Kathy Lien
BKTraders and Prop Traders Edge
In this video, I break down the number one mistake prop traders make (choosing firms based on low challenge fees instead of legitimacy and payout reliability) and walk through my complete eight-step framework for evaluating prop firms in 2026.
With hundreds of new firms popping up and recent scandals showing that not all are built to last, this checklist helps you separate the legitimate firms from the ones that will deny your payouts or disappear overnight.
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 challenges 1.1800, multi-day lows
EUR/USD comes under extra selling pressure, slipping back toward six-day troughs near 1.1800 at the beginning of the week. The pair’s decline comes in response to marked gains in the US Dollar, as investors continue to digest the so-called “Warsh trade” and assess the latest US ISM Manufacturing prints.
GBP/USD stays on the back foot around 1.3650
GBP/USD adds to Friday’s losses and retests the 1.3650 region on Monday. Indeed, Cable’s retracement reflects the ongoing solid performance of the Greenback, while traders also begin to turn their attention to the upcoming BoE meeting.
USD/JPY slips below 155.00, an upper descending channel pattern
USD/JPY loses ground after three days of gains, trading around 154.90 during the European hours on Monday. On the daily chart, technical analysis indicates a potential bullish reversal as the pair is testing the upper boundary of the descending channel pattern.
Editors’ Picks
Gold looking to stabilize below $4,700
Gold remains under heavy pressure in quite a negative start to the week, hovering around the $4,600 region per troy ounce, down for the third consecutive day. The yellow metal’s decline comes amid strong gains in the US Dollar and a broad-based rebound in US Treasury yields.
EUR/USD challenges 1.1800, multi-day lows
EUR/USD comes under extra selling pressure, slipping back toward six-day troughs near 1.1800 at the beginning of the week. The pair’s decline comes in response to marked gains in the US Dollar, as investors continue to digest the so-called “Warsh trade” and assess the latest US ISM Manufacturing prints.
GBP/USD stays on the back foot around 1.3650
GBP/USD adds to Friday’s losses and retests the 1.3650 region on Monday. Indeed, Cable’s retracement reflects the ongoing solid performance of the Greenback, while traders also begin to turn their attention to the upcoming BoE meeting.
XRP holds near support amid low retail interest and weak on-chain metrics
Ripple (XRP) is trading above $1.60 on Monday, attempting to recover from last week’s sharp decline that tested support at $1.50.
Warsh effect ripples through markets, central banks on deck this week
The first full month of the year is behind us, and, honestly, it has been rather more dramatic than most had anticipated when toasting the New Year. We wrapped up last week with US President Donald Trump announcing his Fed Chair pick.
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.