Trading Psychology – Staying Calm Under Pressure

Whether you are dealing on the Forex market or any of the other financial markets, trading can be a very stressful activity at times. The main problem is that whether a trade goes for you or against you, it can affect your emotions in a profound way, and this can lead to you to behave in an erratic fashion. Needless to say, letting your heart rule your head is rarely an effective trading strategy, but if you get too emotionally involved in what you are doing, it can be difficult not to fall into this trap. If you are making lots of small trades throughout the day, this can magnify this issue, as you might be on a roll one minute, and making a big loss in the next. When things happen quickly like this, it can be very difficult to keep your emotions in check. Even if you have set down a specific trading strategy that you plan to stick to, it can be hard to execute it when you are overwhelmed with emotion.

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Another Recession is on the way!

WASHINGTON — Discouraging economic data from around the globe have heightened fears that another recession is on the way.

Fresh evidence emerged Thursday that U.S. home sales and manufacturing are weakening. Signs also surfaced that European banks are increasingly burdened by the region’s debt crisis and sputtering economy.

The rising anxiety ignited a huge sell-off in stocks that led many investors to seek the safety of U.S. Treasurys.

Oil prices, global stocks fall; gold rises

Concerns about the debt crisis have weighed on oil markets in recent weeks, adding to worries about weak US economic data that could hit fuel demand.

“It doesn’t look like the two biggest items were seriously discussed today — the potential for a euro bond and the size of the stabilization/bailout fund,” said Edward Meir, senior commodity analyst for MF Global in New York.
Crude prices dropped before the meeting as data showed sluggish German growth hobbled the euro zone, dragging US stocks. The euro slid against the dollar.

Wal-Mart: What Went Wrong?

Wal-Mart reported its ninth-straight quarter of same-store sales losses for its U.S. unit. Overall profit was up 5.7%, carried by overseas gains, but the U.S. business continues to suffer.
Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) the second-largest U.S. discount retailer, may have found a strategy to oust Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) as the No. 1 discount-shopping source.

Swiss Economy

companies feel rise of franc focus on specialty goods limits impact, but safe-haven role is costly
The European sovereign debt crisis roiling the global markets and the downgrade of the U.S. debt rating, combined with franc-denominated debts of Eastern European borrowers, have fuelled a huge demand for Swiss francs. By some measures, the currency is now as desired by investors as gold.

$2.8 trillion lost in market turmoil so far

If stock market gyrations make you queasy, you may not want to read on.

The Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index has lost $2.8 trillion in value since the stock market slide began on July 22. Some $600 billion of that went up in smoke on Wednesday, when the index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both dropped about 520 points.

Not surprisingly, the stock market’s wild swings in recent weeks have sent investors and retirees scurrying to their financial advisors for some hand holding. The main message they’re hearing: Stay put.

“Try to take a step back from the day-to-day,” said Chris Philips, senior investment analyst with Vanguard. “Reacting to these ups and downs and sideways swings can actually do more harm than good for most investors.”

Global Economic Stability Rests on the US and China Finding Common Ground.

Mr Biden is visiting China at the invitation of Mr Xi, as the Obama administration seeks to strengthen ties with the next generation of Chinese leaders.
Speaking in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Mr Biden said: “I am absolutely confident that the economic stability of the world rests in no small part on co-operation between the United States and China.”

Forex Social Networks

In the past few years, social networks have become very big business indeed. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are now some of the most frequently used services on the web, with millions of users the world over logging in daily to connect with friends, colleagues, and business associates. Their massive popularity has led to the establishment of a plethora of more specialized, niche networks designed to connect people who engage in shared activities. The advantages are obvious – they allow people to make contact with other people who are active in their chosen field, wherever they are in the world, and share their experiences and expertise. This can be particularly valuable for investors, as having the right information within reach can make all the difference between making a profit and a loss.

Investors lose a trillion dollars in one day

EW YORK (CNNMoney) — Investors lost a trillion dollars in the in the stock market Monday as the debt crisis in Europe, lackluster economic news and a downgrade to the U.S. credit rating spark fears of a double-dip recession.

The Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index, the broadest index of U.S. stocks, lost 891.93 points, or just over 7%, Monday. This represents a paper loss for the day of approximately $1.0 trillion.