Strategies to Trade Forex! - Read My Analysis

1. As I always say, use extreme care when starting any trading program. I've created an area to advise you on how to save money and stay safe.
2. I've reviewed 30 of the most popular Forex trading programs; all but a few turned out to be a complete waste of time and money. In fact, the vast majority were simply re-hashed content that had been copied from other programs on the market.
3. I've listed 3 websites below - the best I've found. They're all very original and more importantly were produced by leading experts in the field of Forex trading. After consulting with some current members, they all seem to be very effective when it comes to quickly gaining profits.

Trade of the Week

The entry and the exit candles are indicated by the arrows.The indicators have been left off the chart. Don't miss the next hot trade.Our NEW e-book "More Wealth From Short Term Forex Trading" will show you how to find these trades.

To catch large moves, you have to leave the trade on for hours. Some traders who like to watch their trades will only go for 5,10 or 20 pips.

We don't sell signals.We show you how to find your own entry and exit setups using our indicators and drawing tools on free charts or other charts.

Steinitz HAS MTF Robot

Many visitors of my website asked me to review this Steinitz HAS MTF Robot by Donald Steinitz. To be honest I was really impressed by the quality setup process of this EA and detailed instructions PDF. The EA uses several indicators and has TONS of parameters. (!!!) I have never seen such a high number of parameters before, good work.

Anyway Steinitz HAS MTF Robot Backtest looks strange to me.

Winning Solution

Winning Solutions is rather old website. I have reviewed it 2 years ago and the review was bit negative as old trading system from Winning Solutions did not show any good results in long term. Update December. However the creator of Winning Solution Ashar Hanif contacted me with the idea to make new review because he released new version of winning solution systems. He provided me with access and with the new system so I could make backtest of WSSBreak2.0 system and results really impressed me.

Forex - Euro slightly weaker, though still close to all-time high against dollar

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The euro was slightly weaker, largely unaffected by a series of relatively strong data from euro zone countries, although still close to its all-time high against the dollar.
With little major US data out, analysts said a breakthrough past the record 1.3666 usd is unlikely to come today. "It seems we may have to wait for Friday's US GDP figure to see a clear break of the euro-dollar high, considering the relatively empty economic calendar today. Till then, we may experience a little pullback" said Gavin Friend, currency strategist at Commerzbank

Euro hits new high against U.S. dollar

NEW YORK (AP) - The euro shot to an all-time high against the U.S. dollar Tuesday on concerns about the American economy that were fueled by discouraging growth forecasts from key U.S. retailers and home builders.

The British pound, which has been trading around 26-year highs against the dollar, briefly touched $2.0273 after reports showed British consumer prices were rising at a faster pace than the target set by the Bank of England.

Stark says EU growth underpinning euro strength; ECB policy still accommodative

FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - European Central Bank board member Juergen Stark said the strength of economic growth in Europe has contributed to the recent appreciation of the euro.
Speaking last night at a dinner at the Frankfurt Business Journalists Club, Stark also said one should not "overinterpret" the impact of the day-to-day exchange rate of the euro on growth in the region, adding that ECB monetary policy is "still on the accommodative side".

Forex - US dollar gains vs yen after Bank of Japan leaves key rate unchanged

SYDNEY (Thomson Financial) - The US dollar strengthened against the yen after the Bank of Japan on Thursday kept its overnight call rate target unchanged at 0.5 percent for the sixth straight meeting, as widely expected by the market.

At 2.17 pm (0417 GMT) in Sydney, the dollar was trading at 122.35 yen, up from 122.29 yen in early Asia trading, while the euro was at 1.3754 dollars, up from 1.3748 earlier.

The Japanese central bank said the vote by its nine-member policy board was eight to one, with Atsushi Mizuno voting against the proposal by BoJ governor Toshihiko Fukui to leave the overnight call rate at the current level.

Forex - Euro at fresh all-time high against dollar after hawkish ECB bulletin

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - The euro climbed to a fresh all-time high against the dollar after a hawkish European Central Bank monthly bulletin, amid ongoing concern about the US sub-prime mortgage market.

The ECB said it is monitoring inflation risks closely and remains ready to raise interest rates further if necessary.

It added that interest rates remain "on the accommodative side" even after its June 6 rate hike, which took the main refinancing rate to 4.00 pct, and the medium-term inflation outlook remains subject to upside risks.

The bulletin's release pushed the euro to a fresh all-time high of 1.3791 usd.

"Arguably the market is looking for suggestions that the ECB will not settle for a single rate hike in September, but that we may see further tightening later in the year," said David Jones, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.

Take Emotions Out of FOREX Trading

Forex markets are very unpredictable. However, the major reason why money is lost relates to trading on emotion.This is a routine occurrence that happens every time a trader hesitates to make a move.

Its displayed when someone stays locked in a trade too long instead of raking money off the table. Both instances result in traders giving away potential profits to the markets.

