When it comes to deciding what to trade or maybe how to invest, you have many financial trading options. Some of the most common are Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, FX Options etc. Now because each instrument is different from the other traders choose to stick with what they know, in other words, instruments they have experience with only.

The approach is beneficial since it allows for traders to focus on what they are trading the most, which ensures higher profitability with a more polished approach. The drawback is that this approach means that traders have a limited portfolio. Widening the portfolio is one of the keys to a working risk-management strategy.

Now regardless of what you prefer, there are a couple of universal rules that will apply to every asset. As a trader, you’ll want to keep the four points we discuss below in mind to enhance your trading skills.

Fundamental Analysis

As a trader, you already know that asset prices don’t move on their own; there are many underlying reasons for its movement. Often major events like COVID-19, or maybe elections in a certain country can and often does affect the market, shaking it up with some uncertainty. Sharp changes during tumultuous times across just about any trading instrument are common, though events that aren’t global may not have a cascading effect on the entire market.

In today’s day and age, keeping up with the news isn’t difficult. You can subscribe to numerous sources that aggregate economic and financial news with forecasts of asset price changes. Though we often tell investors to refrain from following these predictions blindly. However, having this information is important. If you can’t check all sources, then maybe use an economic calendar that’s built into IQ Option’s trader room where all the latest most important news is displayed.

Technical analysis

You will always want to analyze charts using technical indicators to help decide how to approach a certain asset. Using indicators can be very helpful as it instrumental in evaluating the asset’s performance history as well as make reasonably accurate predictions based on that data.

The most significant advantage of using indicators is that they can be equally useful for any instrument. Since indicators rely heavily on price fluctuations, the signals aren’t 100 accurate. Also, don’t assume that past performance is an indicator of future performance. That’s why you need to combine it with fundamental analysis which should help make the best possible informed decision.

The indicators that traders use will mainly depend on the approach that’s preferred. That said in many cases, just the fundamental indicators like MA, RSI, Awesome Oscillator and Stochastic might be enough.

Deploying a Trading Strategy

Regardless of how much experience you might have, it does not matter if you are new or a seasoned veteran, a trading plan matters. Many experts have been saying this for years, but without a trading strategy, there is next to no chance of ever being able to improve and make a significant profit.

If you don’t intend to trade for entertainment, but instead want to make real money, you need to know what to trade, how to analyze it and what the investment will look like along with having a risk management approach. You will want to follow a strategy building guide to come up with your own strategy or use a successful one by someone else.

Risk management

Risk management will help you minimize the risk of a loss. It will prevent you from being upset and overtrading. Setting the rules means that you also need to follow through. A good risk management technique should be mapped out before you start trading. It will keep you calm and cool, allowing you to think rationally.

Adhering to these rules will help preserve your initial capital and also manage losses. Using a risk management approach is very important, regardless of the assets or instruments you might be trading.

What do you think of these four pillars or components? They can and should be applied universally to any asset and followed to ensure that the trader makes money regardless of their experience. Even the most seasoned traders can lose money without a risk management strategy.

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Many people are allured by the often glamorous and seemingly easy life of a trader, mostly because they have no idea as to what goes into it. We’d largely attribute this perceived image to the media, where a trader is often portrayed having a glamorous lifestyle. Many movies and shows, even many that are centered around trading will make it seem that it is a game or make it look like its easy to make money as a trader.

In reality, this is not how things work. Trading isn’t easy, and there are many challenges and inherent risks that need to be starred down by a trader each day. Every trader has to be aware of the risks and be prepared to mitigate them to avoid being suddenly thrown into financial turmoil. In this article, we’ll look at 5 obstacles that traders will face in their journey.

Traders Need to Study A lot

When someone wants to become a manager, a painter, or a programmer, they will have to study a lot. The same principle applies to when someone wants to become a trader and get satisfying results. The misconception is that you can get good results without learning. In reality, if you don’t understand the trading instruments and how the markets work, you can’t make money for long even with all the luck in the world.

If your sole trading strategy is to rely on luck, it isn’t sufficient or adequate. You will most likely encounter losses. That’s why to grow as a trader; you need to continue learning, by finding new information, reading articles, watching videos and reading books.

