout trading itself:
this method aims to spot a key level (it might be horizontal support/resistance or a trend line) and then to trade its occasional breakout, assuming that it will trigger an impulsive move.
1️⃣No surprise, the first task of a breakout trader is the identification of key levels. Preferably, these levels should be spotted on weekly/daily time frames.
Here on US100, I executed structure analysis and identified key levels.
2️⃣Once key levels are spotted, a breakout trader should patiently wait for the test of one of those. His goal is to wait for a breakout.
In that step, many traders fail. The problem is that in order to confirm the breakout, one should have strict & reliable rules to follow. The rules that describe a confirmed breakout.
*I apply the following rule: the breakout of a level will be considered to be confirmed once the candle closes above/below the structure on the highest time frame where the structure is recognizable.
In the picture above, we see a confirmed key level breakout.
3️⃣Once the breakout is confirmed, the next step is to wait for a retest of a broken level. Why retest? Simply because a retest gives a better risk to reward ratio for the trade. And even though there is no guarantee that the price will retest the broken level and because of that some trading opportunities will be missed, in the long run, retest trading produces higher gains.
Following our example, the price has retested the broken level.
4️⃣Opening a trade on a retest, one should know the exact target levels. The levels where the profits will be taken. Again, newbies traders make a lot of mistakes on that step. Remember that your targets must be realistic, they must be based on closest strong structure levels, not on your desired returns.
5️⃣Also, a breakout trader should set a stop loss. And again, a stop-loss level must be safe, it must be set at least below/above a previous minor structure to protect you from stop-hunting.
Stop-loss reflects the point where the trader becomes wrong in his predictions and where the trading setup becomes invalid.
In our example, the safest stop loss will be below a local low. Take profit - next key resistance.
6️⃣Once the trading position is opened and stop-loss & take-profit are set, one should patiently wait. There is no guarantee that the price will start falling/growing sharply after the breakout. The market may start coiling for quite a long period of time before it starts acting.
Breakout trader must be patient, not allowing his emotions to intervene.
Returning to our example, after some time, the market easily reached the TP level and went much higher.
7️⃣Lastly, one should remember that his exit points are stop-loss/take-profit levels. Stop-loss adjustment in case of a position drawdown, preliminary profit-taking, and target extension are your worst enemies. Be disciplined, don't be greedy, and keep your emotions in check.
Here is the example of a breakout trade that I took following the strategy:
I spotted a confirmed breakout of a key resistance. The price formed a high momentum bullish candle and closed above the structure.
Long position was opened on a retest.
Target was based on the closest horizontal resistance.
Stop loss was placed below the closest horizontal support.
The market quickly reached the target.
Of course, this 7-steps trading plan is not sufficient enough for profitable breakout trading. There are so many nuances on each step of the plan to consider.
However, let this plan be your initial guideline: learn & follow that and with time, keep elaborating its rules until you become a consistently profitable trader.
Are you a breakout trader?
Let me know, traders, what do you want to learn in the next educational post?
5 QUESTIONS Before you Take your TradeWith each trade you take…
There are these 5 standard questions you’ll need to ask an answer.
Jot these down and have them ready…
Do I Have a Trade Lined Up?
When you go through your watchlist.
You need to see any opportunities in the market that align with your trading strategy.
These should stick out like a sore thumb.
If it’s not, then it’s probably not a high probability trade.
It’s important to analyze the market trends and indicators to identify potential trades.
This will help you to make informed decisions and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Do I Have a Trading Strategy?
Once you have identified a potential trade, it’s important to have a solid trading strategy in place.
Your strategy should outline the rules for entering and exiting trades, as well as risk management guidelines.
Follow your strategy and avoid making impulsive decisions based on emotions or market rumors.
Where Should I Place My Trading Levels?
You got the strategy so now you have to set up your trading levels.
(Entry, Stop loss, Ghost level, Take profit levels)
Are you using Order Blocks, key support and resistance levels, patterns, indicators or trend lines?
Whatever you use, keep consistent to determine where to place your trading levels.
This will help you to choose your trading levels based on the R:R for each trade.
How Much Am I Trading?
Trade size is crucial.
You need your calculator to work out your risk per trade.
This will help you to manage your risk effectively and avoid making emotional decisions.
Your risk management plan should outline the maximum amount you are willing to lose on any given trade, as well as the maximum percentage of your trading account you are willing to risk.
What Is My Exit Strategy?
exit strategy should outline the conditions under which you will exit a trade.
So you’ll know where to cut your small losses, ride your winners, lock in profits, or even adjust your take profit levels when the markets move well in your favour.
Also, make sure you stick to your exit strategy and avoid making emotional decisions based on market fluctuations.
THEN YOU’RE READY TO EXECUTE!
Once you have gone through the five questions…
It’s time to ask yourself whether you are truly ready to take the trade.
Focus your mind, clear the distractions, confirm everything is ready to go…
That takes emotional discipline.
You got the questions, now go start asking and answering them with your trading…
Emotions It is impossible to have a prejudice every day.
However, it is possible to designate rules, models and criteria in order to exclude decision-making on an emotional basis.
Notice, research and record everything that happens before, after and during each of your trades. Pay attention to the time period when errors occur and analyze all the details: triggers, thoughts, emotions, behavior, actions, changes in decision making, changes in the perception of the market, opportunities or current positions, trading failures.
Before opening the next trade, remember your previous experience. This will help you avoid repeating old mistakes. The moments after the completion of transactions provide an excellent opportunity to track exactly how you came to this and what thoughts, emotions manifested in the moment. The recording process itself can also help to defuse the emotional state.
