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Posts Tagged ‘Retirement’

Short Interest Ratios And Short Selling Secret

March 11th, 2010

Everyone knows that when the stock prices goes up this is the best time to invest and make money. But can you make money when the stock prices go down. Well, you can with short selling. Many people have difficulty understanding short selling. So what is short selling. In essence, when you expect the price of a certain stock to go down, you borrow it from your brokers and sell it in the market. Later on you buy it back and return the stock to your broker. Since the stock price was lower when you bought it back as compared to when you sold it, you made a capital gain. This is in nutshell what is short selling.

Now for short selling to work, the stock price should go down otherwize, you will make a hefty loss in case the stock price starts to go up. Since, you are trading with a borrowed stock, you have to return that stock to your broker. In case the stock price goes up, you will have to buy it back at a much higher price with a loss. Now, when you go short and the market suddenly turns against you in the sense that it goes in the wrong direction, you are in trouble. You want to buy back the stock but the price is continously going up. The harder it becomes to buy back the required number of shares, the more desperate you will become and the higher the prices can go before you are able to buy back the required number of shares and return them to your broker. So in a way, short selling is tricky and must only be practiced by the experienced traders.

In case of futures or options, you don’t need to borrow the security; you simply agree to sell the contract when you go short. Why do investors take a short position? The most obvious reason is that they are expecting the price to go down further. Short selling is also used for hedging purposes.

There is something very important that you need to keep an eye on when you go short selling. It is known as Short Interest Ratios. This will help you monitor the rate of short selling in the market. If the rate is too high, it means that too many investors are taking short positions and you need to avoid it. New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, both report the short interest in stocks listed on them,however, this is done on a monthly basis as brokers need sometime to collect the data of shares that they have lended to their clients for shorting.

Now this number is known as the Short Interest Ratio. Short Interest Ratio is a very important number for short sellers as it can give important clues about the investor expectation to the short sellers.

Short Interest Ratio reports the number of shares of a particular stock that has been shorted, the percentage change from the previous months, the average daily volume for that stock in the same month and the number of days of trading at the average volume that it would take to cover the short positions.

The problem with Short Interest Ratio is that it is not calculated frequently. It is calculated on monthly basis. So, the trader cannot use it to gauge the short positions in the market on a daily or weekly basis. However, it can give you the general trend in the market. A high short interest ratio should make you nervous if you have taken a short position in that stock as most of the investors who are short will soon become desperate to dump that stock in the market and cover their short positions.

Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done masters from Harvard University. Read this 49 page Quantum Swing Trading FREE Report. Turn $200 into $100K in just 3 months with this Penny Stock Trading FREE Report.

Ahmad Hassam Currency Trading , , , , , , , , , ,

Candlestick Patterns- The Hanging Man, the Hammer and the Spinning Top!

March 3rd, 2010

Candlestick charting is a highly powerful tool in the trading arsenal of any trader. In the last two decades, candlestick charting has become highly popular. There are many candlestick patterns that give profitable trading signals. Some are simple while other are complex. Hammer, the Hanging Man and the Spinning Top are three simple candlestick patterns that can be easily spotted. All three are different!

The first question. How do you identify whether this is a Hanging Man or a Hammer? Hammer and the Hanging Man both have a very small candle body accompanied by a long wick either on the bottom. If this type of pattern appears at the top of an uptrend with the long wick at the bottom, it is a Hanging Man. And if it appears at the bottom of an downtrend it is a Hammer.

In less than ideal cases, you might also find a small wick at the top of the candlestick. When the Hanging Man or the Hammer appears, you need to look for the confirmation on the next day.

Now suppose, you think that you have spotted the Hanging Man in an uptrend. Wait for the confirmation the next day with the opening price. If the opening price on the next day is less than the previous day’s close, you have a true Hanging Man. If not, then that was not a true Hanging Man.

