Why Becoming An Online Trader In 2019 Is An Incredibly Wise Move

2019 is turning out to be a great year for trading, be it stocks, currencies or options. For many, transitioning into the trading lifestyle has been a milestone to mark in their lives! A lucrative field, online trading offers comfort, returns and stability. On the outset, many tend to believe trading to be a risky endeavor, which at times it is. However, backed by a strong approach, there's little that can stop you.

You can get started with online trading with a laptop and a good broker to guide, and here are 5 reasons you should: 

1) Work From The Comfort Of Home: 

The biggest and most alluring perk of online trading is that you get to work from home! Unlike arduous jobs that will demand you to travel far and wide, online trading will make sure you are comfortable where you stand, or sit. 

With a laptop, internet connection and a proper trading platform, you can get up and running. 

2) Starting Off Is Cheap: 

Rumors might have made you believe that to commence with, you need thousands of dollars. You don't! With sums as small as a few hundred bucks, you can trade easily and bank the rest on leverage. 

There aren't any extra costs for travelling or commissions either; so the money you make is yours alone!

3) You Are The Boss: 

Working under others isn't really preferred by everyone. For those who want to be their own bosses, online trading is undoubtedly the best. 

Here you make all the calls, be it deciding when to work, on which grounds, and how to! 

4) Trade From Anywhere: 

You can work and enjoy a vacation at the same time! Even on a lush beach in Mauritius, all you need is an internet-equipped laptop and a platform to work on, and you're all set to rock online trading in South Africa!

5) No Meddling Middlemen: 

Like stated earlier, you won't have to pay anything except the usual fees, because there are no middlemen! With the nominal exceptions of spreads and platform charges, you can take home everything you make.

Online Trading In South Africa is today, one of the most rewarding ventures to pursue. Be it saving for a retirement plan, or for making an extra buck - trading can be the perfect career option for you! Sign up with WesternFX today and get started with trading commodities from home. Working on our stellar platform and employing our cutting-edge strategies will ensure you bag all the wins! 

Forex Trading 101 - The Basics Behind Brokerage And How It Works

Forex brokerage is a world in itself within the currency trading market. On the outset it always seems as though only the trading fields are competitive; however, brokers face just as much competition in today's markets. Truth be told, the competition is intense to the point where some brokers end up scamming novices to make quick money. This is why it is important to know how to differentiate a genuine broker from a scammer!

How Brokers Make Money

Spreads are known to be the prime source of a broker's income. The difference between the buy and sell bid is what they earn, or so everyone thinks. Several brokers trade against their own clients; these types of individuals are known as market makers. Initially, traders are made to think that they are trading against other Forex players, while it is actually their broker on the other side! Novice traders fall into this trap and end up losing a good sum of money before quitting.

Straight-Through Processing

STP brokers follow a vastly better model when compared to market makers. These traders make money off of the spreads, and here you are trading against other traders rather than the Forex Brokers themselves. This is a win-win for you because the broker will not be against you in this scenario! Liquidity providers give the market rates and with a small added markup, STP brokers charge their spreads.

True ECN Brokers:

The vastly used brokerage model is the true ECN. Much like STP, traders here deal against other traders, with the only difference being that instead of earning through spreads, brokers earn through commissions charged on each trade individually. There is no separate spread demanded! Their transparent and minimal/zero-spread nature makes them the best choice for traders new and experienced.

A Forex broker should want you to improve on your trades and help you grow. Several in the industry today scam brokers with false claims of profits and lead them into losing trades on purpose. This had made finding a good broker a challenge for traders worldwide. Being an extremely volatile field, Forex can topple your trades and effortlessly throw you into losses; without a reliable broker to work with, currency trading is nightmarish!

Don't settle for the average, and don't fall for false claims - sign up with the world-class Forex broker, WesternFX, and master the art online trading in South Africa. With us there are no hidden costs, no claims and promises; we strive to serve you the best of brokerage possible, equip you with adept platforms and back you up with proven strategies. Open a Forex Demo Account with us and try for yourself!

A Beginner's Guide To Getting Comfortable With Online Trading

Do you know that today you can trade from home with just a laptop with an internet connection? This is the beauty of online trading. You can start your career trading any commodity from anywhere in the world! Let this not confuse you with the fact that the risks are constant, irrespective of whether you trade physically or online. And beginners always have starting troubles! Understanding how the markets work takes time; considering there are several markets today, it means there's all the more knowledge needed!

This generation gets to avail a number of technological benefits the previous ones didn't have. In the field of trading, there are signals; trade bots and a plethora of strategies that you get to apply in your trades today! With the basics learnt, anybody can start trading today.

For beginners, the first information is pertaining to the various markets that exist, and here are 3 of the most prominent:

1) Stock Markets:

As a stock, share or equity trader, you will be holding, buying or selling stocks of securities.