Your first goal is to reach a level of complete detail in your trading strategy. Continue to map out your behavior pattern in as much detail as possible until you identify the initial trigger and analyze it as part of your trading preparation. During a trading session, try to write down new details. After, combine and analyze your notes to better prepare for the next session.
Once you have identified the details associated with your trades, look for the early triggers that come before each one. You may be able to spot smaller errors or notice subtle changes in market perception. For example: you spend too much time on informational noise or make a trade that does not meet all the criteria of your trading plan.
Create a working day schedule taking into account the instrument sessions. Set up a timer so that it fires at regular intervals during your scheduled break and doesn't disrupt your work. During this time, take a few minutes to become aware of your thought process and understand how you feel. If there are signs of a problem, write them down.
Understand the intensity of the emotions. You may think that anger and frustration are two different emotions, but anger is just heightened frustration. Understanding how an emotion intensifies will help you recognize the details of your behavior pattern, including the original trigger.
....
Have you ever faced a situation where, despite having a well-designed trading plan and a carefully crafted trading strategy, your actual trading day turned out to be completely unpredictable? In such instances, your actions deviate from the original plan, and momentary weakness casts doubt on the effectiveness of the entire trading session.
These unexpected emotions can catch you off guard.
One of the reasons for this is a lack of recognition of what is happening. Emotions often arise as immediate reactions or reflexes triggered by certain events, which traders often misinterpret as problems.
Let's consider the example of a loss from a trade. Many traders may become furious and enter positions without following proper trading patterns. However, this doesn't happen to everyone. Instead of expressing anger, some traders easily cope with failures, instinctively understanding the situation and turning it into opportunities. Therefore, a crucial aspect of developing a trading plan is identifying and addressing your own internal struggles, which serve as the underlying cause of the problem.
It's important to note that in many cases, the initial trigger for these emotions is subtle and barely perceptible consciously, yet it already impacts your mental stability and your habitual interaction with the market.
Even if the trading day starts off on the wrong foot, by regaining composure at the right moment and avoiding impulsive reactions, you can prevent basic mistakes and maintain control over your psychological state, ultimately improving your performance. The secondary arousal occurs when a trader becomes aware of or reacts to the impulses, thoughts, and actions that occurred initially. In simple terms, the mind and thoughts amplify the emotions that have already emerged.
In everyday life, people often don't differentiate between these experiences. However, if the source of the reflex is not identified, along with the secondary causes, finding a solution to the situation becomes challenging. Triggers will continue to generate more and more emotions that need to be managed.
Awareness of the initial impulse and the subsequent reaction are the two starting points that enable progress. After all, stressful situations can accumulate and overlap, creating a precedent for a cumulative effect.
Trading is a business, not a game of chance.
This is where it is important to keep a professional mindset while following the trading plan.
Hope you enjoyed the content I created, You can support with your likes and comments this idea so more people can watch!
✅Disclaimer: Please be aware of the risks involved in trading. This idea was made for educational purposes only not for financial Investment Purposes.
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Discover Price Action Secrets for Successful Trading
📍Price action trading refers to the analysis of raw price movements in order to understand and predict future market trends and price movements. By focusing on price movements, traders gain a deeper understanding of market fluctuations and can make more informed trading decisions.
The strategy can be applied to trading gold and forex, two of the most popular trading instruments. In a market as dynamic as gold and forex, understanding price action secrets is crucial for successful trading.
✔️One of the secrets is to interpret price patterns that indicate potential market movements. This involves understanding key market terms such as support and resistance levels, chart patterns, and the role of market psychology.
✔️Another important price action insight for gold and forex traders is the use of price action indicators. These can offer insights into market trends and trading signals. Some of the most popular indicators include moving averages, stochastic oscillators, and the relative strength index (RSI).
✔️Following a strict risk management strategy is another key price action secret. An effective approach is to always set stop-loss orders to limit losses in a trade, and to only trade with funds that can be afforded to lose in the event of a loss.
✔️In addition, an effective trading strategy should also incorporate a sound fundamental analysis. This refers to the interpretation of market news, announcements and events that may impact gold and forex prices.
Overall, price action secrets for gold and forex trading involve a combination of technical analysis, fundamental analysis and a sound risk-management strategy. Successful traders must remain alert to market trends, always adapt to new information, and be disciplined in their trading approach.
By understanding these secrets and implementing them in trading, traders can improve their chances of success in the fast-paced gold and forex markets.
Check the following example:
USDCAD pair was trading on a key level.
Price action, candlestick and indicators analysis could help you to accurately predict a bearish movement from that.
The price formed a double top pattern, was rejected from a key level and BB cloud.
These tiny clues are the main instrument of a pro price action trader.
Example number 2:
This time gold.
Important key level.
Again, watch the price action, candlestick patterns and indicators.
The price formed a doji candle testing the BB cloud and key level,
triple top pattern was formed.
The coming reversal was obvious here.
🔔In conclusion, price action trading offers a powerful approach to gold and forex trading for investors who are seeking consistent returns over time. By paying close attention to price action movements, following strict risk management strategies and staying current on market trends, traders can achieve success in these exciting trading arenas.
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Harsh Truth About Trading: In Books VS In Reality
Most traders start their trading journey by studying theory first, reading books or taking video courses before putting these newfound skills into practice. But once they start trading on a real market, they quickly realize that things are not as straightforward as the books make them out to be.
In this educational article, we will take a critical look at the difference between theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
📍And first of all, do not get me wrong. I am not trying to imply that trading books or courses are bad.
Theoretical knowledge is essential for successful trading, and of course the books are the best source of that.
The problem is, however, that books can be misleading. The examples in books are always tailored. When the authors are looking for the examples of the patterns, of key levels, they are looking for the ideal cases.
