Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Forex 101: Managing Risk

A trader with a mediocre system and great money management skills will fare better than a trader who has a great system but no handle on his money.

Money management is indispensable to the Foreign Exchange trader.

Regardless of how strong a trading system you have, if you do not apply good money management controls, you will find yourself in trouble.

Dustin Pass, one of the foremost experts on Forex trading says, “An individual trading with proper money management skills will do better in a mediocre trading system than a person trading an excellent system who lacks money management skills.” In his ebook, Guide to Forex Live-on-the-News Trading, Pass lists five essential components to an effective money management program:

1. Currency selection

2. Lot size (how much margin will you use)

3. Stop placement (how much margin will you risk)

4. Entry level (when to enter a trade)

5. Limit (how much money will you make)

Currency Selection
Currency selection is important because it dictates how long your margin will be tied up in a particular trade. If you enter a trade on a slow moving currency, understand that your money will be tied up for a longer period, thereby increasing your risk. You may also hinder your ability to enter another trade since your capital is tied up in the first one.

Set Your Stop Placement
The amount of money you place on a trade is a vital factor, too. If you put too many of your eggs into one basket, you will decrease your ability to diversify properly. In order to choose your lot size, you must identify your maximum allowable risk and your maximum risk per trade. Once you have determined these factors, you will need to set your stop placement.

Stop placement is the act of predefining your level of loss tolerance on a given trade. The successful Forex trader will learn to cut his losses and move on. In the overall scheme, it will save you money…and increase your gains.

Entry Levels
Entry level is based on all of the above. Knowing how much you have to play with on a trade and where the nearest resistance level lies will inform you whether to enter or pass on a given trade. Often, the best trades are the ones you didn’t make!

Allocation
One simple principal must guide your limit level: the possible profit must at least be equal to the accepted risk. Allocation is key. Suppose your system is 75% accurate and you lose on the first 25 trades out of 100 total trades? You will need enough margin to hang in there for the next 75 trades.

Good Risk Management
As Dustin Pass so aptly noted, a trader with a mediocre system and great money management skills will fare better than a trader who has a great system but no handle on his money. There is no substitute for good risk management.

Stocks Technical Analysis - Estimating Price Trends Using Technical Analysis Of Stocks

For any normal person, trade is nothing more than the give and take of products or services within an agreed fixed price. for instance if you have bought a package of candy for $ 2, that is trade. You purchased a $ 45000 four-door sedan, then thats trade . You purchased a $ 4.5 million home, and that also is trade. once you have purchased the good or product from the seller for what ever price you have set the deal, that is trade and then the deal if finished.

But for traders on various deals, trade is a priority consideration. They have invested lots of money in an attempt to generate greater profits later. In exchange for goods and different titles with different operators from various deals, they hope that they could reach an enormous profit and pursue their careers until their trading accounts either increase or dehydration.

In addition, for the various governments of the nation , trade is a blessing which everyone should feel grateful . The country's economy is heavily dependent on how the international and local operations in the market perform . a trade is declared successful if only it can translate to an increase of GDP( gross domestic product), that's the indicators of a nations thriving economy. Successful businesses also reflect additional jobs, help the unemployed to have to work and earn for their families.

Trade can be a blessing for the various operators (people engaged in the negotiation of stocks) and the various companies which issue securities to the people to raise extra revenue. when the stock value goes up , the owners of that bulk will get profits when they trade them then.. On the other hand, stocks of companies that is owned by common people are also guaranteed to high profits since the value of stocks on the market are now greater than it was when they were first released. both sides benefit from the trading of securities in various exchanges.

However, if a business man or any trader reaches you to offer his stocks, it does not mean that the agreement is done. when you buy a house or expensive item, you need to first look into the market and then decide base on that information whether it would be cost effective to have an agreement or not this particular time. this is defined as technical analysis.

Technical analysis is in finance and investments is the study of an asset or safety (in this case, security is the product) price action (change of prices the quantity and open interest) in the market to predict profitable price movements. It generally uses different cards from both the past and present of price fluctuations in order to arrive at a price well-established trend. Such price trends will help you decide if could take advantage when you trade a particular stock at that time or not.

Stocks trading are still profitable, he understands the risks that can endanger your investment. By using technical analysis in the business of your actions, you could eliminate the risks in your investment.

How to Find Good Stocks That Will Survive 2008 Market Crash

Finding good stocks that are able to survive stock market crash is really tough. However, these simple financial ratios can help you to discover these tough stocks. The stocks are so tough, that will only grow stronger after the recession. Make sure you stick with it if you want to be rich from stock market.

Earnings per Employee

You can calculate the staff productivity by dividing the total earnings by the number of staffs. As different industries have different ratios, you should compare staffs' ability to bring value to the company in the same field. Compare yourself a bank with $12k profits per staff with another bank of $98k profits per staff, I bet you can notice the difference.

Good employees maintain the business operation, but great workers will sustain the business growth. And in stock investing, earnings growth does matter, especially during depression. Though times never last, but tough people do.

