3 strategies of forex trading

Simplicity is best in just about anything, but as humans making things complex is what we do best. Forex trading is no different either. What could be simpler than buying low and selling high? Instead, what we have are tons of indicators, complex variables, all in an effort do the simple thing, buying low selling high. It is easy to get lost in the complexity that at times we miss the most obvious.

Here’s a thought: We often find traders writing and explaining their trading strategy. But, despite all the information they share, isn’t it strange that nearly half the traders or more who follow the strategy still end up losing money?

Some of the common reasons we find, that seems to justify why traders fail to make money with a strategy that is successful for one trader is because:

1. The trading strategy no longer works because the markets have changed
2. The trading strategy works only at a certain time and only for a certain instrument

The real reason is in fact:

1. You haven’t spent much time analysing the strategy
2. You haven’t practiced the strategy enough

Sure, there can be instances where the trading strategy presented does indeed require more improvements, but broadly speaking, even the most successful strategies outline do not stick well with most traders.

So how can you, as a trader improve your trading, regardless of how simple or complex your strategy may be?

Observe

1.Observation is a great tool

You can tell a lot about what is happening in the markets by simply observing the markets. No trading, but just eyeballing the charts using the strategy rules and indicators. Observation can be a great tool but one that is seldom used. For a trader, the best place to start is to load their strategy templates and simply sit back and observe. Most importantly, looking at the price charts and taking notes on what price could do, based on your strategy rules can be a great way to look back to your notes and figure out what happened in the markets.

If moving average crossovers are your forte, then instead of scalping the markets, take a few days and simply watch the charts. You don’t need to sit in front of your charts all day long, but simply make notes on what you think the price will do. The minor details such as pull backs in the trend, the price targets, and invalidation levels can greatly help to improve your trading odds.

This seemingly boring job can actually do wonders for your trading. A conscious effort made to put this into practice will automatically tune your mind to watch for potential opportunities as well as warning signs when you are actually trading.

Practice

2.Practice makes you perfect

And this couldn’t be further from the truth in trading. By practice, we are not talking about a ‘demo trading account’ where you blindly buy and sell based on the strategy rules.

Practice is, in fact, the next step in your trading journey. Based on the information that you gathered by observing the charts and putting this knowledge into practice can help you to form a habit.

Practicing your trading strategy over and over again can be a great way to improve your trading skills. More importantly, this repetitive process will also help you to identify some minor yet important details that price can offer you. These minor details are what can be the differing variable between a winning and a losing trade.

Challenge yourself

3.Once you stop learning, you start dying

Or in the trading context, once you stop learning your strategy starts to fall apart.

So far, you have observed the markets, and you have started practicing. But that is not the end. The real game changer comes in this next part which is to challenge yourself. But how does one go about doing this?

Nowadays, most traders end up arguing on whose analysis is right. An argument doesn’t increase your trading capital at the end of the day. Learning does!

You can enhance and grow yourself as a trader by continuing to enrol with Xchnge Investment Training Courses. Xchnge Investment Training (Pty) Ltd educates professional individuals on how to invest directly on the JSE and international markets. Xchnge Trains students all over South Africa. The methods of training are geared toward online training for distant learning.

Our methods of training include: Telephonic training, Zoom meetings, walk in clients at our head office in Midrand, Workshops, seminars etc. We pride ourselves in being market leaders in the industry for the last 17 years.