Similarly, if you spot a Hammer at the bottom of a downtrend, you need to confirm it with the opening price on the following day. If the opening price on the next day is higher than the closing price on the last day, the Hammer formed was a true Hammer.

Whenever, you trade candlestick patterns, first spot them correctly than wait for the confirmation on the following day. The best chart for these candlestick patterns is the daily chart. Once, you get the confirmation, trade these patterns. They can be highly profitable. But in case, you don’t get the confirmation the next day with the price action, simply ignore the pattern as not true.

A Spinning Top is another candlestick pattern that reveals a tight battle between the bulls and the bears. Whenever, the battle between the bulls and the bears ends in a draw on a trading day, the following day, one side has to give in. When this happens an explosive move in one direction is highly likely.

How to identify a SPINNING TOP? A Spinning Top has a very small candle body in the middle with two equal wicks on the top and the bottom. This pattern appears very frequently in the daily charts and can be highly profitable if spotted correctly.

Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done Masters from Harvard University. Master Candlestick Patterns with this 82 page PDF FREE Candlestick Guide! Download your FREE COPIES of the HVMM Ultimate Day Trading System and the Universal Risk & Money Management Tool!

Ahmad Hassam Currency Trading , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Glass Greenhouse Construction

November 24th, 2009

If you are thinking about buying or building a custom greenhouse there are some simple steps to consider for your greenhouse construction costs.

Primarily, greenhouse construction is a skill in it’s own right. Hiring a construction company that claims to have built a few greenhouse structures could be trouble. Greenhouses are unique and costs can be high so you will want them to be constructed by a true professional greenhouse builder. Working with a general contractor on a greenhouse could be the most basic cause of problems with greenhouse construction. There are special tools, and greenhouse pieces that are completely unique to the greenhouse builder. Working with glass or polycarbonate is also craft honed by only greenhouse builders familiar with the greenhouse construction process.

Next, the construction of a greenhouse is woven into the knowledge of the manufacturing arm of the greenhouse. It is something the qualified greenhouse builder has grown to study and know well. Basic design and uses of the greenhouse are common knowledge with the qualified greenhouse construction team. The materials used in different parts of the country are also important to the builder and whether the structure needs vents, doors, full sun, how much drainage, misting systems and how certain equipment can be used in the greenhouse. There is no room for mistakes or error in the design, manufacturing and building of a greenhouse.

Third, greenhouse construction needs to be done with a knowledgable team of crew, workers, manufacturer, and owner all working together to make sure all of the parts and pieces arrive at the site early and ready for installation. This will move smoothly but could be a major problem if not installed by knowledgable craftsmen. Imagine missing a piece only to learn the part came from China, and will take two weeks to be delivered. This can be costly and the project hindered.

Fourth, a qualified greenhouse construction crew will know more than a general contractor when planning a greenhouse. Many details are considered such as the air flow of the greenhouse, how size of structure affects the life of the plants, climates and issues that may arise with the certain manufacturers of the equipment used. A professional greenhouse builder will work with architects, engineers and landscape designers well before you get to the ordering process.

Thus, there are many things to consider in greenhouse construction and your greenhouse builder should be able to explain the process with you from start to finish. This will ensure a lifetime of gardening pleasure.

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Judy Stevens Landscaping , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Retirement Plans: IRA’s

October 24th, 2009

Retirement plans have special tax advantages, but they also suffer from tax regulations. Two benefits would be that you are able to get a tax break if you contribute to a retirement plan and you are also able to have your retirement income grow tax free. The regulations include things such as limits on annual contributions, frequency of contributions, and the total size of each contributions. Before jumping into a specific IRA plan it is wise to weigh your options in order to find the plan that is right for you. There are two basic categories to choose from; you can either go with an IRA or an employer-sponsored plan.

IRAs are very popular because they are so easy to setup and also easy to maintain. A person does not need employer approval to open an IRA and you can contribute as much as you want to the account, as long as you do not exceed the annual limits). Below are the three main types of IRAs.

