It's possible to trade profitably on the Forex, the nearly $2 trillion worldwide currency exchange market. But the odds are against you, even more so if you don't prepare and plan your trades. According to a 2014 Bloomberg report, several analyses of retail Forex trading, including one by the National Futures Association (NFA), the industry's regulatory body, concluded that more than two out of three Forex traders lose money.
This suggests that self-education and caution are recommended. Here are some approaches that may improve your odds of taking a profit.
Prepare Before You Begin Trading
Because the Forex market is highly leveraged -- as much as 50 to 1 -- it can have the same appeal as buying a lottery ticket: some small chance of making a killing. This, however, isn't trading; it's gambling, with the odds long against you.
A better way of entering the Forex market is to carefully prepare. Beginning with a practice account is helpful and risk-free. While you're trading in your practice account, read the most frequently recommended Forex trading books, among them
Currency Forecasting: A Guide to Fundamental and Technical Models of Exchange Rate Determination, by Michael R. Rosenberg is short, not too sweet and highly admired introduction to the Forex market.
Forex Strategies: Best Forex Strategies for High Profits and Reduced Risk, by Matthew Maybury is an excellent introduction to Forex trading.
The Little Book of Currency Trading: How to Make Big Profits in the World of Forex, by Kathy Lien is another concise introduction that has stood the test of time.
All three are available on Amazon. Rosenberg's book, unfortunately, is pricey, but it's widely available in public libraries. "Trading in the Zone: Master the Market with Confidence, Discipline and a Winning Attitude," by Mark Douglas is another good book that's available on Amazon, and, again, somewhat pricey, although the Kindle edition is not.
Use the information gained from your reading to plan your trades before plunging in. The more you change your plan, the more you end up in trouble and the less likely that elusive forex profit will end up in your pocket.
Diversify and Limit Your Risks
Two strategies that belong in every trader's arsenal are:
Diversification: Traders who execute many small traders, particularly in different markets where the correlation between markets is low, have a better chance of making a profit. Putting all your money in one big trade is always a bad idea.
Familiarize yourself with ways guaranteeing a profit on an already profitable order, such as a trailing stop, and of limiting losses using stop and limit orders. These strategies and more are covered in the recommended books. Novice traders often make the mistake of concentrating on how to win; it's even more important to understand how to limit your losses.
Be Patient
Forex traders, particularly beginners, are prone to getting nervous if a trade does not go their way immediately, or if the trade goes into a little profit they get itchy to pull the plug and walk away with a small profit that could have been a significant profit with little downside risk using appropriate risk reduction strategies.
In "On Any Given Sunday," Al Pacino reminds us that "football is a game of inches." That's a winning attitude in the Forex market as well. Remember that you are going to win some trades and lose others. Take satisfaction in the accumulation of a few more wins than losses. Over time, that could make you rich!
Meat & Potato Casserole
Meat & Potato Casserole
This recipe came together as a last minute, I need to feed some people, but all the stores are closed kind of meal! I had some ground venison already thawing out, a few potatoes, some leftover soup that could act as a "gravy/sauce" in a casserole, some cheese....yup, it all sounded good, and I was ready to experiment! It was a tasty experiment!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. lean ground beef or venison
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tsp each of any of these: garlic powder, paprika, or go more savoury with rosemary (these are optional).
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 cups thinly sliced potatoes (about 5 potatoes)
- 1 1/2 cups cream of mushroom soup (I had leftover homemade soup in the fridge), or 1 can of cream of mushroom soup (which might make it not gluten free)
- 1/2 Cup stock (any kind)
- 1/4 Cup milk or cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease an 11 x 7 glass baking dish.
- In medium frying pan, cook the onions and ground meat until done, add the seasonings (if you choose any), and some pepper. Drain the grease.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the soup, stock, milk, salt and pepper.
- Layer into the baking dish half of the potatoes, then pour some soup over them. Then sprinkle in half the meat, then the cheese. Repeat with the rest of the potatoes, soup, meat and then the cheese.
- Cover with lightly greased (on it's underside so the cheese doesn't stick to it) aluminum foil and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the potatoes are tender.
- This meal was a yummy, middle of the long winter comfort food, and I will make it again before this winter is finished - which might not be forever!
