The Newbies Trading Manual 1
The Newbies Trading Manual 1
manual 1
Outline;
What is forex trading
The majors/ minors currencies
Currency/Trading Abbreviation
Base & quote currency
The concept of bid /ask price/spread
Brokers and their functions
Forex trading sessions
Pips
Unveiling lotsize
Liquidity
Market volatility
Technical Analysis
Fundamental Analysis
Majors/Minors Currencies;
In the world of forex trading, currency pairs are classified into three
categories based on their trading volume and liquidity: majors, minors
(also known as crosses), and exotics.
1. Major Currency Pairs
- These pairs are the most heavily traded and boast the highest liquidity
in the forex market.
- They consist of the most extensively traded currencies paired with the
US Dollar (USD).
- The major currency pairs include:
- EUR/USD (Euro/US Dollar)
- USD/JPY (US Dollar/Japanese Yen)
- GBP/USD (British Pound/US Dollar)
- USD/CHF (US Dollar/Swiss Franc)
- AUD/USD (Australian Dollar/US Dollar)
- USD/CAD (US Dollar/Canadian Dollar)
- NZD/USD (New Zealand Dollar/US Dollar)
Currency/Trading Abbreviation;
Currencies:
- US Dollar (USD)
- Euro (EUR)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- British Pound (GBP)
- Swiss Franc (CHF)
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Australian Dollar (AUD)
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Currency Pairs:
- Euro/US Dollar (EUR/USD)
- US Dollar/Japanese Yen (USD/JPY)
- British Pound/US Dollar (GBP/USD)
- US Dollar/Swiss Franc (USD/CHF)
- Australian Dollar/US Dollar (AUD/USD)
- US Dollar/Canadian Dollar (USD/CAD)
- New Zealand Dollar/US Dollar (NZD/USD)
Economic Indicators:
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- Producer Price Index (PPI)
- Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)
- Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI)
Trading Terms:
- Percentage in Point (PIP) - smallest price move in forex trading
- Leverage - ratio of borrowed funds to the margin deposit
- Stop Loss (SL) - an order placed to limit potential losses
- Take Profit (TP) - an order placed to lock in profits
- Exponential Moving Average (EMA)
- Relative Strength Index (RSI)
Miscellaneous:
- Foreign Exchange (FX) - often used interchangeably with forex
- Electronic Communication Network (ECN) - type of forex brokerage
- Introducing Broker (IB) - a broker who introduces clients to another
brokerage
- High-Frequency Trading (HFT) - trading strategy involving rapid
execution of trades
Understanding these terms can help you navigate the forex market
more effectively.
Base Currency:
The base currency is the first currency listed in a forex pair. For
instance, in the EUR/USD pair, the euro (EUR) serves as the base
currency. Its primary function is to signify the amount of the quote
currency required to purchase one unit of the base currency. For
instance, with an exchange rate of 1.10 for the EUR/USD pair, it
indicates that 1 euro is equivalent to 1.10 US dollars.
Quote Currency:
The quote currency, also known as the counter currency, is the
second currency listed in a forex pair. For example, in the EUR/USD
pair, the US dollar (USD) is the quote currency. Its essential role is to
demonstrate the value of one unit of the base currency in terms of the
quote currency. Using the previous example, 1 euro is priced at 1.10
US dollars.
The spread, denoting the difference between the bid price and the ask
price, functions as the transaction cost for the trader and serves as
the broker’s profit margin on the trade. For instance, if the bid price
for EUR/USD is 1.1000 and the ask price is 1.1002, the spread is
0.0002 (or 2 pips).
Key considerations encompass:
Defining a Broker
Variety of Brokers
1. Full-Service Brokers
Services Offer a wide array of services, including investment advice,
portfolio management, research, and retirement planning.
Fees Charge higher fees and commissions due to the
comprehensive services provided.
Example: Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley.
2. Discount Brokers
Provide fewer services than full-service brokers, primarily focusing
on executing trades. They may offer some research tools and
educational resources.
Charge lower fees and commissions.
3. Online Brokers
Primarily operate online, providing platforms for self-directed
traders to execute trades. They offer various tools and resources for
research and analysis.
Typically charge low fees and commissions.
4. Forex Brokers
Specialize in facilitating forex trades, providing platforms for trading
currency pairs.
charge spreads, commissions, or both.
