I am happy to see that so many people are interested in trading, and I do not wish to discourage anyone or sound cynical, but it is going to be very different with real money. I used to be on the broker end of day trading, and I was the one pimping out the simulator accounts. We used to call it "the stimulator." They tend to give a false sense of confidence, and there is a reason that they are being used as marketing tools by these brokerages. The most dangerous thing that can happen to your trading account is for you to suddenly think that you are a talented trader. Even if you just made a million bucks, pride will get you killed. I been around hundreds of traders. The guys making money are telling you how stupid they are and the dumb trades they made, and the newbies are bragging about their own knowledge.
I think if you don't use actual simulation programs (at least not exclusively), but buy stocks/currencies/whatever in your mind, without actually risking money than if your trading system works on paper, it'll work in real life too Nobody will be able to fake on you, if you do it that way.
Other than yourself, of course...and I know exactly what you mean. For me that was never a problem. I'm not trying to be ****y or anything, at all, but I've always been a very neutral/sober person (I mean I have emotions, too, but I guess you get what I mean)..it's not always an advantage, but when it comes to stocks or something like that I've never (ok..hardly ever) let emotions take me over (for example..other than in the very beginning, I learned quickly to respect my stop-loss-prices no matter what, whereas I've seen countless other people set themselves stop-loss prices, but then be like 'oh well, I'll keep it, still..b/c after all I guess I would buy that stock again even after selling it..' when really it's just making excuses for not being able to get rid of a losing stock. And I feel like you're right about that, when it comes to most persons..I had mentioned sports betting earlier..and I think it's so much like the stock market(or FOREX for that matter)..people get caught up by their emotions so often...like I know guys who lose 20 on one bet, then be like 'Ill risk 40 on the next, so I get it back!' and then often get totally out of control...and I think if you've that type of mindset (and can't learn to change it) trading or the stock market in general isn't a very good option for you to make money. And for people who are like that (I guess MOST beginners are like that) changing from buying stocks on paper to buying them in the real world can be a hard change....but if you're able to stay in control of your emotions and remain sober...AND sell your stocks if they hit your stops, etc. (I think experience and having been thru those situations before helps a lot in this case), there really shouldn't be any difference between buying stocks on paper or in the market.
What do you think about my opinion concerning this biblebelt?
I went short with the EUR/USD at the rate of1.27679 and as I expected, it fell. It's now at 1.27593 and it's been there for a while. Should I close the deal now when I have 8.6 pip profit or should I hold on to it a bit longer?
I suggested to go short on the Euro a couple of days ago..but I made that post, when I was a little tipsy and couldnt find it again..so maybe it got deleted lol...anyways, I'm thinking the Euro/Dollar has a reeeaally nice trend channel and that now is a great opportunity to go short on the Euro (I did so on the demo account, which I started, too). I'm not saying it's guaranteed..im not even saying its close to being guaranteed, I'd rather take it as a 50/50 chance, but in case it goes a tiny bit further up and break the channel, I'll sell it, whereas if it doesn't chances are it'll go back down to the bottom of the trend at 1,24/1,25. Thus I consider chances of either losing or making money basically the same, but if you make money I expect you to make more than you would lose (if u set a stop).
Somehow established currencies/stocks/indices like ..well the Euro/Dollar..or the Dow Jones Index, seem to often form such pretty clear channels..probbaly b/c they are generally not very dynamic.
However, which I don't like about it too much is that the channel is so close. That way there's hardly room to keep your winner going b/c you're gonna have to sell at 1,24/1,25 if you're smart (and if the situation Im looking for will take place..)...if you combine this with not setting your stop TOO tight, the difference between the money you can make and the money you can lose isn't as good as with a lot of other patterns..just b/c the channel is so tight..however it's a very nice channel..so we'll see...
(Note: I don't consider myself a pro or anything im just giving some input..maybe im totally wrong)