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Is trading really gambling? Yes and no!I know why you’re NOT trading. You think trading is nothing more than gambling. I get emails every day from members saying things like. “Timon trading seems like going to the casino”. “Timon I don’t want to put money into something that’s gambling” “Timon thanks but I don’t gamble” So you’re not trading because you think it’s like gambling. Well, before you send me another email like this – Please make sure you read this carefully. Let’s dive into the heated debate and let’s see if I agree whether trading is just gambling. Does Timon think trading is just gambling? YES! I do believe trading is a form of gambling. BUT – hold on… Gambling exists in two realms. Chance vs. Strategy There is chance gambling and strategic gambling. Chance gambling is similar to playing slot machines, lotteries, and coin tosses. It’s 50/50. And it’s all up to chance. Have you ever heard of a professional slots player or coin flipper? I don’t think so. Then in the other realm of gambling is known as strategic gambling. The strategic domain is where skill, knowledge, risk management, methodology, probabilities and decision-making play crucial roles. And that my friend, is why I believe trading is a form of strategic gambling. You do get professional and successful poker and black jack players, sports bettors and of course traders. Right? And that’s because you need skill, strategies and the right techniques to WIN as oppose to mere luck. So before you quit trading because you think it’s nothing more than gambling, allow me to go one step further. Let’s talk about the similarities between certain strategic gambling games and see how we can learn from them with trading. Strategic Game #1: Trading and Poker – The art of strategy and risk management Poker and trading share a few similarities. They both emphasize skill, strategy, and a sprinkle of luck. But you need a deep understanding of the rules. You need keen observation of the competitors. You need adeptness at risk, reward and money management. Poker players and traders alike must know when to hold their ground and when to fold. Poker players put their cards down when the probability is low. Traders either don’t take the trade, risk little in medium probability trades and use tools like stop losses to risk little. Poker also teaches the importance of emotional control and patience. And these as I have written many times before, are crucial in trading. Because emotional decisions can lead to significant losses with both poker and with trading. Next game… Game #2: Trading and Roulette Playing the probabilities It may seem at first that roulette leans more towards chance. Red or black, odd or even etc… But the fact that you have a choice, means that it offers you some form of probability. A fundamental concept in trading are probabilities. Traders, like professional roulette players, use statistical analysis to help make informed and better decisions. It is unpredictable what the ball will land on. Just like it is unpredictable which way the market will go. But if you have a sound system, proven track record and winning strategy – you will be able to base the probabilities and tilt the odds in your favour – over time. In trading, while certain market movements can’t be predicted with absolute certainty, we rely heavily on technical, fundamental, statistical analysis and probabilities to make trading decisions. Trading, much like roulette, is where you need to diversify your positions and bets. And you can WIN in the long run if you follow your high probability strategy. Game #3: Trading and Blackjack How a maths boffon can win overtime In blackjack, players make strategic decisions to outmaneuver the dealer. The main goal is to try and get the cards we’re dealt to hit 21, be close to 21 or be closer to 21 than our opponent’s hand. Bet too high past 21 and you burn (lose). This is similar to trading. You need to be able to analyse the marker conditions. You need to be able to calculate your position sizes and risk management according to your trade line up. Both games need you to have a balance of risk, strategy, and knowledge to succeed. Game #4: Trading and Horse Racing Know your horse! Now this is a game that has turned many statisticians into multi millionaires. Horse racing is where you need to know and choose the right horse that will win based on its: Form Characteristics Conditions of the race Weather on the day and other factors. They study the characteristics, and race conditions to a T. They calculate based on past performance on which horse has the higher probability of winning. Traders need to know their horses (markets) too. Every market you choose to trade, has its own personality, form, movements, and style. You need to check to see if the chosen market has worked for your trading system and portfolio over time. And you need to choose the right time, market environment and other factors – before you take on the trade. In horse racing, experienced bettors also diversify their bets across multiple races and horses to spread risk. With trading we diversify our portfolios over different accounts, markets, sectors, instruments and types. Finally let’s talk about the last game: Game #5: Trading and Sports Betting The power of predictive analysis Sports betting, much like trading, relies on predictive analysis to almost see potential outcomes. If you understand a team’s performance, strategy, and conditions – You will be able to make better betting decisions for the next game. As a sports bettor you definitely need to know how to analyse a team’s or player’s form, weather conditions, past scores and more to predict an outcome. Whether it’s football, rugby or cricket – you need to have your winning game plan to increase your chances of winning the bet. Traders do the same. They have different markets like sports bettors have different games. Traders also conduct similar technical, fundamental, sentimental, volume analyses to help predict potential market movements. Both activities involve calculated risk-taking, aiming for high-probability successes based on thorough research and analysis. Final words: So, as you can see trading is MORE than just gambling. Unlike games of pure chance, trading is a disciplined, analytical pursuit that shares more in common with skill-based gambling. It does require you however to have the right knowledge, strategy, and strong risk, reward and money management. Let’s sum up the games and sports vs trading so you can remember what we’ve covered today: Game #1: Trading and Poker – The art of strategy and risk management Game #2: Trading and Roulette – Playing the probabilities Game #3: Trading and Blackjack – How a maths boffon can win overtime Game #4: Trading and Horse Racing – Know your horse! Game #5: Trading and Sports Betting – The power of predictive analysis DO YOU THINK TRADING IS LIKE GAMBLING?
JSE:J200Education
by Timonrosso
Foreign exchange trading skills worth collecting (Part 2) Continuing from the previous article; 25. Observe the magnitude of market changes: When the market falls (rises) with the same small amount every day, it may be a signal of a rebound (fall). 26. The dense area is likely to form a support belt or pressure belt: The dense area can be regarded as an obstacle to slow down the market price fluctuations. Once the trading range is broken, the price will make progress. Generally speaking, the longer the trading range lasts, the greater the price movement after the breakout. 27. Significant price rises and falls are often accompanied by key reversals: When the price hits a new high on high trading volume, then falls and closes lower than the previous day, it is usually a reversal phenomenon in the uptrend. The reversal in the downtrend is that the price first goes down, then rebounds strongly on the same day, and finally closes at a higher closing price than the previous day. 28. Pay attention to the head and shoulders pattern: When a head and shoulders pattern is formed on the price chart, it is usually a signal of a big rise. The appearance of the head and shoulders will not be clear until the second shoulder rebounds or pulls back to the level. 29. Pay attention to the highest point of "M" and the lowest point of "W": When the market trend forms a large M on the price chart, it suggests that you can sell. When it forms a W, it suggests that the price will rise. 30. Buy and sell at three highs and three lows: When the market climbs to a peak for the second or third time, it is a bearish signal; otherwise, it is a bullish signal. 31. Observe changes in trading volume: When trading volume rises with price, it is a buy signal. When trading volume increases and prices fall, it is a sell signal, but when trading volume decreases, no matter how the price moves, it is a wait-and-see or expecting a reversal signal. 32. The amount of open contracts can also provide intelligence: If open contracts increase when prices rise, it is a buy signal, especially when trading volume increases at the same time. Conversely, if open contracts increase when prices fall and trading volume is large, it provides sell information. 33. Pay attention to the fact that things will turn around when they reach their extremes, and good times will come after bad times: when a rising trend is very strong, pay attention to the implicit downward trend and pay attention to negative factors at any time; when a falling trend is very weak, pay attention to the implicit recovery information, pay more attention to positive news, and beware of market reversals. 34. Carefully judge the news effect: first, judge the authenticity of the news; second, understand the timeliness of the news; third, analyze the importance of the news; and finally, study the indicative nature of the news. 35. Retire before the delivery period: Commodity prices will have relatively large fluctuations in the delivery month. Commodity trading novices should move to other commodities before this to avoid this additional risk. The potential profits during the delivery period should be sought by experienced spot market traders. 