2) Foreign Exchange:

Forex Trading is the simple art of exchanging one currency for another, and profiting from the difference in value.

3) Options:

Without owning the underlying asset, you trade contracts for buying or selling said asset at a predetermined price.

The First-Most Important Element - A Trading Strategy:

The trading plan you implement will govern the outcome of all your trades, and also set the standard for your trading career. Strategizing is an art, no matter which market you take into consideration; and it is no easy task. From picking security to studying its past behavior, speculating the future behavior up until selecting the most strategically profitable entry and exit points - you will have to work on multiple elements to craft a good trading plan.

What Not To Do As A Beginner:

Following the rules is always a boring task. While not many like playing by the book, in the field of online trading it is absolutely essential to do so. Starting off, you will be venturing into the wilderness of trade markets, and discipline will be immensely important. Here are 3 things you should avoid:

1) Jumping Strategies:

The most tempting and easy move to make when your trade plan doesn't work immediately is to jump and change to a new plan. Give time to your strategy; nothing happens overnight! Only if a losing trend is spotted should you change.

2) Avoiding Stop-Losses:

Without proper stop orders in place, losses will blow your account up. Always place them, not randomly, but precisely; doing otherwise will cause you to miss out on profitable positions.

3) Lack Of A Solid Plan:

The biggest mistake beginners make while online trading in South Africa is not trading with a plan. As much as adventure thrills, it can prove costly all the same. Always keep a good strategy in place, and cover all the elements of trade.

Your career in Online Trading In South Africa can blossom tremendously when done right! Get the best of brokerage to assist you and take your trades to the next level. Call WesternFX today, and master the art of online trading. With our experts guiding you, you will transition from a beginner to a pro in no time!

Developing Your Own Forex Trading Strategy For South African Markets

The heart and soul of every currency trade is the Forex trading strategy used. These plans aren't made overnight; the process of strategizing is no simple deal! Foreign exchange is a field of immense volatility and flexibility. As a currency trader, you can choose from a variety of currencies to invest and timeframes to work on. Depending on the currency and the timeframe, you can devise a strategy that pairs perfectly with the two elements.

How To Devise The Perfect Trading Strategy For Forex In South Africa

Sounds very difficult? Narrow down all your factors to these three questions:

1) When will you enter the trade?

2) What are your investments?

3) When will you close the trade?

With enough technical analysis, you can figure out the different trends that arise in currency markets. Similarly, reading and following chart patterns will allow you to capture the most profitable of movements and these will serve as the best entry points.

When it comes to investments, dexterity is substantial. You have to manage your capital wisely to prevent an account burnout. Forex Trading is volatile enough to clear out thousands of dollars with a single bad trade! Predetermine the amount you are willing to risk/lose, the money you plan on investing, and the potential winnings.

Planning an exit is critical. Aside from using stop-losses, you have to know the proper point of exiting a trade, such that there is the only negligible loss. Novice traders suffer in this aspect, as their loss-management is seldom up to the mark.

Technical And Fundamental Analysis:

Crucial factors in devising an efficient strategy, technical and fundamental analysis will help you get a strong grip over Forex trading in South Africa.

Technical analysis is the studying of past patterns and speculating future patterns, to determine the pattern current markets will form. By employing indicators and other analytical tools, traders find out the perfect trends to catch in a trade and plot out strong Forex Trading Strategies.

Similarly, the fundamental analysis comprises of analyzing the social, economic and political factors that cause currency fluctuations. Forex trading markets are heavily influenced by economic movements, and a good study over these factors helps tremendously in strategizing.

To develop the perfect plan for Forex Trading In South Africa, you need the assistance of an expert like WesternFX! Aided by our professionals, you can learn the A-Z about South African trade markets, and start devising the best strategy with us. Get yourself world-class brokerage today, and start your climb to the top - call us now!

Forex Trading Basics - How To Best Use The MetaTrader 4 Platform

Foreign exchange has been said by many to be a demanding field, requiring heavy research and constant practice. With online trading coming into fashion, traders no longer have to go to markets to participate in exchanges! A laptop with internet and a good online trading platform is all they need to set up winning trades. To thrive in the volatile Forex markets, traders need the best of Forex trading strategies and platforms; these platforms provide traders with the necessary charting tools and facilities to commence and conclude a trade in the most profitable manner.  

There are several Forex Trading Platforms like FXPro, TradingView, eSignal, MetaTrader 4, etc. Of the many platforms in the market, MetaTrader 4 is preferred by several. Equipped with MT4 you can analyze price movements, place trades and manage them, and automate your exchanges using EAs! Here are 10 tips for using MT4 trading platform for currency trades:

1) Adding An Expert Advisor (EA): Expert Advisors are robots that trade automatically. These are incredibly helpful when you want to participate in trades but are preoccupied. Its strategy-driven approach can be of perfect assistance to the several traders who allow emotions to intervene in their trades! Follow these steps to add an expert adviser to your MT4 tool:

• Copy the EX4 files.
• Select Files from the top menu and click on Open Data Folder.
• In the ensuing explorer window click on MQL4 and then select Experts, after this, paste the copied files.
• Restart MT4 to see the changes implemented.