Emotions weigh heavy on your decision making process - anxiety, shame, hope, anger, pride - you’re likely to experience them all. One of the most damaging of all is revenge. You were involved in a long trade only to suffer a huge loss that set you back tremendously. Now you’re out for vengeance, anxious to claim it on the Forex market that took your money. While it’s a part of human nature, this type of mentality can keep you out of the market for good.

Completely taming your emotions may be difficult, but you can manage them to a point where they are not interfering with important decision making. Becoming a successful trader takes discipline and the ability to replace your fears with a calm confidence. Some of the pros have termed this skill as “Emotional Intelligence”.

Take emotions out of your trading with a FOREX bot…

How To Avoid Forex Failure

While Forex trading isn’t rocket science, it isn’t exactly child’s play either. Accordingly to statistics, almost 90% of the investors who try their hand at this flourishing market fail miserably. This article will help you elude some of the most common pitfalls.Stay Focused

Its no secret - there is a lot of money to be made with Forex trading. However, spending all that probable profit before it comes to fruition is a bad idea. Stay focused on your current position and discipline yourself with stop losses when it comes time to make a trade.

Stick to the Plan

Forex trading is big business, and as with any business, it requires a plan. If you profited on a carefully planned trade, going compulsive on an attractive teaser wouldn’t make any sense. Remain dedicated to your strategy and only invest profits on subsequent trades that meet your overall goals.

Trade Smart

Last but not least, you never want to trade for the wrong reasons. Do not make a trade in a vengeful attempt to redeem a significant loss or just because you’re bored. If you’re not sure about making a move or can’t see the potential your job is simple - don’t trade!

Become a Forex Pro In No Time

Forex is currently one of the largest and most flourishing financial markets in the world. Everyday, over $2 trillion is exchanged among several countries. The Forex doors are always open, giving you the opportunity to march right in and reap the benefits. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:

Learning Restraint Impatience is the number one reason why investors fail at Forex trading. Once their investment shows the slightest sign of prosperity or trouble, they submit to emotions and sell immediately, resulting in a much smaller profit or an instant loss. Forex trading is very meticulous and calls for analytic skills, training and loads of patience.

Stay Updated

Stock investors keep their eye on the companies they are invested in. You should do the same. Keep yourself updated about your investments and how current events may impact that currency. Staying abreast on market trends will enable you to learn much faster.

Learn to Compound

Compounding is the act of reinvesting the profits from your initial investments. This is one of the fastest and easiest ways to prosper in Forex trading. Instead of going back into your account, use that $500 profit to invest into another currency.

5 Forex Myths Debunked

Thanks to online brokers, Forex trading has ascended to a new level of popularity. While you can find tons of information about Forex online, you’re sure to run across a few myths as well.

Its just like the stock market - success on Wall Street doesn’t translate into success with Forex trading. This market is open 24/7 and requires loads of analyzing and dedication. Far more than sitting at home and watching the ticker go by.

Follow a proven system and you’re in - not true. The system that achieved success in an up-market may prove inefficient in a down-market. Find a system that works for you and stick to it.
Its all a scam - the internet presents many shady characters looking to profit from the unknowing. Forex trading itself is very legitimate with several reputable brokers and companies you can trust.

The market is predictable - there is no science to predicting the Forex market. If you could predict the exchange rates beforehand, the market wouldn’t exist.

You need to invest a lot of money - a huge investment plays no factor in whether you fail or succeed. You can actually begin with very little capital and still find ways to profit.

Forex Is Not As Hard As You May Think

The rewards of Forex trading are tremendous although the market can appear intimidating to a newcomer. Of course you have a number of so-called Forex professionals boasting about their track records and trading systems that claim to make you an instant success. However, Forex trading isn’t as complex as the industry experts have advertised.In actuality, Forex trading is something you truly have to experience for yourself to understand. This takes disciple in the form of developing strategies and thoroughly training yourself on the market.

Several educational tools can be found online at no cost. Trading charts are abundant and after learning how to effectively put them to use, you can be making real money in no time.

Equipped with knowledge, a sound strategy and a positive mind set, you too can achieve the financial freedom offered by Forex trading.

In Need Of A Little Help?

Looking to succeed at Forex trading? This comprehensive report will show you how.

Know the BasicsKnowing the game is essential and makes a big difference on whether you succeed or crumble. Vast knowledge will enable you to get the most out of your investment.

Trade in Pairs

The Forex market is comprised of many different countries and many different currencies. Failure or success depends on knowing about these currencies and how they affect each other.

Take a Few Chances

Forex trading is a high-risk venture. While you don’t want to move on every trade that comes your way, being too cautious just may spell your demise. In order to profit, your trades must have a chance to produce. If not, you will limit your potential and lose a portion of your initial deposit with every trade.

Go In With a Strategy

A strategy is the important map that details how you will make money with Forex trading. It involves the approach you plan to take, the currencies you want to trade and how those risks will be managed. Without a sound strategy, you could easily become one of many newcomers that never see past their fifth trade.

