Author: Forex Kong

Why Are Markets Trading Sideways?

Forex Kong Got something to say?

In a general sense……you can’t do shit when markets continue to trade sideways.

It’s very difficult for new traders as……you still feel that you “must keep trading” in order to keep money coming in. Trades go nowhere, you get frustrated…..then you make mistakes. Costly mistakes.

Taking a quick look at the Dow ( going back a few months ) we can see at least the past 8 weeks as virtually “unchanged”. Marketing stuck in the mud a full 8 weeks now.

 

dow_trading_sideways_for_months

dow_trading_sideways_for_months

You can’t “really” trade this, as this small amount of movement leaves little room for profit – and timing entries becomes paramount. You need to recognize it for what it is….and accept it. Then your trades / trading will improve.

I don’t really expect this to change until AFTER the U.S Election / Gong Show finally winds up in November, and will be planning trades accordingly. Smaller orders…lower expectation. More planning for the larger moves expected post elections.

It is what it is…..you’ve just got to learn to recognize it sooner.

 

 

 

 

Understanding USD/JPY – You Know You Need To

Forex Kong 12 Comments

With Japan now out of the way….we can clearly see that markets don’t dig it. The Yen is powering higher which is the absolute last thing Japan would like to see.

A strong Yen is terrible for Japan ( as a strong currency is for any nation these days ) and suggests that money is actually flowing “out” of markets – back to the place where it was originally borrowed at 0%.

asimo-is-selling-his-u-s-stocks

asimo-is-selling-his-u-s-stocks

Think about it.

Let’s say you went nuts and borrowed thousands of dollars when the interest rate was 0%, then invested it in U.S Equities hoping you could make a buck. Months later your U.S Equities trades are flat at best, but even more likely sitting at a loss. Then you figure out……hey wait a minute – if we get an interest rate hike here in The States…this market is gonna tank! You sit there thinking…..man I better get the hell out of here, or I am gonna get killed.

Imagine if they actually DO raise rates in the U.S today? You are hooooooped!

How will I pay back all that Yen I borrowed??

So you unwind your trade. You sell your U.S Equities likely at a loss…..then you have to convert the U.S Dollars “back” to Yen ( at a new rate that also hurts ) and finally pay back your loan. This is the fundamental driver behind movement in the currency pair USD/JPY. This is why it’s been tanking since markets “actually topped” back in late 2015. Everything else has been pure distribution as the big boys and heavy hitters unwind their Yen Carry trade, and it’s taken more than a year to quietly do so.

You can see it on the charts  so clearly, and now that USD/JPY is at parity……things could get pretty ugly.

Clear signs that markets have more or less topped out – and have been distributing to retail “hopefuls” for the past full year.

Little mining stocks on fire….just getting started in the larger macro trend people so……go grab a couple!

 

 

Tomorrow’s Trade – BOJ And Fed On Deck

Forex Kong 13 Comments

Blah, blah blah……as once again The U.S Fed and Bank Of Japan keep markets on their toes.

Tomorrow we “should” hear from both, which sets up a pretty tricky scenario if you are thinking about placing any trades prior to the announcements. That’s not how I roll, although…….I am still holding every single trade entered like – 10 days ago.

Conviction is great, as I am 100% certain that The U.S Fed will not be raising interest rates this close to the election but we can never EVER count on The Bank Of Japan to do what we expect. In fact…there have been several times in the past where The BOJ has surprised markets –  big time.

You are aware that the BOJ and The U.S Fed have been working together on this “propped up market” for years now right? Taking turns cranking up the printing presses as to keep these fake dollars / yen rolling into markets? 

BOJ takes the next kick at the can

BOJ takes the next kick at the can

This coordinated effort is widely known….yet poorly understood.

It would not shock me in the slightest to hear Japan “beefing up” its easing and money printing efforts in order to keep the balls in the air a while longer as…..Japan is deep DEEP in The Fed’s pocket.

If Japan pulls the trigger ( allowing The U.S off the hook ) expect markets to rally…..otherwise…we continue flat across the top. Flat across the top until the elections are out of the way…then down.

Further currency trading prior to tomorrow’s announcements is plain stupid.

