The Basics of Forex Trading

By Nate Volk

Forex or Foreign Exchange trading includes trading of foreign currency, stocks, and similar type of products. To determine the value of a country's currency, it is weighed against the currency of another country. In FOREX markets, the value of foreign currency plays a vital role when trading stock. Moreover, a number of countries can control the value of other currencies or money. Apart from the countries there also other industries that participate in this system, like banks, large businesses, governments and other financial institutions.

What makes the FOREX market different from the stock market? A forex market trade is one that involves at least two countries, and it can take place worldwide. The two countries are one, with the investor, and two, the country where the money is being invested in. Most of all, the transactions taking place in the FOREX market are going to take place through a broker, such as a bank.

What really makes up the FOREX markets? The foreign exchange market is made up of a variety of transactions and counties. Those involved in the FOREX market are trading in large volumes, large amounts of money. Those who are involved in the FOREX market are generally involved in cash businesses, or in the trade of very liquid assets that you can sell and buy fast. The market is large, very large. You could consider the FOREX market to be much larger than the stock market in any one country overall. Those involved in the FOREX market are trading daily twenty-four hours a day and sometimes trading is completed on the weekend, but not all weekends.

You might be surprised at the number of people that are involved in FOREX trading. In the years 2004, almost two trillion dollars was an average daily trading volume. This is a huge number for the number of daily transactions to take place. Think about how much a trillion dollars really is and then times that by two, and this is the money that is changing hands every day!

The FOREX market is not something new, but has been used for over thirty years. With the introduction of computers, and then the Internet, the trading on the FOREX market continues to grow as more and more people and businesses alike become aware of the availability of this trading market. FOREX only accounts for about ten percent of the total trading from country to country, but as the popularity in this market continues to grow so could that number. - 23200

About the Author:

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Jobs at Trading Desks

By Zeke Lee

Have you ever seen a trading floor?

No, were not talking Liars Poker here

Weve all seen the so-called pit traders on CNBC yelling and screaming at each other. But whats it like on a typical trading floor at a large bank that you might work at?

Usually, youll see one large open room " no cubicles. On the edges of the trading floor youll see meeting rooms and occasionally the offices of the Managing Directors.

On the floor itself, youll see rows of really long desks that are sectioned off per person. Traders within the same group will naturally sit close to each other. There might be the foreign exchange group in one area, the credit group in another, and the equity guys somewhere else.

But youll notice something unique about each traders desk: the computer screens. No, not that they are eco-friendly and conserve energy " but that there are so many monitors on each desk and that some of them are blinking constantly.

Got Screens?

If youve never worked in trading before, you might think theres no reason you would actually need between 3 and 8 monitors " the other 7 must be for playing World of Warcraft or catching up on 24, right?

Wrong.

Partly, its for showing off: some traders view the number of monitors they have as a status symbol on the trading floor. Hey, even if you cant see my BMW, my 8 monitors mean that I own a really expensive car, right? Or at least that our P...L is higher than that of the other group over there with only 2 monitors.

The legitimate reason " status symbols aside " is that timing is extremely important in trading, and you dont want to waste time toggling between windows. Alt + Tab is for bankers.

You need to be able to look up and know that Apple surged 4% in the last 10 minutes.

Then you need to keep track of the market news and major headlines coming in through Bloomberg " is Steve Jobs OK? Is some analyst raising their forecast for the number of iPhones sold? Was there an news release that just came out regarding Apples contract with AT...T or talks with Verizon? Did consumer spending numbers just come out?

As an active prop trader, youre multi-tasking all the time and constantly thinking about these kinds of questions, assessing risk, and making quick decisions.

Bloomberg

Bloomberg is an expensive news/finance information service that all banks and trading firms have access to.

Beyond just watching the news, you also need to track stocks youre interested in and see their prices updated in real-time " so you use another monitor for that. These screens are constantly blinking as the prices of securities are changing every second.