The Markets Are In Forever Changing

Now if there is one thing that’s predictable about the market, it is that that all markets are unpredictable. Everything is consistently changing and fluctuating, which can make it difficult for a newbie to understand. That’s why it is so essential for traders to stay on top of what’s going on in the world at least with regards to the financial world.

It can be near impossible to evaluate an asset by just looking at it, and that’s why it has to be studied. You need to learn the fundamentals of technical analysis and then use the candlestick patters to figure out its trend. You can then use that broad knowledge about the market to decide on the most effective approach.

Trading is risky

The inherent risk associated with trading is that you can end up losing your entire investment, and it happens to a lot of seasoned traders too. People can lose their entire investment for a myriad of reasons which include but isn’t limited to unpredictable price changes, incorrect evaluation of the market, trading with emotions etc.

Even the most experienced trader will have to deal with failure some of the time. If anything, it can be a major challenge to come up with a highly successful trading strategy that also accounts for risks.

Emotions Getting in The Way of Reason

Emotions are something that traders can find hard to deal with apparently. Even if a trader can understand the market, they can sometimes find controlling emotions to be complicated. Traders who have full control of their emotions tend to be the most successful. Dealing with emotions isn’t easy for most people. Two of the most common emotions that traders need to deal with is fear of loss and greed. Plus, there is a bit of excitement too, which can ruin a perfectly good approach.

Emotions often force traders to make decisions which are rushed, irrational and for which they have no control of the outcome, which leads to a loss of their investment. That’s why it is so essential for traders to know how to manage their emotions appropriately just as well as studying the market.

Uncertainty and Impatience

Impatience isn’t an emotion, but it can be just as detrimental to a trader. As a trader, you get used to the fact that there are no guarantees and you never know what’s going to happen next. However, most people don’t like uncertainty because everyone wants the best outcome. That’s why trading requires a more strategic approach and more patience.

Conclusion

Now with everything, we’ve discussed above do you think that trading is “easy”? Trading is generally the implementation of an elaborate plan that combines analysis tools, market knowledge, emotional control, implementing a risk management strategy and managing your expectations to curb impatience.

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The risk management approach taken by a trader can be the deciding factor in many cases as to the outcome of a trading session. In this article, we emphasize the importance of traders having a risks management strategy in place before they enter the market. That said we’ll go into the exact steps that should be taken by a trader to come up with an effective risk management strategy.

We will discuss 8 ways that will help any trader manage their losses. Each step will get traders a little bit closer to more mindful and hopefully responsible trading which minimizes loses.

1. The Tried and True Capital Management Approach

As a trader, there are two ways in which you can handle your capital. You can either choose the conservative approach for a more cautious trading strategy or a more aggressive approach which is generally reserved for traders with experience. Regardless of what strategy you choose, the important part is to make sure that you stick with it.

The conservative approach will mean using an investment which isn’t higher than 1% of your balance in a single deal, and probably not over 3% for the entire balance in a single go. For instance, you can only have three deals open at once, and the total investment across them shouldn’t exceed 3% of the total account balance. It is a method that’s often best for novice traders since they don’t require as much money to test the waters and get some small wins.

Another instance of this is that let’s say that your total balance is $100, you should only trade with around 3% at a time which is $3. So, you can only trade with a $1 investment for each asset or currency pair.

The more aggressive method will raise your investment cap to 5% in a single deal but not exceeding 15% of the total balance. So, a trader using this approach can open three deals, each with 5% of their total balance. The method is best used by more experienced and aggressive traders who understand what they are doing based on their experience. However, traders should always diversify their risks making sure that the losses they experience don’t exceed 5% at a time.

2. Asset diversification

The decision to choose either one or two assets only and stick with them can be risky. The market is unpredictable at best, and opening up multiple deals with the same two assets, for instance, can lead to unnecessary losses. Generally, an experienced trader will choose around 4-5 assets and mostly across different instruments, i.e. Forexf, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos etc. Each type of asset is available at a different time, which means that there are different trading conditions. By diversifying, traders can manage loss more effectively while mitigating risks to a great extent.