Example HFM,OCTAfX.PEPPERSTONE
Functions of Brokers
1. Executing Trades
Brokers execute buying and selling of securities on behalf of their
clients, utilizing various exchanges and trading platforms to facilitate
these transactions.
3. Advisory Services
Full-service brokers offer personalized investment advice, assisting
clients in making informed decisions based on their financial goals
and risk tolerance.
5. Portfolio Management
Some brokers offer portfolio management services, making
decisions to achieve clients' financial objectives.
7. Educational Resources
Many brokers provide educational materials such as articles,
webinars, tutorials, and courses to enhance clients' trading
knowledge and skills.
8. Customer Support
Brokers offer customer support to assist clients with
account-related queries, technical issues, and trading assistance.
Choosing a Broker;
When selecting a broker, consider the following factors:
Sydney Session:
- Hours: 10 PM - 7 AM GMT
- Description: The Sydney session commences the trading day,
albeit relatively subdued in comparison to other sessions. Market
activity escalates with the opening of Asian markets.
Tokyo Session
- Hours: 12 AM - 9 AM GMT
- Description: Often referred to as the Asian session, the Tokyo
session overlaps with the Sydney session for a few hours and is
notable for its trading in currencies such as the Japanese yen.
London Session:
- Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM GMT
- Description: The London session represents one of the most
active trading periods due to its overlap with both the Asian and New
York sessions, witnessing a substantial volume of forex trading
during this time.
New York Session:
- Hours: 1 PM - 10 PM GMT
- Description: Overlapping with the London session, the New York
session experiences heightened liquidity and volatility until the
closure of the trading day.
Key Points:
- Overlapping Sessions: The most active times in the forex market
occur during overlapping trading sessions. For instance, the
London-New York overlap (1 PM - 5 PM GMT) is particularly dynamic
and liquid.
- Market Volatility: Different sessions exhibit varying levels of
volatility, with the London session tending to be the most volatile,
followed by the New York session.
- Currency Pairs: Particular currency pairs exhibit heightened activity
during specific sessions. For instance, USD/JPY is more active during
the Tokyo session, while EUR/USD experiences increased activity
during the London and New York sessions.
What is pips
In the world of forex trading, a "pip" is an essential concept that
stands for "percentage in point" or "price interest point." It is a
standard unit that signifies the movement in the price of a currency
pair. Traders use pips to measure price changes and to convey the
amount of profit or loss in a trade to others. Let's dive into a
comprehensive explanation of pips:
Understanding Pips
Definition
- A pip is typically the smallest price move that a given exchange
rate can make based on market convention.
- For most currency pairs, a pip is equal to 0.0001 (one
ten-thousandth) of the quote currency. For instance, if the EUR/USD
pair moves from 1.1050 to 1.1051, that 0.0001 USD change is one pip.
Exception
- For currency pairs involving the Japanese yen (JPY), a pip is equal
to 0.01 (one hundredth) of the quote currency. For example, if the
USD/JPY pair moves from 110.50 to 110.51, that 0.01 JPY change is
one pip.
Position Sizing
- Understanding pips helps traders in making informed decisions
about position sizes and risk management. For instance, traders can
decide on the number of lots to trade based on the pip value and their
risk tolerance.
Examples
2. JPY Pairs
- If the USD/JPY moves from 110.00 to 110.50, it has moved 50 pips.
- Likewise, if the EUR/JPY moves from 120.00 to 120.50, it has also
moved 50 pips.
In the world of forex trading, the term "lot size" carries significant
weight as it pertains to the standardized quantity of a financial
instrument being traded. This measurement directly impacts the
value of each pip movement and consequently influences the
potential profit or loss of a trade. Here's a breakdown of the
various lot sizes commonly employed in forex trading:
2. Mini Lot
3. Micro Lot
4. Nano Lot
- Description: The nano lot stands as the smallest lot size, often
offered by certain brokers for very precise risk management. In a
nano lot, each pip movement usually equals $0.01.
Risk Management
2. Account Size:
- Traders should select lot sizes corresponding to the size of
their trading account. Larger accounts can accommodate
standard lots, while smaller accounts may find it beneficial to
trade mini, micro, or nano lots.
3. Trading Strategy:
4. Market Conditions:
Example Calculations
1. Standard Lot:
2. Mini Lot:
3. Micro Lot:
Or simply as:
Understanding liquidity
Liquidity in the forex market denotes the ease with which a currency pair
can be bought or sold without causing a substantial impact on its
exchange rate. High liquidity signifies the presence of numerous buyers
and sellers, resulting in narrower bid-ask spreads and the ability to
promptly execute large orders.
