RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk Management Techniques For Active Traders

Risk management is an essential but often overlooked prerequisite to successful active trading. After all, a trader who has generated substantial profits over his or her lifetime can lose it all in just one or two bad trades if proper risk management isn't employed. This section will discuss some simple strategies that can be used to protect your trading profits.

​

Planning Your Trades

 

As Chinese military general Sun Tzu's famously said: "Every battle is won before it is fought." The phrase implies that planning and strategy - not the battles - win wars. Similarly, successful traders commonly quote the phrase: "Plan the trade and trade the plan." Just like in war, planning ahead can often mean the difference between success and failure.


Stop-loss (S/L) and take-profit (T/P) points represent two key ways in which traders can plan ahead when trading. Successful traders know what price they are willing to pay and at what price they are willing to sell, and they measure the resulting returns against the probability of the security hitting their goals. If the adjusted return is high enough, then they execute the trade.


Conversely, unsuccessful traders often enter a trade without having any idea of the points at which they will sell at a profit or a loss. Like gamblers on a lucky or unlucky streak, emotions begin to take over and dictate their trades. Losses often provoke people to hold on and hope to make their money back, while profits often entice traders to imprudently hold on for even more gains.

​

Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Points

 

A stop-loss point is the price at which a trader will sell a stock and take a loss on the trade. Often this happens when a trade does not pan out the way a trader hoped. The points are designed to prevent the "it will come back" mentality and limit losses before they escalate. For example, if a security breaks below a key support level, traders often sell as soon as possible.


On the other side of the table, a take-profit point is the price at which a trader will sell a security and take a profit on the trade. Often this is when additional upside is limited given the risks. For example, if a security is approaching a key resistance level after a large move upward, traders may want to sell before a period of consolidation takes place.

​

How to Effectively Set Stop-Loss Points​

 

Setting stop-loss and take-profit points is often done using technical analysis, but fundamental analysis can also play a key role in timing. For example, if a trader is holding a security ahead of earnings as excitement builds, he or she may want to sell before the news hits the market if expectations have become too high, regardless of whether the take-profit price was hit.


Moving averages represent the most popular way to set these points, as they are easy to calculate and widely tracked by the market. Key moving averages include the five-, nine-, 20-, 50-, 100- and 200-day averages. These are best set by applying them to a stock's chart and determining whether the stock price has reacted to them in the past as either a support or resistance level.


Another great way to place stop-loss or take-profit levels is on support or resistance trend lines. These can be drawn by connecting previous highs or lows that occurred on significant, above-average volume. Just like moving averages, the key is determining levels at which the price reacts to the trend lines, and of course, with high volume.


When setting these points, here are some key considerations:

  • Use longer-term moving averages for more volatile securities to reduce the chance that a meaningless price swing will trigger a stop-loss order to be executed.

  • Adjust the moving averages to match target price ranges; for example, longer targets should use larger moving averages to reduce the number of signals generated.

  • Stop losses should not be closer than 1.5-times the current high-to-low range (volatility), as it is too likely to get executed without reason.

  • Adjust the stop loss according to the market's volatility; if the security price isn't moving too much, then the stop-loss points can be tightened.

  • Use known fundamental events, such as earnings releases, as key time periods to be in or out of a trade as volatility and uncertainty can rise.

​

The Bottom Line

 

Traders should always know when they plan to enter or exit a trade before they execute. By using stop losses effectively, a trader can minimize not only losses, but also the number of times a trade is exited needlessly.

 

Make your battle plan ahead of time so you'll already know you've won the war. With any given trade that you take and apply the above principals you need to take note that you should NEVER exceed risking more than 2-3% of your account per trade.

​

Remember that capital preservation is the main objective before working on anything else.

​

Position Sizing

 

Position sizing has everything to do with your risk assessment per trade and would have to go hand in hand with your risk management exercises. Unless you are quite familiar with the different pairs that you can trade and the pip value per pair, it is highly recommended that you use a position size calculator in order to input the details of the trade that you intend on executing.