📍The problem becomes even worse, when one start studying the trade examples in books. And of course, the authors choose the brilliant winning trades with huge take profits and tiny stop losses.
I guess you saw these pictures of "sniper" entry trades with 5/1 R/R.
The inexperienced trader may start thinking that the markets are perfect and act in total accordance with the books.
That all the trades that he will take will bring tremendous profits.
That the identified patterns will work exactly as it was described.
📍The harsh truth is that books and courses are simply the compositions of different examples, cases and market situations.
In reality, each and every trading setup is unique.
The reaction of the price to the same pattern will be always different.
Please, realize the fact that books are only good for acquiring the knowledge. But in order to survive on financial markets, you need the experience. And the experience will be gained only after studying thousands of real market examples in real time.
📍Here is the example of a double top pattern that we were trading with my students on AUDJPY.
In books, double tops are always perfect. Once the market breaks the neckline, the price retests that and then quickly drops.
So the one can set a tiny stop loss and a big take profit.
However, after a retest of a broken neckline, AUDJPY bounced and the market maker was stop hunting the newbies. Our stop loss was way above the head, and we managed to survive.
Even though the pattern triggered a bearish movement, the reaction of the market was far from perfect.
Be prepared, that the market will much different from what you see in the books.
Good luck to you!
22 trading rulesThe market rewards discipline and requires you to fulfill your specific role. For instance, as a tattoo artist, your responsibility is to provide quality tattoo, while as a trader, your task is to exercise discipline in decision-making. If you remain disciplined, any reasonable strategy can yield profits in the long term. However, even the most flawless strategy will fail to generate income if you lack self-control.
Here are some guidelines to follow:
1.Maintain discipline consistently. Trading demands unwavering discipline at all times. Save extreme emotions, excitement, and other non-work-related feelings for your personal hours. While working, stay focused and determined, adhering to your plan and experience.
2.Always reduce the risk of failed trades. If you experience a series of unprofitable transactions, decrease the volume or percentage of risk from your deposit, rather than increasing it. Some individuals mistakenly believe that if they have had three consecutive losses, the fourth trade is bound to be profitable and will make up for the previous losses. However, the chances of profit or loss in the fourth trade remain the same. Relying on luck is unnecessary.
3.Avoid turning profitable trades into losing ones. Close positions promptly when you recognize the risk of holding them further. If there are signs of market weakness and continuing to hold the position jeopardizes your profit, either take your existing profit or exit with a small loss. In most cases, you will have the opportunity to find another entry point that is equally good or even better.
4.Ensure that your highest loss does not exceed your highest profit. Keep a record of your trades to determine the mathematical ratio of profit to loss and the ratio of profitable to losing trades. If your losses surpass your profits, you need to optimize your system; otherwise, it may become unprofitable in the long run.
5.Develop a trading system and stick to it. Avoid constantly switching from one system to another. If you decide to become a trader, select a specific approach and commit to it. Over time, you will gain a deep understanding of the system and develop your own market perspective.
6.Be true to yourself; don't try to imitate others. If you find that scalping is not suitable for you, consider intraday or swing trading instead. Just because someone excels at intraday trading while you excel at swing trading doesn't mean you should abandon your preferred style. Each individual has their own trading style, and there is a style that matches every personality. Some traders earn substantial profits by only opening ten trades per year, while others achieve the same level of success by opening ten trades per day. Moreover, someone may be comfortable opening a trade with a large lot size, while you prefer a maximum of one lot. This doesn't imply that you are a poor trader; it simply indicates that everyone has their own comfort zone. Discomfort in trading can only be detrimental. Stay true to yourself and find your own style.
7.Remember that there will always be another day to trade, so don't risk too much. Some beginners risk 20-50% or even more of their deposit, only to find themselves with nothing when a profitable entry point arises. Such risks often shatter one's psychology, and it can be difficult to recover. However, if you make a few mistakes with standard and small risks, you will always have the next day to learn from and correct your errors.
8.Earn the privilege to trade in high volumes. Even if you have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in your account, it doesn't mean you should immediately start trading, for example, 10 lots. Begin by trading with the minimum volume allocated for your deposit. Only when you close ten consecutive sessions in profit should you consider increasing the volume.
9.The first conscious loss you encounter is the most valuable. It is during this moment that you understand the significance of stop-loss orders as part of your system. A stop-loss serves as a mechanism to exit a position when the trade is no longer favorable. By recognizing this and reacting appropriately, you are able to protect your account from significant losses. Understand that a stop-loss order is a benefit. See point 15.
10.Avoid relying on hope or prayer. If you catch yourself hoping for a positive outcome in a trade, it likely means that the trade is no longer profitable. Avoid concealing this fact from yourself as a trader. This psychological inclination to hope shields us from emotional distress and difficult decisions. However, as a trader, you must objectively assess the situation. If you realize that you are starting to rely on hope, reevaluate the facts and conduct a thorough analysis of your trade. It may no longer be as favorable as you initially thought.
11.Don't overly concern yourself with news. While trading the news is a separate strategy that may work for some traders, most try to avoid it. If the news is already known in advance, the market will react to it beforehand. However, if the information becomes clear only during the news release, it becomes challenging to trade based on such inputs. News that is widely broadcasted on TV or the internet tends to be outdated information when it comes to the market.
12.Choose a trading style that suits your circumstances. If you have a small account and can only afford short stop-loss levels, you may need to start with scalping or intraday trading. If you possess patience and adequate capital, swing trading could be an option. Long-term trading generally requires significant capital.
13.Embrace your losses. It doesn't mean you have to enjoy losing money. However, during your trading journey, you will inevitably experience losses. If you have a negative mindset towards losses, it will hinder your overall performance. Recognize that by exiting trades promptly and accepting short-term losses, you safeguard your account from larger losses in the long run. Learn to appreciate the importance of managing losses effectively.
