The Forex “Big Dogs” and Their Profitable Inside Secrets Revealed

Forex trading can seem like a world shrouded in mystery and intrigue. The so-called “big dogs” of the Forex world keep their profitable strategies and inside secrets closely guarded. As a retail trader, you likely feel locked out of this elite circle of successful professional traders.

But what if I told you the walls could come crumbling down? In this comprehensive guide, I’ll pull back the curtain and reveal the greatest Forex trading secrets used by the pros. With the right strategies and mindset, you too can trade like the “big dogs” of the industry.

Crafting a Rock-Solid Trading Psychology

Before we get into specific trading tactics, we need to cover the foundational pillar of any successful trading approach: psychology. The best technical strategies in the world won’t help if you lack emotional control and discipline.

Adopting the Mindset of a Market Analyst

The biggest mistake rookie retail traders make is thinking of trading as a get-rich-quick scheme. The pros realize Forex is a serious profession requiring market analysis skills and a stoic, detached mindset. Act like a professional analyst, not a gambler.

Embracing a Probabilistic Framework

The Forex market behaves in probabilities, not certainties. The professionals analyze all the scenarios, assign rough probability estimates, determine risk/reward ratios, and act based on edges. Don’t expect or need to be right every single time.

Checking Egos at the Door

Some of the biggest blowups happen because of ego and pride. The market doesn’t care about your opinions, desires, or bank account. Park your ego before analyzing the market. If your bias is leading your thinking, walk away and reset before making any trades.

Cutting Losses Quickly and Letting Winners Ride

Most retail traders have no issues closing out profitable trades. But they seem to fall in love with their losing positions, hoping the market will miraculously turn around. The pros view losses as tuition and close them out swiftly. On the flip side, they let their profitable trades run as long as technically justified.

Avoiding Revenge Trading

After a string of losses or a major blowup, many traders feel an urgent desire for “revenge.” They size up dramatically and make rash trades chasing wins. This type of loss-fueled trading is what busts out people’s accounts. Stick to your risk management rules after wins and losses.

Technical Analysis Like the Pros

Now that the proper trading psychology is in place, let’s move onto specific technical analysis techniques used by the “big dogs” of the Forex world.

Key Support and Resistance Levels

Professional traders constantly refer to longer-term key support and resistance levels marked by previous price action. They look to buy on support and sell on resistance. Retail traders must also mark these levels and anticipate bounces as the pros do.

Support and resistance levels represent key areas professional traders watch for potential bounces.

Moving Averages

A moving average crossover strategy offers a perfect way to enter with momentum in the direction of the larger trend. When a shorter-term moving average crosses above a longer-term one, go long. When the shorter average crosses below, exit longs or consider going short.

Fibonacci Retracements

These key ratios derived from the Fibonacci sequence allow traders to anticipate support and resistance levels where pullbacks and bounces are likely during trends. Common levels are the 23.6%, 38.2%, 50%, 61.8% and 78.6% retracements.

A Fibonacci retracement tool shows potential support and resistance levels.

Candlestick Patterns

These pictorial price charts originated in 18th century Japanese rice trading. Certain reversal and continuation patterns still offer excellent insight today. The hammer, shooting star, doji and engulfing patterns are examples.

Overbought/Oversold Indicators

Oscillators like RSI, Stochastics and CCI help identify overbought and oversold conditions signaling an impending reversal. Divergences between price and the oscillator can foreshadow huge moves.

Uncovering the Big Dogs’ Macro Tactics

We’ve covered key aspects of technical analysis. But professional traders additionally consider macro-level market conditions and fundamentals. Let’s discuss how the “big dogs” analyze larger macro forces.

Intermarket Correlations

Equity, bond, commodity and currency markets demonstrate correlated movements. Watch key markets like S&P 500 futures for clues on Forex moves. Rising stocks typically align with risk appetite and currency strength.

Geopolitics and News Events

Be an armchair political scientist. Geopolitical turmoil and elections sway currencies tied to the countries involved. Similarly, major news events like central bank shifts spur volatility. Stay plugged into developing economic and political news stories.

Fundamental Reports

Scrutinize scheduled economic data releases like GDP, jobs reports and inflation metrics for the major Forex countries. Join the email lists of central banks and statistical agencies for up-to-date calendars of major reports.

