Tuesday 24 January 2012

Best Forex Trading Signals


There are very few forex trading signals providers that are genuinely consistently profitable month after month. There are many that claim to be and have impressive looking performance records but very often it transpires that they massage their numbers, and use hypothetical figures in their calculations, rather than trade their signals themselves.
I've come across many different forex signals providers in my time. It's hard not to as the internet's full of them. Nearly all of them have turned out to be a waste of time. I thought I'd found a great site a while back in the shape of Forex Live Pro, but after having several highly profitable months, even they ended up going on a losing streak and have since closed down.
That's why there's only one company that I'm more than happy to recommend and that'sZuluTrade.
ZuluTrade is basically an extensive database consisting of some of the best forex traders from around the world. You can trade any of the signals that these traders provide automatically in your ZuluTrade account. All you do is open an account, deposit some cash, and choose which traders' signals you wish to trade (based on their past performance record). Then whenever the signals are provided by your chosen provider(s), the same positions are opened and closed automatically on your behalf in your account.
It's basically a managed forex trading account where you're in complete control over which signal providers you use, and all trading is completely automated

Forex Course


One thing you have to bear in mind when looking for a good forex course is that they all have different objectives. Some trading courses will be designed solely to teach you the basics of forex trading, just to get you up and running, whilst others will aim to provide you with a profitable trading strategy, or teach you about some of the more advanced subjects.
I always believe that the best forex course will do all of these things. That is why I always recommend one forex trading course in particular to all of my readers and subscribers.
It's called Forex Nitty Gritty and it was created by Bill Poulos, who is a veteran in this industry, having traded the markets for over 30 years.
This course assumes that you have no prior knowledge of forex trading and starts right at the beginning. Through a series of online videos you will learn all the basics of currency trading.
So for example you will learn all about the different currency pairs and how the markets actually move. You will also learn how to actually enter and exit trades and how to use simple technical indicators to help you find winning positions.
You will also be taken through some of the more advanced subjects such as how you can use price patterns, fibonacci techniques and some of the more advanced technical indicators to trade the markets. In short you are basically given a complete education in forex trading.
As I alluded to earlier, what I like about this particular forex course is that not only do you learn all the basics, but you are also given a simple, but effective trading method that you can use to trade the markets.
I use this method quite a lot myself on the intraday time frames and it works very well because it gets you into a trade whenever a currency pair is trending strongly upwards or downwards, so the odds are always stacked in your favour.
It's not a foolproof strategy by any means, but you could say that about every trading strategy. What it is is a straight-forward system that you can use on a daily basis, and if nothing else it will teach you about risk management because of the way the system is set up. Plus it will certainly give you ideas and inspiration for creating your own winning systems in the future.
So overall I would definitely recommend this forex course to anyone who wants to learn all about forex trading and is looking for a simple trading strategy that they can use to trade the markets.
The best thing about Forex Nitty Gritty is the price because at the time of writing it is available for less than $40. This is no reflection on it's quality, however, because the information contained in the numerous online videos that you get is on a par with many forex courses that sell for several thousand dollars. It really is excellent value for money.
If you would like to find out more, simply click here. Otherwise you may like to read my fullForex Nitty Gritty review, where I discuss this forex course in a little more depth.