Pakistan Open Market Forex Rates

Remittance Symbol Buying Selling Charts
US Dollar DD USD-DD 78.2 79.2
US Dollar TT USD-TT 78.2 79.2

Economic Indicators

Economic Indicators
Annual 2007/08 Foreign Debt $45.00bn Per Capita Income $1085 GDP Growth 5.8% Average CPI 12.00% Monthly December Trade Balance $-816 bln Exports $1.31 bln Imports $2.12 bln Weekly Jan 26, 2009 Reserves $10.21 bln

Mr. Ebrahim Hasham (Chief Executive-Mehran Sugar Mills Ltd.)

Interview


Q: Please tell us about yourself, your early life, family and education.
Mr. Ebrahim Hasham (EH):I was born in 1947 in Kharadar, Karachi. I received my early education in Karachi. At the age of 12, I went to Murree in 1959. I studied there for sometime. In 1960, I went to Chittagong, the then East Pakistan, where I did some of my studies in a missionary school. I did my Matriculation from Saint Pat’s school in 1964. In 1966, I did my Intermediate from FC College Lahore. After my Inter, I did my BA Honors economics from Karachi University in 1970. Then, I did my Masters in Management, HR from California-USA in 1973. I also worked for a year and a half and I financed 50% of my education doing different jobs. I worked as an office boy in the early days and finally I was an Assistant Manager in a finance company. That’s how I lived in early part of my life; doing job whole day and taking evening classes.
I had 3 brothers, one of them; Usman has died due to Brain Haimbridge. Now I have 2 brothers; one of them is elder to me and the other one is younger. Both are into our family business.

I am married and my wife is an Interior Designer. In 1936 we used to live in a mud house but today we have a very good house in Clifton. God has been very kind. We have 2 children; Iqra and Ahmed. Iqra is married and Ahmed is doing business with me for last 6 years. He is qualified from Boston-USA.


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Q: Please briefly tell us about the Mehran Sugar Mills. How many employees do you have?
(EH):My father started business at age of 10 in India in 1936 near Delhi; first as a trader and then as an industrialist. I did my first job in 1964 during my summer holidays when I went to Mardan to learn tobacco purchase. Mehran Sugar Mill started in 1967. My father was a great business icon. We have 2 types of employees; permanent and contractual. We have about 400 permanent employees. And during seasons we have around 900 employees. Seasons depend upon the crop. If the crop is huge, the season is long and the employees are large in number.

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Q: Where do you see the sugar industry in Pakistan?
(EH): The future of the sugar industry in Pakistan looks good because our maximum production capacity in the sugar sector is about 6.5 Million tons sugar. We are producing 4.5 million currently. So there is a great margin for increasing our production.
If we can manage to increase the growth, which is very much possible because the growers want to grow more, the crop will be substantial and we will have more sugar. If the growers are given proper incentives and proper recovery is ensured, through joint efforts of all concerns, then all the problems of sugar industry as well as the farmers will be solved. But for that, we need to come up with a joint effort from all the stakeholders. We also need to take it as a national perceptive not just local.


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Q: What problems does the sugar industry have to face in Pakistan?
(EH):The major problem that sugar industry is facing right now is the high sugarcane prices. Sugar export is profitable, but in the local market it’s about break-even or even minus in some cases because of the high cane prices. It’s the highest cane price in the world. There is also a very low recovery. We get about 8.5 - 9 percent recovery, India gets 10-11, Australia gets 14, and Brazil also gets 14. The reason for our problems is the government policy, because there are no incentives given to us or the growers. Actually, where the farmers are we are not there. So we can not be vocal to them. We are not satisfied with the government policies. We keep telling them but nothing is done as yet. The crop of cane last year was 4.5 - 4.6 Million tons, so its surplus by about 300,000 tons. When there is surplus, the prices compress. Even though the prices in the international market have gone high by 25 - 30 per ton, but we are still getting lower prices than international market due to whatever reasons. About 200,000 tons of sugar was exported from Pakistan this year. It’s not true that this export was made at the cost of local demand because we exported the surplus sugar.

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Q: The inflation rate in Pakistan has been increasing rapidly in the last few years. The prices of commodities are getting out of reach of the poor. How do you see the situation and what solution would you suggest for the same?
(EH):With rising commodity prices and rising income level, demand will outstrip supply. The solution is to increase the growth of the cane crop. We also need to put efforts in areas like Research and Development (R&D), farmers-government co-operation, funds, Human Resource etc. We should believe that we can make it happen. We should keep our hopes alive but we should work in all these areas.

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Q: What do you expect from the new government?
(EH):The only thing that we want from the government is practice a common sense. Government must make sure that they don’t involve politics in business. The corruption should be eliminated. The misuse of power should be stopped. The problem is that the politician thinks for the next election, whereas the statesman thinks for the next generation. Unfortunately, in our country, we have politicians, not statesmen. That’s why those who come into power they make policies thinking about the next elections, not the next generation. This is why we don’t have any next generation policy. Our policies are short-term.

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From the International Desks On Tuesday, 10th Feb 2009

Euro falls on report Russian banks may seek to reschedule debt



The euro fell against the dollar and the yen as a Nikkei newspaper report that Russian banks and businesses may seek to reschedule $400 billion of foreign loans deepened concern financial turmoil in Europe is worsening.

