It's possible to trade profitably on the Forex, the nearly $2 trillion worldwide currency exchange market. But the odds are against you, even more so if you don't prepare and plan your trades. According to a 2014 Bloomberg report, several analyses of retail Forex trading, including one by the National Futures Association (NFA), the industry's regulatory body, concluded that more than two out of three Forex traders lose money.
This suggests that self-education and caution are recommended. Here are some approaches that may improve your odds of taking a profit.
Prepare Before You Begin Trading
Because the Forex market is highly leveraged -- as much as 50 to 1 -- it can have the same appeal as buying a lottery ticket: some small chance of making a killing. This, however, isn't trading; it's gambling, with the odds long against you.
A better way of entering the Forex market is to carefully prepare. Beginning with a practice account is helpful and risk-free. While you're trading in your practice account, read the most frequently recommended Forex trading books, among them
Currency Forecasting: A Guide to Fundamental and Technical Models of Exchange Rate Determination, by Michael R. Rosenberg is short, not too sweet and highly admired introduction to the Forex market.
Forex Strategies: Best Forex Strategies for High Profits and Reduced Risk, by Matthew Maybury is an excellent introduction to Forex trading.
The Little Book of Currency Trading: How to Make Big Profits in the World of Forex, by Kathy Lien is another concise introduction that has stood the test of time.
All three are available on Amazon. Rosenberg's book, unfortunately, is pricey, but it's widely available in public libraries. "Trading in the Zone: Master the Market with Confidence, Discipline and a Winning Attitude," by Mark Douglas is another good book that's available on Amazon, and, again, somewhat pricey, although the Kindle edition is not.
Use the information gained from your reading to plan your trades before plunging in. The more you change your plan, the more you end up in trouble and the less likely that elusive forex profit will end up in your pocket.
Diversify and Limit Your Risks
Two strategies that belong in every trader's arsenal are:
Diversification: Traders who execute many small traders, particularly in different markets where the correlation between markets is low, have a better chance of making a profit. Putting all your money in one big trade is always a bad idea.
Familiarize yourself with ways guaranteeing a profit on an already profitable order, such as a trailing stop, and of limiting losses using stop and limit orders. These strategies and more are covered in the recommended books. Novice traders often make the mistake of concentrating on how to win; it's even more important to understand how to limit your losses.
Be Patient
Forex traders, particularly beginners, are prone to getting nervous if a trade does not go their way immediately, or if the trade goes into a little profit they get itchy to pull the plug and walk away with a small profit that could have been a significant profit with little downside risk using appropriate risk reduction strategies.
In "On Any Given Sunday," Al Pacino reminds us that "football is a game of inches." That's a winning attitude in the Forex market as well. Remember that you are going to win some trades and lose others. Take satisfaction in the accumulation of a few more wins than losses. Over time, that could make you rich!
Andes Mint Cake
Andes Mint Cake topped with chocolate ganache and Andes Mints. Looks like heaven, right? Oh yes. And it’s SO easy to decorate and make!
This was my first cake I made for my new cookbook “Make it with a Cake Mix“, and let me tell you, I was so nervous for decorating it! But it was shockingly easy! I kept it all simple and used the Andes Mints to rim the bottom. And dripping ganache down the side of any cake is always a brilliant idea 🙂
I like to dye the frosting a little green to match the color of the Andes Mints.
Ingredients
- Chocolate Cake:
- 1 box devil’s food cake mix
- 3 eggs
- ½ C. oil
- ¾ C. buttermilk or milk
- ¾ C. sour cream
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- Green Minty Cream Filling:
- 1 ¼ C. butter, softened
- 1 ½ tsp. peppermint extract
- 4-5 C. powdered sugar
- green food dye, optional
- Chocolate Mint Buttercream:
- 1 ¼ C. butter, softened
- ½ C. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp. peppermint extract
- 2 Tbsp. milk or sour cream
- 3-4 C. powered sugar
- Chocolate Ganache:
- ¾ C. chocolate chips
- ½ C. heavy whipping cream
- Andes Mints for decoration
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 3 8-inch pans. I prefer to line the bottoms of my pans with foil or parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Sift cake mix into a small bowl and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk your eggs, oil buttermilk, sour cream and vanilla extract together until smooth.
4. Stir in cake mix.
5. Pour equal amount of batter into each prepared pan and use a spatula to spread evenly. Bake for 17-22 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean. (If you are only making two layers, the cake will need 20-25 minutes in the oven.)
6. Let cakes cool.
7. Green Filling: Beat butter for 2 minutes. Add peppermint extract and milk and beat again. Slowly add in powdered sugar until you get your desired consistency.
8. Chocolate Buttercream: Beat butter for 2 minutes. Add cocoa powder, peppermint extract and milk and beat again. Slowly add in powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.
9. Chocolate ganache: Place chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream in a microwave proof bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and continue to microwave in 10 second increments until smooth.
10. Assemble your cake by placing one layer of chocolate cake on your cake stand, frost with green filling, then another layer of cake, then the rest of your green filling, then your last layer of cake, and then frost the top and sides in chocolate buttercream.
11. Use Andes Mint candies to decorate the bottom.
12. Pour your ganache carefully over the top of the cake and let it drip down the sides. Finish with chopped Andes Mints on top.
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