14.Avoid setting excessively large stop-loss levels. Doing so will erode your profits from small trades. Consequently, instead of achieving a small profit, you may end up at breakeven or a slight loss, even if your trade initially showed promise.
15.Take consistent actions each day or week. Set a goal to capture a certain number of pips or points daily if you are a scalper or weekly if you trade intraday (the specific numbers provided here are for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as objectively evaluated results). By accumulating small gains over time, you can earn a significant amount by the end of the year.
16.Don't rely on a single trade for salvation. Some traders mistakenly believe that a single trade has the potential to generate substantial profits, recover previous losses, or significantly impact their overall performance. However, trading revolves around a series of transactions. No single trade can dictate your success. Instead, your behavior across ten or twenty trades holds tremendous importance in surviving and thriving in the market.
17.Consistency breeds confidence and control. Starting each morning with the knowledge that following your rules will result in profitable trades instills a sense of assurance. Similar to other traders, begin your day by reviewing the charts you trade and gathering the necessary information—perform top-down analysis, assess points of interest, liquidity, order flow, and more. Maintain this ritual consistently, as repeated actions are essential for earning profits in trading.
18.Master the art of position management. If you find yourself in a trade that is progressing favorably, consider partially closing your position to protect your profits in case the price suddenly reverses. Being flexible in managing your positions can lead to increased profitability and emotional balance in the market.
19.Execute the same trades repeatedly. Focus on specific trade setups that have proven successful for you. Avoid trying to trade multiple patterns simultaneously. Instead, identify two or three formations that work well for you and trade them consistently. Become an expert in those setups and execute them confidently and precisely. Avoid spreading yourself too thin.
20.Avoid excessive doubt and overanalysis. During the execution of a trade, trust your analysis and decision-making process. Doubts and unnecessary analysis during a trade can lead to detrimental outcomes. Overthinking can consume you and make it challenging to differentiate between the right and wrong decisions. Leave fluctuations and excessive analysis to the market. Conduct trade analysis before or after trades, not during them.
21.In the eyes of the market, all trades are equal. At the start of each trading day, everyone is on an equal footing. You haven't made any profits or losses yet. Your earnings depend solely on your actions. If you adhere to discipline and follow your predetermined rules, you will generate profits.
22.The market is an impartial judge of your trades. The market doesn't play favorites; it remains indifferent to your presence. Respect the market's authority and refrain from attempting to defy it. Engaging in a battle against the market is akin to fighting your reflection in a mirror. Instead, focus on understanding and following the market's rules.
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The balance of thinking of modern tradersIf you have made the decision to pursue a career as a trader and are on the path to mastering this profession, it doesn't matter which trading direction you prefer—whether it's intraday crypto trading, Forex trading, or stock trading on the stock market—you will inevitably face a choice:
Option 1: Freedom To be a free trader means being someone who learns from others, gains knowledge and insights from their experiences, and studies other people's trading strategies. However, based on the acquired knowledge, a free trader creates and develops their own trading methods, taking personal responsibility for their successes and failures.
Option 2: Dependence To be a dependent trader means relying on others instead of learning to trade independently. This type of trader solely depends on trading signal providers or advice from various specialists. They blindly copy other people's methods and systems, hoping to discover a secret formula for success, which can take a significant amount of time to find.
Why are we willing to give away our money so easily? In my opinion, choosing personal responsibility goes beyond just trading. It's a fundamental decision that extends beyond selecting a trading style and method. Embracing personal responsibility means making our own choices, taking independent action, and fully accepting the consequences of those decisions.
Think honestly and ask yourself: Would you be willing to entrust your own funds to a complete stranger for investment purposes? Would you willingly hand over a substantial amount of money, hoping that they would generate profits and return your investment with decent interest? Most likely not. Perhaps even the thought of it evokes a sarcastic smile.
Now, let's examine the situation from a different perspective. Isn't relying on someone else's trading signals and recommendations essentially the same? By executing trade operations based on the advice of an unknown person, you are essentially granting them control over your trading capital. Isn't that a high level of risk?
Therefore, in this article, I'm addressing those individuals who are interested in trading but are unsure whether they should completely forgo learning the trade and instead rely on subscribing to other people's trading recommendations, signals, or purchasing trading robots.
The choice is yours: either educate yourself, gain knowledge, and be in control of your trading decisions, taking personal responsibility for your outcomes, or rely on others and relinquish a significant degree of control. Of course, you can always choose to discontinue the services of a trading signal provider, but often it's too late when the majority of your deposit is already lost, and there is no one to hold accountable since you voluntarily used the signals. Isn't that true?
Consider which thinking style resonates more with you personally. After reading about each trading thought style, ask yourself which one you lean toward.
Dependent Trader A dependent trader seeks shortcuts. They desire wealth but are unwilling to put in substantial effort to achieve it. They live in a world of dreams.
These individuals are often those who wish for great things in life but instead of attempting to create something on their own, they resort to buying lottery tickets, gambling, or investing in dubious projects that so-called "financial advisors" assure will yield fantastic profits. In exchange for a slice of the pie (which is unlikely to materialize), such individuals are willing to risk money that could have been invested in their own education to acquire at least basic financial literacy.
A dependent trader tends to follow the crowd in the market, which often makes irrational and emotion-driven decisions. They rely on "hot signals" to make trading decisions, seek out automated trading programs, and pay attention to all the news and so-called experts. Often, they place trades blindly without a trading plan, acting recklessly without understanding the rationale behind their actions.