36. Buy and sell when the market breaks through the opening price: This is a good hint of price trends, especially after a major news report. A breakthrough in the opening price may indicate the trend of trading that day or in the next few days. If the market breaks through the upper limit of the opening price, buy; if the breakthrough point is at the lower limit of the opening price, sell. 37. Buy and sell at the previous day's closing price breakthrough point: Many successful traders use this rule to decide when to establish new contracts or increase contracts. It means buying only when the transaction price is higher than the previous day's closing price; or selling when the transaction price is lower than the previous day's closing price. 38. Buy and sell at the previous week's high and low price breakthrough points: This rule is similar to the daily rule mentioned above, but his high and low prices are predicted based on the high point of the week. When the market breaks through the highest point of the week, it is a buy signal; when the market breaks through the lowest point of the week, it is a sell signal. 39. Buy and sell at the previous month's high and low price breakthrough points: The longer you observe, the more market momentum your decision will be based on. Therefore, the price breakthrough point of each month is a stronger hint of price trend, which is more important for futures commodity traders or hedge traders to make or break. 40. Establish pyramid trading: When you add contracts, do not add more contracts than the first one. This is a dangerous trading technique because as long as the market reverses slightly, all your profits will be wiped out. In the inverted pyramid trading, the average cost is close to the market price, which will hurt you. 41. Be careful with stop loss orders: The use of stop loss orders is a simple self-discipline; it can help you stop losses automatically. An important factor is: when you place an order, you must also set a stop loss point at the same time. If you don’t do this, you will lose more money and increase your losses in vain. 42. The retracement in a bull market is not the same as the bear market: conversely, the rebound in the bear market is not a bull market. Most investors like to short in a bull market and believe that it will definitely retrace, and vice versa. Change the rhythm and learn to buy in the retracement in the bull market and short in the rebound of the bear market. You will get more profits. 43. Buy and sell when the price is out of the track: Some successful traders use this rule most often. They buy and sell when prices are out of the norm or beyond general expectations. If ordinary buyers and sellers believe that market prices are rising, but in fact they are not, it is usually a good sell signal, especially after important information is released. Successful traders will wait for the general public to lean to one side, and then choose the time to buy and sell in the opposite direction. 44. The market will always fluctuate in a narrow range after violent fluctuations: when the market stabilizes after a sharp rise or a heavy fall, you must observe when the actual buying or selling begins to increase steadily, so that you can understand whether the market is ready to start, and take the opportunity to get on the train and wait to earn a wave of market. 45. When the bulls are rampant, the rise will slow down: if the market is filled with strong bullish arrogance, the price will not rise easily. Why is this so? When everyone is bullish and enters the market to do more, who can buy again and push the market up? Therefore, the price can only continue to rise after the people who originally did more can't stand the price softening and exit the market. 46. ​​Buy and sell at the breakout points of rising and falling wedges: Any trend has its own process of brewing, generation, and development. When recorded on a chart, it will take on a certain shape. Once a certain pattern is formed, it usually has a considerable enlightenment effect on the future market development. Although it is not absolute, it has a high probability and has its reference value. 47. Don't buy and sell multiple commodities at the same time: If you try to pay attention to the pulse of many markets, that is, if you want to grasp the news of several markets at the same time, you will hurt yourself. Few people can succeed in both the stock index and the grain market at the same time because they are affected by irrelevant factors. 48. Don't add to the losing commodities: No matter how confident you are, don't add contracts to the commodities that have already lost money. If you do that, it shows that you can no longer keep up with the market, but some traders disagree with this rule and prefer to believe in a price averaging technology. 49. In a bear market, put aside the statistical reports: In a bear market, you must be able to ignore all the statistical figures and focus on the market trend. You must understand that the figures to be published reflect the past, not the future. The figures to be published in the future are the results of the present and the near future. 50. The market can only give you so much, so don't hold unrealistic expectations: Some operators always hope to make every penny in the market; trying to squeeze the last drop of profit in the market, the time and energy spent are not worth it; a fish is divided into three parts: the head, the body, and the tail, and the largest part is the body; the operator only needs to find a way to eat the fish meat, and leave the head and tail for others to eat. I hope it helps you. The rest will be updated in new articles. If you need it, you can check it on the homepage after following it.
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by Signalking
Foreign exchange trading skills worth collecting (Part 1) Charlie Munger once said that if you are allowed to punch a maximum of 20 holes in a piece of paper, each time you punch means you lose a trading opportunity, and after 20 times, your opportunities will be used up. At this time, will you cherish every opportunity? The same is true in foreign exchange trading. For each transaction, you must treat your account balance as the last bullet. This requires us to constantly reflect and sum up our experience so that every transaction can gain something, whether it is money or experience, we must accumulate something. The following are 72 trading tricks that I have carefully compiled for you. I hope it will help you on your trading journey! The content is too long, divided into 3 articles,introduction. Please pay attention to it. 72 foreign exchange trading tricks 1. Only use the money you can afford to lose: If you use your family's funds to engage in trading, you will not be able to calmly use your mental freedom to make sound buying and selling decisions. 2. Know yourself: You must have a calm and objective temperament, the ability to control emotions, and will not suffer from insomnia when holding a trading contract. Successful commodity traders seem to have always been able to remain calm during the transaction. 3. Do not invest more than 1/3 of the funds: The best way is to keep your trading funds three times the margin required to hold the contract. In order to follow this rule, it is okay to reduce the number of contracts when necessary. This rule can help you avoid using all the trading funds to decide on buying and selling. Sometimes you will be forced to close the position early, but you will avoid big losses. 4. Do not base trading judgment on hope: Do not hope too much for immediate progress, otherwise you will buy and sell based on hope. Successful people can be unaffected by emotions in buying and selling. When a novice hopes that the market will turn in his favor, he often violates the basic rules of buying and selling. 5. Take proper rest: Buying and selling every day will dull your judgment. Taking a break will give you a more detached view of the market; it will also help you look at yourself and the next goal from another state of mind, so that you have a better perspective to observe many market factors. 6. Do not close profitable contracts easily, and keep profits continuous: Selling profitable contracts may be one of the reasons for the failure of commodity investment. The slogan "As long as there is money to be made, there will be no bankruptcy" will not apply to commodity investment. Successful traders say that you can't close a position just for the sake of profit; you must have a reason to close a profitable contract. 7. Learn to love losses: If you can accept losses calmly and without hurting your vitality, then you are on the road to success in commodity investment. Before you become a good trader, you must get rid of your fear of loss. 8. Avoid entering and exiting at market prices: Successful traders believe that buying and selling at market prices is a manifestation of lack of self-discipline. Unless you use market prices to close a position, you should aim to avoid market orders as much as possible. 9. Buy and sell the most active contract months in the market: This makes trading easier. 10. Enter the market when there is a good chance of winning: You should look for opportunities with a small possibility of loss and a large possibility of profit. For example, when the price of a commodity is close to its most recent historical low, then the possibility of it rebounding upward may be greater than the possibility of it falling. 11. Pick up unexpected wealth: Sometimes you buy and sell a commodity and get a greater profit than expected in a short period of time. Rather than waiting a few days to see why profits come so quickly, it is better to take them and run! 12. Learn to short sell: Most new investors tend to buy up, that is, buy in markets that they think will rise, but because the market often falls faster than it rises, you can quickly make profits by selling at high prices and buying at low prices. Therefore, the counter-trend operation method is worth learning. 