Sentiment and Positioning

Is positioning and sentiment overly bullish or bearish? Contrarian traders fade the consensus view. When everyone expects a currency to rise, pros seek short entries instead. Sentiment extremes form at major highs and lows.

Executing Trades Like the Professionals

Once your market analysis is complete, you need to implement trades with the skill of a pro poker player. Let’s discuss expert trade execution and management tactics.

Patience Over Impulsiveness

Newbie traders feel urgency to pull the trigger immediately upon completing their analysis, lest they “miss out” on the opportunity. Pros remain calm and wait patiently for markets to reach their pre-planned entry levels. Don’t rush trades.

Limit Orders Over Market Orders

Market orders get filled at whatever prevailing price the market offers, often leading to slippage. The pros place limit and stop-limit orders to enter and exit only at specified prices they deem acceptable based on previous analysis.

Scaling In and Out of Positions

Rather than entering or exiting an entire trade in one fell swoop, the experts scale in as price moves in their favor and scale out as momentum wanes. This allows for better trade location and risk management.

Recording Your Trades Down to Details

Take a page from the pilots’ pre-flight playbooks. Document every trade extensively including your original thesis, entry price, stop loss level, exit target and final P&L. Review your trading journal religiously and learn from winners and losers.

The Secrets to Consistency and Longevity

We’ve covered many strategies used by the industry’s best. But what enables them to trade profitably and consistently for years or decades? Let’s discuss the key tactics that lead to longevity.

Falling In Love With the Math, Not Trades

If emotions and opinions govern your trading, you may succeed temporarily but won’t make it long term. The pros objectively follow the mathematical edge, whether it feels good or not. Crunching the numbers yields rewards over time.

Ongoing Market Education

Complacency kills trading accounts. Markets continuously evolve and successful traders adapt. Even decades-long veterans read books, analyze price action and take courses daily to refine techniques and learn new tactics. Education never stops.

Accepting Smaller, Steady Returns

Swinging for homeruns feels thrilling but seldom sustains. Many smaller, simpler wins compound into substantial wealth over a career. Shirking excitement for consistency allows longevity. Leave the big egos to the twenty-somethings.

Funding a Comfortable Lifestyle

Don’t fall into the high-flying trader stereotype. Live reasonably off your winnings and maintain a long-term mindset. Withdraw steady income from trading to fund your desired lifestyle. The tortoise really does beat the hare here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much starting capital do I need to trade like the “big dogs”?

While pros trade with enormous sums, you can start implementing their strategies with just a few thousand dollars. Focus on perfecting your practice routine and psychology until producing consistent returns. As your account grows, gradually increase position sizes.

What markets should beginners trade?

Start by focusing on one or two highly liquid major currency pairs like EUR/USD and USD/JPY where pros mainly operate. Avoid exotic pairs and cryptocurrencies as a novice. Consider adding indices like S&P 500 once you prove consistency with currencies over months.

Is technical analysis alone sufficient?

While seasoned pros skillfully combine technicals with macro fundamentals and market dynamics, newbies benefit by initially specializing in technicals. Learn to expertly read price charts and indicators first. Later incorporate fundamental factors once your technicals are sound.

Should I use high leverage?

Avoid the temptation of extremely high leverage. While pros use leverage, they understand proper risk management. Max 10:1 leverage will provide newbies plenty of market exposure while limiting risk on a small account. Focus on growing through consistency, not dangerous leverage.

How do I control my emotions during trades?

Create a pre-trade checklist covering your entry rules, stop loss placement, desired risk/reward ratio and scenarios. Rigidly follow this checklist to remove emotions. Document your process extensively after trades as well. Review records regularly to improve discipline.

How much of my account can I risk per trade?

Limit risk to a maximum of 2% of capital per trade. This rule allows you to endure a 50 trade losing streak before depleting the account. The pros follow similar risk limits, even with 7 and 8 figure accounts. Painful losses are inevitable, so manage risk.

Conclusion

While retail traders may feel worlds away from the prestigious “big dogs,” implementing similar trading tactics and mindsets can set you on the path toward Forex mastery. Learn to combine technicals with macro fundamentals, control emotions, limit risk and act patiently on high-probability setups. With rigorous practice, the walls keeping you from the pros will gradually crumble away.