Currency Trading Information

Mechanical or Discretionary Trading - Which is Best?


Discretionary Trading

Pure discretionary trading will rely solely on the traders judgement. For example a discretionary trader may spot a particular pattern developing on a chart and decide to enter a trade on that basis. It would be impossible to systemise their trading because it relies on subjective judgements and 'gut' feel.

Mechanical Trading

Pure mechanical trading involves the development of trading rules that cover every situation, from entry to exit and position sizing. The trader is executing a predefined plan. They must however take every trade that the system gives them which can be difficult if the trader begins to 'think' too much!

Both sets of trader are working hard at different times and at different things. The mechanical trader spends time developing a system and does not need to think whilst trading, merely executing a plan. The discretionary trader has to be thinking all the time that they are trading and can suffer from 'information overload'.

Which is best?

The answer is probably a combination of both approaches. Coming to the market with a proven strategy rather than relying on gut instinct is far less stressful and gives the trader more confidence. However the markets are always changing and one trading strategy will not work forever - i.e. the Turtle Traders. Strategies will always need updating.

Many traders will use a mechanical system to generate buy and sell signals but then use discretion, reading the market, to attempt to gain better fill prices.

All successful traders will use some sort of proven trading strategy to begin with but the level of discretion allowed by it will vary. A trader with no plan at all will fail.

Tim Wreford runs Online Futures Trading, a website that provides information and resources for traders. Tim also provides a free day trading system, the results of which are updated daily on the site.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Euro Forecast to Decline Further Against US Dollar on Forex ...
Daily FX, NY - 3 hours ago
EURUSD – Currency trading crowds have recently bought the Euro against the US Dollar, and we forecast that the sudden shift in sentiment may bring Euro ...


Kuwait Times

Forex Expo promotes currency trading as alternative to bourse
Kuwait Times, Kuwait - 45 minutes ago
By Dana Khraiche, Staff writer KUWAIT: Currency trading has its ups and downs. Recently, one of Kuwait's largest lenders, Gulf Bank suffered a major crisis ...


Currency Trading Markets Remain Highly Correlated to Dow Jones ...
Daily FX, NY - Nov 18, 2008
Currency trading markets continue very highly correlated to broader risky asset classes, as the common theme of financial market deleveraging creates strong ...
Currency Trading Markets Remain Highly Correlated to Dow Jones ... Daily FX
all 6 news articles


Maktoob Business (press release)

Australian, New Zealand Dollar Decline on Equities, RBA Minutes
Bloomberg - Nov 17, 2008
``New Zealand is the largest exporter of dairy in the world,'' said Tony Allen, head of currency trading at ANZ National Bank Ltd. in Wellington. ...
Drop in Stock Market Sends Traders to the Safety of the US Dollar International Business Times
British Currency Sips To 3-day Low Against Dollar And Yen RTT News
Yen Falls on Speculation Japan Investors Buying Overseas Assets Bloomberg
Bloomberg - Bloomberg
all 282 news articles


ICE Millions FX and Russell 1000 Index Mini(R) Set Daily Volume ...
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
Yesterday was the ninth consecutive trading day of volume growth for the ICE Millions FX contracts. In the first two weeks of trading, ICE Millions traded ...


3 News NZ

Yen Trades Near Three-Week High on Signs US Recession Deepens
Bloomberg - 45 minutes ago
``Risk appetite won't recover any time soon,'' said RobertBlake, a senior currency strategist in Boston at State Street Global Markets LLC, which has $15.3 ...
CPI Does Little to Move Dollar Wall Street Journal
Swiss franc pares recent gains against majors, slumps to new 14 ... RTT News
Dollar Loses Ground to Euro and Yen on Late Session Rally in Stocks International Business Times
Bloomberg - RTT News
all 55 news articles


Attention Forex Trading Professionals: Forex Justice Takes the ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Nov 18, 2008
The forex currency trading industry is replete with fx brokers and scammers ready to make dishonest trades and give you misleading advice about forex ...


NXP sees sales decline by up to 25% in Q408
EETimes.com - 10 hours ago
... and expected future trading levels, we now foresee a 15 percent to 25 percent sequential sales decline in the fourth quarter on a business and currency ...
Falling confidence hits chip sales, says NXP ElectronicsWeekly.com
all 18 news articles


AFP

WSJ(11/11) Currency Trading: Bad Crop: Commodity Currencies
Alibaba News Channel, NEW YORK - Nov 11, 2008
In currency markets gripped by turmoil, investors have targeted one group for special punishment: big commodity exporters. This cluster includes the ...
Value Plays in Equity Markets Help Support Euro Rally International Business Times
Euro firms against dollar, pound sinks amid credit turmoil AFP
Yen Falls Most in Two Weeks Versus Dollar, Euro as Stocks Rally Bloomberg
International Business Times - Bloomberg
all 224 news articles


United Press International

Negative Sentiment Set To Extend Losses On Wall Street
AHN - 8 hours ago
In currency trading, the yen strengthened and changed hands at 95.27 yen against US dollar in Asia on Thursday, after it closed at 95.85 yen late Wednesday ...
Video: Wall Street Ends Turbulent Week Sharply Lower AssociatedPress
Bearish mood remains over world sharemarkets National Business Review
Global Markets Week In Review: Equities, Bonds, Currencies ... Seeking Alpha
CNN International
all 2,620 news articles

currency trading - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.