Kathy Lien
BKTraders and Prop Traders Edge
Most beginners lose money on their first futures trade - not because they picked the wrong direction, but because they didn't understand the mechanics. One point in Nasdaq can cost you $20 or $2 depending on which contract you're trading, and confusing ticks with points could blow your account in minutes. In this video, I walk you through the exact setup you need to start trading Nasdaq futures safely, the critical difference between E-mini and Micro contracts, and the #1 mistake that wipes out new traders instantly.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading forex carries a high level of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade any such leveraged products, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with trading on margin, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any doubts.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD keeps its focus on 1.1800
EUR/USD is holding its ground near two-day highs around 1.1750 as Thursday’s session is drawing to a close. The pair is drawing support from a more constructive risk mood, helped by easing EU–US trade tensions and a softer US Dollar. Looking ahead, attention shifts to Friday’s flash PMI releases from both Europe and the US.
GBP/USD flirts with 1.3500 on persistent USD selling
GBP/USD is regaining momentum on Thursday and pushing up towards two-week highs around the 1.3500 mark. In the process, Cable is leaving Wednesday’s brief wobble behind and slipping back into its upward trend, helped by ongoing selling pressure on the Greenback ahead of key advanced PMI data on Friday.
USD/JPY clings to gains near one-week top post-BoJ
USD/JPY stands firm closer to the weekly high following the BoJ's widely expected on-hold rate decision, with focus shifting to Governor Kazuo Ueda's post-meeting press conference. Traders will look for cues about the timing of the next BoJ rate hike, though political uncertainty and the upbeat market mood might continue to undermine the safe-haven Japanese Yen. Moreover, a US Dollar uptick should act as a tailwind for the currency pair.
Editors’ Picks
USD/JPY clings to gains near one-week top post-BoJ
USD/JPY stands firm closer to the weekly high following the BoJ's widely expected on-hold rate decision, with focus shifting to Governor Kazuo Ueda's post-meeting press conference. Traders will look for cues about the timing of the next BoJ rate hike, though political uncertainty and the upbeat market mood might continue to undermine the safe-haven Japanese Yen. Moreover, a US Dollar uptick should act as a tailwind for the currency pair.
AUD/USD bulls retain control near the highest level since October 2024
AUD/USD holds steady below mid-0.6800s during the Asian session on Friday, consolidating its weekly gains to the highest level since October 2024, set the previous day, before the next leg up. The upbeat Australian employment data released on Thursday reaffirmed expectations for tighter monetary policy from the RBA and underpins the Aussie amid a positive risk tone. Apart from this, a bearish US Dollar backs the case for a further appreciation of the currency pair.
Gold continues scaling new record highs, climbs above $4,950
Gold extends its record-setting rally for the fifth consecutive day on Friday, as persistent geopolitical uncertainties continue to drive safe-haven flows. Meanwhile, expectations for further policy easing by the Federal Reserve contribute to the de-dollarization trend and further underpin the non-yielding bullion, which remains on track to register gains for the third successive week and appears unaffected by extremely overbought conditions.
Ethereum: JPMorgan sees post-Fusaka activity surge fading
Ethereum's Fusaka upgrade last December has seen fees plummet to new lows while sparking a surge in transaction counts and active addresses. However, that growth may not last, according to a Wednesday note by JPMorgan analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou.
Trump walks back NATO tariffs, signals de-escalation
What began as a sharp escalation risk quickly turned into a de-escalation signal. Earlier this week, markets briefly priced in escalation risk after Donald J. Trump proposed a 10% tariff hike on eight NATO nations amid the Greenland dispute.
RECOMMENDED LESSONS
Making money in forex is easy if you know how the bankers trade!
I’m often mystified in my educational forex articles why so many traders struggle to make consistent money out of forex trading. The answer has more to do with what they don’t know than what they do know. After working in investment banks for 20 years many of which were as a Chief trader its second knowledge how to extract cash out of the market.
5 Forex News Events You Need To Know
In the fast moving world of currency markets where huge moves can seemingly come from nowhere, it is extremely important for new traders to learn about the various economic indicators and forex news events and releases that shape the markets. Indeed, quickly getting a handle on which data to look out for, what it means, and how to trade it can see new traders quickly become far more profitable and sets up the road to long term success.
Top 10 Chart Patterns Every Trader Should Know
Chart patterns are one of the most effective trading tools for a trader. They are pure price-action, and form on the basis of underlying buying and selling pressure. Chart patterns have a proven track-record, and traders use them to identify continuation or reversal signals, to open positions and identify price targets.
7 Ways to Avoid Forex Scams
The forex industry is recently seeing more and more scams. Here are 7 ways to avoid losing your money in such scams: Forex scams are becoming frequent. Michael Greenberg reports on luxurious expenses, including a submarine bought from the money taken from forex traders. Here’s another report of a forex fraud. So, how can we avoid falling in such forex scams?
What Are the 10 Fatal Mistakes Traders Make
Trading is exciting. Trading is hard. Trading is extremely hard. Some say that it takes more than 10,000 hours to master. Others believe that trading is the way to quick riches. They might be both wrong. What is important to know that no matter how experienced you are, mistakes will be part of the trading process.
The challenge: Timing the market and trader psychology
Successful trading often comes down to timing – entering and exiting trades at the right moments. Yet timing the market is notoriously difficult, largely because human psychology can derail even the best plans. Two powerful emotions in particular – fear and greed – tend to drive trading decisions off course.