Forex Brokers


One of the hardest decisions you face when starting out as a forex trader is which forex broker to go with. If you do a search online you will find hundreds of different forex brokers to choose from. The trouble is that some are better than others, and furthermore there are some that you should avoid like the plague. 
So let me give you a list of things you should look out for when choosing a forex broker:
1. Regulation
This is arguably the most important factor because whichever broker you decide to go with, you must make sure that they are fully regulated with the relevant authority. So if they are based in the US, for example, then you should ensure that they are regulated by the NFA (National Futures Association) or the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission). Similarly if they are a UK-based company, then they should be regulated by the FSA (Financial Services Authority).
If you go with an offshore forex broker that is completely unregulated, for example, then you are taking a huge risk because you may never see your money again.
2. Spreads
If you are a relatively long-term trader and mainly use the 4 hour or daily charts, for instance, then the spreads offered by your chosen forex broker is not so much of an issue. However if you intend to trade the shorter time frames then your points gains per trade will obviously be a lot less, and therefore the spreads will start to eat into your profits. So as a general guide you ideally want to choose a broker that offers spreads of around 2 or 3 pips for the EUR/USD and GBP/USD pairs, and certainly no more than 4.
3. Leverage
The amount of leverage offered by different forex brokers varies greatly. Some may only offer 100:1 leverage while some may offer as much as 400:1. My own personal view is that 100:1 is more than enough, but if you are more of a risk taker then you may want to look for brokers that offer higher leverage.
4. Demo Accounts
If you are relatively inexperienced or if you want to test out a broker's trading platform before deciding whether or not you wish to open a live trading account, then you should choose a broker that provides a free demo account. Most reputable brokers offer demo accounts nowadays so I would always recommend you take advantage of this facility.
5. Account Types
Although all forex brokers cater for the well capitalized traders, not all of them cater for those traders who wish to trade smaller positions. Therefore if you yourself fall into this category, then you should look out for brokers that allow you to trade mini-lots (equivalent to around $1 per pip) or micro-lots ($0.1 per pip).
6. Minimum Deposit
If money is tight or you want to start off small (which is always a good idea), then you will want to choose a forex broker that requires a relatively low minimum deposit when opening a live trading account.
7. Charting Software
Nearly all forex brokers provide some kind of charting software free of charge when you open an account with them. It may be the highly popular Metatrader 4 platform or it may simply be a no-frills charting package. So therefore if you do want to use some of the more advanced charts, then I suggest you go with a broker that provides the Metatrader 4 or ProRealTime platform, for instance, otherwise you will have to fork out some money to access some decent charts elsewhere.
8. Additional Services
As well as charting software, you may also want your broker to provide a range of additional services such as daily commentaries, market analysis, educational materials and the option to deal through your mobile phone.
9. Customer Service
If you are just starting out as a forex trader you will probably have several questions and queries when you first open an account with a broker. So therefore you should try and join a broker that offers a high level of customer service. One way of testing this out is to contact the help desk of the brokers you are considering joining, ask them a particular question, and see how long they take to get back to you.
10. Customer Comments And Reviews
Finally your ultimate choice of forex broker will often be swayed by what other traders have to say about them. There are several websites which contain customer reviews of all of the leading brokers and you will find no shortage of opinions on all of the different forex forums.
However one thing I will say is that you will never come across brokers that have nothing but positive reviews, so don't waste too much time looking for the perfect broker because it simply doesn't exist. Just look for brokers that have a high number of positive comments and you should be fine.
 
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To help you narrow down your search, here's a list of some of the leading online forex brokers:
Location: Russia / UK / US
Online Since: 1998
Account Types: Micro / Classic
Minimum Account Size: $200
Free Demo Account: Yes (unlimited)
Spreads: 1.8+
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4
(Note: Alpari has three different websites (UK, US and Russia) so account features may vary).
Location: US
Online Since: 1999
Account Types: Universal (trade mini and standard lots from same account)
Minimum Account Size: $200
Free Demo Account: Yes
Spreads: 2 pips for EUR/USD and USD/JPY pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: VT Trader 2.0
Location: Germany
Online Since: 2006
Account Types: Standard
Minimum Account Size: $5000
Free Demo Account: Yes
Spreads: 2-4 pips for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: dbFX Trading Platform
Location: Switzerland
Online Since: 2004
Account Types: Live / Managed
Minimum Account Size: $50,000
Free Demo Account: Yes (14 days)
Spreads: 0-2 pips for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: Java / JForex / Web 
Forex.com (part of GAIN Capital)
Location: US
Online Since: 1998
Account Types: Mini / Standard
Minimum Account Size: $250
Free Demo Account: Yes (30 days)
Spreads: 1.1+ for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4
Location: US
Online Since: 1999
Account Types: Mini / Standard
Minimum Account Size: $2000
Free Demo Account: Yes
Spreads: Typical spreads between 2 and 4 pips for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4
(Note: Separate Micro account also available).
Location: US
Online Since: 2002
Account Types: Mini / Standard
Minimum Account Size: $250
Free Demo Account: Yes (90 days)
Spreads: 2 pips for EUR/USD pair
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4 / MTXtreme / FXDD Trader / FXDD Auto / Power Trader
Location: Cyprus
Online Since: 2008
Account Types: Standard / Premium
Minimum Account Size: $500
Free Demo Account: Yes (unlimited)
Spreads: 0.5+ for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4
Location: US / Worldwide
Online Since: 2001
Account Types: Mini / Standard / Silver / Gold / Platinum
Minimum Account Size: $250
Free Demo Account: Yes
Spreads: 3-4 pips for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: DealBook 360
Location: US
Online Since: 1998
Account Types: Universal
Minimum Account Size: $3000+ (depending on the type of account)
Free Demo Account: No
Spreads: 1 pip for EUR/USD pair
Charts / Trading Platform: Trader Workstation
Location: US
Online Since: 2001
Account Types: Mini / Standard
Minimum Account Size: No minimum
Free Demo Account: Yes (30 days)
Spreads: 2 pips for EUR/USD pair
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4
Location: US
Online Since: 2002
Account Types: Standard
Minimum Account Size: $400
Free Demo Account: Yes
Spreads: 0.1-1 pip for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4
Location: Switzerland
Online Since: 2003
Account Types: Standard / Professional / Institutional
Minimum Account Size: $2000
Free Demo Account: Yes (90 days)
Spreads: 2-3 pips for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4
Location: Canada
Online Since: 2001
Account Types: Standard
Minimum Account Size: No minimum
Free Demo Account: Yes (unlimited)
Spreads: 0.9 for EUR/USD pair
Charts / Trading Platform: FXTrade platform
Location: UK
Online Since: 2004
Account Types: Standard (can trade from $1 per point upwards)
Minimum Account Size: $2000
Free Demo Account: Yes
Spreads: 2-3 pips for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: MetaTrader 4 (and other platforms for professional traders)
Location: Denmark
Online Since: 1999
Account Types: Saxo MiniTrader / Saxo Trader
Minimum Account Size: $2000
Free Demo Account: Yes (20 days)
Spreads: 2-3 pips for major currency pairs
Charts / Trading Platform: SaxoTrader

