Posts Tagged ‘forex’

True ECN Forex Broker Commission Rates

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Certain traders can’t bear paying a commission to trade foreign currency for many years I used to be also one of these traders, however over the last three years I’ve developed a much better awareness of how the fx market really works and I’d never trade with a fx broker that does not charge a fee but instead hides their charges inside the prices they quote. 

It is discouraging to see that lots of fx brokers still promote themselves as being commission free, however it is crucial to note that nothing is free and that all brokers must generate profits one way or another. Sadly forex brokers who don’t charge any commission tend to be market makers and widen their spreads in order to limit your money making chances and profit from your losses. On the other hand brokers that charge a commission rate often do so as they hedge all of their deals or give you an ECN trading facility where it is possible to trade on zero or even negative prices.

Traders that appreciate the forex market and have had an incident dealing with a market maker forex broker will always chose an ECN fx broker that charges a fee over a broker that hides their cost within the spread. Trading with an ECN broker guarantees complete trading transparency in addition to making certain that you’re always trading on the best prices obtainable in the market.

Unfortunately there are very few ECN forex brokers around, some also put up big barriers to entry such as placing minimums on the amount which you can open a trading account with. I have conducted a lot of research into ECN forex brokers over the last one and a half years and have found that there are only a handful of ECN brokers that make it uncomplicated for retail clients to deal with.

Various ECN forex brokers however are not actual ECN brokers as they simply use ECN liquidity to make a market behind the scenes, this means that the broker doesn’t hedge your deals inside the ECN market place. Fortunately, there are a few legitimate ECN brokers, it’s very easy to tell whether a fx broker is legitimate or not you can do so by checking their order execution times in addition to checking whether or not they pass on slippage to your account that works in your favor.

One other crucial feature that you should be familiar with is that a few so called ECN forex brokers may have limits on the distance you are able to put your stop loss and take profit orders away from the current market price. Any broker that does this is a market maker, this is done to stop scalpers taking pips from the forex provider.

In my experience I’ve only ever dealt with regulated True ECN fx brokers in the US and Australia. There are a few good fx brokers in both nations. The ECN fx broker that I have been dealing with for the last 18 months is IC Markets. IC Markets prices are some of the tightest around and their commission rate is $3.50 per lot, that’s pretty cheap compared to the majority of fx brokers. I’m not here promote any one forex broker so you should trial a number of broker platforms before making your final selection, however I am able to vouch for IC Markets.

Ready To Try Trading Currencies?

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

Looking to break into the world of currency trading? Well, now is a great time! No doubt you have a host of questions and are wondering where to start, but this article contains tips that will help you get started. Listed below are strategies that will aid you in learning to trade successfully. Perhaps successfully enough to buy your family a new SUV soon.

Be sure to always have a notebook on hand. No matter where you’re at, you can use the notebook to write down intriguing and thoughtful information you discover about the markets. These notes can also be used for tracking your progress. Every once in a while, check the tips you wrote and see if they still work for you.

Don’t guess as to when the market will top out or bottom out. Check statistics to be sure, before you commit to a position. Even though this is a risky position, you will have a higher chance of succeeding if you wait to be sure.

Don’t let your emotions get the best of you when trading. Be sure that you maintain your composure. Keep on top of things. Stay relaxed and make wise decisions. The action is fast, so you need to be clear-headed in order to make snap judgments.

Develop a gameplan. Having a plan betters your chances of succeeding. Sticking to a plan that you made in advance will stop you from making trades emotionally and illogically.

Rely on your own knowledge and not that of Forex robots. There is not much benefit to the buyers, even though sellers profit handsomely. It is better to make your own trading decisions based on where you want your money to go.

Beginner forex traders should keep away from trading in opposition to the markets unless they really know what they are doing. Beginners and experienced traders alike will find that if they fight the current trends, they will most likely be unsuccessful and experience a lot of unneeded stress.

Research expert market advisors, and use them to your advantage. Market advisers track market trends almost around the clock, providing you with relevant stats whenever you need them. Having an extra pair of eyes, helps you to stay ahead of the game.

You will now be far more ready to launch into currency trading. Even if you felt well-prepared, you probably learned a thing or two you didn’t know before. The guidance here can help you be better prepared when you begin forex trading.