Forex trading is accessible, exciting, educational, and offers traders lots of opportunities. Despite all this, many traders fail to learn how to become successful traders, and don't achieve good results in this market. In fact, a high percentage of Forex traders are losing money. Learning to trade Forex and learning how to trade in general can be difficult, and that's why we have created this article for you.
This article will teach you how to become a successful Forex trader, and how to trade on the live markets. Additionally, it will show you the best trading practices for beginners. In fact, since you're reading this, you are already on the right path to becoming a successful Forex trader. Below, you will find actionable advice for beginners and pros alike. Without further ado, let's dive right in.
What is a Trader?
A trader is someone who places orders on the market, sometimes on behalf of financial institutions (big banks, investment funds, hedge funds), or other times, as an independent trader. Exchange orders, such as purchasing or selling stocks, are either in the trader's own name, or on behalf of clients or for the financial institution or broker that employs them.
There are several categories of traders depending on the traded markets: foreign exchange (forex), equities, bonds, metals, coffee, meat, etc. In today's world, there is a trading market for almost all goods (meat, coffee, etc.) and commodities. Most existing contracts are settled in foreign currency, and do not deal with physical delivery.
For example, a professional money market trader manages the cash needs and surpluses on behalf of the bank or clients for which they work, in the short or medium term. A forex trader manages currencies based not only on client needs, but also on the various fluctuations expected in the short and medium-term. An equity trader, on the other hand, trades shares in anticipation of market behaviour, as the trader's goal is to buy before the share price increases and sell before they fall.
Types of Successful Traders
As we mentioned previously, there are two general types of traders:
- Those who trade on behalf of clients
- Those who trade on a personal account
Traders who work for financial institutions or brokers buy and sell shares on behalf of their employer's clients, and not with their own money. This means that rather than making a profit or a loss on the trading itself, they earn a salary as a trader. In this case, the trader takes virtually no risk in the market - it is on the customer buying or selling financial instruments to cover the risk. The trader's clients may be anything from individuals to companies that do not have a trading room of their own.
Those who trade on their own personal account are using their own money to earn profit for themselves on each individual trade, and not through a salary. These accounts are funded with their personal funds, and trades are executed through online trading platforms. Even though online brokers offer leverage, the amounts traded by home traders are much smaller than those of a professional trader. Since online trading is often done on the OTC (Over the Counter) market, the success of traders in their own accounts are only estimates.
Traders who work for financial institutions or brokers buy and sell shares on behalf of their employer's clients, and not with their own money. This means that rather than making a profit or a loss on the trading itself, they earn a salary as a trader. In this case, the trader takes virtually no risk in the market - it is on the customer buying or selling financial instruments to cover the risk. The trader's clients may be anything from individuals to companies that do not have a trading room of their own.
Those who trade on their own personal account are using their own money to earn profit for themselves on each individual trade, and not through a salary. These accounts are funded with their personal funds, and trades are executed through online trading platforms. Even though online brokers offer leverage, the amounts traded by home traders are much smaller than those of a professional trader. Since online trading is often done on the OTC (Over the Counter) market, the success of traders in their own accounts are only estimates.
