What Are Charts?

A price chart is a sequence of prices plotted over a specific time frame. In statistical terms, charts are referred to as time series plots.

On the chart, the y-axis (vertical axis) represents the price scale and the x-axis (horizontal axis) represents the time scale. Prices are plotted from left to right across the x-axis with the most recent plot being the furthest right. The price plot for IBM extends from January 1, 1999 to March 13, 2000.

Technicians, technical analysts and chartists use charts to analyze a wide array of securities and forecast future price movements. The word "securities" refers to any tradable financial instrument or quantifiable index such as stocks, bonds, commodities, futures or market indices. Any security with price data over a period of time can be used to form a chart for analysis.

While technical analysts use charts almost exclusively, the use of charts is not limited to just technical analysis. Because charts provide an easy-to-read graphical representation of a security's price movement over a specific period of time, they can also be of great benefit to fundamental analysts. A graphical historical record makes it easy to spot the effect of key events on a security's price, its performance over a period of time and whether it's trading near its highs, near its lows, or in between.

Who Uses Forex?

Individuals and organizations require forex at various times.

Consumers and Travelers

Consumers typically come into contact with currency exchange when they travel or purchase items from foreign vendors.

Travelers must go to a bank or currency exchange bureau to convert one currency (typically, their "home currency") into another (i.e., the currency of the country they intend to travel to) so they can pay for goods and services in the foreign country. Travellers need to be aware of exchange rates to ensure they receive a fair deal. OANDA.com provides various conversion tools to help them.

Consumers may purchase goods in a foreign country or via the Internet with their credit card, in which case they will find that the amount they paid in the foreign currency will have been converted to their home currency on their credit card statement.

Although each consumer currency exchange is a relatively small transaction, the aggregate of all such transactions is significant.

Businesses

Businesses typically need to convert currencies when they conduct business outside their home country. For example, if they export goods to another country and receive payment in the currency of that foreign country, then the payment must typically be converted back to the home currency. Similarly, if they have to import goods or services, then businesses will often have to pay in a foreign currency, requiring them to first convert their home currency into the foreign currency.

Large companies convert huge amounts of currency; for example, a company such as General Electric (GE) converts tens of billions of dollars each year. The timing of when they convert can have a large affect on their balance sheet and "bottom line, and many businesses use hedging strategies to ensure they do not incur losses over time due to currency market volatility.

Investors and Speculators

Investors and speculators require currency exchange whenever they trade in any foreign investment, be it equities, bonds, bank deposits, or real estate. For example, when a Swedish investor buys shares in Sun Microsystems on the NASDAQ, she will have to pay for the shares in U.S. Dollars and likely have to convert Swedish Krona to U.S. Dollars. Similarly, a Japanese real estate investor who sells a New York property may want to convert the proceeds of the sale in U.S. Dollars to Japanese Yen.

Investors and speculators also trade currencies directly in order to benefit from movements in the currency exchange markets. For example, if an American investor believes that the Japanese economy is strengthening and as a result expects the Japanese Yen to appreciate in value (i.e., go up relative to other currencies), then she may want to buy Japanese Yen and take what is referred to as a long position. Similarly, if an American investor believes that the Euro will go down over time, then she may want to sell Euro to take a short position. Interestingly, investors and speculators can profit equally from currencies becoming stronger (by taking a long position) or from currencies becoming weaker (by taking a short position).

Speculators are often day traders, trying to take advantage of market movements in very short time periods; buying a currency and then selling it again within hours or even minutes. They are attracted to currency trading for numerous reasons, including (i) the size and daily volatility of the market, which provides some individuals with an unparalleled level of excitement, (ii) the almost perfect liquidity of the currency exchange market, (iii) the fact that the currency exchange market is "open" 24 hours a day, and (vi) the fact that currencies can be traded with no brokerage charges.

Commercial and Investment Banks

Commercial and investment banks trade currencies as a service for their commercial banking, deposit and lending customers. These institutions also generally participate in the currency market for hedging and proprietary trading purposes.

Governments and Central Banks

Governments and central banks trade currencies to improve trading conditions or to intervene in an attempt to adjust economic or financial imbalances. Although they do not trade for speculative reasons—they are non-profit organizations—they often tend to be profitable, since they generally trade on a long-term basis.

How To Find A Good Online Trading Company

Online trading is the easy way to buy and sell shares from the comfort of your home. Finding a company that provides you with an online trading account can be difficult. There are many companies that will offer you excellent services for online trading, but you will want to find one that meets your needs and requirements.

Companies like BBandT offer online trading. Waterhouse also offers online stock trading for their customers. But you shouldn't go with a company just based on their reputation; instead you should see what they can offer you because your needs as a trader will be radically different from someone traders who have different levels of experience and who have different proclivities toward risk and security.

Online trading is no different than offline trading; it requires the same amount of risk plus the same amount of skill. You will need to be well-disciplined and goal orientated, as these are the main skills that separate winners and losers in the trading world. Trading-- especially online trading--requires you to put limits on what you spend and your number of transactions. Also, research is vital if you want to uncover important tips to greatly improve the quality of your online trading portfolio-and also to avoid getting bogged by purchasing shares from companies in the midst of a lawsuit or poor management.

So if you are looking to do online trading, research some companies and see what they can offer you.

Online trading can be a good way to make a lot of money or to bring a small residual income to supplement your regular income. Of course, you will need money to get started; and even after you get started, it will still be a dangerous game loaded with risks.

There are risks attached to online trading and you have to research these and see if you are prepared should the worst happen. If you are determined and goal-orientated, then you will need little else to succeed at online trading. If you trade emotionally and fail to be patient and analytical, you are almost guaranteed to fail, even if you get lucky a couple of times.