13. After making a decision, act decisively and quickly: The market is not kind to those who procrastinate. So one of the methods used by successful traders is to act quickly. This does not mean that you have to be impulsive, but when your judgment tells you that you should close your position, do it immediately without hesitation. 14. Choose a conservative, professional and conscientious salesperson: A good salesperson must be able to pour cold water on you in time to prevent you from overdoing it in this market; at the same time, he must also have professional knowledge to provide you with exceptions that may occur at any time in the market. 15. Successful operations are like slowly climbing up a slope, while failed operations are like rolling down a slope: the stories of getting rich in one day that are widely circulated in the market are just stories. Without a solid foundation, even if you get one day's wealth, you can't keep it. Therefore, successful operators must try to create a framework, cultivate good operating habits, and slowly establish a successful operating model. 16. Never violate good rules: What is a good rule? As long as you think it is a good rule that can help you make a profit or reduce losses in operation, it is a good rule, and you should not violate it. When you find that you have violated a rule, leave the market as soon as possible, otherwise you should at least reduce the volume of operations. 17. Putting it in your pocket is real: a wave of market conditions cannot rise continuously without rest, and you must learn to put the profits in your pocket to avoid the profits on the books turning into losses. 18. Try to use the market for hedging: when the overall economy weakens, market risks increase. In order to reduce risks and increase profits, hedge and sell hedging in the market in order to form a price insurance function. 19. Buy when there is a rumor that the price is going to rise, and sell when it really rises: If there is a rumor in the market that the price is going to rise, then you should buy based on this news, but when this news comes true, it is time to sell. For one sell, there may be multiple sell news, because the market tends to build news into the market price. 20. The bull market will be crushed by itself: This is an old trading rule in the trading market. It says that when the price of a bull market soars, it may be crushed to the limit by its own weight. So, when you are in a bull market, you should be particularly bearish on news. 21. Detect price trends: The price chart is one of the basic tools of successful traders. You can use it to see the main trend of prices. A common mistake made by commodity investors is to buy when the market is basically trending down, or sell when it is rising. 22. Pay attention to the breakout points in the trend chart: This is the only method used by some successful traders. They draw a curve chart of the trading price for several consecutive days. If the price trend breaks through the previous trend and remains for more than two or three days in a row, it is usually a good buy or sell prompt. 23. Pay attention to the 50% retracement point in the main trend: You may often hear that the market is running in a technical rebound. This means that after a big rise (or fall), the market will have a 50% reverse movement. 24. When choosing buying and selling points, use the half-cut rule: This means finding the range of commodity buying and selling, and then cutting the range in half, buying in the lower half, or selling in the upper half. This rule is particularly useful when the market follows the chart track. I hope it helps you. The rest will be updated in new articles. If you need it, you can check it on the homepage after following it.
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by Signalking
[EDU-Bite Sized Mini Series]Understanding Forex Market StructureHello fellow traders , my regular and new friends! Welcome and thanks for dropping by my post. Let's begin with our topic today! The forex market, being decentralized and over-the-counter (OTC), operates differently from traditional centralized exchanges. To navigate it effectively, traders need to comprehend its unique structure. Market structure refers to the arrangement of price action within a given market, encompassing key elements such as trends, support and resistance levels, and price behavior. 1. Trends: Trends are one of the fundamental aspects of market structure. They depict the overall direction of price movement over time. Traders often classify trends as bullish (upward), bearish (downward), or ranging (sideways). Understanding the prevailing trend helps traders align their strategies accordingly. 2. Support and Resistance Levels: Support and resistance levels (or known as supply and demand levels/zones) are areas where price tends to stall, reverse, or exhibit significant buying or selling pressures. These levels/areas form the building blocks of market structure and are crucial for identifying potential entry and exit points. Support represents levels where buying interest outweighs selling pressure, preventing prices from falling further. Conversely, resistance denotes areas where selling pressure surpasses buying interest, hindering further upward movement. If you have cluster of candle's tail in a area/levels, likely it would be supply/demand liquidity pocket 3. Price Behavior: Price behavior within market structure provides valuable insights into market sentiment and participant dynamics. Patterns such as higher highs and higher lows in an uptrend, or lower highs and lower lows in a downtrend, signify the strength or weakness of a trend. Additionally, the manner in which price interacts with support and resistance levels can indicate potential reversals or continuations. 4. Market Phases: Understanding different phases of the market, such as accumulation, markup, distribution, and markdown, aids in deciphering market structure. Each phase reflects the behavior of market participants and their collective impact on price action. Recognizing these phases enables traders to anticipate potential shifts in market direction and adjust their strategies accordingly. Conclusion: In summary, comprehending forex market structure is essential for effective trading. By analyzing trends, identifying key support and resistance levels, observing price behavior, and recognizing market phases, traders can make informed decisions and navigate the forex market with confidence. Do check out my recorded video (in trading ideas) for the week to have more explanation in place. Do Like and Boost if you have learnt something and enjoyed the content, thank you! -- Get the right tools and an experienced Guide, you WILL navigate your way out of this "Dangerous Jungle"! -- ********************************************************************* Disclaimers: The analysis shared through this channel are purely for educational and entertainment purposes only. They are by no means professional advice for individual/s to enter trades for investment or trading purposes. *********************************************************************
Education
by Shadowing_The_Big_Boys
Special words for gold trading We often see these words when trading. If you understand them, trading will be easier. Including "deposit, withdrawal, position, closing, take profit, stop loss", etc.; they mean: Deposit: remit personal funds to the trading account for trading; Withdrawal: transfer part or all of the balance in the trading account to a personal bank account; Position: the name of the trader buying and selling contracts in the market; establishing a trading order is called "establishing a position", a buy order is called a "long position", and a short-selling order is called a "short position" Closing: ending a held buy order or sell order; Take profit: the trading order finally achieves the profit target and leaves the market with a profit; Stop Loss: When the order loss reaches the maximum tolerable amount, admit the loss and leave the market; In addition to the commonly used terms, there are also some special terms involved in the trading market; For example: heavy position, light position, carry order, lock position, liquidation Heavy position: Most of the funds in the trader's account are involved in order transactions Light position: The trader only uses a small part of the funds in the account to participate in the order; In trading, there is a most basic principle that "don't put all your eggs in one basket" There are always risks in the financial market, and traders should remember one sentence: Avoid risks, trade with light positions, and never hold heavy positions. Light position standards: Total loss of holding positions ≤ one-tenth of the account amount The number of lots for a single transaction of 10,000 US dollars is not more than 0.5-1 lot Carry order: When traders encounter losses, they have no stop-loss strategy, do not know how to stop losses and choose opportunities to start over, but always hold losing orders and bet everything on the rise and fall of the market. This is a behavior that should be avoided in trading. Locking: Similar to "carrying orders", when traders encounter losses, they do not implement stop-loss strategies, but establish reverse orders while holding loss orders. Locking can only allow traders to temporarily stop further losses, but cannot get rid of losses. If the net value is not enough, a "black swan event" will occur, and the short-order spread will increase instantly, which will also lead to a margin call. Margin call: When the funds in the trader's trading account are not enough to trade, it is a margin call; margin call means the loss of all principal. If you are a novice, these must be helpful to you! I will share trading knowledge from time to time, and you can follow me if you need it.