1. Market Participants:
2. Trading Volume:
- With a daily trading volume surpassing $6 trillion, the forex market
consistently facilitates significant currency trading, bolstering liquidity.
3. Bid-Ask Spread:
4. Volatility:
- High liquidity generally leads to reduced volatility and allows for the
accommodation of large trades without substantial price changes.
However, liquidity can wane during major events, consequently causing
heightened volatility.Factors Impacting Liquidity:
1. Time of Day:
2. Economic Events:
3. Currency Pairs:
- Major currency pairs generally exhibit higher liquidity compared to
exotic currency pairs due to their widespread usage and trading volume.
- High liquidity ensures swift and precise order execution, mitigating the
risk of slippage.
3. Price Stability:
1. Heightened Volatility:
- Low liquidity can lead to increased volatility, with even minor orders
triggering significant price movements.
2. Expanded Spreads:
- Less liquid markets tend to feature wider bid-ask spreads, elevating the
cost of trading.3. Execution Risk:
Market volatility
2. High Volatility
- It can give you more chances to trade because prices swing a lot.
- But it's riskier since prices can change quickly and in surprising
ways.
3. Low Volatility
2. Political Events
3. Market Sentiment
- Stuff like changes in interest rates, policies about money, and what
central bank big shots say can really shake up prices in the market.
5.Market Liquidity:
- Big price swings mean you can make more money, but you can
also lose a lot more. Traders need to be careful and not take too much
risk.
2. Trading Strategies
- Different ways of trading work better in different amounts of
volatility. For example, quick trading can be good when things change
a lot, while following trends can work better when things are more
stable
- When things are really up and down, traders might set wider stops
and take-profits to not get out of trades too early.
4. Margin Requirements
1. Risk Management
- Use tools like stop-loss orders and spreading out your trades to
handle the risks of volatility.
2. Stay Informed
- Use tools like the Average True Range, Bollinger Bands, and the
Volatility Index to figure out how crazy the market is and make smart
choices.
Technical Analysis
Hey there! Let's talk about technical analysis, a method used to
predict future price movements of financial instruments like stocks,
commodities, and currencies. It's all about using historical price data,
volume, and other market stats to make smart trading decisions.
1. Charts
Charts are the go-to tools for technical analysis, helping us spot
trends and patterns in historical price data.
You've got line charts, bar charts, and candlestick charts to work
with.
2. Trends
Trends show the overall direction of the market – whether it's going
up (bullish), down (bearish), or staying flat (ranging).
We use these levels to figure out when to jump in and when to get
out of trades.
We've got things like Moving Averages, Relative Strength Index (RSI),
Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), and Bollinger
Bands.
Then there are oscillators like RSI and Stochastic Oscillator, which
tell us when things are overbought or oversold.
5. Chart Patterns
Watch out for patterns like Head and Shoulders, Double Top and
Double Bottom, Triangles, and Flags.
1. Moving Averages:
2. Trendlines:
3. Volume Analysis;
4. Fibonacci Retracement;
This tool helps us find potential support and resistance levels based
on key Fibonacci levels (like 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%).
Advantages and Limitations
Advantages;
Limitations:
Technical analysis is a cool tool for traders and investors who want to
understand market behavior and make smart trading decisions. By
analyzing historical price data and using different indicators and
patterns, we can spot trends, predict price movements, and fine-tune
our trading strategies.
Fundamental Analysis
If you think about it, this makes a whole lot of sense! Just like in
your Economics 101 class, it is supply and demand that
determines price, or in our case, the currency exchange rate.
You have to understand the reasons why and how certain events
like an increase in the unemployment rate affect a country’s
economy and monetary policy which ultimately, affects the level
of demand for its currency.
For example, let’s say that the U.S. dollar has been gaining
strength because the U.S. economy is improving.
As a result, the value of the U.S. dollar will likely increase against
other currencies with lesser demand. Since currencies are
always paired, their performance is determined relative to that of
another currency.
Later on in the course, you will learn which economic data points
tend to drive currency prices, and why they do so.You will know
who the Fed Chairman is and how retail sales data reflects the
economy. You’ll be spitting out global interest rates like song
lyrics.
See you soon at our trading class where i will teach you;