Return on Asset

ROA can be calculated by dividing the net profits by the number of assets that the company owns. It indicates how efficient the management is in turning the assets into profits. Compare with other stocks on how they do is something you should consider. Lower ROA can be attributed to not having enough expertise to manage the assets or not having the right assets in the first place.

During recession, companies with the lowest return on asset (ROA) are prone to be acquired by stronger companies. Unfortunately, not all low ROA stocks hold the value they want in the eye of larger companies. Therefore, better avoid this type of stocks.

Liquidity Ratio

Liquidity ratio measures if the stock is able to meet the short term obligations. It can be calculated as current or quick ratio. Either way, it is about the liquid asset over its current liabilities. This ratio is critical during recession as the interest rate will increase substantially that time. Although Federal Reserve maintains the interest rate recently, there is no guarantee it will be the same in 2008.

Recently, I noticed some good companies holding substantial liquid assets like never before. This indicates the stocks are preparing themselves of any possibilities of higher interest rates next year, or having enough cash to buy profitable asset at cheaper price in 2008.

Either there is market crash, recession or economic depression in 2008, make sure you get ready yourself. Market crash can be bad to some, but offer great opportunities to smart investors. So, make sure you are one of them.

Revenge of the Penny Stocks

There has been a lot of talk about how 2008 will turn out financially. The word recession has been thrown around a lot perhaps for shock value but maybe not. Lets pretend for a moment that these predictions of s recession are accurate. How would that effect the stock market? Well, the stock market will always be there even if the numbers change. However, in a recession, everything is relatively a penny stock. So even though penny stocks have received bad press they will always be there during good and bad times.

Recessions are times when all companies are struggling to make a profit right. Yet that does not stop people from investing. People are more desperate and then to exercise more faith in a company and hence willing to take more risk when economic times are tough. During times like these people can afford to be more picky and avoid the more risky stocks. Penny stocks are risky no matter how the economy is but are a great investment if done wisely.

If there was a recession then penny stocks would get a lot more attention since people would have less money to spend and would not be as picky. There would be less negative talk about a stock that would present more people than ever before with an opportunity to invest. People would see it as more of an opportunity than a gamble. You see its all about perspective and approach. Anybody can lose money doing anything if done incorrectly. Penny stocks can make you a lot of money if invested in correctly.

All the people who talk bad about penny stocks are either the ones who have got burned investing in them or the ones who know nothing at all about them except what others have told them. It makes for interesting stories but the truth is that the gains of penny stocks will kick butt against any other stock type. Other stocks can make great gains but definitely not as quickly as penny stocks.

So will 2008 be a recession? I do not think so. Will it be a good year to invest in penny stocks? Well of course it will be. Just invest cautiously. Penny stocks have never represented a bad investment just one that should be approached with caution. Its easy to take the advice of others without really knowing the truth but including penny stocks as a part of your portfolio is a smart move any day of the week.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Tips For A Smooth And Successful Garage Sale

Do you find yourself lost within the clutter of your home? Or do you always feel that a few extra bucks could help you make ends meet? Then why not have a garage sale, after all one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

You don't have to have a lot of stuff to start selling. You could ask for handouts from neighbors, family, or friends, something they think they can part with, this way combined with your things you are sure to provide your customers with a variety of purchasable items.

When you think you have all the things you need to get started, then you should begin planning, starting with the sale date. It would be most effective to schedule the sale on a weekend far from any holiday or any special day within your community. You should probably also anticipate the weather for that day so that you can adjust if the weather is uncooperative. Regarding the time, it would be best to hold it in the morning.

The next step is to make the event official by having it announced in the most popular periodical in your area, or by putting up posters, or both. If possible, maybe you could also have a local radio station mention the affair. Publicize the event on bulletin boards.

Buy several stickers, post-its, and different colored markers, and use them before the day of your sale. This would help you organize your products. You may need to borrow some tables and racks so that you can better display your merchandise. Also, prepare smaller bills and coins for change. If you have a container with several compartments then you should place the money there, keeping in mind that this should be something you could carry around. Clean and remove some of the stuff from the garage if you are having the sale there and mark items in the garage that you are not planning to sell. Also make sure that the garage is well lit on the sale date. Place electrical equipment that are for sale near an electrical outlet or set up an extension cord. Check signage ordinances in your neighborhood and set some of them up on nearby street corners, make them noticeable with big and bold letters, and eye-catching colors.

Put your goods in order one or two hours before you open. Lastly, don't be afraid to bargain with customers. You are expected to put a reasonable price on your stuff but that doesn't mean that you should submit to the buyer, unless of course if you really want to get rid of that object.

Xbox 360 Advances Beyond Mere Child's Play

Video gaming is a very big deal the world over. Whether games are played on computers, over consoles, via handheld devices or even over telephones, video games are taken seriously by those who love them. Offering challenges for the mind, hands and heart, games provide an escape from the everyday world and they simply can be a whole lot of fun. Microsoft's Xbox 360 may have launched with some bugs, but the console's popularity is incredible.

