Candlestick Trading Blog

---

Investment Software When Forex Trading Forex trading is becoming increasingly popular among investors as it provides an alternative method to achieving financial security. Investment software is a must for investors looking into fx trading so that they are able to trade their money through a demo account and eventually an active account. The type of software needed to trade forex includes a computer application that coordinates all of the currencies available to trade in the world market. It is available 24-hours a day and it can be done from anywhere you can get an internet connection. When deciding which forex software you should use there are a few resources that you can utilize. You can reach out to a forex broker or a dealer to get recommendations, or you can ask your fellow forex investors. You can also of course research different types of investment software online. Your fellow investors should be able to not only offer recommendations, but they should also be able to tell you the trading software to stay away from. If you prefer to search the net, try out software packages that offer free downloads for you to sample before making a final decision.  Keep in mind when deciding which type of investment software you would like to use, that the main difference between them is the platform.  Some platforms are client-based while others are web-based. Either kind of platform will work for forex traders but each also has their advantages and disadvantages. For instance, client-based software is only available for use where you work or at home, but you are less susceptible to viruses. With web-based investment software, you are more prone to viruses, but you can trade the forex markets from anywhere you would like. Also, when forex day trading, investors must keep in mind that you may get information when it is too late to take action. This is often due to the issues that your trading company may have with their servers because of a virus or other technical problems. Considering the above issues it is very important that you not only choose a forex investment software that you like, but you must also research the quality of customer service that the company provides, the quality of the trading software itself, and the quality of the company in general. You also must ensure that the forex company you are utilizing offers an online trading course that meets your needs. The systems are very complex and the system that you choose should offer many tools including charts and technical analysis tools. You should also have someone on point that you can speak with in the event you have an issue or a question when completing the course. Lastly, one you have decided on the investment software to utilize when trading forex, open up a demo account. This account will allow you to trade just as you normally would, but not with real money. Once you have practiced enough and you understand the trading software and the forex markets, you are ready to begin trading with real money! Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow

posted by Stephen W. Bigalow at 3:25 PM   Add to del.icio.us DIGG THIS!     EMAIL TO A FRIEND

Why market analysis should be your first step for deciding your stock portfolio allocation. Many, but certainly not all, stocks will move with the market. For this reason alone it is well worth your time to perform your own analysis, and more specifically the analysis required to determine a bull or bear market. The old adage of ‘running with the trend’ translates into ‘don’t fish upstream’. Making money in the markets is challenging enough without going against the crowd. Market analysis does not need to be overly complicated. The main goal is to become comfortable with your personal analysis until you can recognize when a change is coming. One example for a quick analysis could be the evaluation of Volume and Price. A general observation can be easily made when witnessing a spike in volume; which indicates a larger than normal number of buyers/sellers. We all know that Price tells you which direction the buyers/sellers are going. There are several websites which provide a plethora of free stock market analysis tools. Market analysis requires common sense (which is not so common). Simply stated; nothing goes up or down in a straight line. As you become more comfortable doing your own analysis you will appreciate the differences between healthy ‘profit taking’ and severe ‘sell offs’. Candlestick charts provide a huge advantage in your market analysis. Unlike bar charts, which tell you what price movements did during a specific timeframe, candlestick charts unfold secrets before your very eyes by telling you the investor sentiment and what to expect in the future. Market analysis with candlestick signals can be done by only learning 12 Major Candlestick Signals. Determine the overall trend by viewing the DOW and the NASDAQ. Let the market tell you what the market is doing. The same analysis used for individual stocks can be applied to the market indexes in general.   There is a wealth of free information available over the internet to assist you in your analysis of the markets. (Everyone wants to know which way the market will go) This is why we choose Candlestick Signals and Candlestick Charting for this type of analysis. Even the most basic of candlestick charting methods provides its user with a valuable technical analysis tool giving you a head start on other traders. (Read more in our article ‘Market Analysis Systems - Seeing the Market Move; or ‘Market trend analysis with candlestick signals’) If all of this talk about market analysis has confused you, may I suggest you join us on Thursday evenings for our free live stock chat sessions. Additionally, you may wish to review Stephen Bigalow’s personal CD on Trend Analysis; a 90-minute training video outlining the steps Steve personally uses each evening to perform his own analysis. Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow

posted by Stephen W. Bigalow at 2:48 PM   Add to del.icio.us DIGG THIS!     EMAIL TO A FRIEND

Should you Buy Gold? Investors interested in investing in gold must first understand what gold funds are. When an investor wants to purchase gold, he or she can purchase it in units at a set gold price and the profit/loss of the investment is reflected in the movement of the unit price. Investors may purchase gold funds in the form of mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETF). This form of gold investing is popular with the business people who do not want to spend time figuring out where they will store physical gold coins or bars after they buy gold. Mutual fund investing includes a group of investors who pool their money together and a fund manager directs that money to invest in various investment vehicles such as stocks and bonds, money market accounts, or other securities. Those investors who have pooled their money make capital gains and collect the dividend or interest income. For those investors who want to buy gold funds, they can also invest in and ETF, as mentioned above. A gold investment such as an ETF takes place when an individual invests in gold, but does not invest money into a pool with other investors. Instead the money is invested individually and the ETF investor is actually buying and amount of gold which is represented in an account. Additional ways to buy gold include the purchase of gold coins, gold bars or bullions, gold in escrow (digital gold), investing in gold producers (miners), and even gold futures. Those that invest in gold coins or bullion bars have the advantage that gold value tends to remain stable or increase over time, and you own it physically.  The downside to this type of gold investing is that if you have a lot of gold, it can be hard to transport it, unlike gold stocks of course!  Also unless you ship it from another company, it is heavy and hard to get through customs.  Small coins of course are not hard to transport, they are very easy to sell and they attract less tax problems.  Gold bullion and gold coins are perhaps the most popular with gold collectors and investors. Traditionally in circumstances such as high inflation, or currency inflation, investing in gold offer investors safety and security. Historically, the gold markets have provided the best protection against financial disaster and instability in the economy. The way this works is that in the event of a financial catastrophe, paper assets would be converted into gold. This explains why some investors just skip a step and buy gold bars or gold coins. It is interesting to note that when you have only paper in your investment portfolio, gold tends to move in the opposite direction of those paper investments. Troubled times typically increase the amount invested in gold. Investors opt for long-term protection of their portfolio through buying and investing in gold. These days, people continue to buy gold to protect their strong portfolio from a currency crisis, inflation, or recession, while gold investing should be based on macroeconomic consideration and the investment atmosphere. Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow

posted by Stephen W. Bigalow at 10:04 AM   Add to del.icio.us DIGG THIS!     EMAIL TO A FRIEND

The forex, or foreign exchange market is the world’s largest financial market. While that sounds intriguing, investors interested in forex trading must get some sort of training before jumping into this market. This article discusses some of the basics of forex training that may be received as well as the forex markets in general. The purpose of the forex trader is to obtain profit through the buying and selling of foreign currencies. The forex exchange is traded without having the constraints of a central physical exchange and transactions are conducted online or over the phone. The average volume of this market is between 1.5 to 2.5 trillion each day and transactions can be executed quickly and with low transaction costs. Investors who are interested in obtaining forex training must learn about the common types of analysis, the factors that influence the currencies, potential risks for trading forex, and the proper trading tools and data. Technical analysis is the most common and successful analysis for analyzing the forex markets. This type of forex training focuses on the price action of the market only and ignores fundamental factors. Technical analysis consists of support and resistance levels as well as technical studies. The idea is that the market will trade above its support levels and below is resistance levels. If the level is broken, then the market should continue in that direction. The support and resistance levels are found by analyzing chart formations. The technical studies typically consist of various technical studies which are interpreted. Investors who practice technical analysis also research the technical studies in addition to learning how to read charts. Fundamental analysis is another method used to analyze the forex markets. This forex trading strategy consists of assessments taken from factors such as the economic condition of a country, monetary policy, and any other factors that could potentially affect the price action. During your forex training you will most likely find that using fundamental analysis when fx trading is difficult to do. It unfortunately is harder to control risk and it does not provide specific entry and exit points. Most forex investors opt to use technical analysis when trading currency. When you receive forex training you will also learn about the currency pairs and their symbols. There are about 16 total foreign currency pairs however you most likely will not trade all of them. Many investors typically trade the top seven major currencies. These include the U.S. Dollar (USD), Euros (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), UK Pounds (GBP), Swiss Francs (CHF), Canadian Dollars (CAD), and the Australian Dollars (AUD). Additional currencies include the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), and the South African Rand (ZAR). Forex training is an investment that is sure to assist you in making a profit, if you are serious about it. After your receive your training, you will need to find a forex trading system that works for you, and you will need to look into obtaining a forex broker. Now that you know a little bit about the forex markets, find a class or online trading course and get started! Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow

posted by Stephen W. Bigalow at 8:58 AM   Add to del.icio.us DIGG THIS!     EMAIL TO A FRIEND

The Advantages to On Line Stock Trading Due to the advent of the internet the average Joe (or Jane) can now trade stock from the comfort of his or her home. On line stock trading has dramatically changed the dynamics of the stock market allowing investors to trade faster and smarter through the use of various tools and resources available at the click of a button. Remember that the purpose of trading stock online is to build your wealth to ensure that you are comfortable in your retirement, or maybe even so that your kids are comfortable financially as well.  Whatever your reason, it is imperative that you do the extensive research and training required to achieve your definition of success. This article discusses the advantages of on line stock trading that every successful trader should know. Easy access to your account is a must when looking for a stock trading system.  Most offer this, thus easy access is an on line stock trading advantage offered by online brokerage firms.  Now all investors have to do is log in and look-up the information required, rather than having to wait until the following day to call the stock broker.  In addition, online stock brokers typically charge a lot less and you can get them in various degrees. Investors can opt to utilize a full-service broker who will assist you with trading and make the trade happen for you, or investors can utilize an online discount broker.  Discount brokers offer less service for those traders who need only for the broker to make the trade, but not offer any advice or guidance. On line stock trading also offers immediate (or almost immediate) help when you are in need. Online brokerage firms often have trained investment brokers available to assist you during the day with your trading needs. Talk about quick service!  With this level of service available it can easily be said that on line stock trading obviously saves you time and money.  Another advantage is that you can now trade stock from anywhere and quite often at anytime that works for you. You can choose to either stay at home never changing out of your pajamas, or you can stake out at Starbucks or another neighborhood coffee shop that offers internet services.  How nice is it also that you don’t have to wait around for your broker to call you back when it’s convenient for him or her.  You determine your own schedule when online stock trading. There are many additional advantages to on line stock trading that are only a click away!  You must begin to invest in yourself, do your research, practice as much as you possibly can, and then practice again. Develop your trading plan, find a system that works for you, and also find an online forum that discusses the type of trading that you are going to do.  Whether you want to trade futures, trade currency, or commodities, you will be able to find an online forum that you can join. Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow

posted by Stephen W. Bigalow at 11:00 AM   Add to del.icio.us DIGG THIS!     EMAIL TO A FRIEND