Naked I Trade, Naked I Live

No - I don't literally trade naked or live out my day running around the house naked!

I had a zen shift after getting zen slapped - I can't grasp, hold onto concepts anymore - I'm free.  That's what has made me a successful stock trader.  I no longer hide behind technical analysis or look for patterns, or expect the market to do what i think it should - I m no longer attached to the outcome.

 I just use my Stock Trading Riches system.

All I care about is the stock fluctuates - I then play the stock.  I follow it in and out - reset constantly.

That is how the rest of my life is now  - old patterns are shifting, changing.

I want to be reborn every time I trade or write.

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CFD Trading – What is it and Why is it Popular?

A CFD or Contract for Difference is an agreement between a “buyer” and a “seller”, where the seller agrees to pay the buyer the difference between the current price of a financial asset, and its price at a pre agreed point in the future. The CFD is a relatively new financial derivative that has many similarities to spread betting and many CFD Brokers offer both services. Spread betting still remains the most popular derivative instrument in the UK due to the tax free status is enjoys. When you agree to a Contract for Difference, you are required to pay the broker in question a fee and this will be taken in the form of a commission and/or spread.


Why is it popular?

There are a number of reasons why people choose to trade CFDs rather than purchasing ownership of financial assets:

Shorting. When you purchase a company share or any other financial asset, you are essentially betting on its price increasing in value. The problem is, if you think the price is going to go down, you cannot put money on this outcome happening. This is where CFDs come in. A Contract for Difference broker will allow you to take either side of the contract which allows you to bet on its value going up or down.

Leverage. When you trade CFDs you are likely to be doing so with leverage (margin). This means you can take out positions that are worth considerably more than the value of your bet which allows you to receive a much higher return if the market moves in your favour. Conversely, if your position turns out to be unsuccessful, you will end up losing at a higher factor.

Market choice. Large CFD providers tend to offer a vast selection of financial markets. You can take out positions on a whole host of company stock, commodities, energy prices, interest rates and much more.


Where can I trade CFDs?

There are an ever growing number of CFD brokers on the market and it is important to choose one that is competitive with its fees and financially secure. As we saw with the recent downfall of World Spreads, you do not want to trade with a company where you can end up losing your money. IG Markets is the largest derivatives provider and probably the best service provider too. If you are looking to sign up with a company, they might be worth a look.


This article was written by Greg Bassett, editor of the online trading guide www.blueIndex.co.uk. Check the site out today for a comparison of the top CFD brokers on the market.

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The Pitfalls of Currency Exchange that Tourists should Avoid

The foreign exchange market is for many, a confusing one. Wherever Tourists go, they find themselves being offered the very best rates, 0% commission and more often than not, people lose out as they are not educated on the topic. This short guide has been written to make sure you do not suffer the same fate.

The problem with the tourist currency market is that it is quite unregulated and companies can (within reason) say whatever they want to, to win business over their competitors. If you need to exchange currency at some point in the near future, follow the following five steps to make sure you are getting the best foreign exchange rates:

1. 0% Commission doesn’t mean you’re getting the currency for free. Too many people fall into the trap of thinking an advertised 0% commission means they are not paying for a foreign exchange service. The phrase “commission free” is a very powerful one which is why most bureaus use it but you will often find that companies advertising such, are as expensive, if not more so than the competition. Companies that do not charge commissions will tend to charge a very wide spread which is the difference between their buy and sell prices and is essentially the same thing as a commission. The only thing you need to do when comparing companies is look at the actual rate they are giving you.

2. Don’t get suckered by your bank. High street banks are one of the most expensive places you can go to exchange currency. They prey upon their customers and are able to get away with the rates they charge because so many people trust them. If you can, try to avoid using a bank as there are much cheaper options out there.

3. Plan your currency needs in advance. Rather than leaving it until the last minute, plan how much you are going to take and weigh up the various options you are faced with. By giving yourself time, you will be in a position to research rates and choose the best method for you.

4. Consider using a currency card. Currency cards are a relatively new innovation to the world of foreign exchange although they are becoming more and more popular all the time. You simply preload your card with currency and can use it in restaurants and shops, the same way you would use a credit or debit card. The great thing about them is that the rate you will receive is far superior to what bureaus offer and they are much more secure than carrying cash.

5. Compare Rates. If trouncing around various bank and bureaus isn’t for you then you might want to think about using a rate comparison website. There are many out there that will check the latest rates and tell you which company will give you the most foreign currency for your money.

This guide was written by Marcus Holland, Editor of the currency rate comparison site ExchangeCurrency.com.

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Instant Zen Article on Stock Trading As A Martial Art

On my Tao of Simplicity blog, I used the instant zen writing technique to bang out a quick article on Why Stock Trading is A Martial Art.

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Zen Simplicity in Stock Trading

I developed the Stock Trading Riches system when I became fascinated with the idea of a pure Zen trading system. It would use no news reports, indicators, charts, or parameters to distract you from Now. It would be able to handle any market condition.

I turned to jazz, improvisation, Taoism, simplicity, and minimalism for inspiration.

I ended up building a simple and minimalist trading system around an old, obscure, 19th century Wall Street formula called constant value investing.

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Author Interview on "SellingBooks.com"

Here is an interview I did for my book "Stock Trading Riches" on the book site "SellingBooks".

Here is a nugget from the interview:

What inspired you to write this book?

Years ago, I became passionate about stock trading, and spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on books, DVDs, seminars, etc. Those techniques never worked for me and I got frustrated. A light bulb went off when I read a book called “Zen in the Markets.” I decided to focus on the present moment and simplicity, and developed a successful trading system that almost feels like meditation. I love sharing it with others who are interested in trading and investing.

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