Next-gen consoles for gaming are different from their predecessors simply due to the hardware choices they offer. The 360, for example, offers some of the best graphic capabilities gamers have ever seen. Designed for fast-paced, beautiful play, this machine is more than just a gaming box. The next-gen features on the 360 include a hard drive in many of the consoles, online capability, information storage and more. They are meant to be used for gaming and a whole host of other things as well.

Thanks to some smart partnering, Microsoft's 360 can not only handle game play, but also television and movie downloads. The console easily doubles for an extra DVD player, has a remote and more. Pretty much the only thing the 360 doesn't do is windows. But, given time, Microsoft may come up with a way to make that possible as well.

The popularity of the next-gen machines is simply due to their superior graphic and playability features. Smooth and responsive, the machines are some of the best platforms going for game play.

Hot game types for the Xbox 360 include:

Sports games: A longstanding favorite of gamers, these include boxing, racing, football, hockey and more. Through 360 games, players can take on the persona of their favorite sports star or even head up and entire team. There's also the possibility of playing with or against friends in remote locations through Xbox's online service. This just adds to the fun.

Role playing games: These kinds of titles allow a player to create a new persona for themselves online or off. Typically heroes, players can get online and pal around with buddies from different parts of the country or the world as they take on challenges and bad guys together. Or, with a lot of titles, they have the option of going it alone, offline, as well.

Strategy: Ever wonder what it was like to be on a World War I battlefield. Gamers can get a safe taste of combat through these games. Or, if war games are to a player's liking, there are plenty of other strategy games, including chess, puzzle games and more.

First-person shooters: These are games that enable a player to become the hero with the gun. Titles like Doom and Quake have made this genre a favorite among players of all ages. In these games, players are expected to move through mazes, battlefields and what not, shooting their way to victory while solving problems along the way.

The Xbox 360 was the first next-gen console on the market. Backed by the biggest software and game making company going, the machine is expected to only get better over time.

Different Categories of Computer Games

By : Sandra Stammberger
Computer games can be classified generally into PC games and online PC games; there are also downloadable versions of these games. PC games are those that are installed and played in your computer through the CDs that holds the software. There are a lot of websites that offer you with the downloadable version of the PC games.

The games can be classified according to its licenses. Several the games are free of charge and they can be downloaded on the Internet. Other kinds of pc games are do not charge for downloads but the kind of games are shareware. Shareware games have restrictions, you cannot use the whole game features and it is for a limited time only.

Online PC games are those that are played online. The player who is playing the online games must have a connection to the Internet. There are a lot of websites gives you online PC games. One of the most known online PC games downloading site is Yahoo Games. On others, you need to sign up first and them for others you have to pay per game you played.

PC Games are those that involve a CD installation before you can play. Software is bought by the user. Other PC games need the CD inserted in the drive while playing. Tomb raider, car rally and other races are examples of PC games with CD installation.

Lots of downloadable sites can be found on search engines. Nearly all the no cost game downloads are going to acquire a little space in your PC. The majority of the games can be played without any supplementary hardware. Having the latest PC configuration which has already stored software doesn't require extra software to be installed.

A number of the online games needs plug-ins to run. Plug-in is supplementary software that is necessary to make the game run. You will be supplied with the proper links to download the plug-ins. Make sure your PC matches the system requirements for the computer games that is downloaded or installed in your system and install before you start the game.

Online PC Games are games played on the Internet. The development of the internet has increased the spreading out of online gaming, this caused huge demands for fast internet connections from online games and gamers, online PC games helped us achieve the fast internet connection we are experiencing right now.

Online PC games more often or not, has an online community, which creates a better gaming environment for the users. The Internet serves as the means for a lot of games, varying from plain text base games, to games with high quality graphics.

Lately, Online First Person Shooter Games from LAN are on the Internet now. Now more players can interact to familiarize with the community and the game. Head to head gaming is also made possible. The development of Flash and Java gave rise to browser games. According to PC Gaming world there are over 80 gazillion game downloads out there. These games are easy to play and not as complex matched up to the First Person Shooters and the multiplayer option is limited. Usually they are played with the "single player" option.

How Addictive Is World Of Warcraft

By : Hunter Crowell
World of Warcraft has many strengths as a game, and one of its most famous qualities is how addictive it is. It is one of the most enthralling games around - there's an element to it that just grips you and makes it difficult to stop playing. As a result, the game is a truly fascinating experience, and many people have become hooked on the fantasy world of Azeroth.

People tend to play World of Warcraft for long periods of time. The game has an internal clock and through that you can calculate how long you have been playing it for, in hours and days. A typical player of online games might spend around 24 hours per week online. World of Warcraft is so compelling that some people play 24 hours in one session. Players become so mesmerised with the game that they just keep going, and can spend an entire day inside its world.

