Trading Basics
46 articles in this category.
BeginnerForex Lot Sizes: Standard, Mini and Micro Lots Explained
A plain-English guide to standard, mini and micro lots in forex, with pip values, margin impact and how to match lot size to your account.
AdvancedTrader Tax Status Explained: How the IRS Classifies Active Traders
How the IRS separates traders from investors, what Section 475 unlocks, and the documentation that holds up under audit.
IntermediateEquity vs Balance in a Trading Account: What's the Real Difference
Your trading platform shows balance and equity side by side for a reason, and understanding how each figure is calculated, when they diverge, and why only one of them can trigger a margin call changes how you read your account window.
BeginnerWhat is swap in forex: how overnight rollover charges work
A plain-English guide to forex swaps: how rollover rates are calculated, when you pay or earn, triple-swap Wednesdays and how to compare rates between brokers.
BeginnerWhat is a requote in trading: why it happens and how to respond
A requote is the message your broker sends when the price you clicked is no longer available. Here is why it happens, how it affects your trade, and how to limit it.
BeginnerWhat Does Short Selling Mean: Definition, Mechanics, and Risks
A plain-English guide to short selling: how borrowing and selling a security works, where the risks sit, what the position really costs, and the alternatives you can use.
BeginnerWhat is an offshore broker: regulation, leverage, and account setup
A plain-English guide to offshore brokers: what they are, how their regulation differs from domestic firms, and the leverage, cost and tax trade-offs you accept when you open an account.
BeginnerThe FIFO Rule in Trading, Explained: What It Is and Who It Affects
FIFO closes your oldest open position first when you exit a trade in the same instrument. Here is how the rule works, where it applies, and how to plan around it.
BeginnerBest Trading Books of All Time: A Ranked Guide for Every Trader
A curated guide to the best trading books of all time: psychology, risk, technical analysis, algorithmic systems, crypto, taxes and how to pick the right one.
BeginnerIs MetaTrader 5 Available in the US? What Traders Need to Know
MetaTrader 5 is not banned in the US, but CFTC and NFA rules mean no major US-regulated forex broker offers it to retail clients. Here is what you can and cannot do.
BeginnerAlternatives to TradingView: Charting Platforms Compared for Retail Traders
A practical comparison of the main alternatives to TradingView across charting, execution, pricing, backtesting and mobile trading, so you can match a platform to how you actually work.
BeginnerAre Short-Term Investments Assets or Liabilities? A Plain-English Answer
A clear guide to how short-term investments sit on the balance sheet, why they count as current assets, and what that means for tax, treasury and real returns.
BeginnerSelf-Directed Brokerage Accounts: What They Are and How They Work
A plain-English guide to self-directed brokerage accounts: assets, fees, tax treatment, risk management, and the account-opening process.
BeginnerForex Trading Sessions: Times, Overlaps and How to Trade Them
A plain-English guide to the four forex trading sessions, when they overlap, and how liquidity and spreads change across the 24-hour cycle.
BeginnerDay Trading Discussion Boards: How to Use Forums Without Losing Money
A practical guide to day trading discussion boards: how they work, what to gain from them, and the risks, regulatory rules and psychological traps to watch for.
BeginnerWhat is liquidity in forex: how it affects your trades
A plain-English guide to forex liquidity: what it is, how it moves your spreads, when it dries up, and how to size and time trades around it.
BeginnerTypes of Traders: Timeframe, Strategy, and Frequency Explained
A practical guide to the main types of traders, from scalpers to position traders, with the capital, technology, tax, and regulatory factors that shape each one.
BeginnerWhat is liquidity in trading: spreads, slippage, and execution
A plain-English guide to liquidity in trading: how it moves your spreads, your slippage and your execution, with concrete numbers for forex, indices and equities.
BeginnerWhat Is a Ticker Symbol? How Stock Codes Work
A ticker symbol is the short code that identifies a stock on an exchange. Here is how to read them, find them, and avoid costly mix-ups when you trade.
BeginnerTrading Skills Development: How to Become a Better Trader
A practical guide to trading skills development: the hard skills, the soft skills, the psychological barriers, and a structured routine to build both.
BeginnerPre-Market Trading Hours: Schedule and Broker Rules
Pre-market trading hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET. Here is how the session works, how it compares with after-hours, and what your broker needs to offer.
BeginnerLeverage Trading Mistakes: How to Avoid Blowing Your Account
The retail trader's guide to leverage trading mistakes: regulatory caps, margin call mechanics, position sizing and recovery routines that actually work.
BeginnerMargin Call Explained: What Triggers It and How to Avoid It
A margin call is your broker's demand for more equity when leveraged losses eat into your account. Here is how it works, why it happens, and how to avoid one.