As a result, such actions inevitably lead to losses, which cause disappointment, emotional breakdowns, and bitterness towards everyone except themselves. The trader starts blaming others for their troubles and misfortunes, whether it's the broker, the provider of trading signals, the stock analyst, or the mythical "puppet master" who supposedly manipulates the market and takes money from honest traders.
This inability to accept responsibility for one's decisions and the inclination to blame others perpetuate a behavioral pattern that leads to repeated failures, making any success short-lived, if it ever occurs. Unless this pattern of behavior is consciously changed, it will continue to repeat itself.
Free-Thinking Trader At the other end of the spectrum is the free-thinking trader. This type of trader seeks to control their financial future. They want to understand how markets work, explore different trading approaches, and assert their own trading decisions without relying on external advice.
An independent trader recognizes that they alone can maximize their chances of success and achieve their financial and life goals. They actively seek opportunities to learn from successful traders, study and learn from their own failures and the failures of others, and gain experience.
Can you perceive the difference in mindset and approach to trading? Becoming a profitable trader takes time, but an independent trader is willing to invest in learning, leverage the experiences of others, and ultimately be in control of their decisions. They don't rely on others to make trading decisions for them.
While a dependent trader blindly trusts the advice and recommendations of others, an independent trader tests hypotheses, seeks to understand how a particular method works and why it works.
At the beginning of their trading journey, an independent trader may utilize the services of a mentor or rely on other reliable sources of education. However, as their knowledge and experience grow, they begin to implement what they have learned independently. A dependent trader would never do this.
4 Steps to Trader Independence What can you do to develop the qualities of an independent trader?
1.Seek information. Read extensively, conduct research, and test any ideas that you believe have merit. Seek assistance, but understand that no single article, book, or forum can provide all the information you need. You must piece together the information puzzle. If you can seek the help of others, it will significantly expedite the process.
2.Clearly define what you want from the market and identify your preferred trading style and orientation. Are you a day trader, swing trader, or long-term investor? Determine what aligns best with your temperament and psychological suitability. Assess the amount of discretionary funds you have available. Once you have answers to these questions, you can begin developing a basic trading plan.
3.Start implementing your trading plan in the market. It's ideal to begin with a demo account. This allows you to evaluate how well your chosen trading strategy performs in real-time and how effectively you can adhere to the established methods and rules.
The decision of when to transition to real money trading is up to you. There's no universal solution here. Some traders switch to real accounts after several months of consistent profits, while others may require at least six months or longer. This is normal since every individual is different and has their own perception of reality.
The transition to real money trading is typically challenging. Only when you face the possibility of losing real money and experiencing actual profits will you truly understand the psychological stress involved. Therefore, start with a small real account so that any losses won't cause significant financial or emotional harm. Only after gaining confidence and psychological stability should you consider increasing your trading capital.
Continuous improvement is crucial. You must constantly strive to enhance your trading skills, learn new concepts, and apply acquired knowledge in practice. There's much to understand and absorb. Becoming a trader is a long journey that requires time, financial resources, and emotional and psychological commitment. Consider these as tuition fees.
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✅Disclaimer: Please be aware of the risks involved in trading. This idea was made for educational purposes only not for financial Investment Purposes.
Learn The Main Elements of The Trading Strategy
There are hundreds of different trading strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis.
These strategies combine different tools and trading techniques.
And even though, they are so different, they all have a very similar structure.
In this educational article, we will discuss 4 important elements every trading strategy should have.
1️⃣ The first compontent of a trading strategy is the list of the instruments that you trade.
You should know in advance what assets should be in your watch list. For example, if you are a forex trader, your strategy should define the currency pairs that you are trading.
2️⃣ The second element of any trading strategy is the entry reasons.
Entry reasons define the exact set of market conditions that you look for to execute the trade.
For example, trading key levels with confirmation, you should wait for a test of a key level first and then look for some kind of confirmation like a formation of price action pattern before you open a trade.
3️⃣ The third component of a trading strategy is the position size of your trades.
Your trading strategy should define in advance the rules for calculating the lot of size of your trades.
For example, with my trading strategy, I risk 1% of my trading account per trade. When I am planning the trading position, I calculate a lot size accordingly.
4️⃣ The fourth element of any trading strategy is trade management rules.
By trade management, I mean the exact conditions for closing the trade in a loss, taking the profit and trailing stop loss.
Trade management defines your actions when the trading position becomes active.
Here is the example.
I took a trade on Friday, following my top-down trading strategy.
I was trading Dollar Index (the instrument that is in my trading list).
Entry reason was a test of a key level on a daily and a formation of a horizontal range on 1H time frame.
The position was opened on a retest of its broken neckline.
Position size of this trade was based on 1% of my trading deposit.
Stop loss and targets were structure based.
Make sure that your trading strategy includes these 4 elements.
Of course, your strategy might be more sophisticated and involve more components, but these 4 elements are the core, the foundation of any strategy.
Daily Time Frame is The MAIN Time Frame to Trade! Learn WHY:
Hey traders,
You frequently ask me what is the most important time frame to analyze and follow.
And even though I must admit that multiple time frames must be taken into consideration for successful trading like weekly/daily/4h/1h. Among them, there is the one that is universally considered to be principal. That is a daily time frame.
There are a lot of reasons why so many traders rely on a daily time frame:
1️⃣ - Daily time frame shows a global market trend at the same time reflecting a mid-term and short-term perspective letting the trader catch trend following moves and spot early reversal signs.
2️⃣ - Covering multiple perspectives, daily time frame is the foundation of the majority of the trading strategies being the main source of key levels & pattern analysis.
3️⃣ - Daily time filters out news events that happened during the trading day. It shows the composite reaction of the market participants to all the data posted in the economic calendar.
4️⃣ - Daily time frame reflects all trading sessions. Within one single candle, we see the outcome of the Asian, London, and New York Sessions.