World of Warcraft is an online multiplayer game, a genre that tends to be very addictive by nature. One of the reasons why this particular game is so addictive is because it's popular. Sometimes multiplayer games peter out because not enough people are playing them, and they need many people in their world to be interesting.
World of Warcraft however has been continually popular since its launch. This has ensured that it is as busy as is needed and is full of opportunities for interaction.

World of Warcraft is essentially endless. Even though the game has a final level, the experience doesn't end once you've reached it and completed it. There are other challenges to do. The game's developers, Blizzard, are constantly updating the game and adding new material and content. This ensures that its world is forever changing and expanding. The constant stream of new players also keeps the game community varied, as there are always new characters to meet.

The key point about World of Warcraft is that it is not simply a game; it is an alternative world. It is a recreation of life, and it has built its reality in as much depth and detail as possible. World of Warcraft functions as an alternative to the real world and is one of the most involving games yet designed. Players use it to get away from reality and stress and to do something very different for a while. It is a hugely entertaining title of course, with much to offer to gamers.

The world of the game still exists and grows even when you are not playing it. One of the game's features actively encourages players to take a break every now and again. World of Warcraft features an element called the rested state, a reward system for more casual players. When players have their characters stay in an inn or a city, in other words when they aren't playing the game, they earn certain bonuses and advantages. This can help with their progress when they do return to it.

World of Warcraft also includes internal controls that can limit how long a person plays it. The game features special parental controls that allow adults to determine how much their children may use it. They can set up a play schedule and restrict their children's access solely to evenings or the weekend. It is also possible to set it to force a player to take a break every hour or so. This ensures that people use the game sensibly and within reason.

Overall, World of Warcraft is a terrific game and it is easy to become engrossed in it. The fact that it is so engaging just illustrates what a superlative game it is. It is very absorbing and diverting and is fine entertainment all round.

Author Resource:- Hunter Crowell is a researcher and creator of " target="_blank">http://www.world-of-warcraft-gold.com"> Buy World of Warcraft Gold. A site showing players the best place to buy gold and more.

Eye-popping Properties of HDTV

By : Gregg Hall
HDTV or high definition television is the cutting-edge technology in home theater systems. Movie enthusiasts praise the high definition televisions for its clearer picture, better sound, progressive scanning and a wider viewing screen. As the trend towards replacing traditional analog televisions with the HDTV, consumers are starting to notice the eye-popping properties of HDTV.

High definition television is a revolutionary new technology that brings the viewer the clearest, brightest picture possible. The picture on the television can be considered life-like and real. The colors displayed using the digital technology and wide screen pictures, are bright and crisp. Surround sound further enhances the viewer's experience.

The standard high definition television works by using a digital broadcast signal that is able to deliver a wide-screen, high-resolution picture with six channels of digital sound. The difference between HDTV and conventional television broadcast is that the high definition screen is much wider. This allows the broadcast or DVD movies to be viewed as they would in a movie theater. No parts of the screen either at the top or bottom are obstructed or cut off.

HDTV provides a wider screen than conventional TV sets. The wide-screen format allows a more intense viewing experience and is able to take full advantage of the field of vision. With the prices of HDTV going down, smaller sets are hitting the market making consumers more likely to purchase HDTV.

Another great benefit of using high definition television is that HDTV has over twice the sharpness and clarity of analog TV broadcasts. The color resolution for HDTV sets is far superior. For consumers who have already made the switch to HDTV, they feel this is the biggest advantage of high definition.

The lack of imperfections in the television screen often seen on traditional television is another reason why many prefer high definition to analog. With HDTV, problems such as snow caused from a weak signal, double images from ghosting or multi-path and picture sparkles from impulse noise are a thing of the past. These problems often seen on a conventional television broadcast just do not occur on HDTV.

Screen resolution from a high definition TV broadcast is almost five times as sharp as conventional broadcasts. High definition has double the lines of resolution compared to a traditional analog TV set. While a traditional analog set can only display 525 lines of resolution, HDTV technology takes this one step farther. HDTV broadcasts can display 1080 horizontal lines of resolution. This makes a huge difference in the picture clarity and quality. Often with big screen analog broadcasts, the picture is severely degraded because of the resolution lines.

When looking into purchasing a high definition television and broadcast provider, it is important to research the products. HDTV comes in several sizes and varieties. Consumers can purchase plasma, LCD (liquid crystal display), DLP (digital light processing) or LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon), which are all types of monitors. There are also projection displays to consider. They also come in LCD, DLP, and LCOS. Many viewers prefer the wall display monitor that either plasma or LCD offers. But, these are usually the most expensive of the high definition sets, especially the ones that are sized between 40 to 70 inches. Lower on the cost spectrum, but equally good, are the LCD displays that are sized at 42 inches and under.

Also, consider the provider. High definition broadcasting and digital should not be confused. They are not the same thing. There are many cable and satellite companies that simply convert standard analog broadcasts to digital to improve reception and to provide additional services. These are not true high definition broadcasts. Also, the picture quality and resolution will not be the same as that of HDTV. The picture format will not be wide-screen. Most consumers that subscribe to cable today are getting a digital broadcast.

