Learn Forex - What you need to know to become a profitable trader

Learn Forex - What you need to know to become a profitable trader

by Harold Hsu

Unlike all other financial instruments, Forex is probably the easiest market for retail traders to start trading in. A new trader can start trading with as little as $200 (or less), and - unlike stocks and options - require only a minimal understanding of the technical aspects of the financial assets that are being traded.

With Forex, you don't have to know how to value a company (as one would need to with stocks), nor would you need to understand how options are priced. There is no exact way to calculate the value of a currency, and that leaves a lot of room for speculation and thus the opportunity for more profits.

Compared to stocks, options and futures, Forex trading is a better equalizer of opportunity. You don't need a PhD or an MBA to be able to understand the Forex market - actually, you don't even need a university degree. Any one who understands the law of supply and demand will have the potential to be a good trader in the Forex market.

However, this doesn't mean that it's easy to make money in Forex trading. In fact, more than 90% of all Forex traders lose their money!

The main reason why there are so many losing Forex traders is because they don't have a good education about the forces at work in the Forex market. Losing traders often don't trade with a good entry/exit system, or with an overall trading plan. They simply place their trades "when they feel like it". And that's a recipe for disaster.

So here are the main areas you'll need to learn about in Forex trading, before you'll be able to make money consistently:

1. The nature of the Forex market - what moves prices, why they move, and how they move

2. A good mix of technical and fundamental analysis techniques

3. A reliable and complete trading system - this includes entry/exit criteria, stop loss and profit target levels, and good money management

4. A good understanding of your own personal trading psychology and how not to let your emotions control your trades

All of these areas are crucial in determining your success as a Forex trader. But don't be discouraged - learning about Forex trading is a lot easier than learning to trade any other financial asset.

The only thing you'll need to watch out for is all the garbage information that many "Forex websites" out there will try to feed you with. There is good information available on the internet - but more often than not, they are drowned out by all the marketing scammers trying to make a quick buck at your expense. So please do be careful about choosing your learning sources.

And when the going gets tough, don't give up - the road to becoming a profitable trader is no piece of cake, but the rewards are more than well worth it.