There are many of these calculators available on the web to use for free however we like this one specifically as it is on the same website that we can view the economic calendar on:

www.myfxbook.com/forex-calculators/position-size

This calculator can be used to input your trade data and see what monetary values you can expect in terms of your stop loss and take profit levels on the charts. 


 

  • HOME

  • EFFECTIVE CHART ANALYSIS

  • TRAINING MATERIAL

  • TRADING TOOLS

  • THE GOOD STUFF

  • SERIOUS INVESTORS

  • FOREX BOOTCAMP

  • OPEN A TRADING ACCOUNT

  • BLOG

  • Members

  • FORUM

  • More

    Whatsapp Contact

    Whatsapp Profitfx
    1. Forum
    2. Trade ideas
    3. Usdzar is on the hot list
    Search
    Vernon Hayes
    Administrator
    4 days ago

    Usdzar is on the hot list

    0 comments

    That's right traders, it's my favorite currency pair again! Did you get the bearish move that I reviewed in my previous post about this pair? Read more on the link below:

     

    https://www.profitfxza.com/forum/trade-ideas/usdzar-is-building-a-bearish-market-structure

     

    Now, there are a few things that has developed since the bearish move completed that brings the market to a key level. Check out the chart below...

     

     

     

    A simple price action trading strategy that works exceptionally well is using the bollinger bands, key support/resistance levels and candlesticks. As you can see this is the third time that the market will be meeting the 14.50 support area, coincidentally where the bottom bollinger band is, right? So once a buy signal prints while pinning the bottom bollinger on support, a low risk buy setup can be traded.

     

    The alternate scenario is that the 14.50 support breaks in which case the bearish rally may resume. There are lower highs and equal lows visible on this chart that shows a bearish market structure which means that the support is likely to break.

     

    NB: Take special notice of the bearish bars that are increasing in size. This is another sign that the sellers are active in the market and willing to drive price lower.

     

    Price action will be key here, hopefully providing a signal candle for the bulls or breaking the support.

     

    Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

     

    Vee

     

     

     

    Learn how to trade using price action and find setups like this one

    https://www.profitfxza.com/the-complete-price-action-course

     

    Don't invest what you can't afford to lose. This is not investment advice.Subjective view/report of a financial product only.

     

     

    DISCLAIMER

     

    All information published within this website is purely for educational purposes and offers no guarantees. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates cannot be held responsible for any trades that you have executed in any way whatsoever. Please familiarize yourself with the relevant risks involved when trading forex, CFD’s and other products. Any trading is done solely at your own risk. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates are in no way employed by any broker or any other legal entity. All information published within this website does not constitute advice, but rather objective information about a financial product and analysis or report of a financial product.

     

     

    0
    New Posts
    • Vernon Hayes
      Administrator
      Dash  ·  
      a day ago

      Euraud analysis - will the nfp make this pair move?

      This pair has been tough as nails, I've had two failed attempts of shorting this pair so I reviewed my analysis after speaking with a fellow trader and marked up a new chart to look at. Let's have a look... The support at 0.62112 played a role previously before it was broken with two sharp rallies back to the supportive trend line. I've added the fibonacci extension tool to the last bullish move to see where a pullback can go to if it takes place, and it's right on the support and moving average. If a buy signal prints on that support, preferably pinning the moving average with a pin bar or forming a bullish engulfing bar then I'll strongly consider to buy. The fibonacci levels, support, trend line and moving average are all meeting in the same area. The nonfarm payrolls hits the headlines at 15.30 SAST and this could lead to increased volatility and this could be the catalyst to the move taking off. The news could also invalidate this idea so it's good to be aware of both possibilities. Price action will be my leading "indicator" on this setup as I look for a signal from the market. Let's see what shakes... Vee Learn how to trade using price action and find setups like these https://www.profitfxza.com/the-complete-price-action-course Don't invest what you can't afford to lose. This is not investment advice.Subjective view/report of a financial product only. DISCLAIMER All information published within this website is purely for educational purposes and offers no guarantees. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates cannot be held responsible for any trades that you have executed in any way whatsoever. Please familiarize yourself with the relevant risks involved when trading forex, CFD’s and other products. Any trading is done solely at your own risk. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates are in no way employed by any broker or any other legal entity. All information published within this website does not constitute advice, but rather objective information about a financial product and analysis or report of a financial product.
      0 comments
      0
    • Vernon Hayes
      Administrator
      Dash  ·  
      2 days ago