TVC:GOLDEducation
by Signalking
FLOATING SPREAD VS FIXED SPREAD🌐 The trading conditions of any account specify the type of spread: floating or fixed. As a rule, the value of a fixed spread is larger, but a floating spread has an insidious wording “from...” in the terms and conditions. This means that the floating spread may well be greater than the fixed one. Nevertheless, it is considered better. What are its advantages and disadvantages, what spread to choose? 📍 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FLOATING SPREAD ▶️ FIXED SPREAD The difference between the buy and sell price of an asset is constant. This indicates that the broker works according to Straight Through Processing (STP) model - directly with a specific liquidity provider, the size of the spread with which is pre-agreed. The broker charges its commission (markup) and the trader sees the final difference. The fixed spread is only theoretical. Often in the offer there is a clause that the broker can unilaterally change it. And broker does it at the moment of news release, when volatility increases sharply. ▶️ FLOATING SPREAD The difference between price/offer is formed by the market. The broker only adds its small commission, that's why there are no zero spreads. Floating spreads are set on ECN accounts, where orders are not placed to a specific liquidity provider, but to the general market. Such accounts have a high entry threshold and a fixed commission for each lot placed on the account. 📍 THE FLOATING SPREAD DEPENDS ON: 🔘 Market Liquidity. During the vacation season, on the eve of vacations, at the moment of flat trading activity decreases. The smaller the volumes and the fewer traders, the bigger the gap between Bid and Ask prices. 🔘 Currency Liquidity. Or investors' interest. The FX:EURUSD pair is liquid, the pair of the US dollar with the South African rand is called exotic and the spread on it is one of the largest. 🔘 Volatility. Or the speed of trend movement. If after the news release the imbalance of bids in the direction of buyers or sellers sharply increases, the spread will also grow. 🔘 Time of day. Or the period of activity of traders of this or that region. 📍 ADVANTAGES OF A FLOATING SPREAD: ➡️ Most of the time it is less than the fixed spread. ➡️ No requotes - the transaction is executed in any case. ➡️ Floating spread is more profitable than fixed spread for liquid currencies. Fixed spread is more profitable for “exotics”. ➡️ It is favorable for scalping, where every tenth of a point is important for profit. 📍 DISADVANTAGES OF FLOATING SPREAD: ➡️ There are slippages at the moment of sharp spread widening. ➡️ It is necessary to constantly monitor its change. ➡️ It can sharply increase when a fundamental factor appears. ➡️ There is still a risk of artificial spread widening by the broker (it is not easy to prove). ➡️ Increases emotional tension. With a fixed spread a trader always knows the amount of expenses. Expansion of a floating spread can turn a profitable trade into a losing one. If you open a new account with a broker, pay attention to the following points. In what cases the broker has the right to change the fixed spread. What quotes we are talking about. Outdated data on the website may turn out to be conditions for 4-digit quotes. Compare spreads at different brokers on a demo account; install a script showing the current spread. Run it on one asset, watch how and when the floating spread might widen. 📍 CONCLUSION The choice between a fixed spread and a floating spread depends on several factors, including market liquidity, currency pair, volatility, and time of day. While fixed spreads offer a set and predictable price difference, floating spreads can be more competitive and profitable, especially for scalping strategies. However, floating spreads also come with risks, such as slippage and the need to constantly monitor spread changes. When opening a new account with a broker, it's essential to pay attention to the terms and conditions, clarify quotes, compare spreads across different brokers, and test the floating spread on a demo account. Traders, If you liked this educational post🎓, give it a boost 🚀 and drop a comment
Education
by Lingrid
5
The ONLY Strategy You Need to Identify The Market Trend In this article, we will discuss a proven price action based way to identify the market trend . ❗️And let me note, before we start, that no matter what strategy do you use in your trading, you should always know where the market is going and what is the current trend . Your judgement should be based on strict and objective rules that proved its accuracy. There are a lot of ways to identify the market trend. One of the simplest and efficient ones is price action based method . This method relies on impulse legs . The market never goes just straight up or down, the price action always has a zigzag shape with a set of impulses and retracements. The impulse leg is a strong directional movement , while the retracement is the correctional movement within the boundaries of the impulse. UPTREND 📈The market is trading in a bullish trend if 3 conditions are met: 1️⃣the price forms an initial bullish impulse , 2️⃣ retraces , setting a higher low , 3️⃣then starts growing again and sets a new high with the second bullish impulse . Once these 3 conditions are met, we consider the market to be bullish, and we expect a bullish continuation in such a manner. Take a look at a price action on USDCAD. According to the trend-analysis rules, the pair is trading in a bullish trend. DOWNTREND 📉The market is trading in a bearish trend if 3 following conditions are met: 1️⃣the price forms an initial bearish impulse , 2️⃣ retraces , setting a lower high , 3️⃣then drops lower and sets a new low with the second bearish impulse . Once these 3 conditions are met, we consider the market to be bearish, and we expect a bearish trend continuation. According to the rules, NZDUSD is trading in a bearish trend on the chart above. CONSOLIDATION ➖The third state of the market is called consolidation . The market is trading in a consolidation if the conditions for bullish or bearish trend are not met . The price chaotically forms bullish and bearish impulses, usually trading within the range . Above is the example of a sideways, consolidating market, where the price sets equal or almost equal highs and lows and conditions for bullish/bearish trend are not met. Knowing the current trend, one always knows whether a current trading position is trend-following or counter trend, or it is a sideways consolidation trade. Learn these simple rules and try to identify the market trend with them.
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
1
Trade Like A Sniper - Episode 12 - GBPAUD - (1st June 2024)This video is part of a video series where I backtest a specific asset using the TradingView Replay function, and perform a top-down analysis in order to frame ONE high-probability setup. I choose a random point of time to replay, and begin to work my way down the timeframes. Trading like a sniper is not about entries with no drawdown. It is about careful planning, discipline, and taking your shot at the right time in the best of conditions. A couple of things to note: - I cannot see news events. - I cannot change timeframes without affecting my bias due to higher-timeframe candles revealing its entire range. - I cannot go to a very low timeframe due to the limit in amount of replayed candlesticks In this session I will be analyzing GBPAUD, starting from the 12-Month chart. - R2F
Education
by Road_2_Funded
Divergence - asset price directionDivergence is the discrepancy between the direction of an asset's price and the readings of an indicator. There are three types of divergences: classical, extended, and hidden. The first two can be used to gauge market sentiment and to trade in the opposite direction. Hidden divergence, however, is more significant and can serve as a powerful supplementary factor in determining the price direction and opening positions. The use of extended divergence is not necessary, as it rarely occurs and forms at equal highs or lows. In such cases, an indicator is not needed to gauge market sentiment; the chart itself will suffice. Classical Divergence Classical divergence indicates a potential trend reversal or the beginning of a correction. Bullish classical divergence is identified when a lower low (LL) forms on the chart while a higher low (HL) appears on the indicator. The masses buy when classical bullish divergence appears, anticipating significant growth. An upward price movement may begin, but after short-term liquidity for buying is exhausted and the price rebalances, a reversal will occur, and the decline will continue. Long positions opened during the correction will become unprofitable. In a bear market, classical bullish divergence typically appears before the start of a correction. Bearish classical divergence is identified when a higher high (HH) forms on the chart while a lower high (LH) appears on the indicator. The masses sell when classical bearish divergence appears, expecting a significant decline. A downward price movement may begin, but after short-term liquidity for selling is exhausted and the price rebalances, a reversal will occur, and the growth will continue. Short positions opened during the correction will become unprofitable. In a bull market, classical bearish divergence typically appears before the start of a correction. The formation of multiple divergences is common. The masses will seize every opportunity to open their positions, leading to unprofitable outcomes. The number of divergences before the start of a correction is not limited. It is recommended to wait for the price to react after reaching the resistance zone. In the example above, the correction began after partially filling the imbalance on the 1D timeframe within the imbalance on the 1W timeframe. Hidden Divergence Hidden divergence serves as a confirmation of trend continuation. Bullish hidden divergence is identified when a higher low (HL) forms on the chart and a lower low (LL) appears on the indicator. In an uptrend, hidden bullish divergence may form before the continuation of growth, acting as a strong supplementary factor in determining the future price direction and considering positions. Bearish hidden divergence is identified when a lower high (LH) forms on the chart and a higher high (HH) appears on the indicator. In a downtrend, hidden bearish divergence may form before the continuation of the decline, acting as a strong supplementary factor in determining the future price direction and considering positions. Notes - The RSI (Relative Strength Index) indicator is used to identify divergences. - RSI is plotted without considering candle shadows. - Divergence should be viewed as an additional factor to your analysis, not a standalone tool. - Divergence below the chart will always be bullish, while divergence above the chart will always be bearish.
