Trading Psychology

“The are the times that try men’s souls,” especially if those men are invested in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LSE:GKP). The GKP share price has dropped to 35.23 today, continuing what has been a fairly steady decline that has been nearly unabated since 25 October 2013 when it was last traded above 180.00. It is now […]

When asked whether they would like to change their lives, an overwhelming 83% answered “yes”. This is just one result of many similar surveys, all showing similar results. This survey is probably more representative of how most of us feel about our lives than any other study we could do on the human condition. It […]

The FTSE failed once again to soar about the coveted 7,000 mark. However, it closed at yet another record high again today, finishing at 6,961.14. As Maxwell Smart, the infamously inept spy from the mid-1960s TV program Get Smart, would say, “Missed it by that much!” If you weren’t around in the mid-60’s, ask your […]

It has to be said: The antics of your mind throw many a spanner into your trading works.  There is no other way of putting it, you are the unwitting victim of your mind rather than being the master of it. This simple fact, which I also discussed in my last article:” Why Fundamentals Don’t […]

I knew there was a reason that I have used Shell (LSE:RDSA) gasoline in my cars for 35 years, but today I gained a better understanding because of what Shell’s CEO Ben ven Beurden is saying about the oil industry and fossil fuels in general. I don’t believe that he has it completely right – […]

I don’t think there is another industry that is as opinionated as the industry of investing. Seems that you must have an opinion in order to make sound investment decisions. Analysts go to extreme lengths to prove to you why the FTSE is going to new highs this year or why you should sell it […]

Using a trading journal to monitor progress is one of the basic trader tools that can improve performance. The practice of putting pen to paper daily integrates learning and connects you deeper while mirroring your thoughts, feelings and emotions. A trading journal gets you in a practice of observation which can open the gates to […]

Many a book on trading risk states the absolute necessity of placing stop orders. No stop, no trade. Such teachings not only place undue pressure on traders and investors, they also invite mistakes, as the pressure of procedure overrides the need to tune into the rhythm and harmony of the market and of yourself. Stops […]

A blind man with a stick can see that Europe is a mess. The present global chaos cycle which is reaching its climax in the coming years is bringing everything to the surface that has reached the end of its life cycle. This is an unpalatable fact we all have to learn to live with […]

In a world where you can trade anywhere with just a click of the mouse there is simply no room for excuses when it comes to choosing a number of trading and investment accounts tailored to your individual trading needs. The recent events of “Black Thursday” which caused the downfall of several on-line FX brokers, […]