The yen also ended a three-day loss versus the euro after European finance ministers signaled increasing concern that some governments are finding it harder to borrow in financial markets. The dollar strengthened on optimism that the U.S. government’s stimulus and bank-rescue packages will help spur growth in the world’s largest economy.

“The Nikkei report of rescheduling debt is driving the euro lower because European financial institutions have a bigger exposure to Russia than their counterparts in other countries,” said Takashi Kudo, Tokyo-based director of foreign-exchange sales at NTT SmartTrade Inc., a unit of Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp., Japan’s largest fixed-line phone company.

The euro fell to $1.2873 as of 11:46 a.m. in Tokyo from $1.3003 late in New York yesterday. Europe’s single currency slipped 0.9 percent to 117.86 yen. The dollar was at 91.56 yen from 91.46 yen. The British pound climbed to 86.70 pence per euro from 87.28 pence. The yen rose 1 percent to 61.42 versus Australia’s dollar and 0.9 percent to 48.81 against New Zealand’s dollar.

The euro weakened versus 12 of the 16 most-active currencies after the Nikkei newspaper said the Russian Association of Regional Banks has submitted a plan to the Russian government for rescheduling loans, citing an interview with Anatoly Aksakov, the head of the association. The group is already in talks with HSBC Holdings Plc and Deutsche Bank AG, the Nikkei reported.

Financial Difficulties

“European banks may face more financial difficulties, given the Nikkei’s report that Russian banks may negotiate a debt rescheduling,” said Yuji Saito, head of the foreign- exchange group in Tokyo at Societe Generale SA, France’s third- largest bank by market value. “It is natural that the euro is sold and the yen is bought.”

The euro may weaken to $1.27 and 117 yen and the dollar may depreciate to 90 yen today, Saito said.

Kazakhstan’s banks may have their ratings cut as the devaluation of the nation’s currency makes it harder for them to repay foreign debt and “substantially increases” credit risk, Moody’s Investors Service said yesterday.

‘Worrying Developments’

The widening spreads between the interest rates that different euro-area nations must pay bond investors are “worrying developments,” according to a “speaking note” prepared for Luxembourg Finance Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and obtained by Bloomberg News.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average pared its advance today to 0.2 percent after earlier gaining as much as 2 percent. The VIX volatility index, a Chicago Board Options Exchange gauge reflecting expectations for stock-market price changes that is used as a measure of risk aversion, climbed 0.6 percent to 43.64 yesterday.

Benchmark interest rates are 3.25 percent in Australia and 3.50 percent in New Zealand, compared with 0.1 percent in Japan, encouraging investors to borrow in yen and buy higher-yielding assets elsewhere. In these so-called carry trades, investors get funds in a country with low borrowing costs and invest in one with higher rates. The risk is market moves can erase profits.

Bank Rescue

The dollar also strengthened versus all of the 16 major currencies on optimism U.S. fiscal-stimulus and bank-rescue packages will help the economy recover faster than countries in Asia and Europe.

U.S. President Barack Obama is demanding an economic stimulus bill on his desk before Congress leaves for the Presidents’ Day holiday on Feb. 16. The Senate voted 61 to 36 yesterday to end debate on the $838 billion measure. Senators will vote today on whether to approve the bill. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s announcement of a financial-rescue plan is also planned for today.

“There is an emerging view that the worst phase of the financial-system meltdown is over” in the U.S., said Ryohei Muramatsu, manager of Group Treasury Asia in Tokyo at Commerzbank AG, Germany’s second-biggest lender. “Investor sentiment toward the dollar has already changed to favor the currency.”

The ICE’s Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback versus the euro, the yen, the pound, the Canadian dollar, the Swedish krona and the Swiss franc, rose 0.8 percent to 85.483 today.



More Related Pages...
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com

forex-money-market

The Forex Money Market is the biggest market in the world, and it is worth over a trillion dollars a day. While this may seem like a lot of money, it is only because of the sheer scope and vision of the Forex market that this is so. The best thing about this market is that it is open to all and sundry. When it first opened, the Forex was closed to the small investors, and the banks required that you invest a minimum amount of money in the Forex. However, in a few short years all that has changed and today you can invest in the Forex.
The money market moves blindingly fast, so it is important to get a grip on the different mode through which you can get information. There are many different ways in which you can do this. Firstly, you can contact your broker and through him you will be able to make all the Forex actions that you will need to make. However, if you are looking for information on the latest price changes, the Internet is your best bet for fast, good and reliable information. You will find a host of sites that cater to your every Forex need, and will even let you a demo account so that you can practice trading for free! Presneted by the Forx Info Editorial Team 12.06.05

forex-advantages

Investors and speculators using the Internet as an investment tool will find that the Forex market offers opportunities unknown elsewhere. The 200:1 entry leverage value is an example. Brokerages will have margin calls set at different levels, exact leverage may vary. The traders cost of doing business is called the Spread, which is the difference between the bid and the ask price on your chosen currency pair. The aforementioned items are a few of the controls that will effect your outcome