Bloomberg has a price feature that lets you organize and track stocks by sector (Technology, Financials, Energy, etc.) and lets you see where everything is trading.

You can also get a real-time heat map of the market, so you can see which sub-sectors of the S...P are up, and by how much.

Trading Platform

Next, you use another monitor to actually make your trades " this might be Merrills MLX platform, Goldmans REDIPlus platform, FlexTrade, Fidessa, or anything else.

If youre trading equity derivatives, you need to enter your orders for stocks, puts, and calls quickly and monitor any pending orders that are waiting to be filled.

Why do you need an entire monitor just for making trades?

Because you be managing a HUGE portfolio of securities and each of these securities could have various derivative products attached to them. For example, a list of a hundred stocks could each have derivatives like calls and puts with various maturities and strike prices.

Depending on what youre trading, you might actually need 2 monitors to track everything.

Option Valuations / Other Calculations

If youre not trading derivatives, you wont need to value options " but you may well have to make other calculations, whether youre valuing bonds, analyzing the yield curve, or back-testing a trading strategy.

While the math itself is not quite rocket science, it goes beyond what most bankers deal with: simple arithmetic. While investment bankers may come from liberal arts, finance, or engineering backgrounds, derivatives traders primarily come from mathematical / engineering backgrounds.

Your firm might have a proprietary way of valuing options, developed by a senior IT programmer (see, the back office may have some merits after all) " and depending on what youre trading, it might be very complex.

Getting these programs working properly can be difficult because they need to be synced up with other programs you use. Getting the # of shares and contracts held, exposure to risk, and other variables linked together dynamically rarely works perfectly " and this complexity means youll be calling the back-office tech guy or floor IT guy to fix technical issues quite frequently.

Messages

Of course, youll also need a monitor for Outlook " the standard email program at any bank " to handle email and see incoming emails from brokers and the rest of your team.

The Rest of Your Desk

So what else is on your desk?

Just like at a bank, you get a phone terminal along with a headset and regular phone " but be careful about the conversations you have, because anything between brokers and clients is recorded.

Talking about bottles may not get you fired " but you probably want to postpone talking with your model(s) until later. Even if its not recorded, everyone else on the desk will hear what youre saying.

The phones are also connected to CNBC audio, so you can listen to whats going on in the news throughout the day.

So What Else Do You Do On the Phone Besides Chatting with Models?

For one, the phone actually rings quite often " especially between the trading hours of 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM.

Most of the time, brokers call to tell you what their clients are looking to buy and sell and see if you have any interest. Some of this is shifting to online chat instead, but its still common for brokers to call to get your attention on larger orders.

Junior traders will have often help deal with the influx of phone calls by screening the phone calls and taking down broker quotes.

Forget About the Bathroom " or Trips to Starbucks

This also brings up another key point and a major difference between banking and trading: most traders hate leaving their desks for fear of missing out on something important.

Lunch breaks are limited to 15 minutes (and often the junior guys or interns will go get the food for them). Bathroom breaks are rare unless you really need to go. Forget about 10 trips to Starbucks during the day: bankers can do that only because they have so much down time. No friendly chats with the cute marketing intern " at least not until the market is closed. This also means that its common for traders to gain weight: they pretty much just sit there all day, eyes glued to the monitors, only taking the occasional break to eat.

If you walk up and try to talk to a trader, half the time he wont even look at you: this might seem rude to you, but to him not paying attention for even a few seconds might result in a loss of thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.

And part of it is just habit: theyre so used to having their eyes glued on the screen that its almost weird to look away from it.

Hey, if you had that much money on the line constantly, you probably wouldnt give the time of day to bright-eyed interns or newbie traders either - 23200

About the Author:

This text was guest-written by Zeke Lee, a Stanford graduate, former management consultant with Booz ... Company, and current derivatives trader on Wall Street. He founded the GMAT Pill (GMAT Prep course) based on his experience scoring in the 98th percentile on the GMAT in just 2 weeks with a special study method.

