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What are common mistakes forex traders make

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George Thomas
What are common mistakes forex traders make

The forex market is important to traders for several good reasons. It is extremely liquid. It is open round the clock Monday to Friday. Also, it is sufficiently stable for brokers to provide leverage on trades. It remains, nonetheless, a highly complex market. Traders rushing into it are apt to make expensive mistakes. We will be looking at common mistakes forex traders make. 

Without a trading plan 

In case you are going to become a forex trader, you need a trading plan. Acting without one will most certainly lead to losses. Before you begin, ascertain that you sit down and write up a list of rules to guide your trading. There will be questions you will need to ask yourself prior to starting forex day trading: 

  • When should you enter a trade?
  • How would you evaluate a trade?
  • With moving averages, economic news, and other criteria?; 
  • Which gains are you targeting?; 
  • Which currency pair ought you concentrate on?
  • When ought you exit a trade?; 
  • How much would you lose on a trade?; 
  • Where ought you set profit/stop-loss trades?; 
  • How long would you permit to attain the set target?
  • How much money would you risk on individual trades?
  • What is your budget?; 
  • Which amount of leverage is right for your risk tolerance and circumstances?

Insufficient research

Forex trading is built on interconnectedness. Politics, economics, and market fundamentals merge in ways that provide risk and opportunities to traders. 

The majority of new traders are attracted by possible gains on offer. However, they are lacking in the necessary research. This possibly loses them money. Traders who make it big, however, read widely and often, keeping abreast of the latest market goings-in. 

You ought to focus on the following to make your trading journey meaningful: 

  • Economics
  • How interest rates and such economic news - like trade data, activity, and employment - impact currency ;
  • Market fundamentals
  • What market fundamentals are propelling movements in your opted-for currency pairs?; 
  • Which technical indicators do you need to know for successful trading?; 
  • Money management
  • What strategies ought you follow to maximise profits and minimise losses?

Neglecting economic data and news events 

News events such as the release of central bank decisions and economic data impact market events majorly. Most of the said events follow a regular schedule so it is easy to understand the pattern of their coming. Naturally, you cannot predict the news itself, or markets’ reaction. 

Trading on the basis of a news event prior to a trend having been established does not fit all trading plans. However, it may suit others. You should always be attentive to news and events since these can play a vital role in deciding currency pairs trends. 


Hoping poor trends will turn good

Averaging down is One of the worst mistakes new traders make. They invest more money in a losing trade in the hope of a turnaround. More Frequently than not this amounts to throwing good money after bad and may make your losses worse. 

Notwithstanding the correctness of your trading hypothesis, your pair’s price may move against you for longer than you expect. In the same vein, holding on to losing positions for long durations will prevent you from shifting your capital towards a possibly more successful trade. 


Taking quick profits and missing out on larger gains 

The main tenet guiding a forex day trader is to minimise losses and maximise profits. However, just as some new traders keep on hanging on to losing positions for too long, many will also reduce returns by taking profits prematurely. Notwithstanding this being a seemingly slight mistake, over time this can really hollow out your base. 

Nonetheless, this issue is harder to tackle. There are frequently enough good reasons to close a trade earlier than planned. Likely your pair has, contrary to expectations, entered a consolidation period. Or it just might be that a piece of news has come up to change the trend wholly. 

Most traders, however, do miss out on gains by acting out of fear or greed, rather than of a rational assessment of the available technical/fundamental indicators. The best solution, again, is to create a well-considered trading plan and pledge yourself to it. 


Conclusion 

Naturally, as in all professions, mistakes are a part of trading. However, being aware of mistakes is already half the battle won. Boost profits with Investby.


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George Thomas
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