To keep up with the popularity of high definition, most broadcast channels now broadcast in both analog and high definition at the same time. There are currently about forty networks in the United States that now broadcast in both. These include HBO, Showtime, ESPN and the Discovery Channel. The number of networks utilizing high definition broadcast is expected to grow as the price of HDTV goes down. More consumers are asking for high definition channels for their television viewing.

Why Grand Theft Auto 4 Is The Biggest Video Game Of 2008

By : Chris Marshall
Grand Theft Auto 4 is set to be released next week and game analysts are suggesting that it is not only the biggest release of the year but also the game that could really push on the sales of the next generation consoles. Unless the game is a disappointment which with all the buzz and early information seems unlikely it could potentially be the one of the biggest next generation games yet easily. Rarely before have stores stopped taking pre-orders as early as two weeks ago because they had fully allocated all of their stock.

The Grand Theft Auto series has always been popular and also very controversial. The first game encountered all kinds of problems with the BBFC and all the games since have also suffered from problems with getting a rating for the game. The games however are always stylish and usually good fun.

Rockstar have released Grand Theft Auto 1 and 2 for free on the website linked below so users can relieve the original Grand Theft Auto experience before diving into the new GTA (if you can get a copy).

Grand Theft Auto as a series has sold 70million copies of the game since 1997 which places it in the top 5 selling video games of all time. This means that the publicity may not be as intense as some of the newer Wii products because Rockstar know that this game will sell and gain hype just via the name alone.

The game has been set back various times and information was scarce about the latest installment for a while but now videos and trailers can be seen everywhere and it is save to say that early reviews are suggesting this game will be massive and by far the best installment yet with it being the first one to feature online facilities.

Some of the best features have been the voice acting such as Ray Liotta and Samuel L Jackson and whilst details are still scarce about the acting it is known that comedian Ricky Gervais will play a part in the game at a comedian in one of the clubs your character can visit. This time round you don't play a 70s character or Hood Gangsta but a middle eastern character in once again Liberty City.

It has certainly created a lot of buzz for Rockstar and got video game fans excited and we shall see next week if the hype is justified.

The game is released next week and we shall have a full review once it is out.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Choosing The Right Online Brokerage Firm

Currency trading is one of the more interesting investments that a small (personal) investor can make at this point in time; the basic principle, like all trading positions, is to buy low and sell high, and currency trading is all about playing the spread in thousandths of a cent, between the exchange rates at different parts of the day. There are a lot of technical details muddying the water, but ultimately, your aim is to scope out a currency exchange rate, buy at one point in time, and sell at another.

A typical margin in a foreign exchange rate is expressed in hundredths of a penny. For example, a forex trade that we committed recently was to buy Euros at $1.41425, and sold them at $1.41200. Yes, we bought and sold Euros trying to make a profit of three quarters of a US cent on the transaction. Our transaction was run through an online brokerage account, and we would like to talk a bit about what things to look for in a Forex brokerage firm.

First and foremost, when you set up an account, you are paying for a service. Your service relationship is set with expectations. You need to know what to expect and when. Therefore, how quickly and easily you can get ahold of your representative is important.

Look for brokerages that offer personalized service. You should be able to reach your representative quickly and easily when the market turns volatile. You should have an established relationship with one or two representatives at the firm, not be routed to a call center and getting the next available operator.

Foreign exchange trading moves quickly if you are going into a day-trading strategy. For small investors, we do not actually recommend a day-trading run, because while the profits are higher in a day-trading strategy, the risks are as well, and day-trading requires almost constant access to your buy-sell window.

Now, you can get accounts with stop-loss and profit-now techniques, where if a trade goes beyond certain parameters, you are cashed out on your bet as quickly as is possible, but the speed of the transaction is what is important in day trading. For longer term positional trading, the risks are much less, but you are also not committed to watching numbers on a screen for 10 hours a day. Whichever strategy you take, your forex broker should be aware of it, and should structure their buy and sell advice for it.

Your online trading account is going to cost you fees per transaction or a monthly access fee. Forex brokerages make their bread and butter off of those fees. Do not begrudge your broker the money they use to make a living off of but do not be blindly trusting either. Your broker is going to suggest trades that make them money as well as you, and you need to be aware of the fee structure and what they are getting out of each piece of advice before signing up with the account. This ties into the above advice of get a broker who supports your strategy.

Online trading is predominantly a numbers game, it is all numbers. It is also a game of trend spotting, whether drilled down (watching the London close, or the Tokyo open), or sitting long term (watching bank exchange rates and the news). Whatever the trade margin is, you will want to make sure that your information is timely and fast, and that your transactions are timely and fast; if you have to make a call (or send an instant message), you are competing with all the other clients your broker has to get your trade in under the wire.

The alternative is automated trading programs. Automated trading programs are an essential tool for day trading and less so for position trading, but the key here is how quickly you get updates on your information (transparency) and how quickly you can make changes to your position (velocity).

