So, with that in mind there are some fundamentals that need to be put in place at the start.
The first thing is to develop a realistic approach to trading. This means understanding that there are no guarantees, that winning and losing go hand in hand and that quite often the best set-ups will go against us. The market is not tameable.
Therefore, given the unpredictable nature of the market it has to be approached with diligence. What does that mean exactly? Well, amateur trading is often characterised by impatience, wanting to get on with the business of trading and making money; casting around for what look like opportunities to trade and then ‘jumping’ in. It’s quite possible that this approach may yield a few wins, but in trading it’s about the long term, and this approach will not yield long-term profit, in fact quite the opposite. It will only be a question of time before the entire account is lost.
To make a success of trading as an ongoing, long-term means of growing capital a clear-cut and disciplined approach is required. There are three cornerstones that must at all cost be adhered to: A trading plan, an understanding of risk management and the discipline to implement consistently your trading plan and its associated rules. In a way the last, discipline, sounds the easiest and most straightforward, but arguably it’s the hardest of the three.
How does one acquire these building blocks? There is a wealth of self-help material, so much so that it is difficult for a beginner to distinguish the genuinely helpful from the rest. Learning to trade successfully is at the outset very difficult to do on one’s own. It’s important to have contact and feedback with both peers and, particularly, someone with experience and know-how. The unpredictability of the markets makes this particularly so.
Remember, from having a trading plan, an appreciation of risk, reasonable and realistic expectations, and a disciplined approach you will be in a position to build long term profit.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD edges lower toward 1.0700 post-US PCE
EUR/USD stays under modest bearish pressure but manages to hold above 1.0700 in the American session on Friday. The US Dollar (USD) gathers strength against its rivals after the stronger-than-forecast PCE inflation data, not allowing the pair to gain traction.
GBP/USD retreats to 1.2500 on renewed USD strength
GBP/USD lost its traction and turned negative on the day near 1.2500. Following the stronger-than-expected PCE inflation readings from the US, the USD stays resilient and makes it difficult for the pair to gather recovery momentum.
Gold struggles to hold above $2,350 following US inflation
Gold turned south and declined toward $2,340, erasing a large portion of its daily gains, as the USD benefited from PCE inflation data. The benchmark 10-year US yield, however, stays in negative territory and helps XAU/USD limit its losses.
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC’s next breakout could propel it to $80,000 Premium
Bitcoin’s recent price consolidation could be nearing its end as technical indicators and on-chain metrics suggest a potential upward breakout. However, this move would not be straightforward and could punish impatient investors.
Week ahead – Hawkish risk as Fed and NFP on tap, Eurozone data eyed too
Fed meets on Wednesday as US inflation stays elevated. Will Friday’s jobs report bring relief or more angst for the markets? Eurozone flash GDP and CPI numbers in focus for the Euro.
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