Traditional IRA. With this type of IRA you are able to let your assets grow on a tax-deferred basis. This is advantageous because you will not have to pay taxes on your assets until you withdraw funds from your account.

Contribution eligibility depends on earned income, statutory limits, and age. You can only contribute, at a maximum, as much as your earned income. Earned income is defined as income from wages and self-employment income in the period of one year. Earned income does not include investment income. If you are age 50 or older then you may also be allowed to contribute what are called catch-up contributions. Additionally, your spouse can also use your income to make contributions of his or her own. However, you and your spouse are only eligible for make contributions if you have not reached age 70 at the end of the year of the said contribution.

Before contributing to a traditional IRA, be sure you wouldn’t be better served by contributing to another IRA type, such as a Roth IRA, or to an employer’s 401(k) plan.

Contribution deductibility is one factor that often times leads an indication to switch the type of IRA that they use. Your income level is an important indicator as to whether you will be able to deduct all of your contributions. If you and your spouse are able to participate in an employer-sponsored plan, then you will definitely be able to deduct your contributions. However, these deductions might not be worth anything if your adjusted gross income (AGI) is too high.

If you aren’t eligible to make a deductible contribution (or a Roth IRA contribution), you may wish to make a nondeductible one you’ll still enjoy the benefit of tax-deferred growth. And, when you withdraw the funds after age 591/2, only the earnings will be taxed. You can withdraw your nondeductible contribution without tax.

Roth IRA. You may contribute the same amount to a Roth IRA as you can to a traditional IRA, but there are different eligibility rules, such as no age limit with respect to contributions, so long as you meet the earned income requirement.

The total amount of your annual contribution to IRAs can never be larger than the defined limit. That being said, if you are eligible you can contribute all of your income to a traditional or all of your income to a Roth IRA. You are even allowed to split your contribution between the two different IRA?s.

It is important to keep in mind that you are not able to claim a deduction for your contributions with a Roth IRA. However, you are able to withdraw all IRA earnings without tax after you reach age 59. This only applies if you have had the account for at least 5 years.

If you already have a traditional IRA, then you may be interested in converting a portion, or the entire IRA, to a Roth IRA. You will need to see if this change will benefit you even after considering the additional tax implications.

If a Roth IRA sounds like a better place to park your retirement funds but you already have a traditional IRA, you may be able to elect to convert some or all of it to a Roth IRA. In so doing, you’ll be creating taxable income, but you’ll also be getting the benefit of future tax-free withdrawals.

Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA. A SEP IRA provides self-employed individuals a way to make more significant retirement contributions than would be available to them through a traditional or Roth IRA. Funds are treated, for tax purposes, the same as IRA funds; you may claim a deduction for your contributions, and distributions will be taxed. But the contribution limits can be much higher.

This data is distributed for informational purposes only; Doeren Mayhew is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or opinions and assumes no legal responsibility. Contact Doeren Mayhew for more information.

Doeren Mayhew Accounting , , , , , , , , ,

Understanding Forex Leverage

October 19th, 2009

Whats so special about Forex Leverage? Another feature of forex markets that differentiates it from other financial markets is the astronomical level of leverage that is commonplace in the forex world.

Forex brokers can offer up to 400:1 leverage on the average retail trading account. This means that $1 in a traders forex account can control up to $400 in a currency trade. The implications of this are mind boggling. No other financial market offers even close to this level of leverage.

Leverage is type of financial magnification by definition. Forex leverage can both be a very positive feature as well as a very negative one. Forex leverage is a double edged sword. It is true that high leverage magnifies profits. However, it also magnifies losses equally.

Often, this high level of leverage summarily wipes out otherwise healthy trading accounts. Used with a great deal of caution, however, high leverage of the magnitude found in forex trading can offer tremendous possibilities to the upside as well as the downside.