Sit tight….wait and see what shakes out.

 

Holding All Trades – Bored As Hell

Forex Kong 1 Comment

So the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week rose less than expected, remaining in territory associated with a healthy labor market, official data showed on Thursday.

In a report, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending September 10 increased by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 260,000 from the previous week’s total of 259,000. Analysts expected jobless claims to rise by 6,000 to 265,000 last week.

unemployment-in-america

unemployment-in-america

I love the media spin, framing this as good news….that the number of people without work is rising “less than expected”. Why is it rising at all? Only another quarter million U.S citizens filing for unemployment benefits last week…………..last week!

Talk about waiting for the other show to drop. That´s what I call a recovery.

I´m so deep in profit on long EUR/AUD ( 400 pips ) I will consider taking profits before the weekend. Unfortunately a number of other trades still remain flat…but stops have been moved to break even so….risk has been eliminated.

I´m holding all trades…just bored as hell.

 

 

Amateur Traders vs Pros – What’s The Difference?

Forex Kong Got something to say?

Professional traders don’t care if they get stopped out, because their money management rules allow for it. Trades are trades…nothing more. The key is to have more winners than losers at the end of a given month / year.

Amateur traders freak out when a trade moves “even the slightest bit” against them because 9 times out of 10 they’ve traded far to large ( or on margin ) and very quickly realize –  if a single trade goes against them…..they’ve blown up their account and are left with nothing.

Professional traders plan the trade “first”, while amateurs chase news events and headlines, more often than not finding themselves on the wrong side of the trade – cuz they are chasing and idea…and are likely far to late.

Pros look at the “macro “ while amateurs still believe they can `day trade it`with  nothing but a stock chart in front of their faces.

Pro Traders vs Amateur Traders

Pro Traders vs Amateur Traders

Professional traders inevitably find themselves trading far less often ( picking their shots more effectively ) while amateurs tend to over trade…exposing themselves to far greater risk ( in volume of trades alone ) and in the end….far greater losses.

Pros have no emotional attachments to a trade. Amateurs are fully invested “emotionally“ which clouds good judgement, and again leads to over trading and panic.

The list goes on but in a general sense, the largest difference between the two ( go figure eh? ) is really no secret.

Experience.

So…..if you want to log hours and hours / months and months / years and years of successful trading….what’s the biggest tip I could offer?

Trade smaller. Live longer. Make more money.

Volatility obviously on the rise here these past days……..short USD trades and long Gold / Silver miners good. Just flat as a pancake these last few days. Slug it out….or freak out. You a pro or an amateur?

 

EUR On The Mover Higher – Don’t Blink!

Forex Kong 14 Comments

The EUR ( EUR ) has gained just over 100 pips vs The Australian Dollar ( AUD ) since this morning – as suggested.

When risk comes off ( markets cool or turn lower ) commodity related currencies such as AUD, NZD and CAD generally fall. This you can file away in your tool drawer, for the lifetime of your forex trading career.

Risk on = AUD, NZD and CAD UP! Risk off = DOWN.

When risk comes off…..”funding currencies” such as the Japanese Yen rise…as the money that was borrowed at near 0% interest, comes flooding back to Japan when stocks are sold.  This too you can include in your “basket of trade secrets” for the forseeable future ( or at least until Japan totally implodes ).

So!

We’ve got USD falling, EUR rising…..and in turn can formulate a tonne of trade ideas knowing as well that JPY rises when risk comes off….and the commodity related currencies fall.

EUR Looking To Fly Hgher

EUR Looking To Fly Hgher

There it is! You’ve got this!

Now…..things get a little tricky when you then consider trading pairs such as USD vs AUD where ( in theory ) BOTH should be falling! The trick here is two-fold. One –  don’t trade a pair that you can’t work out where each of the individual currencies “fit” in the grand scheme of things ( based on the above breakdown ). Two – keep these ambiguous pairs “on watch” until you can clearly discern which way they’re going.

Always look for the largest moves to come in currency pairs that pit a funding currency ( cheaply printed JPY ) against a commodity related currency ( AUD ) when risk appetite/aversion shifts.

