Trading Strategies

Market News and Trading Education

Knowledge is always the most important aspect whenever new traders are looking for successful strategies that can be implemented in the financial markets. In addition to the proper research and education involved, traders must also keep updated on market news events. These are the daily pieces of information that can determine trend activity for a single trading session (or much longer) and expert traders can use these events to establish live positions in the market. Beyond the basics of executing a new trade order, market investors must be able to keep current on economic news and financial data releases because these events can have an impact on price activity in several different asset classes. These events might include changes in monetary policy at central banks or earnings reports from companies with a stock that is popular amongst traders.

Successful trading strategies also require proper money management techniques and this means traders must understand the amount of monetary risk that is associated with each position. Most expert traders set their accepted risk levels at more than 2-3% of the total account size in any single trade. This can be accomplished using a stop-loss order that is strategically placed, so this added level of trading protection can often prove to be highly valuable over time (especially for new traders). Of course, there is nothing wrong with starting small as a beginner and this is why many trading strategies are tested using demo accounts. These broker applications trade under live market conditions but use virtual funds as the primary vehicle for trade.

Focusing on Specific Assets

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to select one or two assets and look for opportunities to trade based on a chosen time frame. Focusing on too many assets at once is a common mistake made by new traders that may not have developed a clearly defined strategy. Tracking new trading opportunities is not nearly as difficult when trader focus on no more than a few different assets.  Developing an excellent trading strategy also requires consideration of time factors, as many market orders are placed by traders before the daily session even begins. This is why an influx of market volatility is often seen during the beginning of a trading session but these price movements tend to steady themselves later throughout the day.

Expert traders can eventually recognize price patterns that might define trend activity for an entire trading session, so it is often important for traders to make quick decisions in order to generate consistent profits. But the best trading strategies will also look at the situation from the other side, which means that trade should be cut quickly before losses are able to accumulate. Trading brokers offer many different order types that can satisfy these needs (such as limit orders or market orders). Limit orders are able to guarantee that a trader receives a specific price (however, execution cannot be guaranteed). In contrast, market orders can guarantee execution at current price levels (however, these price levels can change rapidly during periods of volatility). As a result, defining a trading strategy involves a number of different elements that allow for maximum returns and trading efficiency.

Set Realistic Trading Expectations

Finally, it’s important for traders to set realistic trading expectations about the types of potential returns that can be generated through different types of trading strategies. Check out the trading strategy tutorials available on Ask Traders and be sure to view the extensive list of trading brokers in order to find the best trading broker able to accommodate your individual investment needs. A trading strategy does not need to produce gains every time in order to be profitable over the long-term. Many expert traders might see profits in just 50-60% of their positions because the winning trades are allowed to run longer than losing trades.

Remember, this is why stop-loss orders are vital to any trading plan and risk levels should be limited to pre-determined percentages (such as 2% or 3%) of the total account size. Additionally, any trading plan should include a strategy to both enter and exit the trade once certain criteria are met. Ultimately, there will always be times when markets become unpredictable and this can really test the nerves of even the most experienced traders. As a trading strategist, it is critical to learn to move emotions like hope, fear, and greed into the background and instead focus on the tested techniques that have worked best in the past. Trading decisions must only be governed using the faculties of logic and planning (rather than emotion). Establish a trading plan and stick to it, but also remember that new market events can change the paradigm and updated adjustments can often allow for better returns.