5️⃣ - Daily candle filters out all the noise from lower time frames & intraday price fluctuations and sudden spikes & rejections.
6️⃣ - Covering all the trading sessions, daily time frame mirrors the activities of big players like hedge funds and banks. Showing us the flow & direction of big money.
⚠️Being so important for analysis, do not neglect other time frames.
The most accurate trading decision can be made only relying on a combination of intraday and daily time frames.
What is your favorite time frame to trade?
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How To Strategically Plan Your TradesBy dedicating just a minute per pair you trade, we can ensure that you're well-prepared for the upcoming market opportunities. So, let's dive in!"
1. Start with the goal- to make money, lose no money at all, or lose a small portion of your trading account
Set yourself up for all 3
* this is based on the opportunity
- currency pair with the right market condition- don’t trade when the market is quiet
- What Timeframe has your money- focus on the timeframe you vibe with
- How long will it be before you enter the trade and exit the trade- everything is an estimation. Don’t stress forcing the trade. Let the money come to you
2. Prepare for trade planning: overview
- Sunday before the market opens- wake up, spend time with God, family, and then your charts
- Assess the past weeks performance and plan how you’ll trade for the upcoming week-
- Allocate 1 minute per pair to effectively strategize without spending excessive time over analyzing- be a quick decision maker
How to review the previous week price movement:
1. Analyze each trade you entered and note what trades were successful and what were not successful
2. Note if you made any mistakes. All losses are not mistakes.
3. Note if any of your pairs made new highs or new lows or consolidated
3. Strategize based on your edge- what you are good and fast at?
- Focus on the 1 or 2 strategies do you understand and can articulate well
Prioritize these strategies because they increase the likelihood of success and maintaining a clear plan.
- Focus on the currency pair that has the right market conditions to trade your methods
There are 6 market conditions
- conditions are environments like calm or violent weather
- focus on which conditions your strategy thrives best in.
* if the condition isn’t there, don’t trade that pair
4. Currency pair selection
- Don’t overwhelm your week trading ever pair on your watchlist if you trade more than 3.
- Focus on the pair that provides the favorable setup when everything aligns
- * trend, market condition, and the profitability
5. Setting entry and exit points
- your entry and exit go back to how well you can understand and articulate your strategy.
- My TMP strategy, the first step , T(trend) is designed to automatically show you where you’ll take profit and place your stop loss.
- Consider the steps you take to identify the trend and simultaneously plot your take profit and stop loss
- Consider then estimating where you’ll enter your trade
- My TMP strategy, M(market structure), is designed to automatically show you where you’ll enter your trade.
- Then place a pending order or know the exact candlestick you enter your trades on
Mindset shift really quick
- risk management is a way to protect your capital and optimize your profits
- Write what you’re protecting your capital from?
* your families financial peace
* Your financial peace
* Failing as a business
6. Journal your plan
- Trading view allows you to video your trades and publish them privately or publicly
- You can use an excel spreadsheet or notion
- Or a good old fashion notebook and pen
Congratulations! You've now learned a strategic approach to plan your trades every week, leveraging your edge and focusing on your two best strategies in favorable market conditions. Remember, dedicating less than a minute per pair can significantly enhance your trading preparation. By implementing these steps consistently, you'll be well-positioned for success.
Best of luck in your forex trading journey!
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Shaquan
GLOSSARY Smart Money Concepts - Complete Terms!It's taking the world by a storm.
Smart Money Concepts is what has become famous lately. Now I've been trading for 20 years and even I have learnt to adapt and adjust SMC to my trading strategy.
I guess we have to evolve and adapt with what there is. Anyways,
Today, I've written a complete Glossary on Smart Money Concepts terms for you.
Enjoy!
SMART MONEY CONCEPTS GLOSSARY
Break Of Structure (BOS) (CONTINUATION)
A BOS is when the price breaks above or below, and continues in the direction of the trend. (CONTINUATION).
Break Of Structure Down
When the price breaks and closes BELOW the wick of the previous LOW in a DOWNTREND.
Break Of Structure Up
When the price breaks and closes ABOVE the wick of the previous HIGH in an UPTREND.
Buy Side Liquidity (Smart Money SELLS)
Where an Order Block forms where Smart Money SELLS into retailers (dumb money) BUYING orders - Pushing the price DOWN.
Change of Character (CHoCH) (REVERSAL)
Refers to a much larger shift in the underlying market trend, dynamic or sentiment.
This is where the price moves to the point where there is a change in the overall trend. (REVERSAL)
Change of Character Down
When the price breaks and closes below the previous uptrend.
Change of Character Up
When the price breaks and closes above the previous downtrend.
Daily bias
Tells us which direction, trend and environment the market is in and what we are looking to trade.
Daily bias Bearish
When the market environment is DOWN and the trend is DOWN - we look for shorts (sells) in the market.
Daily bias Bullish
When the market environment is UP and the trend is UP - we look for long positions (buys) in the market.
Discount market <50%
The market is at a discount when the price trades BELOW the equilibrium level. We say the price is at a discount (low price).
Equilibrium
Equilibrium is a state of the market where the demand and supply are in balance with the price. We say the price of the market is at fair value.
Fair Value Gap (FVG)
A 3 candle structure with an up or down impulse candle that indicates and creates an imbalance or an inefficiency in the market.
Fair Value Gap Bearish
A 3 candle structure with a DOWN impulse candle that indicates and creates an imbalance or an inefficiency in the market.
Between candle 1 and 3, do NOT show common prices. The price needs to move back up to rebalance and fill the gap.
Fair Value Gap Bullish
A 3 candle structure with an UP impulse candle that indicates and creates an imbalance or an inefficiency in the market.
