Using High Yield Savings Accounts For Financial Stability

By Chris Channing

The money you make can be a blast to spend. Responsibility kicks in, though, and your mind should shift to saving the money for when you need it most. For an emergency, a new house, or anything you can think of- knowing how to save your money can keep you out of a tight situation.

The FDIC offers insurance to banks, who in turn offer it to clients. Make sure that the bank you are doing business with is insured with the FDIC. If they aren't, you could lose all of your money with the blink of an eye should anything happen to the bank. The FDIC only insures a certain amount of money for each account, so a bit more research on this will be required.

Interest rate determines how much money you will get on return each period- but it also can be used to determine how stable the bank is. A bank that keeps a fairly stable interest rate, even in tough times, is a sure winner. Interest rates that fluctuate wildly would indicate that the bank isn't as stable as others- and perhaps you should take your business elsewhere.

Banks have several methods of keeping you as a customer- even if you plan to take all of your money out at some point in the distant future. Banks could use fees such as closing costs, minimum account balance costs, and others to keep your account open. Before you do sign an agreement, you should review the fees that you will incur in such cases with a bank representative.

Just like any other business, a bank is in business to make money. Sometimes their practices may not be in the right interest of their clients. Some banks will have better reputations than others- something you should check online to see what others are saying. A bank with a bad customer support line, or many problems with their technologies, should probably be shunned. Do remember that no bank will be without any negative review, however.

As an unrelated tip, consider continually putting money into the savings account each pay period. Over a long time scale, you will have saved up enough money for emergencies or to buy the more expensive things in life- such as a house or a vehicle. Try not to use any of the money in the savings account unless you have no other choice. It's best to keep it out of sign and out of mind until greatly needed.

Final Thoughts

Look at your budget and start planning what you can do to save money. Cut back on other costs as well so that you can put more money into your savings account. Save money on food and apparel, as well as entertainment, and you'll notice a big change in your finances. - 23199

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Learn more on High Interest Savings Accounts and Savings Accounts.

WHAT IS TECHNICAL ANALYSIS - AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE MARKETS

By Michael Swanson

When we talk about technical analysis this involves a discipline which forecasts the future direction of prices and is also termed as a security analysis. It considers the definite price as well as volume fluctuation of the instrument or market.

Others like Dow Jones, Charles Dow, William Gann and Ralph Elliott all had a major part that they played in developing the techniques for technical analysis. In the twentieth century more and more tools and theories have been either devised or enhanced as well as software for computers have been developed.

Your stock charts will show you resistance and support levels. Relevant information will determine the market prices, so internals are taken above the external indicator. The fluctuation of prices tends to repeat them as investors use the same patterns collectively so technical analysis would rather focus on solid trends and conditions.

Technical analysis is a vast topic. It is based on three assumptions - whereby history repeats itself and prices move in trends, as well as the market will discount everything. Analysts are not perturbed if stocks are undervalued; what matters is the security of past trading stats and what information the past stats can provide as to where the security will move in the future.

The best way to understand what technical analysis is that it is associated with commodities as well as forex; and the participants are dominantly traders. To understand this fully what this is and is not you have to compare technical analysis with fundamental analysis.

The study of charts is primary as technical analysis uses other tools and methods to define prices. What is looked for is moving averages and lines of support, channels and hidden formations like balance days and flags. Indicators are also used extensively which are just mathematical calculations of volume and price. The relationship is looked for between the two.

Technical analysis is by far the most reliable source for trading the markets. You would define this by looking at the chart patterns. A trader would use technical analysis and see in which direction the price for financial security and movement lies.

Traders have expressed that trading in the direction of trend is the most effective means to profits in the financial and commodity market. For those of you who are interested in technical analysis, you should go online for further information. There are many books offered on the subject. - 23199

About the Author:

If you want to learn more about technical analysis go to www.wallstreetwindow.com.

The Forex Market During This Recession

By Michael Fredericks

The biggest question right now is how the Forex market is being affected during these difficult economical times. It seems that even during a looming recession, Forexs performance is holding steady on the currency market and Forex forecasts are correct.

If we're honest, we have to admit that some in this market are nervous. The current market is certainly unpredictable, and the Forex market is particularly sensitive to unpredictable events and to the possibility of unpredictable events occurring. No trader today has a clear path of action laid out ahead.

Experience in the Forex market does offer some insight, though, because Forex trading is the pure market mechanism at work. The longer one has been trading, the more you will understand that those who make the initial efforts and take the bigger risks reap the bigger rewards.

Even experienced traders, though, have been taken aback by some recent developments. The sharp decline of the dollar prior to the overall drop in the fall of 2008 could not have been foreseen. Forex trading depends on taking action based on events occurring in markets elsewhere. Without a clear view of those events, and the overall situation going in unknown directions, many were unclear on what their next move ought to be. Still, while traders can't control what happens in the world, they can and must control their responses and reactions to it.

Last year saw a succession of collapse similar to dominos. The value of the dollar was not fluctuating. The market gave no hint that the large firms and banks on The Street would soon be revealed as so many naked emperors. When all was revealed, overseas investors had grave doubts about any investment on any timeline, now or going forward, and the heavy downward skidding began.

