Trading the foreign exchange (forex) markets offers you the opportunity to make a lot of money, it is a fast paced, 24 hour a day environment where billions change hands every day. In order to stay one step ahead of the game and to maximise your profits, you must utilise every tool you can access and leave no stone unturned.

Here are some of the most commonly overlooked areas that traders need to take account of if they are to achieve their full potential as Forex traders.

Do the Math

When setting up a forex trade, not only is it important to work out the potential profit versus loss scenario, this is elemental. It is crucial to look at all the other costs that are involved, particularly if the numbers being traded are relatively low and this can be done using a forex calculator, all you need is accurate raw data. Once you have entered the data the calculator will show you things like how previous trades have performed and will factor in things like margins and fees.

Keep it Simple

Becoming over technical and failing to overlook the simple aspects of forex trading is an area that many new forex traders find to be a stumbling block. While detailed technical analysis of charts and trends can be of some use, when it boils down to it, forex markets react to news and events and here lies the key to successful forex trading.

Keeping abreast of world events is the most important factor when it comes to predicting how forex markets will behave. After all we are talking about foreign currency markets.

Time Zones and Calendars  

As from Monday to Friday, the Forex markets don’t stop, you will need to keep a close eye on the international clock. Many forex traders wake up to find that an overnight development has passed them by and in so, so has an opportunity to for potential profit.

Having a calendar that lists all the critical world events that need to be monitored is paramount to the success of profitable forex traders and setting alarms and alerts to ensure you can react positively as and when needed is a sure fire way to increase your potential profitability.

The long and short of it, if you will forgive the pun, is that before entering into the world of forex trading, it is essential to formulate a strategy that takes into account all possible variables and factors., Once you have achieved this, you are in a position where confidence in what you are doing will be the biggest asset you could wish for.