Between candle 1 and 3, do NOT show common prices. The price needs to come back down to rebalance and fill the gap.
Levels of liquidity
The area of prices where smart money players, identify and choose to BUY or SELL large quantities.
E.g. Supports, resistances, highs, lows, key levels, trend lines, volume, indicators, psychological levels.
Liquidity
The degree, rate and ability for an asset or security to be easily bought (flow in) or sold (flow out) in the market at a specific price.
Liquidity sweep (Liquidity grab)
Smart money buys or sells (and sweeps or grabs liquidity) from traders who enter, exit or get stopped.
Market down structure
When the price makes lower lows and lower highs.
Market structure
Indicates what a market is doing, which direction it’s in and where it is more likely to go.
Market Structure Shift (MSS)
MSS shows you when the price is breaking a structure or changing the direction in the market.
Market up structure
When the price makes higher lows and higher highs.
Order block
Large market orders (big block of orders) where smart money buys or sells from different levels of liquidity.
Order Block Bearish
A strong selling or a supply zone for smart money.
Order Block Bullish
A strong buying or a demand zone for smart money.
Order block events
Large market orders where smart money buys or sells from certain events i.e. High volume, supports, resistances, highs, lows, key levels, Break Of Structure, Change of Character, News or economic event.
Point Of Interest (POI)
POI is an area or level in the market where there is expected to be a large amount of buying or selling activity i.e. Order blocks.
Premium market >50%
The market is at a premium when the price trades ABOVE the equilibrium level.
We say the price is at a premium (high price).
Sell Side Liquidity (Smart Money BUYS)
Where an Order Block forms where the Smart Money BUYS into the retail (dumb money traders orders - Pushing the price UP.
Smart Money
These are the smart, informed, and savvy financial institutions that invest (buy and sell) their large capital into different financial markets.
Smart Money Concepts
SMC is a more sophisticated method of price action to spot, identify and locate where smart money is buying and selling their positions
Sweep Buy Side Liquidity (Smart Money SELLS)
Smart Money SELLS into positions (and sweeps liquidity) from retail traders who are short (get stopped) and for long traders who buy and enter their trades.
Sweep Sell Side Liquidity (Smart Money BUYS)
Smart Money BUYS into positions (and sweeps liquidity) from traders who are long (get stopped) and for short traders who enter their trades.
Feel free to print this out and have it as a guide to your Smart Money Concepts trading journey.
All the best!
Trading Success Stoppers Part 1Trading as you know is a fantastic alternative to grow your wealth.
However, it is not without its challenges.
In fact, there are several success stoppers that traders face that can derail their trading efforts.
Let’s look at four of them.
STOPPER #1: Same Old Routine
One of the biggest success stoppers for a trader is falling into the same old routine.
It is easy to get into a rut and continue doing the same things day in and day out.
However, this can lead to a lack of progress and stagnant trading results.
Yes you need the same ‘ol strategy, risk management rules and criteria for a consistent track record.
But you also need to be open to try new things and adapting to changing market conditions.
You can do this by:
~ Backtesting and forward testing other strategies.
~ Adapting new markets into your trading
~ Identifying new market environments
~ Even improving your current indicators and chart layouts
Always looking out for better brokers, chart platforms and sources to help your trading
Improving your calculators and trading tools.
STOPPER #2: Self-Doubt
This can cripple a trader’s confidence and ability to make sound trading decisions.
It is natural to experience doubts and fears when trading.
But make sure you don’t let it take over and lead you to emotional decisions, doubting during drawdowns and missed trading opportunities because of how you feel rather than what the charts say.
To overcome this success stopper, you should focus on building your confidence and self-belief through trusting your proven track record.
You can do this by keeping a trading journal to track your successes and failure.
Also seek out the advice of a mentor or coach, and regularly review their trading plan to ensure they are on the right track – to help with your own confidence.
STOPPER #3: Procrastination
Procrastination is a common success stopper for traders.
It is easy to put off making trading decisions or taking action on a new trading strategy.
However, procrastination can lead to you never taking action which means:
No trades
No consistency
No growth
No results
To overcome this success stopper, traders should develop a sense of urgency and take action quickly.
Adapt the 1,2,3 JUST DO IT mentality as I mentioned in the previous video.
Break down larger tasks into bite sized and more manageable ones and set deadlines to complete on time.
STOPPER #4: No Big Idea
Finally, having no big idea or vision for their trading can be a major success stopper for traders.
You need to know your goals, strategy, risk profile and trading personality.
When you do this you will have the BIG idea on what you need to progress and thrive.
Stop these stoppers before they stop you from achieving trading greatness.
Tune in tomorrow for Part 2!
Understanding Basics of Candlestick Charts
Candlestick patterns play a key role in quantitative trading strategies owing to the simple pattern formation and ease of reading the same.
For using candlestick patterns, you only need to have a basic understanding of how the candlesticks are formed. Also having some idea about the various ways in which these candlesticks can be interpreted would be useful.
However, if you are new to candlesticks trading, this article will help you gain a complete understanding of candlesticks.
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The anatomy of the Candlesticks has stayed almost similar throughout the ages to give us the current shape and meaning. It consists of 4 distinct values namely:
The opening price,
Closing price,
The highest prices for a given interval, and
The lowest prices for a given interval.
It’s like a combination of a line chart and a bar chart, where each bar represents all four important pieces of information for an interval.
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Body
The hollow or the filled portion of the candlestick is called as the body of the candlestick.
Long Body - Indicates heavy trading in one direction and strong buying or selling pressure
Small Body - Indicates lighter trading or little buying or selling activity
Shadow
The long thin lines above and below the body is called the shadow of the candlestick.