Education
by truepersonal
Bitcoin: How to Forecast the End of a Trend.The advance from Dec 2018 seems to be tracing an impulse pattern. Wave 1 is an impulse, wave 2 is a zigzag which neatly predicts flat wave 4 by guideline of alternation. The fifth wave appears to be tracing an impulse as well; an extension. It's probable that two minute degrees have reached completion at this stage and the market appears to be tracing out the third wave. So how do you forecast the target for wave 5? One way is to use an Elliott wave channel. Connect the end of wave 2 and 4. Draw a parallel line along the top of wave 3 to project wave 5 target. It is quite common for wave 5 to end upon reaching the upper boundary line of the channel In some cases, when wave 3 is uncommonly strong, almost vertical. Draw a parallel line using the top of wave 1 instead of wave 3. From experience, it's quite advantageous to draw the two upper boundary lines.
INDEX:BTCUSDEducation
by Aquanet_Market_Forecast
Order typesIn the past, a person would typically have to go to the brokerage or another financial entity to buy or sell a security. The trade would be then settled through a personal meeting or, as technology progressed, over the phone. Nonetheless, the implementation of modern technology within the financial markets of the 21st century made placing buy and sell orders as easy as a few mouse button clicks. Nowadays, many trading platforms allow their clients to execute various types of orders beyond ordinary buy and sell orders. Key takeaways: Using limit orders is generally considered one of the safest ways to buy or sell a security. Modern technology allows placing buy and sell orders with a few mouse clicks. A stop-loss and stop-limit orders are used to protect an investor’s capital. A trailing stop locks in some of the accrued profits. Quick trade orders get instantly filled by a single or double click on a bid or ask button. Limit order A buy limit order is used to buy a security at a specified price. This type of order is executed automatically in a case when the price of a security is lower than the value of the buy limit order. A sell limit order is used to sell a security at a specified price. It gets automatically filled when the price of a security is higher than the value of the sell limit order. This design occasionally allows for the execution of the buy limit order or the sell limit order at a better price. Generally, limit orders are one of the safest ways to purchase or sell a security. Quick-trade order Some trading platforms allow the use of quick-trade orders. A quick-trade order is a type of order that is instantly filled by a single or double click on a bid or ask button in a trading platform. These orders are relatively safe to use. However, filling this type of order in highly volatile markets might be difficult due to a quickly changing price. Market order When traders choose to use a market order, they let the market set the price of security. In essence, this means that for a buy market order, a trade execution occurs at the nearest ask. For a sell market order, a trade execution takes place at the nearest bid. The use of the market order is less safe in comparison to limit order because it allows for worse filling of orders in illiquid markets and markets dominated by algorithmic trading. However, some platforms offer their clients the option to choose the tolerance threshold for such trade orders. Good ‘Til Canceled order (GTC) This type of order remains active until it is filled or canceled. Stop-loss and stop-limit orders A stop-loss order sells a position at a market price if it reaches or passes a specified price. Unlike a stop-loss order, a stop-limit order liquidates a position only at a specified or better price. These types of orders are used to protect investor’s capital before depreciation. Trailing stop order A trailing stop order trails the price as it moves in the trader’s favor. For a long position, a trailing stop moves higher with the price but stays unchanged when the price falls. Similarly, for a short position, a trailing stop moves lower with the price but remains unchanged when the price rises. The intent of a trailing stop is to lock in some of the accrued profits. Please feel free to express your ideas and thoughts in the comment section. DISCLAIMER: This analysis is not intended to encourage any buying or selling of any particular securities. Furthermore, it should not be a basis for taking any trade action by an individual investor or any other entity. Therefore, your own due diligence is highly advised before entering a trade.
COINBASE:ETHUSDEducation
by Tradersweekly
2
10 tips to become a profitable traderHere are 10 tips to become a profitable trader: 1. Understand the markets and trading instruments: Thoroughly learn about the financial markets, trading products, and how they function. This will help you make well-informed investment decisions. 2. Develop a trading strategy: Formulate a clear investment strategy, including entry/exit criteria, risk management, and position sizing. This will provide you with a systematic and disciplined approach. 3. Manage risk: Always determine your acceptable risk level and use tools like stop-loss orders and position sizing to mitigate risk. 4. Focus on the process, not the outcome: Focus on executing your strategy correctly, not on the result of each trade. The results will come to those who are patient and disciplined. 5. Avoid the temptation of excessive leverage: Use leverage carefully and only with an amount you can afford to risk. 6. Diversify your investment portfolio: Invest in a variety of asset classes to reduce overall risk. 7. Continuously learn and update your knowledge: Monitor market trends, research new strategies, and stay up-to-date with trading tools. 8. Maintain emotional control: Avoid letting emotions influence your investment decisions. Stay cool-headed and make clear-minded decisions. 9. Track and analyze your results: Monitor and analyze the results of your trades to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. 10. Be patient and persistent: Becoming a successful investor is not an overnight process. Be patient, persistent, and continuously improve.
INDEX:BTCUSDEducation
by Rockybullcrypto
From Beginner to Pro - The Evolution of a Trader Hey traders, In this educational article, we will discuss 3 stages of the evolution of a trader . Stage 1 - Unprofitable trader 😞 The unprofitable trader has very typical characteristics: -total absence of trading skills Most of the time, people open a live account simply after completing some beginners course like on babypips website. Being sure that the obtained knowledge are completely enough to start trading, they quickly face the tough reality. -no trading plan Having just basic knowledge, of course, they do not have a trading plan. Why the hell to have it if everything is so simple?! All their actions on the market is just gambling. They open the positions randomly most of the time, simply relying on intuition. -poor risk management In 99% percent of the time, the unprofitable trader does not even think about risk management. The position sizing, stop placement and target selection are completely neglected. Trading performance of the unprofitable traders is characterized by small wins and substantial losses and negatively trending equity. Stage 2 - Boom and bust trader 😶 Usually, traders reach boom and bust stage after 1-2 years of unprofitable trading. At some moment, winning trades start to compensate losing trades, brining non-trending equity. Such traders have very common traits: -not polished trading plan Being unprofitable for so long, traders start to realize the significance of a trading plan. Sticking to the set of rules, they notice positive changes in their trading performance. However, trading plan requires to be polished and modified. It takes many years for a trader to identify all its drawbacks before it starts bringing net profits. -lack of confidence When one starts following a trading system, confidence plays a substantial role. The fact is that even the best trading strategy in the world occasionally produces negative results. In order to not give up and keep following such a system, one needs to build trust in that. The confidence that after a series of losing trades, the strategy will manage to recover. Such a trust can be built after many years of trading that strategy. Stage 3 - Profitable trader ☺️ That is the final destination. After many years of a struggling trading, one finally sees positively-trending equity. Winning trades start to outperform losing ones, leading to consistent account growth. Profitable trader is characterized by iron discipline, confidence and consistency. He knows what he is trading, when and why. His trading plan is polished, he fully controls his emotions. He never stops learning and constantly develops his strategy. Knowing the 3 stages of the evolution of a trader, one can easily identify at what stage he currently is. That will help to identify the things to be focused on to move to the next stage. At what stages are you at the moment?