Stock brokers only offer leverage ratio of 2:1 on margin account. FCMs offer leverage of 10:1 to futures traders. But in case of forex trading, common leverage ratios offered by forex brokers range from 50:1 on the low side all the way up to 400:1 on the high side. The sheer magnitude of this leverage, even on the lows side, far eclipses, the amount of leverage available in other financial markets.

In practical terms, what this means to a forex trader is that a standard lot of $100,000 for example can be traded in EUR/USD currency pair with only $250 in trading account margin. Of course, this is assuming that 400:1 leverage is utilized.

You must have seen many ads by forex brokers that say that you can start trading with as little as $250. You will be surprise that you only need $250 in your account to start trading. $250 in your forex trading account can control a trade of $100,000 using 400:1 leverage in this particular example. For every $1, you as a forex trader are in fact controlling a whopping $400 in other words.

The fact that a small amount of money can control a large amount of money in forex trading can certainly serve to magnify potential profits. But on the flip side of the coin, the amount of risk involved in using this high level of leverage is also equally magnified.

High leverage trading is aggressive trading that is both characterized by high risk and high reward potential. Therefore, it is advisable to use caution when trading with the substantial leverage common in forex trading.

Why too much leverage is dangerous? When the market moves in your favor, even a small movement in the market can be magnified many times by using leverage making large profits for you. But the dark side of using too much leverage is that when the market moves even a small amount against your position, your whole trading account can get wiped out.

What is the safe level of leverage that you can use in your trading? In the beginning, dont use more than 5:1 leverage in your trading. With experience, you can increase that level to 10:1 or 20:1 but this much leverage would always be sufficient for you.

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Try 1500 Pips a day Forex Signals. Discover a revolutionary Forex Robot Trading System!

Ahmad Hassam Currency Trading , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Currency Profile Of GBP (Part I)

October 16th, 2009

British Pound is also known as the Cable. The name most probably struck in the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. United Kingdom (UK) is the fourth largest economy in the world. UK has a service oriented economy with manufacturing representing a small part of GDP. Manufacturing is only equivalent to one fifth of GDP.

London is still the forex center of the world. London Stock Exchange is still the second most important stock exchange in the world after the New York Stock Exchange. The British capital market systems are one of the most developed in the world and as a result finance and banking has become a strong contributor to the GDP.

Although majority of UK GDP is from services, UK is the largest producer and exporter of natural gas to EU. The energy production industry accounts for 10% of GDP which is one of the highest shares of any industrialized nation.

Trade deficit is an important economic indicator for determining the strength or weakness of a currency. Overall, UK is a net importer of goods with a consistent trade deficit. Increases in energy prices such as oil will significantly benefit the large number of UK oil exporters. This is important for forex traders as energy prices are positively correlated with GBP.

The largest trading partner of UK is the EU with the trade between the two accounting for almost 50% of UK imports and exports activities. The United States on an individual basis still remains UKs largest trading partner.

Trade surplus or the trade deficit is determined by the difference between the exports and the imports of a particular country. The leading import sources for UK are France, United States, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The leading exports markets for UK exporters are the France, Germany, Ireland, United States and the Netherlands.

The possibility of Euro adoption will still be in the backs of minds of pound traders for many years to come. UK had rejected adopting Euro as its currency in June 2003. Now, if UK decides to join EMU, it will have significant ramifications for its economy.

In case UK decides to join EMU, the most important of these ramifications is the adjustment of UK interest rate with the Eurozone interest rate. One of the primary arguments used against adopting the Euro is that UK has sound macroeconomic policies that have worked very well for the country.

UK is a highly political country with government officials highly concerned about the voter approval ratings. There are many arguments in favor of Euro entry and many against. However, if the voters do not support Euro entry, the likelihood of EMU entry will decline. Right now Brits are not in favor of a Euro entry. The voter opinion can change overtime.

Bank of England: The Bank of England (BOE) is the UKs central bank. The Monetary Policy Committee is the nine member committee that sets the monetary policy for UK. It consists of a governor, two deputy governor, two executive directors of the central bank and four outside experts. The committee was granted operational independence in 1997.