What happens now? Normally, Asian markets are recommended because of mass production of produce and the world will be demanding these necessities. This will cause the Asian currencies and interests to strengthen as investors flock towards this economy. Now we begin the predictable struggle between countries as the US dollar continues to decline.

There's also the question some are asking, which is what's going on with the Swiss? Things have not bottomed out, most people believe, and in fact some places are just in the early stages of the downturn and could take any number of turns. Is Swiss currency the safe harbor some traders are looking for?

It might be a good time to put your energy into the region where demand tends to remain high regardless of what else is going on globally. Rising prices in Asia represent opportunities in the currency markets. Some might see this as a time to re-align, seek change, and develop a new outlook as a boost to Forex market prediction and actions. - 23199

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For more information about price action, then you can check out this website: Forex Trading Tutorial

Different Types of Market Orders (Part I)

By Ahmad Hassam

Currency traders use market orders to catch market movements when they are not in front of their screens. Just to remind you that forex markets are open 24 hours a day, five days a week. A market move is just likely to happen while you are asleep or in the shower as while you are sitting in front of your computer screen.

Trading can be very difficult without these market orders. Market orders are very critical to your trading success in the currency markets. Think of them as trades waiting to happen. If you enter an order and the subsequent price action triggers its execution, you are in the market so be as careful as possible while playing with the market orders.

Professional currency traders routinely use market orders to limit risk in volatile or uncertain markets, implement a trade strategy from entry to exit, capture sharp short term price fluctuations and preserve trading capital from unwanted loss. Market orders are essential for maintaining trading discipline and your peace of mind as a trader.

Forex markets can be notoriously volatile and difficult to predict. While limiting the impact of any adverse price movements, using market orders can help you capitalize on short term price movements.

You probably dont have a well thought out trading plan if you dont use market orders. It will also give you the peace of mind in trading. There is no guarantee that the use of market orders will limit your losses and protect your profits in all market conditions. However, a disciplined use of market orders will help you quantify the risk that you are taking.

Multiple types of market orders are available in forex markets to forex traders. However, you should know that not all market orders are available at all online forex brokers. So when you open an account with a forex broker, you should add the market orders to the list of questions you need to ask the broker.

Take Profit Orders: When you have an open position in the market, use the take profit order to lock in profits. There is an old market saying, You cant go broke taking profits. Suppose you are short GBP/USD at 1.2354. Your take profit order will be to buy back the position and be place somewhere below 1.2334. Making you a profit of 20 pips! If you are long EUR/USD at 1.2845, your take profit order will be to sell the position somewhere higher close to 1.2875.

Limit Orders: Dont forget the saying, Buy low and sell high. A limit order is any market order that triggers a trade at more favorable levels than the current market price. The limit order must be placed somewhere above the current market price if the limit order is to sell. The limit order must be entered somewhere below the current market price if the order is to sell. - 23199

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading stocks and currencies. Know Forex Scalping. Learn Forex Trading!

Global Macro and Commodity Trading

By Paul Thiel

The typical image of the floor of the Mercantile Exchange being filled with a bunch of guys that couldn't get jobs anywhere else is very outdated and wrong. Instead commodity traders are increasingly becoming some of the most sophisticated investors on earth.

One of the main types of upstairs traders in the commodity markets are the CTA or commodity trading advisors. They typically do a lot of long term trend following. The second major commodity trader is the global macro trader.

Global macro traders are the next major group of players in the commodity markets. Some are heavily involved and some barely trade them but all macro traders track the commodity markets to give them a better look into the worlds macro economic situation.

For instance if oil is rising like we saw in 2008 then you have to look to see what businesses are going to get hurt and what will benefit from higher oil prices. Obviously oil companies will make more money but what about shorting airlines? Or maybe even going long railroad companies. As you can tell there are endless ideas of who is affected and who is not.

Precious metals are another area of great concern. Long looked as a fantastic inflation gauge gold and silver are also looked upon more and more as alternative currencies since most fiat currencies are looking like junk these days. As you can see precious metals are very useful to key in on currencies and inflation.

Industrial metals are also a big deal as almost everything you buy or use has some type of metal in it. Copper for electrical wires, lead for batteries, aluminum for cans, etc. The list is virtually endless and between the MERC, the NYMEX, and the LME you can trade basically all of it. If you aren't tracking industrial metals then you are not pricing out the number one cost for most manufacturing and industrial companies.

Agricultural commodities are the last major group of commodities and the ones that tend to get the shortest thrift. This is a mistake as the worlds economies continue to grow and more and more people become more prosperous they eat better and better. This coupled with the fact that there is less water on earth and you have the potential for a large increase in the price of food worldwide.

Obviously commodities are huge part of the global economy. If you are not using and monitoring them you are missing out on some of the biggest puzzle pieces out there. If you are a global macro trader you need to be monitoring all the commodity complexes. - 23199

About the Author:

If you need actionable trading ideas then check out The Macro Trader It is a weekly global macro trading advisory publication with frequent intra-week updates for time-critical analysis and actionable trading ideas.