IntermediatePosition Sizing in Trading: How to Calculate Risk Per Trade
A practical guide to position sizing: the fixed fractional method, the Kelly Criterion, the 1-2% rule, and how to adjust size during drawdowns and volatility.
BeginnerWhat Is a Pip in Forex: Definition, Calculation and Trading Examples
A pip is the smallest standard price movement in a forex pair. This guide explains pip value, the yen exception, pipettes and how to size trades with pips.
BeginnerWhat Is Fundamental Analysis? How Economic Data Moves Currency Markets
Learn how fundamental analysis works in forex: how interest rates, inflation, jobs, and GDP data move currencies, and how to read the economic calendar.
BeginnerQuestions to Ask Before Opening a Trading Account
A structured checklist of key questions to ask any broker before you deposit -- covering regulation, fund safety, fees, execution, and red flags.
BeginnerHow Much Do Forex Traders Actually Make? A Realistic Income Breakdown
A realistic, data-grounded breakdown of forex trader income across four trader types, from part-time retail to institutional, including what account size actually means for your earnings.
BeginnerBeginner Trading Lessons: What 10 Years in the Markets Actually Taught Me
Ten years of trading, condensed into the lessons that actually cost something to learn. What beginners need to know before they fund a first account.
Beginner10 Forex Trading Myths That Are Costing You Money
From leverage to signal services, these 10 forex trading myths cost retail traders real money. Here's what the evidence actually shows.
BeginnerVerified vs Unverified Forex Broker Reviews: What the Difference Actually Means
What "verified" actually means on broker review platforms, how to spot fake review campaigns, and how to build a credibility framework that surfaces genuine signal before you open an account.
BeginnerWhich Forex Brokers Have the Most Complaints? What Regulatory Records Actually Show
Learn how to check forex broker complaint records across FCA, ASIC, NFA, and CySEC databases; and what those records actually tell you before you open an account.
Prop Firm Challenge vs Live Broker Account: 10 Key Differences Traders Need to Know
Compare prop firm challenges and live broker accounts across capital risk, drawdown rules, costs, profit splits, and trader fit. Ten clear differences explained.
Instant Funding vs Two-Step Challenge Prop Firms: Which Is Worth It?
Compare instant funding and two-step challenge prop firms on cost, drawdown rules, profit splits, and payout timelines to find the model that fits your trading situation.
Regulated vs Offshore Forex Brokers: An Honest Risk Assessment
Compare regulated and offshore forex brokers honestly. Understand real fund protections, risks, and how to choose safely.
Prop Firm vs Self-Funded Trading: Which Path Makes More Sense for You?
Compare prop firm and self-funded trading across capital, risk, rules, and profit potential - and find out which path fits your situation.
ECN vs Market Maker Broker: What the Difference Actually Costs You
ECN vs market maker broker: understand the real cost difference, conflict of interest risks, and which model suits your trading style
TradingView Tutorial: How to Use Technical and Fundamental Analysis Together
Learn how to use TradingView for both technical and fundamental analysis in one unified workflow. Setup, tools, and tips included.
Forex Broker Scam Warning Signs: How to Spot a Fake Before You Deposit
Learn the key forex broker scam warning signs before you deposit. Check regulation, spot red flags, and protect your funds with this verification guide.
MT4 vs MT5: Which Platform Should You Actually Use?
MT4 vs MT5: compare platforms by trading style, EA compatibility, and asset class to choose the right MetaTrader for you.
How to Calculate the Real Cost of a Forex Trade Across Different Brokers
Learn how to calculate the true cost of a forex trade, including spread, commission, and swap, to compare brokers accurately and trade smarter.
How to Use the MonkeyTrade Broker Comparison Tool to Find Your Ideal Broker
The MonkeyTrade broker comparison tool lets you filter, compare, and shortlist forex brokers based on your specific trading profile, all in one place. This guide walks you through exactly how to use it, what each data point means, and how to turn a screen full of broker information into a shortlist you can actually act
Is European Overregulation Killing the Region’s Stock Market?
European stock market regulation is reshaping how retail traders access EU markets. Here is what ESMA, MiFID II, and broker exits mean for you.
Market Orders vs Limit Orders: Which Should You Use?
Learn the key differences between market orders vs limit orders, when to use each, and how to avoid common mistakes that cost beginners real money
BeginnerWhat Is an Order in Trading? Types, Definitions, and Execution Explained
Learn what Is an order in trading, explore every major order type from market to stop-limit, and understand how execution works. A guide for beginners.
IntermediateScalping Trading Complete Guide: Strategies, Timeframes, and Indicators That Actually Work
Learn scalping trading with step-by-step strategies for 1-minute and 5-minute charts. Includes indicator setups, risk management rules, and timeframe guidance.