24-Hour Trading
Forex is a true 24 hour market, 5.5 days a week, which offers major advantages of accessibility. Investors are able to trade at any hour, thus allowing more flexibility for personal, business and social activities. Whether trading at 6am, 4p.m., or even 1am, there will always be buyers and sellers actively trading foreign currencies. Such flexibility allows traders to immediately respond to breaking news and other political factors driving the market. Comparing the equities market, it has several limitations. In the US, for example, equities traders have access to E.C.N.s (Electronic Communications Networks), also known as “matching systems”. These networks are established to provide a method for equities traders to buy and sell amongst each other. Such networks are usually not able to offer as tight of spreads as would be offered during normal market hours, thus most trades are not executed at a fair market price, subsequently there is no guarantee that every trade will be executed.

Unmatched Liquidity
An investment market with lacking liquidity, or a lack of buyers and sellers at certain times, is often the demise of traders who need in or out of the market without delay. The global network of governments, banks, corporations, hedge funds, and individual traders that collectively drive the Forex market, are in essence, also driving the world’s largest network of liquidity. Such high trade volume works to ensure trade execution and the stability of prices, regardless of the time of day. Compare this to equities traders, they are more susceptive to liquidity risk and are subject to potentially wider dealing spreads and larger price movements. Liquidity in the equities market really does pale in comparison to that of the Forex market. return to top.

Chart Your Future

Succeeding with Forex and laying out your future is much easier with computer software. MTI is well known for their Forex Charting program, an ideal solution for beginners and experienced Forex traders alike. This type of software provides an effective time frame analysis for those who are serious about Forex trading.

The Forex charts are robust with the ability to plot indicators on a variety of different time frames. This allows you to clearly view exactly what the daily and weekly indicators are displaying compared to that of intraday indicators. All this information can ve viewed on the same chart in real-time.
MTI 4.0 Forex Charting offers more than 100 indicators and helpful tools, many of which are not available in competing software packages.
So what are you waiting for? The future is in your hands.

Avoid Common Mistakes

Beginning to trade on the Forex market can be a scary prospect. You can make things easier by being aware of some of the common mistakes that people encounter when beginning to trade.Don’t assume anything while trading on the market. For example, stops are important to avoid major losses. The stop should be set appropriately with the traders financial situation considered and should not be too close or too far away from the price.

Don’t get overexcited and start taking risks with leverage in hopes of getting rich quick. This rarely works and could end up costing you a lot of money.

Look at more than just the technical aspects of trading but also don’t let your emotions rule your decisions. You must look at everything combined when doing your research.

Another common mistake is following your system faithfully but not adjusting when it is necessary. Your system will need to change with the market or you could be facing a huge loss and have no idea why your system failed after it worked ten other times.

Choose More Than One Trading Time Frame

Many people that are new to trading on the Forex market are confused by the time frame. When they begin researching and analyzing the trends on the Forex market the research tends to be based on one specific time frame like how much it changes in one minute. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple.

If you research just one time frame, like how much the difference is at 1 minute then you are giving yourself a tiny sliver of opportunity to work with and the rates could change before you have the time to accomplish your trade at exactly the right moment.

By looking at a bigger picture and researching and analyzing a bigger time frame, you can see more clearly what the market may do. First research the time you trade in like one minute. Watch the trends for at least two other time frames such as five minutes and thirty minutes. Then research the time you trade in within one minute. Check major trends, important price levels and forming patterns at each time frame and then, with a larger perspective on how the market trends fluctuate, you are better able to plan your strategy.

Know Your Lingo

The Forex market has it’s own little language of codes and special words to make things easier and quicker yet still have everybody being able to understand the codes.

If you are thinking about taking a stab at the Forex market it is important to learn this language first or you may find yourself in over your head. For example, each countries currency that is traded on the market have their own unique three letter code. The code for the US dollar is USD, euro is EUR, the Swiss frank is coded CHF, the Japanese yen is coded JPY and the British pound is coded GBP.

Two of the codes combined represents a combination of the more expensive currency listed first with the second currency shown in units per units of the first one. For example, USD combined with CHF would stand for the number of Swiss Franks per unit or per dollar of USD.

There are many other codes that you should research and be aware of before you begin your trading so you are not caught not knowing something and making a bad decision.

NatWest and RBS announce £3 billion extra funding for SMEs through new regional funds

05 February 2009

• 3 billion new funding to be made available through package of financial products
• Twelve £250m local Funds launched across England, Wales and Scotland. Including Ulster Bank to provide £250m Fund in Northern Ireland
• Funding managed locally by Regional Managing Directors who will be targeted to fully utilise these Funds in 2009
• This builds on the Banks' recently announced commitment to guarantee overdrafts and pricing for small business customers until at least the end of 2009

NatWest and RBS today announce that they are to make an additional £3bn funding available to SMEs in 2009. This further commitment to the SME sector will be delivered through twelve Regional SME Funds in England, Wales and Scotland. Ulster Bank will provide the Fund for Northern Ireland's businesses. The Funds will provide a comprehensive package of funding choices for SME's in each region right across the UK.