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
4
[EDU-Bite Sized Mini Series] When to trade for best bang for $$?Hello fellow traders , my regular and new friends! Welcome and thanks for dropping by my post. Okay, let's get started on today's topic. Knowing when to trade and when NOT to trade is very important. This is the "timing" element which is also a crucial part of trading. And, this is especially important if you are looking to trade on a lower timeframe! Understanding the different trading sessions in the forex market and identifying the best times and days to trade can significantly improve trading success. Here's a breakdown of the major forex trading sessions and their characteristics: Asian Session (Tokyo/Singapore/Hong Kong): The Asian session begins with the opening of the Tokyo market, though the AUD and NZD starts trading earlier than it. It's known for lower volatility compared to other sessions, with currency pairs like USD/JPY and AUD/USD often experiencing increased activity.At times, if there's a important news release such as FED interest rate release or Non- farm payroll on a Friday. The preceding Asian Session could have "spill over" activity and increased in volatility in the FX market. European Session (London): The European session, centered around London, is considered the most active session (besides the US). It often sees high liquidity and volatility, making it ideal for day traders. Major currency pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and EUR/GBP typically exhibit significant movements during this session. 3. North American Session (New York): The North American session overlaps with the end of the European session, creating a period of increased activity. Day traders loved the volatility during this period of time, more over key news releases could be catalyst for further volatility. It's characterized by liquidity from both European and American traders. Currency pairs involving the USD, such as EUR/USD, USD/JPY, and GBP/USD, are particularly active. 4. Best Times to Trade: To be specific, the best times to trade forex are typically during the overlap of multiple trading sessions when liquidity and volatility are highest. This occurs during the overlap of the European and North American sessions, known as the "London-New York" overlap, which occurs from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST. Another optimal period is during the overlap of the Asian and European sessions. Best Days to Trade While forex markets are open 24 hours a day, five days a week, certain days tend to offer more trading opportunities. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are generally considered the best days to trade, as they typically see higher volatility and more significant price movements compared to Mondays and Fridays. By understanding the characteristics of each trading session and identifying the optimal times and days to trade, you can enhance your trading strategies and capitalize on the most favorable market conditions. Do check out my recorded video (in trading ideas) for the week to have more explanation in place. Do Like and Boost if you have learnt something and enjoyed the content, thank you! -- Get the right tools and an experienced Guide, you WILL navigate your way out of this "Dangerous Jungle"! -- ********************************************************************* Disclaimers: The analysis shared through this channel are purely for educational and entertainment purposes only. They are by no means professional advice for individual/s to enter trades for investment or trading purposes. *********************************************************************
Education
by Shadowing_The_Big_Boys
[EDU-Bite Sized Mini Series]All you need for Order types in FX Hello fellow traders , my regular and new friends! Welcome and thanks for dropping by my post. Understanding the various order types in forex trading is essential for navigating the market efficiently and executing trades effectively. Here's a concise overview of some common order types: 1. Market Order: This order is executed immediately at the current market price. It is used when a trader wants to enter or exit a trade quickly. More of for Day Trading - A trader might use market orders to quickly enter and exit positions based on real-time news events or technical signals. Live example > A trader sees a positive European's news release and expects a quick upward move in the EUR/USD pair. They use a market order to buy EUR/USD at the current price of 1.1950, aiming to sell it later in the day at a higher price based on the expected market reaction. 2. Limit Order: A limit order allows traders to specify the price at which they want to enter or exit a trade. It's used to buy below the current market price or sell above it, ensuring entry or exit at a specific price level or better. For example for Swing Trading - A trader might place a buy limit order at a support level, expecting the price to bounce back up, or a sell limit order at a resistance level, expecting the price to fall. Live Example > A trader identifies strong support for USD/JPY at 110.50 and places a buy limit order at this price, expecting the price to rebound. When the market price dips to 110.50, the order is executed, and the trader aims to sell at 111.50. 3. Stop Order(Stop-Loss Order): A stop order becomes a market order once a specified price level is reached. It's commonly used to limit losses or protect profits by triggering a trade when the market moves in a certain direction. This, in my opinion should be used as Risk Management for all traders - A trader sets a stop-loss order below the entry price for a long position or above the entry price for a short position to limit potential losses if the market moves against their position. Live Example > A trader buys GBP/USD at 1.3500, anticipating a rise. To protect against unexpected drops, they place a stop-loss order at 1.3450. If the price falls to 1.3450, the order executes, limiting the trader's loss to 50 pips. 4. Stop-Limit Order: A stop-limit order combines features of both stop and limit orders. It triggers a limit order to buy or sell at a specified price once the stop price is reached, offering more control over entry and exit prices. More of for Advanced Trading - A trader might use a stop-limit order to ensure they enter a position only if the price reaches a certain level but still want to control the maximum price they are willing to pay. Live Example: A trader wants to buy EUR/GBP only if it breaks above 0.8500 but not pay more than 0.8520. They place a stop-limit order with a stop price of 0.8500 and a limit price of 0.8520. If the price hits 0.8500, the order becomes a limit order, executing only if the price is 0.8520 or lower. 5. Trailing Stop Order: A trailing stop order is a dynamic stop-loss order that adjusts automatically as the market price moves in the trader's favor. It helps lock in profits while allowing for potential further gains. For Trend Following - A trader might use a trailing stop order to lock in profits as the price moves in their favor, allowing the stop price to trail the market price and protect gains if the market reverses. A trader buys USD/CAD at 1.3000 and sets a trailing stop order with a 50-pip trail. As the price rises to 1.3100, the trailing stop adjusts to 1.3050. If the price then falls to 1.3050, the order executes, locking in a 50-pip profit. Hopefully these explanations on the various Trading Orders open you up to more strategies that you can applied in the market for you to trade more efficiently and profitably! Do check out my recorded video (in trading ideas) for the week to have more explanation in place. Do Like and Boost if you have learnt something and enjoyed the content, thank you! -- Get the right tools and an experienced Guide, you WILL navigate your way out of this "Dangerous Jungle"! -- ********************************************************************* Disclaimers: The analysis shared through this channel are purely for educational and entertainment purposes only. They are by no means professional advice for individual/s to enter trades for investment or trading purposes. *********************************************************************
Education
by Shadowing_The_Big_Boys
Why longer term charts are importantI took a look at the weekly gold/silver ratio and noticed a few significant patterns. For example, there was a notable acceleration downward following the break of a 3-year uptrend a couple of weeks ago. Additionally, there is support at the 74.65/63 level, which has been in place since January 2022. This observation reminded me of the importance of examining long-term charts, regardless of your trading time frame. Longer-term charts provide essential context and clarity that short-term charts often lack. Why everyone should be looking at longer term charts: 1. Identifying Trends Long-term charts help in identifying significant trends that might not be visible in short-term data. 2. Smoothing Out Volatility Short-term data is often noisy, with frequent fluctuations that can obscure the underlying pattern. Long-term charts smooth out this volatility, providing a clearer picture of the fundamental movement and reducing the influence of random, short-term events. 3. Contextualizing Current Movements Long-term charts place current price or economic movements in a broader context. This helps investors and analysts understand whether a recent change is part of a larger trend or not. 4. Historical Comparisons These charts allow for comparisons with past periods, making it possible to identify cycles, recurring patterns, and historical precedents. This historical perspective can be invaluable for forecasting future movements and making informed predictions. 5. Assessing Risk and Reward By examining long-term performance, investors can better assess the potential risks and rewards of an investment. Understanding how an asset has performed over various market cycles helps in evaluating its stability and growth potential. 6. Avoiding Emotional Bias Short-term market movements can evoke strong emotional responses, leading to impulsive decisions. Long-term charts provide a more detached view, helping investors stay focused on long-term objectives and avoid reacting to short-term market noise. Conclusion In summary, long-term charts offer a comprehensive view that is critical for understanding trends, reducing noise, contextualizing current events, making historical comparisons, assessing risk, avoiding emotional decisions, developing strategies, and analysing economic cycles. They are an indispensable tool for anyone involved in financial markets or economic analysis, providing the clarity and perspective necessary for informed decision-making. Disclaimer: The information posted on Trading View is for informative purposes and is not intended to constitute advice in any form, including but not limited to investment, accounting, tax, legal or regulatory advice. The information therefore has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific recipient. Opinions expressed are our current opinions as of the date appearing on Trading View only. All illustrations, forecasts or hypothetical data are for illustrative purposes only. The Society of Technical Analysts Ltd does not make representation that the information provided is appropriate for use in all jurisdictions or by all Investors or other potential Investors. Parties are therefore responsible for compliance with applicable local laws and regulations. The Society of Technical Analysts will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any information on this site.
