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!
Salted Caramel Apple Fritter Bread
Salted Caramel Apple Fritter Bread
Salted Caramel Apple Fritter Bread: One of your favorite fritters in quick bread form. And made even better with salted caramel. Your whole family will love it.
INGREDIENTS :
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, loosely packed
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 eggs
- 1½ tsp. vanilla extract (I used Rodelle)
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1¾ tsp. baking powder
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 apples, peeled and chopped (I used Pinata)
- ½ cup salted caramel sauce (I used Trader Joe’s), warmed so it’s pourable
Salted Caramel Glaze:
- ¼ cup salted caramel sauce, warmed so it’s pourable
- ½ cup of powdered sugar
- 1-3 TBSP whole milk
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Use TWO (one for baking, one for layering) 9×5-inch loaf pans. Spray one with baking spray and leave one alone.
- Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 mintues.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down after each addition.
- Then add the vanilla and beat for 30 seconds.
- Incorporate flour, salt, and baking powder together in another bowl and add into creamed butter mixture and stir until blended.
- Mix milk into batter and beat until smooth.
- Pour half the batter into the non-baking spray loaf pan; add half the apples, then half the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, then drizzle ¼ cup salted caramel sauce
- Add the remaining batter over apple layer and top with remaining apples, then the remaining brown sugar/cinnamon mixture and remaining salted caramel sauce.
- Using and ice cream scoop (or large spoon), scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan. This helps with getting the yummy caramel and brown sugar throughout the bread and I find it works much better than just swirling with a knife.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, approximately 50-60 minutes.
- Let rest 5 minutes, flip out, and set on a wire rack to cool. Place that rack on a baking sheet for glazing. Let cool on rack for 15 minutes, then glaze.
For the glaze:
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, salted caramel sauce, and milk together until smooth and there are no visible powdered sugar lumps.
- Drizzle glaze on cake.