Forex Trading Stratergies n Systems


peoples been trading the forex markets for several years now so I've developed quite a few different systems in my time. However there are some that are more profitable than others, so let me share you with you some of my most profitable forex trading strategies.

Four Hour Trading Strategy
I created this trading strategy myself and have been using it for several years now. This one system has generated more profits that any other system I have ever used, and yet it's surprisingly simple.
I simply look at the daily trend for a particular currency pair (usually the GBP/USD, EUR/USD or USD/JPY pair) using a very simple but effective technical indicator, then I wait for two EMAs (exponential moving averages) to cross over in the same direction on the 4 hour chart.
I will then enter a position (usually after a slight pull-back) and will employ a two-part exit strategy to maximise my profits. One half of the position will be closed out early for a safe profit, and the other half will be left to run for as long as possible in order to capture those really big price moves.
As I say, this particular forex trading strategy is highly effective, as regular readers of my blog will know because I share my trading results every week in my 'Weekly Trading Updates'.
Anyway if you would like to read all about my 4 hour trading method, you can access it (for free) by filling in the short form to the right and subscribing to my newsletter.
The only problem with trading this strategy is that there will always be quiet periods and particular days where you know you are not going to get any set-ups on any of the major currency pairs. Therefore at times like these I will often employ some of the other trading methods that I keep in reserve:
CCI Divergence Trading System
This is a forex system that I've recently created and it basically uses the popular CCI indicator with two different settings. The key here is to wait until there is divergence between both of the CCI indicators at the same time because this will give you a set-up with a very high success rate.
You don't get that many good set-ups per day using this trading strategy, but when you do, you are likely to make some decent profits because it is a very high probability set-up.
I have discussed this particular strategy elsewhere on this blog so please click here if you want to find out more about this CCI Divergence Trading System.
Forex Income Engine 2.0 Methods
At the time of writing (20 June 2009) I've just started using the three day trading methods included in the Forex Income Engine 2.0 course as well. I've always been quite sceptical about many of the short-term forex methods that I come across, but I've been very impressed with these three methods so far because they do actually produce some very good returns.
Anyway if you would like more details about each of these methods you can read all about them on my Forex Income Engine 2.0 review page.
Forex Nitty Gritty Method
This trading method was included in the Forex Nitty Gritty course and although it is a very basic method, it is actually surprisingly effective. The goal is to look for pairs that are in strong upward or downward trends, wait for a pull-back, and then enter a trade if the trend continues.
I've been using this method on the 15 minute charts for quite a while now and it has always performed well for me because these continuation trends occur all the time.
Again if you would like to find out more about this particular trading method, you may like to read my full review of Forex Nitty Gritty.
Long-Term Trading Strategy
I'm not really a long-term trader but I do occasionally open a position if a good trading opportunity arises. I will usually use the daily charts for these trades and will look at a variety of indicators such as the 200 day moving average, the supertrend indicator, established support and resistance levels, fibonacci levels if applicable, and Marketclub's excellent trading signals.
I will regularly post my long-term analysis of the various currency pairs on this blog, but I will only follow this up with an actual trade if I'm really confident about my predictions.
Other Forex Trading Strategies
Finally as well as all of the trading systems and strategies listed on this page, I also have a few breakout strategies that I like to use when a good opportunity presents itself. I'm also constantly testing out new ideas and reviewing the various trading systems that I get sent regularly by product owners who want me to promote their product.
However for the most part it's my 4 hour trading strategy that I spend most time on because this is my core system which generates the most consistent and reliable profits. All of the other forex trading systems are used to boost my trading pot during the quieter periods of the week.