Getting Started In Residential Property Investment

By Layla Vanderbilt

The concept of investing in residential property can be intimidating to new investors, but for those willing to work at it; developing a profitable portfolio of residential property is not very hard to do. The key to making money to is to keep everything simple. Here?s some information to help you get started.

Property is a single family dwelling which the landlord rents out. Other types can include multi-unit properties, which can include several freestanding structures on the same property, duplexes, townhouses, and other types of multiple unit arrangements. The largest residential investment properties are apartment complexes, including residential apartment towers which can hold hundreds of units.

After you?ve completed your homework you are ready to take the next step. This means you?ll be checking out lots of different residential investment properties. The prime mistake most first-time investors make is listening to the hard sell pitches for so-called ?hot properties.? Currently overseas real estate is all the hype right. That?s great if you?re planning on living oversea, but it?s not a good investment for your real estate portfolio. Leave if for tourists!

The prospect of making you first residential property investment can be exciting or it can cause feelings of anxiety or fear. It?s normal to experience both feelings, but don?t let the excitement of the purchase take precedence over your good common in accessing a good investment or let fear or anxiety keep you from getting started.

You should begin by considering these questions: ? What are your long-term goals for your investment? ? What are you personally looking to accomplish with this investment? ? What are your expectations for your investment? ? How do you plan on financing your real estate investment? ? What are your cash flow needs?

You can also generate rental income from your residential home by renting out spare rooms, but this is finding compatible and reliable tenants can be tough. So, buying a separate investment property and using this to generate rental income is usually a better option.

1.Flipping Property ? in this case the profit is made at the sale. 2.Purchasing Developed Land 3.Income Generating Property such as rental or commercial property 4.Invest in a Property Development Company

After you have figured out a strategy that works with your circumstances and one which will help you achieve your goals, you will need to think about these things: you need to consult with professionals in this field. Consult with a lawyer for legal advice, see a banker to get some pointers in the area of finance, talk to your accountant so you don't make errors in the area of taxes and you will want to work with a real estate agent so you can find the best investments. Get advice from professionals who are specialists in their area. Watch out for media and false, misleading information. Use only the best sources for your property market information. - 23200

About the Author:

Layla Vanderbilt is the content coordinator for a leading property management software review website which connects people with the leading property management tools.

A Diversified Portfolio Can Grow In Good Times And In Bad

By Martha Vasquez

Nobody has ever said that investing in the stock market is a sure thing, but there are some things that you can do that will better ensure your success. One of those things is to make sure that you have a diversified portafolio that will spread out your money and protect you. A lot of beginner investors fail to do this and as one company goes, so goes their entire portfolio.

Diversification in the stock market is like a life insurance policy. You can never be totally sure what one sector is going to do, but having your money spread out over various sectors allows you to get gains in one area when another one might be going backwards. Not every risky investment that you make is going to pay off and a diversified portfolio will help to offset those losses when they happen.

In order to be truly diversified, your investments will have to be in a variety of sectors and types of stock. Using counter cyclical and cyclical stocks is a great way to have your money in various areas where you can take some risks, but still have stable stock investments to fall back on. By having a solid mix of different sectors and cyclical and counter cyclical stocks, you are setting yourself up for success and removing a lot of the vulnerability that comes with investing in the stock market.

Cyclical stocks are the stocks that you will see rising and falling with the market on a daily basis. Recent examples of this would be the banking and auto industry. If you were lucky enough to catch them on the upswing, you are probably very wealthy right now. If not, you are now trying to find something to make up for all of your losses.

Of course, there are also cyclical stocks that do the opposite of what the general market is doing. When the market goes from bull to bear, these are the types of investments that you need to seek out to continue to keep your portfolio profitable. It can be a viscous ride at times, but research will go a long way in keeping your portfolio on the right side of the game.