TVC:GOLDSILVEREducation
by The_STA
7
How to Confirm an Elliott Wave Count.Hello fellow traders, today I would like to show you how to apply a Kennedy Channeling technique (by Jeffrey Kennedy) to identify and confirm Elliott waves with more confidence. 1. Base Channel:- Wave 3 identification When wave 2 is complete, connect the origin of wave 1 and the end of wave 2. Draw a parallel line along the top of wave 1. As long as price action stays within this channel, you can consider price action corrective, probably wave C of a Zigzag. In a bullish trend, prices ought to break above the upper boundary line of this channel for wave 3 count to be acceptable. 2. Acceleration Channel:-Wave 4 identification. Connect the extreme of wave 1 and the top of wave 3. Draw a parallel line starting at the bottom of wave 2. Only after prices break through the lower boundary line of the acceleration channel, could you be convinced that wave 3 is over and wave 4 is unfolding. 3. Final Channel:- Wave 5 identification Connect the end of waves 2 and 4. Draw a parallel line along the top of wave 3 to project wave 5 target. It is quite common for wave 5 to terminate upon reaching the upper trendline of the final channel. That's all for today. Trade wisely!
Education
by Aquanet_Market_Forecast
COMPOUND INTEREST: The Secret SauceIn this video I cover the topic of "Compound Interest". I go over the WHAT, WHY, WHO and HOW of it. The Importance of Compound Interest in Trading Compound interest is a fundamental concept in the world of finance and trading, offering a powerful mechanism for growing wealth over time. Unlike simple interest, which is calculated only on the principal amount, compound interest is calculated on the principal and also on the accumulated interest of previous periods. This seemingly small difference can significantly impact long-term investment returns. Amplifying Returns In trading, compound interest can exponentially increase the growth of your account. When profits from trading are reinvested, they start to generate additional earnings. For example, if a trader earns a 10% return on a $1,000 investment, they would have $1,100 after the first period. In the next period, the 10% return is calculated on the new total of $1,100, resulting in $1,210, and so on. Over multiple periods, this effect leads to exponential growth, far outstripping the returns from simple interest. Long-Term Benefits The magic of compound interest becomes particularly evident over longer time horizons. The longer an investment is allowed to compound, the greater the potential growth. For traders, this underscores the importance of patience and a long-term perspective. By consistently reinvesting earnings and allowing them to compound, traders can achieve significant wealth accumulation even if individual trade returns are modest. Mitigating Risk Compound interest also highlights the importance of managing risks and minimizing losses. In trading, avoiding substantial losses is crucial because significant drawdowns can severely disrupt the compounding process. A trader who loses a large portion of their capital will need significantly higher returns to recover, which can be challenging. Therefore, prudent risk management and maintaining steady, positive returns are key to leveraging the power of compound interest. Psychology plays a role as well as losing large amounts of your account can negatively affect your decision making. Conclusion Understanding and leveraging compound interest is essential for traders aiming to maximize their long-term returns. By reinvesting profits and allowing them to compound over time, traders can achieve exponential growth in their investments. Coupled with effective risk management, the power of compound interest can transform modest returns into substantial wealth, making it a cornerstone of successful trading strategies.
Education
by Road_2_Funded
1
EXPLAINING LIQUIDITY IN SIMPLE WORDSLiquidity plays a vital role in shaping market prices, particularly among large market players such as banks, hedge funds, and other influential entities. These entities, often referred to as market makers, manipulators, and others, are driven by their pursuit of liquidity. In fact, liquidity is the foundation upon which successful trading is built, and it's where traders should begin their journey. In the context of Smart Money Concepts (SMC), liquidity refers to the levels of asset price where multiple market participants have placed limit orders, stop orders, and liquidations. Stop orders are essentially reverse orders designed to mitigate losses by buying back positions that have gone against a trader's expectations. When a trader sets a Stop-Loss order, they're essentially trying to limit potential losses if the market moves against them. The concentration of stop orders creates a gravitational effect, making it attractive for larger players to gain an advantage. By identifying areas with high concentrations of stop orders, big players can exploit these liquidity zones to collect profits from retail traders who are unaware of these market dynamics. As a result, the movement of prices from one liquidity zone to another is driven by the actions of these powerful entities, ultimately shaping the market landscape. ❓ HOW TO IDENTIFY LIQUIDITY ON THE PRICE CHART? Before we dive into trading and trades, we must first identify obvious liquidity pools. These will be our closest target for the price to converge upon. There are several types of liquidity in the market: Equal highs and lows (EQH/EQL), which mark significant turning points Swing structural points, including notable highs and lows that can be significant drivers of market activity Boundaries in sideways price movement, such as ranges or sideways trends, where liquidity is concentrated Trend movement, where liquidity tends to accumulate below or above the trendline 📊 SIGNIFICANT PRICE HIGHS AND LOWS The SMC features six key extrema that significantly impact trading: • The previous month's high and low values • The previous week's high and low values • The previous day's high and low values • The current trading day's high and low values • Equal highs and lows, which can be particularly significant in determining market trends 📈 Equal Highs (EQH) or Equal Lows (EQL) 📉 The double bottom or double top candlestick formation is a common indicator of a potential price reversal. When the price reaches these formations, it typically signals a change in direction, with the price moving in the opposite direction. For retail traders, equal highs and lows are crucial levels of support and resistance, prompting them to place stop orders at these levels. These levels act as a gravitational force, attracting large capital flows and creating a significant amount of liquidity. When the price approaches these levels in reverse, it's not uncommon to see a cluster of stop orders forming, as traders anticipating a bounce from the level wait for the price to react. However, large players often take advantage of this expectation by executing stop-loss orders through a false breakout, ultimately triggering a price reversal. 💲 SIGNS OF A SUCCESSFUL LIQUIDITY GRAB Let's consider a buy scenario as an example. Traders identify a strong low price, and large capital players recognize an obvious accumulation of liquidity at this point. When the price returns to this low and breaks it, but without forming a full candle, the price closes above the broken low. To better understand this concept, let's examine the schematic representation of liquidity grab in buying scenario. Liquidity is a top priority for big players, known as “smart money”. A significant player is actively seeking to find it to secure their position. The reason is that if they were to open trades without sufficient liquidity, they would be exposed to price slippage, as there may not be enough buy or sell orders in the market to execute their trades efficiently. 🔎 IS IT A LIQUIDITY GRAB OR NOT? Distinguishing between a liquidity grab and a breakout of market structure is crucial, as they share similarities. In the case of a liquidity grab, the price fails to close at an important structural highs or lows, instead takes liquidity forming long tailed candles. In contrast, a breakout of the structure sees the price breaks and closes above or below new level. Notably, liquidity grab often precedes a price reversal, whereas breakout of the level typically perpetuates the underlying trend. 📍 TREND LIQUIDITY In a clear trending market, liquidity forms in both directions, at the lows and highs. Let's take a closer look at a downward trend movement. When we see the price moving downwards, we initially take liquidity at the lows, which has been building up since the price reached its maximum. Then, we take liquidity at the minimum, creating a natural flow. At the highs, we deliberately leave liquidity on purpose, allowing it to build up and eventually be taken away naturally. The liquidity at the lows acts as a price magnet, attracting a large player who begins to accumulate their position. In some cases, the price may form equal lows, known as a double bottom in technical analysis. This signals to traders that it's time to enter a trade, and they place stop losses above these levels. At this point, a major player manipulates the price, taking this liquidity and reversing the trend. The first target is then the trend highs, where liquidity is located – it was left earlier to be taken away. 📝 HOW TO WORK WITH LIQUIDITY? When working with liquidity, it can be a valuable tool for entering a trade, as well as helping to set a stop loss by avoiding arbitrary price levels. Instead, you can use liquidity to guide your trading decisions and create more informed stop-loss strategies. Moreover, take profits can also be placed on liquidity levels, as the price is constantly moving between these levels, making it essential to take profits before they're taken away. 💎 CONCLUSION The benefits of liquidity analysis extend to any time frame, whether it's weekly, daily, or even 1-minute charts. This means that liquidity can be effectively applied to analyze forex market, indices, cryptocurrencies and shares of companies for investment purposes, making it a versatile tool for traders and investors alike. Traders, If you liked this educational post🎓, give it a boost 🚀 and drop a comment
