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Basic Forex Strategies

Technical analysis and fundamental analysis are the two basic areas of strategy to use when it comes to the FOREX market which is the exact same as in the equity markets. The difference however, is that the technical analysis is by far the most common strategy that is used by individual FOREX traders. Here is a brief overview of both forms of analysis and how they directly apply to forex trading:

Fundamental Analysis
If you think it's hard enough to value one company over another, you should try valuing a whole country instead. Fundamental analysis in the forex market is an extremely difficult one, and it's usually used only as a means to predict long-term trends. But it is important to mention that some traders do trade short term strictly on news releases. There are a lot of different indicators of the currency values that are released at many different times in the day. Here are a few of them to get you started:

• Non-farm Payrolls
• Purchasing Managers Index (PMI)
• Consumer Price Index (CPI)
• Retail Sales
• Durable Goods

You need to know that these reports are not the only factors that you have to watch out for either. There are also quite a few different meetings where you can get some quotes and commentary that can affect markets just as much as any report. These meetings are often brought out to discuss any interest rates, inflation, and other issues that have the ability to affect currency values.

Even changes in how things are worded when they are addressing certain issues such as the Federal Reserve chairman's comments on interest rates; can cause the market to get very volatile. Two important meetings that you have to watch out for are the Federal Open Market Committee and Humphrey Hawkins Hearings.

Just by reading the reports and examining the commentary, it can help FOREX fundamental analysts to get a better understanding of any and all long-term market trends and also to allow short-term traders to be able to profit from important happenings. If you do decide to follow a fundamental strategy, you will want to be sure to keep an economic calendar around you at all times so you know when these reports are released. Your broker may also be able to provide you with real-time access to this kind of information via the internet.

Technical Analysis
Technical analysts of the FOREX trading market analyze price trends. The only real difference between technical analysis in FOREX and technical analysis in equities is the general time frame that is involved in that FOREX markets are open 24 hours a day.

Because of this, some forms of technical analysis that factor in time have to be modified so that they can work directly with the 24 hour FOREX market. Some of the most common forms of technical analysis used in FOREX are:

• The Elliott Waves
• Fibonacci studies
• Parabolic SAR
• Pivot points

This is the point where you will actually choose your basic strategy. Basically it is best to simply choose whichever that you are the most comfortable with. Your broker can help you in making the right choice here.