This is part of the commitment made by the Bank last month to increase lending to UK borrowers by an additional £6bn. In addition to providing traditional debt finance, the new Funds will offer businesses the opportunity to access other avenues available to help them manage their capital and cashflow through the current economic downturn.

With effect from 5th February 2009, NatWest and RBS have committed to make an additional £250m funding available to SMEs in each RDA region in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The new locally administered funds will offer customers a wide range of financial support including flexible business loans which allow customers to postpone capital repayments, invoice finance products which may guarantee debtor payment, effective ways to release cash through using the assets already owned by the business and short term trade finance essential to keep imports and exports flowing.

Accessed via customers' existing dedicated Business Relationship Managers, these funds will also offer SME customers lower priced loans from the £250m funding the Bank has recently secured from the European Investment Bank.

Announcing the new package, Alan Dickinson, Chief Executive of RBS UK, said: "The launch of the new SME Funds reinforces our commitment to support our 1.2 million SME businesses locally across all areas of the United Kingdom. Our lending to business and commercial customers rose by 10% in 2008 and these Funds are part of the commitment made by the Bank last month to increase lending to UK borrowers by an additional £6bn. The Funds have been designed to give business customers the further confidence to focus on running their business rather than having to worry about their finances. In addition to providing new support initiatives, we will be working even closer with Regional Development Agencies as part of our ongoing commitment to help SMEs trade through the current economic downturn."

Welcoming the announcement, Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, said: "This new fund is good news for smaller businesses across the country. More funding must be made available at branch level to enable viable companies to access the finance they need to weather these difficult financial conditions.

"I would like to see other lenders taking similar steps to ensure their frontline managers have access to funds dedicated to helping UK SMEs."

Appointment of Chairman

03 February 2009

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ("the Group") announces that Sir Tom McKillop has indicated he wishes to retire as Chairman from today and, accordingly, Sir Philip Hampton, currently Deputy Chairman and Chairman-designate, will assume Chairmanship of the Group.

Sir Tom McKillop said "While my retirement was originally planned for April 2009, I believe it is appropriate to bring this forward so that Sir Philip can complete the restructuring of the board and work with the board and executive teams on the strategy going forward. I wish Sir Philip and the board every success in this difficult financial and economic environment as they strive to restore the bank's prosperity."

Sir Philip Hampton said "Tom McKillop has chaired RBS through unprecedented turbulence in financial markets with great dedication and integrity and the board wishes him well. It is now my privilege to chair a Group with very significant challenges but with fundamental strengths in its people and businesses. We are extremely fortunate to have the support of the UK Government and taxpayer as we restructure the Group and we mean to repay that support as soon as is practicable".

Biographical details

Sir Philip Hampton was appointed Chairman of J Sainsbury plc in 2004. Previously, he was Group Finance Director of Lloyds TSB Group plc from 2002 to 2004, Group Finance Director of BT Group plc from 2000 to 2002, Group Finance Director of BG Group plc from 1997 to 2000, Group Finance Director of British Gas plc from 1995 to 1997, Group Finance Director of British Steel plc from 1990 to 1995, an Executive Director of Lazards from 1981 to 1990 and a Non-executive Director of RMC Group plc from 2002 to 2005. Sir Philip is the former Chairman of UK Financial Investments Limited, the company established to manage the UK Government's shareholding in banks subscribing to its recapitalisation fund, and has also been a Non-executive Director of Belgacom (the Belgian telecom group) since 2004.

What You Need To Know BEFORE You Trade

Don’t just jump in there and start trading. That’s a good way to lose a lot of money. Instead, make sure that you know the basics before you begin to trade.Before 1998, you couldn’t trade on the foreign exchange markets at all. Only big companies, huge currency dealer, and banks could get the benefits of that type of trade. Now that private citizens can do it, it’s huge business.

The best thing you can do for yourself before you start trading is to become educated. You need to know what the foreign exchange quotes look like, where to get them, and how to read them. If you read them wrong you might end up speculating on the wrong thing and costing yourself a lot of money.

On a quote, the base currency (always a value of one) comes first, followed by the counter (exchange) currency. The number after the currency information is the value of the second currency against the first. Making sure you’re comfortable with this can keep you from losing financially.

Facts About Forex

The Forex market was not available to everyone since it’s inception. In fact it has only been available to the public since 1998. The Internet brought the opportunity for everyone to get on there and trade on their own.

The Forex market is the largest trading market in the world and it is basically buying and selling the different currencies of the world. A typical Forex deal is made when one currency is bought and another is sold at the same time. Before Forex became available to the general public, trading was almost exclusively done by banks and other financial institutions.

Global trade has made countries more dependent on each other and the currencies interact much more than in the past. Economic fluctuations in different countries have an affect on all of the currencies. By following and analyzing the trends, someone could generate a tidy little profit by online trading on the Forex market but just as easily as it can go up, it can also go down.

What Is Forex Scalping?