Mr. Ahmad Hassam has done Masters from Harvard University. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Try These 1500 Pips A Day Forex Signals From Heaven. Know Forex Rebellion!

Ahmad Hassam Currency Trading , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Advantages of Affiliate Marketing

October 16th, 2009

Affiliate marketing has become one of the most effective methods to earn money promoting online. It is also one of the easiest methods for someone with a website to make a profit online. Affiliate Marketing involves an arrangement between a merchant and a website owner. The website owner, or the affiliate, allows the use of their site for the marketing of the merchant’s products by linking to the merchant’s website.

In exchange, the merchant pays a fee to the affiliate on all sales created by the affiliate. Every time someone clicks on the link on the affiliate website and proceeds to make a purchase, the affiliate gets a fee. The merchant will pay the affiliate only when a customer clicks on the product link and makes a purchase.

Affiliate marketing arrangements are described as a win-win situation for both the merchant and the affiliate because of the pay-for-performance system. Both the merchant and the affiliate have some benefits in affiliate marketing. There are many advantages on the merchant’s part. It gives the merchant a wider market in which to promote a product or service.

Affiliate marketing will give the product or service the utmost exposure that it may not get with other traditional promoting methods. The more affiliate sites a merchant has, the more the number of visitors, which can convert into sales. Affiliate marketing is the equivalent of having an host of sales people who will do the marketing and will only get a fee if a customer buys.

Furthermore, since an affiliate marketing association is a win-win situation, the affiliate also enjoys many advantages. Foremost among these is the easy way to turn a profit. The affiliate can earn by having an ad or link to the merchant’s website, which prospective customers will hopefully click and proceed to make a purchase.

As soon as the shopper clicks on the advert on the affiliate’s site, the consumer is transferred to the merchant’s website and goes on to purchase that specific product, the affiliate earns a fee. The more referrals there are the more income for the affiliate.

Affiliate marketing is an excellent means to make money while at home. There are nigh on no manufacturing overheads. The product is already developed and proven by the merchant, and all you have to do is find as many visitors as you can to bring in sales for both the merchant and the affiliate.

Affiliate arrangements are by and large free to link up with, so affiliates do not have to be anxious about start-up expenses. There are thousands of products and services you can choose from. You can discover affiliate programs for every product on this Earth. Without doubt, there is a product or service out there that is relevant to your website.

In addition, there is definitely no sales experience necessary. Most affiliate programs offer outstanding assistance when it comes to providing promotion material. The simplicity of affiliate marketing permits you to be an affiliate marketer for the slightest expenditure and the most comfort.

You can even develop a successful affiliate marketing business in the comfort of your own house. In affiliate marketing, your job is purely to locate visitors for the merchant; you do not have to worry about stock, order processing, and product distribution. These, along with shopper service back up are the responsibilities of the merchant.

Because of the global reach of the Internet, you can effortlessly find thousands of prospects. You can intensify your advertising campaign by exploiting more aggressive and dynamic tactics such as viral marketing. By drawing more shoppers, you also maximize your potential to earn.

Another benefit to the affiliate marketer is the minimal risk involved. If the product you are marketing is not earning money then you can abandon it and choose another. There are no long-term binding contracts tying you to products that are not making enough money.

All the same, the best benefit of being an affiliate marketer is the opportunity to increase your earnings; and you can make a return even if affiliate marketing is just a sideline business to you. With your own affiliate business, you can easily earn additional income, although you do have to apply some effort and apply your imagination to capitalize on your earning capacity. Undeniably, affiliate marketing is one of the simplest and most efficient business opportunities on the web in our day.

