Forex trading for the little guyWritten by dDawg
Since alot of these systems are dealing in Forex, we thought that we should provide a overview of what "Forex" is.The FX Market Structure The foreign exchange market is generic term for worldwide institutions that exist to exchange or trade currencies. Foreign exchange is often referred to as "forex" or "FX." The foreign exchange market is an 'over counter' (OTC) market, that means that there is no central exchange and clearing house where orders are matched. FX dealers and market makers around world are linked to each other around-the-clock via telephone, computer, and fax, creating one cohesive market. Since there is no centralized exchange, competition between market makers prohibits monopolistic pricing strategies. If one market maker attempts to drastically skew price, then traders simply have option to find another market maker. Moreover, spreads are closely watched to ensure market makers are not whimsically altering cost of trade. Many equity markets, on other hand, operate in a completely different fashion; New York Stock Exchange, for instance, is sole place where companies listed on NYSE can have their stocks traded. Centralized markets are operated by what are referred to as specialists; market makers, on other hand, is term used in reference to decentralized marketplaces. Since NYSE is a centralized market, a stock traded on NYSE can only have 1 bid-ask quote at all times. Decentralized markets, such as foreign exchange, can have multiple market makers - all of whom have right to quote different prices. Centralized Markets By their very nature, centralized markets tend to be monopolistic: with a single specialist controlling market, prices can easily be skewed to accommodate interests of specialist, not those of traders. If, for example, market is filled with sellers from whom specialists must buy from but no prospective buyers on other side, specialist will be forced to buy from sellers in be in a situation where they cannot sell a commodity that is being sold off and hence falling in value. In such a situation, specialist may simply widen spread, thereby increasing cost of trade and preventing additional participants from entering market. Or, specialists can simply drastically alter quotes they are offering, thus manipulating price to accommodate their own needs. Hierarchy of Participants: While foreign exchange market is decentralized, and hence employs multiple market makers rather than a single specialist, participants in FX market are organized into a hierarchy; those with superior credit access, volume transacted, and sophistication receives priority in market. At top of hierarchy is interbank market, which trades highest volume per day in relatively few, mostly G7 currencies. In interbank market, largest banks can deal with each other directly, via interbank brokers or through electronic brokering systems like EBS or Reuters. The interbank market is a credit-approved system where banks trade based solely on credit relationships they have established with one another. All banks can see rates everyone is dealing at, however, each bank must have a specific credit relationship with that bank in order to trade at rates being offered. Other institutions such as online FX market makers, hedge funds and corporations must trade FX through commercial banks. Many banks (small community banks, banks in emerging markets), corporations, and institutional investors do not have access to these rates because they have no established credit lines with big banks. This forces small participants to deal through just one bank for their foreign exchange needs, and often times this means much less competitive rates for participants further down participant hierarchy. Those receiving least competitive rates are customers by banks and exchange agencies. Recently technology has broken down barriers that used to stand between end-users of foreign exchange services and Interbank market. The online trading revolution opened its doors to retail clientele by connecting market makers and market participants in an efficient low cost manner. In essence online trading platform serve as gateway to liquid FX market. Average traders can now trade alongside biggest banks in world, with virtually similar pricing and execution. What used to be a game dominated and controlled by "big boys" is slowly becoming a level playing field where individuals can profit and take advantage of same opportunities as big banks. FX is no longer an old boys club, which means opportunity is abound for aspiring online currency traders.
| | Curb AppealWritten by Amie Walton
If you are in buying or selling market of real estate, you have most likely heard buzz word "curb appeal". What is it and why is it important? First, lets start with what it is. Curb appeal is quite simply rate of attractiveness your home projects to viewers from street. Why is this important? As definition states, it is ultimate first impression. You may have an immaculate, luxurious interior but without high curb appeal, few will bother to step inside to see it. This is even more important when selling on your own because you don't have a realtor to hype interior as worth a viewing. Is it worth trouble to invest, if you don't have good curb appeal? The payback value on exterior upgrades to your property range from 49% for landscaping improvements to 62% for exterior home improvements, such as painting. Next to kitchen and bath, these are highest payback ratios for home improvements and are well worth initial investment. In order of highest payback value, we have provided some tips to help you achieve higher curb appeal for your home: Exterior Painting Painting exterior may appear daunting and not worth effort, but research shows that it results in greatest return on time and money for exterior improvements. As a guideline, when choosing color, a long and low house looks most appealing with colours that emphasize vertical elements such as doors and shutters, while taller more narrow homes should contrast its horizontal elements likes fascias and gutters. Window boxes are a nice touch as well. If painting is out of questions, bare minimum improvements should be to: Wash full exterior to clear it from dirt and cobwebs. Renting a high pressure washer is best. Fix any loose, missing, or damaged shutters. Clean, paint, or replace mailbox, doorknobs, and street numbers. Windows Especially with a freshly painted or washed exterior, dirty windows will stand out like a sore thumb, and will date them past their true age. Tips for cleaning windows - Do not clean windows while they are in direct sunlight. Your cleaning solution will dry too fast. Using a 100% cotton cleaning cloth, dip cloth in cleaning solution and wring out excess before wiping window to loosen dirt. Using a squeegee, start each stroke in a dry spot, and squeegee in a pattern from top to bottom or side to side. If you are cleaning outside and inside of window, alternate pattern on each side (i.e. top to bottom on inside and side to side on outside). This will make it easier to identify which side any streaks are on. Keep your squeegee blade dry by wiping it with a cleaning cloth between strokes. Nicks in squeegee blade will cause streaks. Replace when needed. If you do not have a squeegee, newspaper will dry freshly washed windows, whereas papertowel or cotton will leave lint behind. Cool clear water is choice of solution by most professional window washers. For very dirty windows, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water. Landscaping
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