Take care if you are considering trying your hand at Forex trading for the first time. There are better ways to begin that will save you a lot of possible trouble.Do your research. Do you even know what Forex trading is or how it works? Learn these things and everything else you can about trading on the Forex market. As you learn about the market, you will learn that there are two ways to trade. You can wing it and just go with your gut or you can research and analyze the market. Become familiar with the market and the trends and then go get a demo account and give it a try.

Scalpers are people that make hundreds of trades each day based on the tiniest fluctuation in the exchange rate. Scalping is risky and not for the faint of heart. Once you decide that you would like to give it a try, come up with a long term strategy rather than just floating along with no plan. Keep in mind that the Forex market is not a get rich quick kind of thing.

If you build slowly and cautiously you will prevent yourself from taking major losses.

Forex For Beginners - Purpose

The purpose of trading on any market is to buy low and sell high. The foreign currency market FOREX, the largest trading market in the world, is no exception. The goods traded on this market are rates of currencies of different countries that are traded on the market.A deal on the Forex market consists of buying one currency and selling another at the same time. Many people choose to include the Forex market in their investment plans because of the flexibility that it allows.

It is important to do your research before you being and know what you are doing to avoid taking a large loss. Trading is very easy if you do your research and practice with a demo account first to learn how it works. This way you can trade without taking a chance on losing any of your own money at first.

In the beginning, try to stick with the more popular currencies so that you are not left with currencies that you will have a problem selling and also the spread will probably be narrower so it will be easier to pull in a profit.

The purpose of trading on any market is to buy low and sell high. The foreign currency market FOREX, the largest trading market in the world, is no exception. The goods traded on this market are rates of currencies of different countries that are traded on the market.A deal on the Forex market consists of buying one currency and selling another at the same time. Many people choose to include the Forex market in their investment plans because of the flexibility that it allows.

It is important to do your research before you being and know what you are doing to avoid taking a large loss. Trading is very easy if you do your research and practice with a demo account first to learn how it works. This way you can trade without taking a chance on losing any of your own money at first.

In the beginning, try to stick with the more popular currencies so that you are not left with currencies that you will have a problem selling and also the spread will probably be narrower so it will be easier to pull in a profit.

Forex For Beginners Part 2- Quotes

Learning to read Forex quotes is one of the first steps to beginning to trade on the Forex market. The quotes are always listed in pairs with the first one listed being known as the base currency that is always the value of one unit of that currency.

The currency that is listed second is known as the counter. So, the first number shows the value of one currency compared to the second currency’s value. In laymen’s terms this means if you want to trade for one unit of the first currency, you will have to pay what ever dollar amount is listed after the second currency.

Sometimes there is something called a two sided quote. This is when there is two dollar amounts listed rather than just one. The first amount is the bid price which is the price that you can sell the base currency at. The second number is called the ask price and it is the price to buy the base currency. The difference between these two amounts is known as the spread and is where the money comes from to pay a broker if you are using one so that you don’t have to charge commission fees.

Forex For Beginners Part 3- Major Players

Forex market trading consists of a huge volume of trades everyday but in the past this trading was only available to banks, huge corporations and currency dealers.

There was large minimum business size requirements and very strict financial requirements to be allowed to trace on the Forex market at that time. In 1998, it was made available to the general public to be allowed to trade and take advantage of the market’s extreme liquidity and strong currency exchange rates trends.

The major currencies that are traded on the Forex Market are the US dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound, the Swiss Franc, the Canadian dollar and Australian dollar.

The US Dollar is the most traded currency on the Forex Market. It is easier to begin trading using a currency that you are familiar with, if you happen to live in one of the countries that has currency on the market, because you can watch the newspapers and be able to judge the strength of your currency.

What The Future Holds For the Canadian Dollar

Last year the people in Canada had a huge reason to celebrate as their currency became equal with United States currency for the first time in over thirty years.Unfortunately, that equality won’t likely stick around very long. Instead, it looks as though the Canadian dollar has been predicted to fall against its US counterpart throughout 2009, going down over fifteen percent.

The economy is shrinking and oil prices are going down, and Canada is not immune to the changes that are taking place throughout the world, but most notably with its neighbor to the south.

The Bank of Canada has cut its forecast for growth, and it looks like the Canadian economy is going to continue to struggle into 2009, which is a forecast that no one wanted to hear but that a lot of people expected.

The 9 No’s of Forex Trading by fxreport

As a novice Forex Trader you should be aware that there are 9 big No No’s when it comes to forex trading. You should make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes that 90% of traders make, which is loose there money. These below are the 9 biggest reasons why people end broke from Forex Trading.

1. Scalping or Day Trading Although there are many articles about day trading or scalping as a new trader you should try to avoid it, as it is not a wise decision for a beginner. The reason for this as there is so much to learn about you can make. Forex Trading and learning to day trade first up is the most risky strategy that you can use.

2. Using a Guru There are experts everywhere that are willing to sell advice, but remember 90% of them will end up broke. They will offer to do it only commission, but ultimately it is your money that they will lose.