2) Creating A Chart Template: Traders employing technical analysis need multiple indicators. With templates, predefined indicators can be added to a chart. This saves time as you don't have to create indicators each time a new chart is opened. Here are the required steps to create a chart template:

• Open a new chart.
• Employ any indicators you wish to.
• Right click on the chart to see a drop-down menu.
• Click on Template, and then Save Template.
• Name it as desired and click Save.
• To load these on the charts, go to Template again and select Load Template.

3) Saving A Profile: You can save your complete trading profile once the platform layout is set. When working with multiple charts, saving a profile helps immensely. The following 6 steps will help save your profile:

• Select the charts you wish to employ.
• Go to the File option on the top-left corner.
• Select Profile.
• Select Save As.
• Name your profile.
• To load this profile on your platform, go to Profile and left click on Load Profile.

4) Accessing And Printing Trade Statements: Trends are the key to winning at Forex Trading In South Africa. When you monitor historic trends and observe the recurring patterns, you stand a better chance of making hefty profits. On MT4, you can print out trade statements to see your trade history, here's how:

• Click on Account History.
• Select a time period from the drop-down menu.
• Upon right-clicking in Account History, you will see a drop-down.
• Select Save as Report, or Save as Detailed Report.
• To save click Save, or Print if you want a physical copy.

5) One Click Trades: Traders undertaking a swift approach will find great relief in the one-click trading feature offered on the MT4 Forex Trading Platform. By default, the two-step process is followed. Here, the trade order window is brought up first. Following this, the right order type is selected and confirmed. These are two steps all-in-all, and to submit your order, both have to be followed. Using the one-click option, your order gets submitted when you single-click either the bid or the buy buttons.

Advantages Of Using MetaTrader 4:

1) Smooth User-Experience: From novices to professionals, everyone can use this platform without experiencing any complexity. With its mobile application, you can trade no matter where you are.

2) Charting Options: A wide variety of charting features are at your disposal when you use MetaTrader 4! You can load presets, customize chart appearance and design the interface the way you want to see it. This helps you remove the unnecessary elements and focus on important ones.

3) Expert Advisor Provision: You can automate your trades with EAs, and MetaTrader allows you to customize your advisor to trade on the timeframes and follow an approach you find most profitable.

4) Light-Weight Nature: Unlike several other Forex Trading Platforms, MetaTrader 4 is very light on the computer. With its limited resources, it still delivers unlimited performance, while not disrupting the functioning of your computer.

Forex Trading In South Africa is trending today, and you can capitalize on this amply! Equip yourself with a powerful trading platform like MT4 and your trading experience will be simply stellar. Call WesternFX today, and avail our world-class brokerage! From providing trade platforms to implementing Forex Trading Strategies, we will assist you thoroughly and make sure you emerge on top, victorious!

Top 4 Forex Trading Platforms in South Africa Explained in Detail

Research-driven, and heavily reliant on strong analysis, Forex trading requires high levels of accuracy to succeed in. Be it the strategy implemented or the platform used, to win at the currency exchange, traders have to demonstrate precision! This is what makes trading platforms an indispensable element in Forex. These platforms connect traders with the markets, and equip them with the necessary information to combat each deal!
 

Chart analysis, studying past price movements, and speculating future market actions is a huge part of Forex trading. Since this field is one that works on the basis of trends, it is crucial to know each currency's current, past and future status, before moving into the markets. Trading platforms are software that allows players to monitor and place trades.

Various Types of Forex Trading Platforms You Could Try in South Africa

However, the most prominent advantage of these is the features they provide, that help in conduct trades in a more immaculate manner. From real-time quotes to an array of charting tools, with a solid trading platform, you can equip yourself with the most precise of information and data to ace all your trades.
 

There will be several trading platforms at your disposal, but these 4 top all charts:
 

1) MetaTrader 4: Undoubtedly one of the most used Forex trading platforms; MetaTrader 4 is incredibly efficient, as is powerful. MT4 provides users with one of the best user experiences to be found on various platforms. Available in various languages, MT4 doesn't limit itself to one tongue! 

What truly makes this platform so widely-used is its Expert Advisor provision. Not all traders have the time to spend on each trade. Some choose to automate the process, while only spending time to set the parameters. The EAs take care of the trade, from monitoring to placing one. 

With MT4 not using up too much of your computer's resource, you can be sure that it is an overall performer!
 