In addition to your cyclical stocks, there is also the need to keep a decent mix of counter cyclical stocks as well. They may not show the large fluctuations that the other stocks do, but they are meant to give your portfolio balance and stabilization. It is the small annual profits on these types of stocks that will add up and allow some mistakes on the other end. Investing in things like food, gasoline and energy gives you the stability that you need in the investment world.

Last but not least, you have to look at the volatility of a stock. The riskier a stock is, the more likely it is to have a high degree of volatility. For those that do not have a strong stomach, this is unfortunate because this is where the larger gains are usually found. This is especially true with small cap stocks that fly up and down on a daily basis and that supply the killing zone for many day traders. You can win or lose a lot in a very short period of time with these stocks.

The moment you go into the stock market as an investor, one of the first goals that should be achieved is a diversified portfolio. Getting a stock tip is great, but investing every penny of your bankroll is nothing but foolish. Spread out your money and allow yourself the luxury of making some small mistakes that can be absorbed while at the same time maximizing your potential for profits. - 23200

About the Author:

Informative site offering articles and information related to online payment, online banking, merchant services, merchant accounts.

Residential Investment Property

By Layla Vanderbilt

The concept of investing in residential property can be intimidating to new investors, but for those willing to work at it; developing a profitable portfolio of residential property is not very hard to do. The key to making money to is to keep everything simple. Here?s some information to help you get started.

For any type of investment it takes a lot more than luck to be successful. Success requires studying information about the investment. The more you know the more profitable your investment will be. With this in mind you?ll need to study the basics of residential property investment ... management. After all the best way to protect and grow your cash investment is by planning your investment strategy.

Managing a residential investment property can be a lot of work. In addition to finding and keeping reliable tenants, a landlord must also be involved in the maintenance of the property, responding to tenant complaints and providing routine maintenance which keeps the property in good shape. Landlords must also be concerned with servicing a mortgage, keeping property taxes current, and obtaining the appropriate insurance for their property. The amount of income which can be generated from such a property varies, depending on whether or not it is mortgaged, the size and condition of the units, the area, and the landlord's abilities. Expenses associated with residential investment properties are considered write-offs for tax purposes, just like the expenses associated with running any business. For example, when a landlord pays to have a house painted, hires a plumber to fix a backed up shower, or pays for the installation of landscaping at an apartment complex, these expenses are all write-offs Purchasing residential investment property is a major commitment and it can be tricky to make good investment decisions.

Anxiety, fear and a feeling of being overwhelmed is common to first time property investors. While these feelings are normal, you need to be aware of the pitfalls they can lead you into. Sometimes excitement can get in the way of common sense and may keep you from making the best deal. Fear can stop you from doing the right thing.

A property that you buy with the purpose of generating financial returns is called an investment property. This property could be land, a single apartment or house, a block of flats, a commercial or industrial building. Investment properties generate profits through rental income, capital growth or both. Investment properties are generally not used for residential purposes.

You can also generate rental income from your residential home by renting out spare rooms, but this is finding compatible and reliable tenants can be tough. So, buying a separate investment property and using this to generate rental income is usually a better option.

Benefits of Buying Investment Properties are Investment in property is usually prone to less volatility than shares. The investment in this sector is relatively a safe form of investment, the value of our property rises in the long term; we become eligible to receive tax deductions. We can include depreciation in the value of the investment property due to wear, tear and obsolescence as deductions in our tax returns, we can obtain tax variations and enhance our cash flows, we can earn from the rental income, we can earn from the rental income.

After you have figured out a strategy that works with your circumstances and one which will help you achieve your goals, you will need to think about these things: you need to consult with professionals in this field. Consult with a lawyer for legal advice, see a banker to get some pointers in the area of finance, talk to your accountant so you don't make errors in the area of taxes and you will want to work with a real estate agent so you can find the best investments. Get advice from professionals who are specialists in their area. Watch out for media and false, misleading information. Use only the best sources for your property market information. - 23200

About the Author:

Layla Vanderbilt is the content coordinator for a leading property management software review website which connects people with the leading property management tools.