3. Using Bad Brokers- They are like gurus. Make sure that you research the brokers first and make sure that you check the figures of these brokers before committing. If you are looking for a Great Broker then view the CFD FX REPORTthey have recently researched all the brokers and have come up with some excellent brokers that can help you with your trading future.

4. Practice with demo accounts- for months If you use practice accounts for months, you are only kidding yourself as you don’t have the pressure of your money on the line.

5. Habitual trading Some Forex Traders trade just for the sake of it. They think that if they are not in the market they will miss a move. If you trade just for the sake of trading then chances won’t be in your favor. Over trading will only make you go broke faster.

6. Mix fundamentals and technical inputs- Just confusing yourself If you are trying to mix both you just confuse yourself and drain your bank account, not an ideal strategy for Forex Trading.

7. Breaking your Rules Patience is the key to forex success. So many traders get the perfect system but fail to wait it and will just trade for the sake of it, breaking there own rules. Have rules and stick to them.

8. All or Nothing- Massive Leverage Too many traders are trying to make it rich from the first trade if that is your plan then you will ultimately end up broke. Today there are many trading platforms that offer massive leverage, such as 400:1 which can be too high. Make sure you use money management skills when using leverage.

9. Using too many inputs Many traders think that complicated systems are the perfect system but with it they are more likely not to succeed. The best rule that you use is simple is best.

So make sure that you get as much as education as possible before starting to trade, as great place to get lots of free quality education lessons is the CFD FX REPORT. Happy Trading

About the Author:

The CFD FX REPORT is a real time trading tool that offers clients free trading reports, with trading ideas, stock market and forex market education as well helping them with. Also if you are looking for a Forex Broker, then feel free to visit our broker section as we recently reviewed all the forex brokers and have found the best on the market.

What To Look For With Online Trading

If you’re a rookie when it comes to online trading, there are some things you need to look for to make sure you don’t get in over your head and get in trouble.

You can trade with a broker, but most people like to do it themselves and avoid paying fees or commissions to someone else. If you do use a broker, you’ll get a lot more information for first timers like 24-hour support, access to articles that give you a lot of information, free trading accounts with dummy money so you can practice, and familiar platforms so you won’t get confused.

If you go it alone you won’t get any of these things, but you also won’t have as many fees to pay out of the money that you make. There’s a lot of software that can help you do this, and people who do it successfully can give you some advice, as well.

Tools of The Trade

There are several financial instruments that are often used where exchange markets are concerned.

The spot transaction is a two-day delivery transaction that’s very popular. This is a much shorter trade than a futures contract and is the most immediate exchange between two currencies.

Another popular tool is the forward transaction, in which money never changes hands until a future date. Where these are concerned, swaps are the most used. Currencies are exchanged for a certain length of time and are traded back at an agreed-upon date.

Futures are also very popular and they are more standard, with specific maturity dates. Options are done by some traders as well, and this allows them to exchange currency at a future point but they aren’t required to do that. It can help them avoid losing money if the exchange rate is not in their favor when their option comes up.

Prepare Yourself For Issues That Can Affect The Market

There are a lot of issues that can affect the market, and if you’re not ready for them, the results could be disastrous. There is still some risk and no way to completely protect yourself, but there are a few things you can do.

Economic, political, and psychological trends all affect what the market does on any given day. If there are worries in the economy, even in another country, that can affect what the market decides to do. Paying attention to these trends is important, and the same is true with political trends.

There is a lot of volatility in the political climate right now in a lot of different countries. The market reacts to that in a strong way, and because of that there are concerns about the US dollar, the stock market, and other exchanges that tie into those.

The psychology of all of that can take a toll on the people who invest and the people who consider investing, and that means that the market will change based on the issues that the people who invest in it see.

Consumer Confidence In Australia Makes a Comeback

For some time, consumer confidence throughout Australia was very low. Falling fuel prices have helped with that and in August the measure of consumer confidence started to climb again.

During that month the best measure of how confident consumers felt in their economy in that country went up by almost ten percent, which was the third biggest jump in the last five years. It is still lower than it was at this time last year by over twenty percent, because it really fell hard as gas prices started to rise and people all around the globe started to see that there wasn’t that much confidence in their currency or in their governments.

However, the rise in the consumer confidence is indicative of the fact that Australia’s economy is rebounding and moving steadily forward. That news will help to boost confidence even further, especially as oil begins to trade lower and fuel prices slowly start to come down once again.

Is the Dollar Gaining?

The US dollar is gaining, even though it seems like the economy is struggling. While there is some truth to the idea that the economy might be having a little bit of trouble, but that doesn’t mean that there are so many problems that the dollar is becoming worthless.
Other countries’ currencies are very strong against it and that trend seems likely to continue. However, the dollar is now gaining back some of what it lost, especially against the Euro. Wholesale inventories are up within the United States and some of the other countries are experiencing some slowdowns with growth and employment.
With that taking place, the dollar is rising once again and should continue to do so. The rise might not be that fast, but it will be something that will be noticeable in the months ahead