      Market overview - The last NFP of 2019 just ahead

      Hey guys, it's been an interesting week with a few strong market moves. I've been saying for ages that the two weeks before NFP are usually my strongest because of the increased liquidity that pushes the market to move. When I find setups during this period I pay close attention and trade fearlessly. The nonfarm payroll statistics are released on Friday afternoon at 14.30 SAST and in most cases the market responds with force. This creates a lot of opportunity for traders and it also creates a lot of poverty because traders end up blowing accounts because of risking too much or over trading on this anticipated event. The news is often the catalyst for a move to play out and I like to find trade setups in line with this and trade the bigger picture (not the news, sorry fundamentalists!) I've got a few charts that I'm watching at the moment, here are my thoughts on them Previous support on gold became resistance and the previous high has been reached again where a candlestick has pinned the resistance level. In a ranging market the swing highs and lows are sold and bought respectively using price action signals like pin bars, engulfing bars and so on. Should the highs be broken, I'll look to trade off a retest of the resistance as support using a signal like engulfing bar, inside bar etc... The 14.50 support on usdzar has been holding well and there was a brisk bullish rally to the 21 simple moving average where price as stalled. A breakout of the falling wedge pattern can see the bulls take us back to 15.00 and if the support breaks I'll be looking to short using a low risk entry on a pullback, if it forms. The inverse head and shoulder pattern on usdjpy had a false breakout and saw price falling to previous lows. Check out the support level marked on H4 below. Clues clues clues..... Gbpusd is no one's favorite at the moment with the ongoing brexit works so there hasn't been much liquidity. Finally a breakout occurred yesterday and I am now waiting to see if a pullback will form and if the moving average will come into play for a bullish setup... Last but not least, after my failed initial attempt to short euraud I see another opportunity taking shape where the fibonacci level and moving average is meeting in confluence with market price. This would be a great low risk trade setup if it completes as such. Bear in mind that just as much as the news can make these moves boom they can also be invalidated. Forex is risky after all but without risk there is no reward. Please feel free to share your own views in the comments and let traders know what you're thinking! Happy trading, Vee Learn how to trade using price action and find setups like these https://www.profitfxza.com/the-complete-price-action-course Don't invest what you can't afford to lose. This is not investment advice.Subjective view/report of a financial product only. DISCLAIMER All information published within this website is purely for educational purposes and offers no guarantees. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates cannot be held responsible for any trades that you have executed in any way whatsoever. Please familiarize yourself with the relevant risks involved when trading forex, CFD’s and other products. Any trading is done solely at your own risk. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates are in no way employed by any broker or any other legal entity. All information published within this website does not constitute advice, but rather objective information about a financial product and analysis or report of a financial product.
      4 comments
      0
    • Vernon Hayes
      Administrator
      Dash  ·  
      Nov 25

      Euraud has a textbook technical short setup

      There are a few things that I am noting on this trade-setup... 1. The market has respected the capped trend line 2. The tight double top formation at resistance (capped trend line) 3. A pullback to the fibonacci zone after the break of the neck line on the double top 4. The moving average pinned by a pin bar There are a few factors in confluence here that makes this a good quality short setup in my opinion. I am now short with SL 1.62970 TP 1.60417 Learn how to trade using price action and find setups like this one https://www.profitfxza.com/the-complete-price-action-course Don't invest what you can't afford to lose. This is not investment advice. Subjective view/report of a financial product only. DISCLAIMER All information published within this website is purely for educational purposes and offers no guarantees. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates cannot be held responsible for any trades that you have executed in any way whatsoever. Please familiarize yourself with the relevant risks involved when trading forex, CFD’s and other products. Any trading is done solely at your own risk. Profit Fx, Forex Bootcamp and any of its associates are in no way employed by any broker or any other legal entity. All information published within this website does not constitute advice, but rather objective information about a financial product and analysis or report of a financial product.
      0 comments
      0
    • Facebook Social Icon

    Privacy Policy