Lastly, you should look at details like minimum balance required in the account, and how much access you have to your funds. As in all investing, read the fine print, and be aware of where the person selling you the service makes their money so you can make an informed decision. Online brokerages are trying to make a win-win situation, but for that to happen, you need to be well informed.

A Simple Introduction to Forex Trading

By : Ian Armstrong
Short for Foreign (currency) Exchange, Forex is the world's biggest market for trading in currencies. As much as 2 trillion US dollars worth of currency are traded on the Forex on a daily basis. Compare this with the approximately 25 million US dollars traded on the NYSE and you'll get the picture - Forex is huge.

So what is Forex all about? Simply put, Forex entails buying one currency, let's say Turkish Lira, and selling another, say US Dollars. In Forex, currencies are always traded and quoted in pairs. The exchange is made through a broker.

Just like the stock market where you are investing in a company, with Forex you are in a way investing in a country. If your company is a success, the value of your stock goes up. Much the same principle is at work in Forex. If the economy of the country whose currency you are trading is robust, the value of that currency will also go up - and you can then sell it for a profit.

Unlike stock markets, there is no "trading pit" in the world of Forex. Forex operates through the internet and other electronic communications and runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

It has only been in the last several years that the Forex has been open to the average person to invest in. The Forex market itself has been around since 1971, but for most of its history only large companies and a few very wealthy individuals possessed the resources to be able to trade in foreign currency. Today however, anyone with a high speed internet connection and a small initial investment (as low as 50 US dollars) can get in on the Forex market.

The seven most commonly traded currencies on the Forex market are U.S. Dollars (USD), Euros (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), UK Pounds (GBP), Swiss Francs (CHF), Canadian Dollars (CAD) and Australian Dollars (AUD). Foreign currencies are identified by means of a three letter code. The first two letters stand for the country, while the last letter identifies the nation in question's currency.

For example:-
USD: U.S. = United States, D = Dollars.
GBP: GB = United Kingdom (Great Britain), P = Pounds.

At any given time, business is going on somewhere in the world. Global business never sleeps, and neither does Forex. This can be beneficial to you - you can trade on the Forex market any time that is convenient to you.

There are seven currencies on the Forex which are called Major Currencies, due to their being the most heavily traded currencies on the market. The biggest four are, in order: U.S. Dollars (USD), Euros (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), and UK Pounds (GBP). The remaining three are Swiss Francs (CHF), Canadian Dollars (CAD) and Australian Dollars (AUD).

Advantages Of Forex Trading

There are a few advantages which the Forex trader enjoys which those who trade in the stock market do not.

1.Unlike with stock brokers, the investor does not pay commissions, per se, to the broker. Instead, the dealers in Forex trading receive part of the "spread" (that is to say, the difference) between the buying and selling price of currency. This is generally a very small amount per trade; a fraction of a percent.

2.You can trade on the Forex market any time which is convenient for you, unlike the stock market - it is closed only on weekends, from 5pm Eastern time on Fridays to 12AM on Mondays.

3.As opposed to the stock market, it is nearly impossible for companies or individual investors to manipulate the Forex market. The volume of Forex trading each and every day prevents any one actor from having undue influence. We all know of instances of the stock market being artificially influenced by unscrupulous persons and companies however.

4.Forex trading can be done with borrowed capital, meaning that you need not have hundreds of thousands in liquid assets to trade currency in large numbers. This concept is called Margin Trading. A small amount of your own capital (less than 5 percent) can be used to leverage a large chunk of borrowed assets, which may then be invested. Forex is traded in what is called lots, the normal size of a lot being 100,000 US dollars. Depending on the dealer with whom you deal you may be able to trade is smaller amounts, these are known as mini-lots or micro-lots.

The 7 Most Common Forex Trading Mistakes

By : James Theiss
When trading currencies online, there seems to be no end to the mistakes a beginning forex trader can make. Beginning traders are always the most susceptible, but experienced traders can often revert back into bad practices as well. Here are some of the most common trading mistakes listed in no particular order, and how to avoid them.

Predicting instead of reacting. Otherwise known as overconfidence. This usually happens after a winning trade or two. The trader starts to think that if he can enter a trade sooner, he will get more pips. He begins to believe he can pick the top or bottom before the market reveals it to him. So instead of reacting to what the market is telling him, he starts to predict what the market will do. He enters a trade and the market continues its move, which is against him. Now, does he admit he was wrong and close his position, or does he add to it?

Adding to losing positions. Here is an extension of predicting instead of reacting. Look, you just entered a trade and the market is going against your position. The market is telling you, you are wrong. Now is the time to close your position, not add to it. If you add to your losing position, you are making at least two incorrect decisions. First, you are predicting the market will turn around. Second, you are hoping the market will prove you right because you are unable to admit you made a losing trade. Losing trades are a fact of life in the forex market. You weren't wrong, simply, your edge didn't play in your favor on this trade. Close your losing position and move onto the next trade.