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Angela Jones Advertising , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

British Pound Currency Profile (Part II)

October 14th, 2009
by Ahmad Hassam

Despite the independence of the Bank of England (BOE), its monetary policy is dictated by the inflation target set by the Treasury Chancellor. BOE has the power to change interest rates to levels that it believes will allow it to meet this target.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings are closely followed by the professional forex traders all over the world as GBP is a highly popular currency among the traders. MPC meetings are held on a monthly basis and are closely followed by changes in the monetary policy including changes in the interest rates.

After each MPC meeting, MPC issues statements. These statements are very important for GBP traders. A Quarterly Inflation Report detailing the MPCs forecasts for the next two years of growth and inflation and its justification for its policy movements is also published.

Another publication, the Quarterly Bulletin also provides information for the past monetary policy movements and analysis of international economic scene and its impact on the British economy. All of these reports are highly informative for professional forex traders.

The main policy tools used by MPC and BOE are the Bank Repo Rate and the Open Market Operations. Bank repo rate is the key rate used in the monetary policy to achieve the Treasurys target inflation rate.

Bank repo rate is set by the BOE for its own operations in the market such as the short term lending activities. Changes to this rate affect the commercial banks interest rates for its savers and borrowers.

In turn these commercial interest rates will affect spending and output in the economy and eventually the costs and prices. An increase in the Bank Repo Rate means BOE wants to curb the inflation. A decrease would be to stimulate growth and expansion.

The goal of the open market operations is to implement the changes in the bank repo rate while assuring adequate liquidity in the market and continued stability in the banking system.

Both the bank repo rate and the open market operations are used by the BOE to achieve its broad monetary policy objective. The three main objective of the BOE are to maintain the stability of the financial system, maintain the integrity and value of GBP and seeking to ensure the effectiveness of the UK financial services.

The United Kingdom is a pivotal nation because it bridges the economical, geographical, and ideological divide between the United States and Europe. The monetary policy objectives are met primarily through the open market operations. In order to ensure liquidity in the economy, BOE daily conducts open market operations to buy or sell short term fixed income government instruments. BOE can conduct additional overnight operations as well if this is not sufficient to meet the liquidity needs.

This is a globalized economy. Disturbances that start from outside can quickly become a headache for the Central Banks somewhere else. Oil prices jumped skyward in the early part of 2008. The GBP can be affected more directly by oil prices than other currencies as the United Kingdom is an oil producer. However, the relationship between oil and the GBP is fading because production in the United Kingdoms North Sea oil fields is steadily decreasing.

About the Author:

Ahmad Hassam Currency Trading , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Air Is Great In Payson Arizona Along With Real Estate

October 9th, 2009
by Rachelle Contreras

As a town, there are a lot of events and attractions that make Payson a vibrant, lively and exciting place to live. As a location for real estate, the properties on offer are tempting and come in all shapes and sizes. This report looks at what Payson has to offer when it comes to homes for sale in Payson, AZ ? as well as the culture.

Payson has been deemed as ?The Heart of Arizona? in the past ? an interesting thing to think about as the town is located more or less in the centre of the State. Founded in 1882, it was known as Union Park. Then and now, the town is the meeting point for three main roads in the Gila Country region.

Realtors offer a service where you can compare homes similar to yours and in the area that have sold recently. Doing this can give you a picture of what price houses are selling for near you. Having a smaller house than the one you compare to can be good, as it may boost your chances of getting extra cash; however, having a bigger house than your comparative houses may mean you need to knock down your prices a little.

Land in and surrounding Payson is well-protected by the Government. As Payson is enclosed within the Tonto National Forest, as much as 97% of the areas around the town are protected by the US Forest Service. Hence, outdoor activities are incredibly popular due to the land available being extensive.

Payson has a lot to offer when it comes to attractions ? it can be said it is a very leisurely place to live. With an impressive array of three golf courses, a casino and a host of restaurants, it isn?t too hard to see why. Two community parks, a swimming pool and a skate park confirm this further.

