MR. JEEZE

Question for you? From a previous post it looks like you are using the OANDA trading platform. I have a demo account with OANDA but I am used to an entirely different type of platform that I use with Infinity Futures. I think Trade Station has a similar type of set up. I'm not sure what to call it but it is a ladder type of trading platform that seems to be much more user friendly as far as placing orders quickly and modifying orders and stops etc. Executing and modifying orders with OANDA is like pulling teeth. Am I missing something or is that just the way it is with OANDA? Looking forward to following along and learning from you. Thanks. P.S. Have my alarm set for 2AM. Will try to join you.

Hey FTX, Can't believe more folks aren't jumping on this thread. Just recently started getting interested in forex but having trouble dragging myself out of bed (live in Florida) to take advantage of the Europe session. Hope you keep things going here.

Hello Baker: I am a fairly new trader so I can tell you some of the beginning steps I took. 1. Choose what you want to trade. For me it was futures, the e-minis to be exact. 2. From there I chose a broker who dealt in my chosen markets (I won't mention any names as that appears to be a no-no) but the broker I chose offered a free demo of their trading platform. I think the free demo thing is pretty standard for many brokers. The demo included real time data feed for those markets. The next step was learning how to use the platform to execute trades. Their service provided various aids like webinars and videos to demonstrate the use of the platform. NOTE: Although I am a "low-poster" I swear I am not a vendor and I am not promoting this broker. I am only answering a beginners request for a check list of possible considerations to get started. 3. Next I selected a charting service so that I could start getting the screen time that everybody talks about. Let me take this opportunity to chime in with the masses. Screen time-very important. There are many choices when it comes to charts and it may depend on the market you choose and the types of data feed you require. For example I have heard that NinjaTrader is free for simulated trading but I think you still have to pay for the data feed for the markets you select. Someone correct me if I am wrong about that. One of the most popular packages out there is Trade Station which is actually a trading platform and charting package combination. But it is a bit pricey unless you have a funded trading account with them AND do a certain number of live/cash trades per month. I do not reccomend this if you are just starting out. There are several more choices out there and the folks on this site will be happy to help once you are ready for charts. I selected a charting company that also offered a free trial and the data feed was provided by my broker. So up to this point everything has been free, for a couple of weeks anyway. 4. This is where I realized I knew less than squat and I needed help. Like you, I started looking for courses and ways to learn how to trade. When I started seeing some of the price tags like 5k, 10k, 26k! I was shocked. After some searching I did manage to find a course with a more manageable price and I would reccomend something like this for someone who is just starting out. Personally I was never exposed to trading, never knew anyone who traded and had no idea of what "IT" should "LOOK" like so watching someone work with the charts, add/remove indicators, point out various patterns and potential set-ups etc. was very helpful to me. From there I was able to develope a trading system that suited me instead of trying to trade someone elses system. I hope this reply has not been too basic but you only mentioned reading books so if you have already done the above then perhaps this will help some others who are just starting the "journey". Good luck to you.

Hello carlton: Sorry for the late reply but I'm just getting caught up on my reading. I also trade the YM and I'm not sure if this addresses your issue but here is an idea for you. I keep a small chart of the regular sized DOW in the corner of my monitor with Daily Pivots, 80 EMA & 200 EMA. I have noticed that when the YM mysteriously pauses or reverses it occurs when the regular DOW is at one of these S & R areas. If you decide to try this you will notice that the YM trails the DOW by a certain number of points and the two markets pretty much mirror each other but it is impossible to tell which one is leading the other. The data feed for the DOW can also be a lot slower but it's nice to know when that market is approaching one of those areas. Hope this helps. Cheers