Getting a “macro view” of how each currency “behaves” during times of “risk on vs risk off” can be very valuable, and will help you simplify your trading. If you can’t reference each of the currencies you are trading, within this general framework – don’t trade’em!

 

EUR And USD – How To Trade Them

Forex Kong 2 Comments

It´s simple. Very simple.

The EUR and The U.S Dollar are simply the two most widely held currencies on the planet. This being said….you can usually generalize that weakness in one suggests strength in the other ¨regardless¨ of the news. Seriously…….all news aside you can generally just look at EUR and USD as ïnterchangeable¨ – trading nearly 100% correlated. Tit for tat.

So……..with further consideration that USD has now reached a major inflection point ( and is headed decidedly lower ) we can also assume that EUR is set to bottom. Fair assumption?

Now you start looking at EUR pairs specifically and ask yourself……which currencies will I see the largest moves in against EUR?? Well…….we can also assume that commodity related currencies take a hit when risk appetite subsides right? Currencies like AUD and NZD ( Australian and New Zealand ) generally  fall when risk appetite wains so……long EUR and short AUD?

EUR_and_AUD_When_Risk_Comes_Off

EUR_and_AUD_When_Risk_Comes_Off

I’m watching exotic pairs such as EUR/AUD ( which also falls into my ¨faceripper¨ category, being that this thing is extremely volatile, and ready to blow up in your face at any moment ). You can’t trade this thing…..but you can sit on the sidelines and observe.

I´m watching this pair as of today…..not trading it – YET!

Facerippers are nuts. These currency pairs will clean out your account without a moments notice so please – do not try this at home! Watch this pair……watch for the coorelation to ¨risk on vs risk off¨.

USD Tanks – The Decisive Break Lower Arrives

Forex Kong 4 Comments

There’s little more to be said here this morning – as The U.S Dollar plummets nearly a full 1%, down a full 100 points from 96.00.

Absolute Dollar devastation as both GBP as well EUR make 100 point gains, USD/JPY hit’s resistance and dumps….and our little gaggle of gold and silver miners now up 7-9% since entry.

I’m obviously short as “sh&%t”…and very well positioned ahead of the move. So what could you have done better perhaps?

  • You “could” have plotted areas of support and resistance on your charts “long before this move was made”, and have been fully prepared with your orders
  •  You “could” have created 3 small orders and “legged in” over the previous 3-5 days, ensuring and average price and not betting the farm on a single entry.
  •  You “could” have shut of your T.V, eliminated the noise, and gotten back to your charting…where you would have clearly seen the set up coming.
  • You “could” have opened your mind to the “other side of the trade” ( vs the general main stream media ) and taken advantage of some pretty early indications ( here at the blog ) that things where about to turn.
Forex_Kong_Ashamed

Forex_Kong_Ashamed

There it is…..likely the best possible entry / trade tip / suggestion that you’ve seen laid out for you over the last several days…no stress….no pressure. No chasing markets in panic…no text marathon’s with your broker…just proper planning and execution. A very well placed trade, looking to become a very VERY profitable trade.

So what are you gonna do now? Seriously………..what are you gonna do now?

Currency Markets Move – Just Slower Than U Think

Forex Kong 8 Comments

As I’m sure you’ve been following the “bold call” earlier this week..our dear friend U.S Dollar “has indeed reached the 96.00 level”, and as suggested – has clearly been rejected.

On has to appreciate not only the timing and levels, but the “patience required” in planning your trades, then executing properly.

This trade “short USD” was outlined back on Monday.

The_Next_U.S_Dollar_short

The_Next_U.S_Dollar_short

This is the key difference in “planning a trade” as opposed to waking up early one morning, and “impulsively taking a trade” cuz of something you’ve heard / seen on the T.V. This generally has you “chasing markets” and usually ends in a loss.

Broadstroke……this has USD headed lower as expected. and will also likely mark a “daily cycle low” for both Gold and Silver ( have you bought your few small mining companies yet? ) providing these with several days upside to follow.

Perhaps consider a shot at EXK and / or GPL for some silver plays ( fun ones…….very  cheap ).

Have at it people. If this hasn’t put you in a decent spot to make a buck er two shit……..what else do you need?