Education
by Lingrid
23
Want to spot a turning point in trend before it happens?Want to spot a turning point in trend before it happens? Use Elliott wave parallel channel This chart shows the GBP/JPY currency pair using monthly candlesticks. The advance from Sep 2011 to June 2015 can be labeled as an impulse wave (A). From that high, the pair declined in three waves labeled as wave (B) of a Zigzag A-B-C correction with an expanding diagonal characteristic in the C wave position. As a rule, in a Zigzag rally, wave B notably terminates above the origin of wave A. When wave (C) advance of a zigzag rally is in operation, we can forecast where wave (C) might end. We can use Elliott wave channel projection by connecting the origin of wave (A) with the end of wave (B) and then drawing a parallel line from the end of wave (A). As a guideline, the resulting channel gives us a potential target for the wave (C) endpoint. Moreover, we can also use ratio analysis to improve the odds. As a guideline, in Zigzag formations, wave (C) commonly ends after traveling the same length as wave (A). Observe this level corresponds with the Elliott wave channel projection. This cluster of evidence hints at wave (C) advance from Mar 2020 is in late stages and that prices are approaching a major top.
Education
by Aquanet_Market_Forecast
17
How Many Monitors Do YOU Need? - R2F's Professional OpinionHi everyone, I get this question occasionally, so I figured I would share my opinion on the matter. There are many misconceptions about trading or being a professional trader. One of them is, the more monitors you have, the more successful or advanced you are as a trader. That is complete nonsense. In this video I explain what I think the best number of monitors is to have, and hopefully give you some insight into what works for you. At the end of the day, trading is a personal endeavor and not a one-size-fits-all. Always start with the least, and scale from there, which is the same way you should approach the growth of your trading wealth. - R2F
Education
by Road_2_Funded
2
The art of trading in favor of the TrendWe have a clear bias of a psychological nature that basically consists of going against everything that experiences a movement in favor. When a trend is established, it always tends to last longer than we expect: _ It’s going to turn around now!, it’s going to turn around now! but it never does. All that time you’re waiting for a market to turn is precious time you’re losing to go in favor. You’re missing multiple opportunities by waiting for just one, the turn. And what’s worse, you’re probably even entering the market against it, with its consequent “bites” to your account. When there is an established trend, the best thing you can do is wait for a retracement of it to enter in its favor. Therefore: - Every time there is a trend, for example bullish, if you go against it at every resistance you find, you are trading counter-trend. - Likewise, if you go against it at every support, in a bearish trend, you are trading counter-trend. Many times prices stop at supports and resistances, and you may get a “pinch” but by doing so you are not trading in the correct way but as the market wants you to do.
CRYPTO:BTCUSDEducation
by CryptoCoBit
The 3-Step Method For High-Quality AnalysisIn this video I give you the 3-step method I use to do my analysis. By incorporating these steps, it is also how I do my top-down analysis. You can think of it as a checklist as well. First, I have my Bias, which determines where I believe price is drawn to. For example in the case of SMC/ICT Concepts, we observe where the liquidity is in the market and use that to frame where price is likely going to go to sooner or later. Secondly, I have my Narrative, which is on a lower timeframe, and paints the picture of HOW price is going to form in order to initiate the move to that price target. This usually includes more engineered liquidity on lower timeframes, and manipulation to happen. Thirdly, I have my Confirmation, which is where I want to enter a trade. This is the lowest of the three timeframes, and is the final point in which I will frame a trade setup. Usually I will look for the exact same things I look for in my Bias and Narrative, but on this timeframe. I also tend to include the factor of time, such as Killzones, Seasonality, and News Drivers. Note that the timeframes can be anything you want them to be, and you are not restricted from moving from timeframe to timeframe. But, the important thing is to be consistent with WHERE you believe price is going, HOW you think it may get there (this can change as price forms), and again WHERE you are going to enter a trade. - R2F
Education
by Road_2_Funded
[EDU-Bite Sized Mini Series]Margin? Lots? Spread? What are they?Hello fellow traders , my regular and new friends! Welcome and thanks for dropping by my post. Today we are going to cover terms such as Margin, Lot size, Spread and What are they. Forex trading is a dynamic and potentially lucrative endeavor, but it comes with its own set of terminology and jargon that can be intimidating for beginners. Understanding these terms is crucial for aspiring traders to navigate the forex market effectively and make informed decisions. Margin One of the fundamental concepts in forex trading is margin, which refers to the amount of money required to open and maintain a trading position. Margin allows traders to control larger positions with a relatively small amount of capital, amplifying both potential profits and losses. It's important for traders to understand margin requirements and manage their leverage carefully to avoid excessive risk. Lot Size Another key concept is lots, which represent the size of a trading position in forex. Standard lots typically consist of 100,000 units of the base currency, while mini lots and micro lots represent 10,000 and 1,000 units, respectively. Lot size determines the potential profit or loss of a trade, with larger lots leading to greater fluctuations in account equity. If you are more comfortable with smaller lot size, you can even go on to nano lots in 100 unit of currency. Spread Spread is another term commonly used in forex trading, referring to the difference between the bid and ask prices of a currency pair. The bid price is the price at which traders can sell a currency pair, while the ask price is the price at which they can buy it. The spread represents the cost of executing a trade and can vary depending on market conditions and liquidity. There are different types of spreads encountered in forex trading, including fixed spreads and variable spreads. Fixed spreads remain constant regardless of market conditions, providing traders with certainty about trading costs. On the other hand, variable spreads fluctuate in response to market volatility, widening during times of high activity and narrowing during periods of low activity. Understanding these trading terms and jargon is essential for beginners to develop a solid foundation in forex trading. By mastering concepts such as margin, lots, spread, and different types of spreads, aspiring traders can make more informed decisions and effectively manage their risk in the dynamic and fast-paced world of forex. Do check out my recorded video (in trading ideas) for the week to have more explanation in place. Do Like and Boost if you have learnt something and enjoyed the content, thank you! -- Get the right tools and an experienced Guide, you WILL navigate your way out of this "Dangerous Jungle"! -- ********************************************************************* Disclaimers: The analysis shared through this channel are purely for educational and entertainment purposes only. They are by no means professional advice for individual/s to enter trades for investment or trading purposes. *********************************************************************
Education
by Shadowing_The_Big_Boys