2) eSignal: Beginners are bound to feel overwhelmed by the various elements a platform will offer, not to mention the general chaotic nature of Forex they have to bear. Applauded by several for being the fastest trading platform, eSignal is suitable for beginners, intermediates, and professionals alike! From providing live-stream quotes to real-time data, eSignal serves as the perfect trading companion. All these stellar features aside, there is one that makes this Forex trading platform stand out - it allows traders to back-test strategies before implementing them! 

With its wide array of scanning and speculation tools, traders can see the effectiveness of the strategies they make, before using them on live markets.
 

3) Forex Trader Desktop: Used by thousands globally, for its flexible and swift nature, Forex Trader Desktop offers a plethora of immensely helpful features. Using the Strategy Wizard, you are provided automatic trading signals and customized trades. Add this up with the provision of advanced technical analysis tools, and you are all set to embark on an incredibly lucrative trading career! Starting off, the one thing beginners need is support. 

While Forex trading professionals can handle sticky situations, novices are less equipped to do so. Forex Trader provides live support to its traders, making sure no hassle leaves them inert!
 

4) Currenex: With over 100 currency pairs offered, this Forex trading platform is one of the best picks for hardcore, large-volume traders. As a Currenex user, you can access immense liquidity levels. Owing to its anonymous nature, traders can access several liquidity sources. This dynamic platform equips traders with the means to analyze markets chronologically, and update their Forex trading strategies accordingly. 

There is complete transactional anonymity and confidentiality, allowing traders to participate freely and hold large positions freely.
 

Still having trouble deciding? Here are 4 factors to look for before selecting a trading platform:
 

1) Responsiveness: Working in the fast-moving environment of Forex trading in South Africa, your decisions will have to be based on accurate calculations, and also have to be made swiftly. Too much delay will cause the opportunity to pass!
 

2) Reliability: A common trait for any product or service, the data generated by your trading platform has to be reliable and precise.
 

3) Easy-to-use Interface: Even if you are a professional, working on a congested platform, with unnecessary features that only take up space, can be troublesome. User-friendliness is one of the crucial factors to look for!
 

4) Quality of Tools: Charting tools provided should be immaculate in the information provided, swift in delivery, and reliable.
 

5) Security of User Data: On a Forex trading platform, you will be entering a lot of personal information, and possibly working with huge amounts of money. The safety of your information and capital should never be compromised!
 

When you find a Forex trading platform that checks all these 5 criteria, you are set to dominate the markets! Forex trading in South Africa grows competitive by the minute, without proper aid, winning will be close to impossible. Call WesternFX today, and avail our world-class brokerage! With our experienced brokers by your side and an impeccable platform to work on, you will ace every deal you make!

Top Myths of Forex Trading in South Africa You Should Know

As a Forex trader, you will come across several beliefs that are hard to prove and disprove. Starting off, all these myths will create an environment of confusion, and for a newbie, several can be misleading! Some things are better learnt with experience, but in Forex that can be costly. Once you set off on the wrong foot, regaining control won't come easy. After steering away from the plethora of wrong beliefs, you will be able to embark on an indulging journey to achieve currency trading success!

Here are the 4 Forex trading myths broken down:

Top Myths of Forex Trading in South Africa

1) Money Comes 24x7 in Forex: Agreed that foreign exchange functions 24 hours a day, several traders house this belief that money can be made on all timeframes. Market volatility plays a substantial role in deciding whether profits are made or losses; and currency markets; even though they function round the clock, see fluctuating volatility. Each currency has different behaviors across different time-zones, and during peak hours, they are most profitable.
 

2) Forex = Money: On the outset, everybody thinks that a currency trader mints in millions. This is undoubtedly the biggest Forex trading myth. The truth is quite contrary; Forex traders lose a lot of money, trying to make money! Currency exchange is one of the most risky fields in trading; the leveraged nature accompanying Forex makes it an incredibly risky endeavor for traders, with a potential for losing more than just their investment capital.
 

3) Complicated Strategies Guarantee Success: This saying can be come across in several fields, not just trading. While a Forex trading strategy is of paramount importance, there is no necessity for it to be complex. Smart work beats hard work; likewise, a strategy, though simple, can get you a good winning when applied properly, while an elaborate trade plan might not yield just as well!
 

4) Forex is Like Gambling: A preposterous Forex trading myth, which is surprisingly believed by many today! Gambling is more reliant on luck and chance, while Forex trading relies on strategies and proper planning. Luck might give an occasional boost, but solely depending on it to turn a trade around will never work. Foreign exchange is a domain that requires constant analysis and precise implementation of the same.
 

Several such myths leave traders pondering and confused while Forex trading in South Africa. With time and experience, clarity can be obtained, and you can sail through to victory! Call WesternFX today, and get yourself a world-class FX broker to assist through all your trades. With our experienced brokers by your side, success is assured!