3. Locating the right entry point

We agree! There is no way to be 100% sure when entering a deal that there was a better opportunity. In fact, there always are better opportunities. Generally, it includes utilizing technical indicators, relying on data received and following the news and not just a gut feeling. All trades or entries need to be executed by keeping risk management in mind, which will protect your capital and raise the odds of making a profit.

4. Holding Trades for long timeframes

While many traders rely on indicators, their signals aren’t perfect. They can also be slightly misleading often on extremely short timeframes. That’s why as a newbie trader you’ll want to trade on often longer timeframes. It goes without saying that short-term trading has many inherent risks involved, because traders will rely mainly on their intuition instead of hardcore analysis tools, and that leads to losses.

When you hold a trade for longer, it allows you to develop a more long-term strategy to analyze assets in-depth. That said the trading periods would heavily depend on the trader’s chosen methodologies.

5. Hedging

Hedging is a technique that when leveraged, will help to mitigate and manage risks considerably. The goal of hedging is to open a reverse position for the same asset to protect your capital if the price of that asset goes up often in the wrong direction. One instance of this is that traders will often open both a “Buy” and “Sell” position for the same asset like a currency pair to cover the loss regardless of which direction the asset moves in.

While hedging will help to manage losses, if misused, it can work against a trader since it eliminates their potential to make a profit from the outcome. That’s why it is a technique best reserved for seasoned traders.

6. Trading limit

Seasoned traders often follow a handful of rules when trading every day. The most significant of these rules is to set a limit for how many deals they will enter into a day and limit unsuccessful deals for the day. Setting a limit is important since it prevents a trader from giving in to emotions when they are exhausted. Taking a break in between trading sessions is necessary to cope with all the psychological and mental stress associated with it. Plus, a break allows traders to gather their thoughts.

7. Analyzing mistakes

Statics sadly show that up to 95% of traders aren’t analyzing their performance and aren’t tracking their deals. That’s why they aren’t able to recognize any mistakes they may be making, and because there is no record of it, those issues can’t be addressed. We strongly advise that all investments and the outcome from them should be tracked for a practical approach to trading. If not, you will be doomed to repeat those mistakes.

8. Regular withdrawal of profits

It is important to withdraw part of the income either every week or every month, depending on what a trader is comfortable with doing. Usually, 30%-50% should suffice. Even if those amounts aren’t substantial, it prevents you from getting discouraged, and that helps you focus on trading.

Now, these are 8 of the most effective trading tips which, when combined with a solid strategy, will mean profits. You will always need to take a careful and well thought of approach to be a successful trader.

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When Should You Trade?

Now one of the goals of any trader is to discover and then use the best entry point and then exit at the right time. In 80% of the cases finding the right time to enter determines how much money you will make. However, as easy as it may sound, the ever-changing markets make it challenging to find the optimal entry and exit points.

As seasoned traders, we understand that there is no single surefire way to know the best time to trade because if anything, we’ve learned that markets are unpredictable. However, as challenging as it may be, it is still possible to study the markets and find patterns, to find the best time to trade.

Following Trading Sessions

One of the best things about the financial markets is that they are always on 24/5. When a trading day ends in one part of the world, it is only the start in the other. Trading sessions also overlap each other, which creates brilliant opportunities for trades of all types.

Most traders will follow just 3x trading sessions with peak activity. Generally, it is the North American, European, and Asian trading markets that are followed. In particular, they tend to be Tokyo, New York, and London sessions.

When business is conducted in these regions, that’s when there is the most activity, since almost every bank or corporate entity will conduct their business in these markets. That being said, let’s examine trading sessions more closely.

Asian Trading Session

The trading session in Asia, aka Tokyo, starts at 23:00 GMT and runs till 8:00 GMT. While the Asian session mainly includes Japan, but it also includes New Zealand, China, and Australia. That’s why the timeline for the session extends slightly beyond Tokyo’s trading session.

It has been observed that the Asian session may set the trend for other sessions that follows it. That’s why many seasoned traders know that they should pay attention to the events during these sessions. Assets like currency pairs, especially where the JPY is involved, will fluctuate.

The European Trading Session

The European session tends to overlap somewhat with the Asian session and also the session in America. In Europe, the markets open up at 7:00 GMT, and the trading session will last till 16:00 GMT. The time zone has multiple markets, including Moscow, London, Paris, and Frankfurt. The popular currency pairs or assets include the EUR and GBP. Generally, volatility increases during these sessions.