Insufficient capitalization. Forex trading is already highly leveraged. Insufficient capitalization just magnifies the potential problems you can face. If you read about the famous and big name traders, they never use more than 1% - 2% of their trading capital on a position. Get out a calculator and let's see... 1% of $10,000 is $100. So as a position trader who might have a stop-loss order of 100 pips, you can only trade one mini lot of one currency pair for each $10,000 in your trading account. That is, if you want to trade like the pros. Do you have $10,000 in your account? Why do forex dealers boldly advertise you can start trading with only $250 then? Because they are in business to make money, and if they can convince you to commit trading errors, they stand a much better chance that they will soon have your money.

Overtrading. A close cousin of insufficient capitalization. Knowing that very few currency traders trade with sufficient capital in the first place, they further compound the potential problems by trading too actively and in too many currency pairs. Spreading themselves too thin you might say. Potential problems include loosing focus and margin calls. Getting a margin call is a very irresponsible position for a forex trader to be in and is a direct result of overtrading, over leveraging, and insufficient capitalization. This is as close to the perfect recipe for failure as you can get.

Not using stop-loss orders. There are very few times when not using stop-loss orders is the correct action to take. Large traders with several hundred or more lots don't want to advertise where their stops are placed is one. The other might be scalpers whose stop is only 10-15 pips away. By the time they figure the math and enter it in the system, the price might already be there or even past it. And some forex dealing stations won't let you place stops closer than 15 pips anyway, especially in fast moving situations. Other than those times, you need to put stop-loss orders in on every position. It is in your own best interest to protect yourself. I know, some people whine that their stops are always being run by the dealer. A whole article could be written on stop-loss order management, if not a complete chapter in a book. Let's just say for now, don't put them where everybody else does, and don't put them too close.

Trading as a hobby. Golf is a hobby and it costs you money to play. Horseback riding is a hobby and it costs you money as well. The point is hobbies cost money, business makes money. You need to treat your forex trading as a business if you ever hope to make money on a consistent basis. That means keeping records, keeping a trading journal, and have a written business plan. You wouldn't invest money into a start up business without first seeing a business plan, so why would you invest money into your own trading account without the same thoughtful consideration.

Not having a trading plan. This is one of those catch-all mistakes. If you have a written trading plan, and follow it, you will already have identified and hopefully eliminated all of the above mistakes. If you don't have a written trading plan, you are almost assuredly making some, if not all of the above mistakes. Maybe not all at once, but even occasional mistakes add up quickly. Do yourself a favor and don't put on another trade until you think through and write down the response for all of the above mistakes and any others you can identify, as well as entry and exit rules. Then follow it.

These are just some of the many mistakes you can make as a forex trader. You need to take responsibility for yourself and your money and act in your own best interest. The currency markets are a zero sum game and the many players are out to make a profit. Don't let them profit with your money. Do your best to eliminate the above mistakes, and you will go a long way to ensuring you are the one who profits in the forex market.

Author Resource:- James is a successful online currency trader and also runs the popular website http://www.todayscurrencytrading.com. Go there now and you can sign up for his FREE, "Currency Trade of the Week".

Smart Energy Tips

It has become a very common reality for the majority of household owners to spend huge amounts of money on monthly utilities. Most of the time, the most expensive things we all have to pay for are related to heating and cooling the house, but, however, the use of home appliances can also make a difference in the overall cost of living for a common family.

In order to prevent spending unnecessary amounts of money, for a quality of life that we can obtain cheaper, it is always good to keep in mind a series of simple energy saving techniques, which eventually are going to make a consistent difference in the overall utility cost. These techniques or tips can be easily put into practice and moreover, they can be adapted to the necessities of each household, in order to maximize the percentage of energy saved.

Thus, the living room, for example, can be heated during the warm season by simply keeping the shades on the south-facing windows open during the day and closed during the night, instead of using artificial form of heating. In addition, to avoid undesired chilling of the room, make sure the fireplace damper is closed, when the fire is not burning. Moreover, if you never use your fireplace, it is recommended to plug and seal the chimney flue.

As far as the kitchen energy tips go, it is advisable to keep the preheating time of the oven to a minimum and try to open the oven door as few times as possible, because you actually loose heat with every single opening. When cooking, make sure you cover the pots and pans with lids, so that you keep the temperature high and reduce cooking time.

Thinking about minor details, such as switching off the light when you go out of a room and saving water when you brush your teeth, will eventually result into an important difference, as far as the amount of money you have to spend on your utilities bills.

The Pros and Cons In The Work Of A Cultivator

A cultivator is a person who is involved in the cultivation and supervision of a land, whether he may own the land or not.

They play a vital role to the development of agriculture all throughout the world. Since agriculture is one of the most important of all existing industries, these cultivators provide the world with the most basic necessity which is food.

If these all of the world's cultivators decided to stop plowing their crop, majority of the world's population would be stuck of panic and a world-wide hunger would occur. In the end, their country and the world depends mostly upon their services.