Upper Shadow - High is marked by the topmost part of the upper shadow
Lower Shadow - Low is marked by the bottom part of the lower shadow.
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On the chart above, you can see how the body to shadow ratio defines the strength of the candlestick.
Learning to apply that in a combination with other technical tool can help you to quite reliable predict the price movements.
What do you want to learn in the next post?
3 Essentials to Start TradingA very warm welcome to this video which is all about the 3 Essentials to Start Trading .
This is for all of you out there that may be new to trading, that haven’t got a feel for the market yet and haven’t got started and maybe you’re asking yourself ‘What is it I need to do now to get myself up and running?’ We found out of the 20,000 plus traders that we’ve mentored over the time that we’ve been running live trading seminars and running these start up basecamps, what generally tends to happen is you get traders who want to get up and running, want to start now and want to know what they need to do?
So we broke it down into three essential things that you need. The first one is knowledge . You need some knowledge of what you’re going to be doing in the market. In a nutshell, what that means is you’re going to need to know exactly what to do, when to do it, what the pips pricing means, when to buy and sell, you need a profitable trading strategy – all of these things are knowledge. Knowledge can be acquired in many different ways. One of the things that we recommend strongly is reading the right kind of books. There is a fantastic list of books that you can get and these are available on our Facebook page. You’ll be able to see the types of books that we recommend you read. The other thing to be very careful of is the wealth of information out there on the Internet. What I would strongly recommend is to find a trading mentor that can guide you through on a step by step basis in a custom environment that is suited around you, ideally on a one to one basis. That would be the best way to learn and be mentored in the financial markets. You need to have the right knowledge but don’t get immersed in all of the knowledge available on the Internet because there is so much junk out there. Having seen 20 years in the markets between myself and Thiru we’ve seen all of these traders that have come to us and they’ve got all of these deeply ingrained habits in them which are so hard to shift and they think that they’ve accumulated so much knowledge but actually a lot of it is just completely useless. So you really need to work with someone who can give you the guidance that you need. That’s very important and I strongly recommend that. So that’s knowledge. Get around the right people, the right guidance and the right types of books.
The second thing that you need is a broker account . With a broker account what you need there is a facility to be able to buy and sell the market. Let’s say, for example, you have invested already £15,000 into a trading account. That trading account needs to be with a broker, ideally regulated in the country in which you’re trading. If you’re not sure about how to select a broker account, check out my video on how to select a broker where we talk about three essential things that you should look for personally when a selecting a broker. That will give you the facility to be able to hit the trades, to be able to enter the market, and buy when your strategy and your set up gives you that signal to do so. Once you’ve accumulated the right knowledge you need the right type of broker account.
The final thing that you need on your journey is a mentor . This is so critical and I can’t overemphasise how important it is to have the right trading mentor because the right trading mentor will make the difference between being hugely successful and just feeling demotivated. A mentor is someone who has been there, done that and got the T-shirt! That is, they have an established track record, they’re transparent in their dealings, and they’ve got logs that can verify everything and you’re comfortable working with them that they will push you to get you to the next level of goals. It is really important to work with a mentor. There are two things actually that have a deep impact on our lives. One is the books that we read, this falls under knowledge, and the second is the people that we associate ourselves with or the company we keep. In this case, that’s your mentor. You need to have someone around you who has been there, done that and who is actually living the knowledge and not just talking about it. Look for people who walk the walk.
If you have these three things, you have all the tools you need to get up and running and to be successful in the markets and ingrain the right types of habits and that’s what we’d love to see for you.
So give us your comments, give us your feedback and keep in touch. Until the next time, as we always say, stay disciplined, follow your plan and Trade Like a Master.
Team at MastertheMarkets
How to get your Trading DoneTrading is the easiest hardest way to become financially free.
You need to follow a simple approach and then have the discipline to do it again and again for the rest of your life.
It can at first be a daunting task because you have to implement an element of risk.
But before you know it, you’ll be free from your financial shackles and struggle.
Here are five tips to help you get your financial trading done efficiently and effectively.
Step #1: Always have your cheat sheet with you.
A cheat sheet is a list of rules that you have set for yourself when trading.
These rules are from how to spot trading signals, getting your trading setup ready, to implementing the maximum amount of money you’re willing to risk on a trade to the indicators you look for when deciding on a trade.
Always make sure you have your cheat sheet with you to have a clear set of rules to follow. This way you’ll avoid making impulsive decisions.
Step #2: Look for the right trading setups with high probability trades.
Before you enter a trade, it’s essential to look for the right trading setup.
A trading setup is a specific combination of conditions that must be met before you enter a trade.
For example, you may look for a bullish continuation or reversal price breakout strategy, combined with a moving average crossover and RSI divergence indicator.
Once you have identified the right trading setup, you can then look for high probability trades within that setup.
Step #3: Execute your trades or just take the trade.
Once you have identified a high probability trade, it’s time to execute the trade.
When executing a trade, it’s important to remember that the market can be unpredictable.
You may have done everything right and still end up losing money on a trade.
Therefore, it’s essential to take the trade, execute your plan, and move on to the next opportunity.
Step #4: Journal your trades
It’s essential to keep a record of all your trades, including the reasons why you entered and exited the trade.
This can help you identify patterns in your trading and make adjustments to your strategy as needed.
This way you can record, monitor and also identify areas where you can improve and re-evaluate your trading plan accordingly.
Step #5: Rinse and repeat the process.
Finally, once you have executed a trade, recorded it in your journal, and made any necessary adjustments to your trading plan, it’s time to rinse and repeat the process.
Trading is a continuous process.
There will always be new opportunities to explore and it’s ALWAYS the right time to start or continue.
If you follow the above steps, you’ll increase your chances of success and make the most of your trading endeavours.