The American Trading Session

The American exchange and trading session does not just include North America, but also countries like Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. The session starts at 12:00 GMT and will run till 20:00 GMT. Since as mentioned above, the European and American markets tend to overlap; it makes for more dynamic price fluctuations, especially for the EUR/USD currency pair.

It is important to understand the timings of each trading session and factor that into your trading strategy. The high volatility will contribute to gains, but it can also be attributed to losses. Traders need to keep a close eye on the situation and then adapt their strategy accordingly.

Keep an Eye on the News

We often tell people that following the trading sessions isn’t enough. It isn’t as important as understanding the underlying reasons for the decrease and increase in asset volatility. Traders should check the news and use their economic calendar to spot these instances.

Out of the many reasons, there could be national economic, regional tax policies, non-farm payroll, inflation rate, etc. Furthermore, there may be significant weather events, political turmoil like protests, or even a tweet by the President of America, that can influence the market.

It is important to see the bigger picture, and then make the right connections as that will help traders plan their deals accordingly.

Conclusion

We conclude by saying that there is no right or wrong time to trade. Furthermore, there isn’t the best time to trade either. It depends on many different components. The answer to this question will vary depending on your trading approach, the market being targeted, and the timeframe. So, you will want to follow the market and make sure to check the news so that you are updated with the latest developments.

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Now it is important to start with an understanding that almost everything that people do has some type of seasonal cycle associated with it. The stock market, too, has a season associated with it. While the phenomenon is pretty complex and hard to explain in a few words, it is possible for traders to take advantage of it. Furthermore, mid and long-term investors can also benefit from these changes. Some short-term traders may also be able to make a few bucks based on this information.

Now it is a commonly accepted perception that the majority of money in the stock market is to be made between November 1st and April 30th, which is also incidentally winter. On the other hand, the period between May 1st and October 31st, i.e., the summer, should be avoided. That said, this is just a legend with no data to back it up.

The so-called legend led two Massey University professors to draft two articles on this very subject in 2012 entitled “Are Monthly Seasonal Real?”, The other was “Three Century Perspective and The Halloween Indicator: Everywhere and All the Time.” The papers included results from over 108 countries over a period of 319 years, which suggests that the divide between Winter and Summer is real.

The two most profitable months for traders are December and January; on the other hand, October and September tend to be the worst. So, there is reason to believe that winter tends to be on average more profitable as compared to the hot season, though it does not mean that the markets will swing in this same direction each year.

Now, if you are to observe over 300 years of history, there are going to be many outliers. However, the pattern, in general, is what needs to be looked at, as it outlines the nature of fluctuations in different seasons. At the end of the day, it is up to you to use this knowledge as a trader.

How can this information be helpful? Now, if you are a bullish investor, you will opt to trade during months where the return is highest, i.e., April, January, and December. On the other hand, an investor that chooses to short a position, i.e., a Bearish one, will decide to trade in October, September, and July.

While seasons do play a role as observed, it also depends on your trading strategy. Though when it comes to playing in the financial market, every little bit of information can potentially give you an edge.

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Most traders and even those who are new know that there is risk associated with trading. However, a great deal depends on what trading strategies are used, and the trader’s knowledge and experience when it comes to managing losses. That being said, let us examine the steps that are required to come up with a good risk management strategy.

Understand the Market

One of the prime reasons why traders have to bear heavy losses is a lack of market knowledge. Interestingly both experienced and professional traders contrary to popular belief do not rush into trades before consulting their strategy. In other words, they don’t rely on luck. That’s why it is imperative to make sure that you know the market and understand its trend lines. Guessing isn’t strategy and ends up doing more harm than any good.

Traders need to employ fundamental analysis, which is critical to gaining a better understanding of prevailing market conditions. While it sounds complicated on paper, in reality, it isn’t. Take, for instance, many traders might start small and just focus on one market which interests them the most. For instance, if you are interested in technology, then you’ll enjoy trading mainly IT company stocks.

Good technical analysis is very important and hugely beneficial. We have a few indicators on our platform, which will help you evaluate assets.

