New Forex Trading Strategy

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Finding An Effective ETF Trading System

By Patrick Deaton

There are many websites that offer different automated trading systems. One can find software programs that offer alerts, automatic buys, and several other features. However, whether a person is going to learn an ETF trading system or depend on a website for it, there is some basic information that one needs to know. First, there is no one-size-fits-all system.

The system that will work for a new trader will depend on the type of trading that is going to be done, the sectors that will be traded, and the style of trading that a person enjoys. A different system will work more effectively with high risk Leveraged ETFs than with long term ETFs. So, if a trader is going to diversity among several sectors they may need to have different systems in place that will work with each sector.

ETF trading is affected by thousands and millions of tiny details that impact the market. There is no system that can effectively calculate all of the details and their impact on a particular day in the market. Therefore, a person will want to take the time to find a system that most closely meets their needs, then give it a tweak to make it their own. The systems that work for some people will not work for others. Besides the market the system must also meet the personality of the trader. A low risk system, even if it is effective, will not work for a person with a high risk personality.

The easiest system to start with that provides minimal risk and will get a traders feet wet is the EMA system. EMA stands for Exponential Moving Average. It involves following trends, and has a pretty decent risk rating. The ETFs most traded using this system are TLT, XLF, SMH, RTH, and a few others.

Using the system, a trader will go long when the fast EMA crosses above the slow EMA and the short when the reverse occurs. A trader has to leave or reverse positions on the day after the fast and slow EMAs cross. After deciding the days for the EMA (usually about 15), a person must stick to them.

Even this simple system will require that a person do the necessary research on each sector and follow their trends to make effective trades. It is important to set buy and sell limits so that one does get caught up in trading and lose more than they intended.

Setting up a risk allotment will also be important. Setting a percentage of the total capital one is going to risk on a position then moving when the threshold is reached will be beneficial. Adding to an account once it has crossed the threshold is not advantageous to gains. Setting the number of losing trades that one will have in a row and the percentage that will be cut back after that threshold is crossed will also avoid slipping into losses.

When choosing the ETF trading system that will be most effective it is important to gain as much knowledge as possible about the system. By using systems which have a history of consistent effectiveness a person will have a better opportunity to use and learn from the system as they get into more complex trading. Seeking the assistance of a professional who has expertise in ETF structure, trading, strategies, and methods will also be extremely helpful in developing a trading system that will be successful. - 23305

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