16:22 With the advent of the Internet, forex trading — which was once the exclusive domain of large banks, funds, corporations and high net worth individuals — is now available to just about anyone with an Internet connection and a small amount of money to trade with. While the possibility of making large sums in the forex market exists due to the considerable by many online brokers, this feature of online forex trading could also be a recipe for disaster for novice traders unfamiliar with the significant risks involved in trading foreign currencies. Download the short printable PDF version summarizing the key points of this lesson. Trading strategically in the forex market typically involves a number of elements that should be thoroughly reviewed before an actual trade is made with any substantial amount of trading capital.

Studio hdri map. The main element consists of developing and testing an objective trading plan, which ideally indicates when a trader should enter and exit the market, as well as the amount of risk the trader is willing to assume with each position. The risk management aspect of a trading plan is where position sizing becomes very relevant to a forex trader interested in being in business for the long term, and that will be the focus of this article. The Importance of Position Sizing in Forex Risk Management Appropriate position sizing represents one of the most important components in the successful management of the funds deposited in a forex trading account. A suitable determination of the size of a trading position relative to the size of the trading account, the proportional risk incurred relative to the expected chances of the trade’s success, and the market risk given volatility levels are essential components of a sound trading plan. A proper money management and position sizing plan could prevent the trader’s account from becoming severely compromised by an unexpected adverse market move. Strategically, proper position sizing in forex trading helps a trader lower the inherent risk involved in taking on a forex position in a fluctuating market.

The amount of risk to be taken on each trade is a typical part of the money management aspect of a trading plan. A sound trading plan would ideally specify the position size of each trade according to some objective criteria the trader feels comfortable with. Furthermore, a position sizing strategy becomes a vital element of a trade plan for a newer forex trader mainly because if they take too much risk when they begin trading, especially in a volatile market, the chances of their account’s survival could be significantly reduced before they can reap the benefits of an otherwise sound trading strategy. The following sections will describe some of the more common position sizing strategies used by forex traders in greater detail. Popular Forex Position Sizing Strategies Among Forex Traders Forex traders generally have their own unique approaches to taking risk and can choose to follow any number of different position sizing methods that should be explained in detail as part of the overall strategy outlined in their trading plan.

For example, many traders will determine the size of their position according to the amount of money they wish to put at risk in their trading account. A seasoned trader will usually know exactly what percentage of their account is being put at risk with any given trade. Furthermore, many professional traders will decrease their trading position size in risky volatile markets, or when they are having a losing spell. This can significantly reduce the overall risk and hence potential damage to their account balance. A number of popular position sizing strategies are listed and explained below. Fixed Lot Position Sizing.

Learn What Works and What Doesn’t In the Forex Markets.Join My Free Newsletter Packed with Actionable Tips and Strategies To Get Your Trading Profitable. The principal advantage of this technique is in its overall simplicity. The strategy is easy to manage because of the consistent lot size, thereby allowing the account to increase arithmetically, or by a constant amount over a certain period of time, given favorable results. This strategy seems especially suitable for a trader that plans on withdrawing their profits on a monthly basis. Nevertheless, a disadvantage of the fixed lot strategy is that it does not provide the trader with the ability to maintain a constant leverage as the account’s balance fluctuates.