Draft a Trading Plan

The other reason why many people lose money is trading hectically. You are probably selling for a very small profit only to realize that the asset’s price is increasing. You are hoping that the price will reverse, and then holding on to a losing deal means you might lose even further. When you have a trading plan, these are the types of things you can prevent because there is control. Mapped out correctly, a trading plan helps to eliminate the pressure associated with uncertainty and consequently ensure that you will not make any panicked moves.

It is imperative to plan out all the investments you are going to make. Then set limits and a budget. Think about how much you can afford to lose at this point if things go south. What type of returns can you expect? Then consider the instruments you are going to trade as well as the exit points of each deal. The best way to manage risks is to scheme every step. When you are organized, it pays off in the trading industry.

Don’t Let Your Emotions Control Your Actions

Emotions can interfere in your decision making power, and that can affect you greatly. It can result in lost opportunities and losses. Furthermore, never let anger take over as it can cause you to trade irrationally.

Losses are hard for everyone to accept, but you need to know that it is part of trading. Moving forward and learning from those losses is important. Traders will go through five different stages when there is a loss, i.e., denial, then anger, later bargaining, then some depression, and finally accepting it. Many times traders will lose money in the way of realization. That’s why when traders know how to avoid this broad spectrum of emotions, and know how to retain their composure, it allows them to plan and be successful.

It is worth noting that it is essential to focus on the trading plan. Don’t get carried away, stick to the plan, and it will ensure profits.

Conclusion

It is essential to take some time out to map your risk management strategy. When you have a plan written down, it helps put you in the right mindset, prioritize and strategize all actions while managing any losses that may come your way.

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Now many newbie traders may not realize this, but it is possible to come up with your own unique trading strategy. However, it is difficult to come up with a strategy that can guarantee steady payouts. So, the question is, how should you choose trading strategies also what to avoid during the process? That’s what we will be discussing in this article.

Perhaps the first thing we’ll tell newbie traders is not to set your expectations too high. Initially, that trading strategy isn’t going to make your rich. Think of it more as a starting point. So, below is where you should start.

The Five C’s of Strategy Building

Choosing a market. Start with a market you are comfortable trading in. Most people choose Forex, but it is different from stocks, bonds, and cryptos. So, the factors that govern movement in currency isn’t the same as what would move your stock position. That said, the trading strategy should be market-specific.

Choose a time frame. You should have a time frame in mind. Every time frame should be traded successfully. You should put both long and short term deals in place. Regardless of the time frame, the long term and short term strategies shouldn’t be identical.

Choose the tools of your trade. Many traders strongly believe there are bad and good indicators, and if they can find the right combo, they won’t have to make trading decisions. In reality, it does not work that way. Every indicator is essential at some time. That’s why it is possible to trade without using any indicators. That said, for novice traders, an indicator or maybe a couple will help them better understand prevailing marketing conditions. That’s why you should find a tool that’s best suited to your style of trading.

Choose an entry signal or signals. As a trader, the gut feeling shouldn’t be guiding you. Not having enough trading experience makes it difficult for you to predict how the market will move based on instincts. So, to improve your chances of success, it is essential to make a list of all the entry triggers. Triggers are defined as conditions that would allow for a position to be taken. Take, for instance, a sudden reversal of the trend or a piece of news that may affect the market.

Choosing existing conditions is also important. Exiting is just as important, if not more imperative than entering. Existing is defined as when you move out on the deal, evaluate your past performance, and then adjust the strategy used accordingly. Having an exit strategy is the final ’C,’ and the outcome of your entire deal hinges on getting this right.

Factors All Newbie Traders Should Consider

To start with, your trading strategy should be simple. The biggest misconception amongst newbie traders is that the more indicators and triggers they follow, the better off they will be. Having an overly complex trading strategy rarely ever works and, in most cases, results in losses. So, keep things simple.

You shouldn’t be afraid to make changes because adapting is the key to surviving as a trader. Continue to fine-tune your trading strategy until there are steady returns. Also, when a strategy fails to work, then it is time to use a new one.

Copying the trading strategies of other traders is perfectly fine. When you’re starting, using a successful trader’s strategy is a good way to start making money. When you emulate, more experienced traders there will be a success. However, you’ll want to develop a strategy of your own in the long term as you gain experience in the industry.

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