Pets can get in the way of the proceedings of a Moving Day. What?s more, they can sometimes appear to get rather distressed. Removing your pet from the situation by leaving it with a friend or relative can be beneficial to both you and your pet.

Think things through carefully when you are packaging to prevent breakages. For instance, plates and records are usually recommended to be stacked vertically rather than horizontally. Plus, heavy items are usually recommended to be packed in small boxes to prevent the items moving around and causing damage.

One of the most appealing things of going to a Realtor is the chance to be included on a Multiple Listings Service. Known as a MLS, this means that your home will be included on a universal database which can be accessed by all Realtors who operate in the area. Hence, this gives you maximum exposure and more chance of getting interest in your home.

If you are caring about the environment, buying real estate in Payson could be for you. It is an area which prides itself on its natural beauty, and this is seen by areas like the Green Valley Park. Further, a majority of the building work is done carefully, with the environment in mind.

If anything should go wrong on the day, you need to make sure that you contact your mover with your queries. Make sure you log down all of the details that are relevant to your transaction. That way, if you have any further queries, requests or issues ? you have all of the information handy to give the company.

Using your common sense, getting a little help from your friends and being practical can really help you out when it comes to the big day. Make sure you get prepared well in advance of the moving date. The thing you don?t want to happen is for everything to go pear-shaped because you left it that little bit too late.

About the Author:

Rachelle Contreras Real Estate , , , , , , , , ,

US Dollar Currency Profile (Part I)

October 6th, 2009
by Ahmad Hassam

US Dollar is the most heavily traded currency in the global economy. It is important for the currency traders to have a good grasp of the general economic characteristics of the most commonly traded currencies.

You should know as a trader what moves the currencies particularly the pairs that you are interested in trading. Traders need to also know the difference between the expected and the actual data. Some currencies tend to track commodity prices while others may move in complete contrast.

Expectations are what move the markets in the short term. Short term traders need to closely monitor the expectation of the currency markets. News or data that is in line with the expectations has less of an impact on currency movements than unexpected news or data. The correlation between the currency markets and news is very important.

United States is the worlds leading economy. US GDP is approximately three times the size of Japan, five times the size of Germany and seven times the size of UK. The US economy is now a service oriented economy with almost 80% of GDP coming from real estate, transportation, finance, health care and business services.

However, the manufacturing sector is still formidable and US Dollar is particularly sensitive to the development within the sector. United States has the worlds most liquid and deep equity and fixed income markets in the world.

The import and export volume of US also dwarfs the countries. This maybe due to the sheer size of US as true import and export represent only 12% of the GDP. Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into the US is equal to almost 40% of the total net inflows for United States. Investors from all over the world purchase US assets due to their liquidity and safety.

However, United States is running a large CA deficit for more than a decade now. US economy is facing the paradox of the twin deficits. One is the Budget Deficit and the other is the Current Account (CA) deficit. During the present financial crisis, the budget deficit has ballooned. Almost a trillion dollars have been added to the budget deficit. This is going to fuel inflation when the economy recovers. There are dangers of high inflation returning. Inflation can make the US Dollar weak in the long run.

Due to the high CA deficit; United States need to attract a few billion dollars of capital inflows daily in order to prevent the decline in the value of US Dollar. In other words, the Current Account (CA) deficit is being financed by the Capital Account (KA) surplus. The large CA deficit makes the US Dollar highly sensitive to changes in the capital flows.

United States is the trading partner of many countries across the globe. US is also the member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). US trade is equal to roughly 20% of the world trade. A weaker US Dollar will help boost US exports whereas a stronger US Dollar makes the US exports expensive and US imports cheap.

Leading import sources for United States are: Canada, China, Mexico, Japan and EU. Leading export markets for United States are: Canada, Mexico, Japan, EU and UK. The growth and political stability in countries that are leading export markets for US are important. For example, should Canada growth slow; its demand for US exports will fall that will have a ripple effect on US growth.

About the Author:

Ahmad Hassam Currency Trading , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,