There are many benefits and disadvantages on working as a cultivator.

Since the beginning of time, the cultivator does their own tilling of the soil, planting and after a while, harvesting of the crops.

Many of the traditional cultivators still use this process. But, because of recent scientific discoveries on agriculture, studies on soil, high-tech machinery, and modern fertilizers, the cultivators' job becomes more stress-free.

Because of these up to date discoveries, further learning on machineries and knowledge on their soil and fertilizers should be taken into consideration for all cultivators. They have to know how to take care of the machines to be able to go to work instantly.

The efforts of a cultivator may be very disappointing when the forces of nature are beyond the cultivators' control. Because agriculture depends on the weather conditions, extreme rain, sunshine, or frost may cause the entire crops of the farmer to get ruined. The total year-round work wasted with a few days of weather calamity.

Other factors like plant diseases and insect pests are another factor for the downfall of a cultivators' work. These factors could be dealt with the advice of experts from the government which updates these cultivators on what to do.

For the cultivator to start his own farm, a considerable amount of money is needed for the business capital. Not anybody could afford buying a large area to be planted on, so the farmers resort to taking care of other landlord's farm.

Plus, the market of the products is unstable depending on the location of your farm. If the transportation costs exceed the returns he gets from his harvest, the work is not worth it.

A farmer is independent in his work. The cultivators' boss is his own. He has the control of his daily routine, whether he prefers heavy or light work for the day. He will decide the modernization of his own land if it needs innovations.

He could try anything he likes on his farm. If he has studied on a modern variety of tomatoes, he could experiment on his own and grab success or fall on his own mistake. His farm is always a work on progress.

The best advantage of all cultivators is his work cannot be studied on books and research alone. The more experience one farmer has on the field, the knowledgeable he becomes on the end product of his crop.

But, it wouldn't harm the farmer to study about new technologies that could help raise his profession into a new level. This would make his job a lot easier and a better opportunity for market.

Many professions and trades are available in the competitive working force. But one trade stands out, which is agriculture, because nothing can replace food than food itself. The cultivator, who produces the world's food, is a worker whom the world couldn't manage without.

Author Resource:- James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of
CultivatorBase.com and writes expert
articles about cultivator.

Here Comes The Sun!

By : India Cooper
Life is easy. On chilly days we turn up the heating, boil the kettle and settle in front of the TV, feeling nice and cosy. But at the back of our minds we all know that our children and grandchildren may end up paying the price for our comforts. We need to start implementing alternative sources of energy in our homes, and we need to start now.

For the last 100 years or so we have been relying on fossil fuels to power our lifestyles, but this is now recognised as damaging to the environment and anyway, resources are limited. If we want to carry on enjoying our creature comforts then renewable energy is the way to do it.

Renewable energy is continually replenished by nature. Sources such as the sun, wind, water and thermal (underground) heat are harnessed rather than used up. The sun's energy can be converted using solar panels that can be placed on buildings or on posts, facing the sun.

The good news is they can be retro fitted onto the existing roof. If the roof is very old it may be worth hiring a structural engineer to confirm the load bearing capacity of your roof. Next find out how much electricity you use (your current electricity supplier will be able to let you know) and then decide what percentage of this you want your solar energy to replace. This will be a balancing trick. The price of solar panels will depend not only on efficiency but also on their capacity - also find out whether you can get any financial help from the Government or your local authority. This may depend on the system you choose.

Of course, once you know how much electricity you are currently using you can also look at ways of cutting that figure. Improving insulation in the roof and around windows and doors is always worthwhile and simply cutting down on energy use by switching off lights and half filling kettles all do their bit to cut your energy consumption.

In countries such as the UK where sunshine can be limited, it's a good idea to get a system that includes a battery. The battery will store electricity in times of increased sunlight, so that you have a supply on cloudy and short winter days and of course in the evening. A battery is of course vital if you're aiming for 100% solar power. But here's another balancing trick you'll need to consider - solar batteries are lead-acid batteries and their manufacture and use isn't particularly environmentally friendly. However it may be better than using fossil fuel generated electricity from the national grid...

Positioning your solar panel will be crucial for maximising the electricity it generates. Solar panels only work if the sun is shining directly on them. So you will need to work out the best spot on your roof - clearly south or south west facing is a good start. Also if you live in an urban area or in a low level house make sure you don't pick a spot on the roof that is shaded by trees or other buildings.

One of the major advantages of a solar power system is that it's made up of interconnecting components and is modular. So components can be added as your needs grow. Typical components are the solar panel, which converts sunlight into electric energy; the battery which can store electricity for later use; a charge controller which ensures the batteries are recharged by the solar panel and also prevents overcharging; and an inverter converts DC power from the solar panel into AC power which is needed by most household appliances.

Beyond these basic components you could fit a motor so that the solar panel can move and track the sun as it moves across the sky. You could also have a meter - this is essential if you are selling excess energy on to the national grid.

As you are installing an electrical system it's essential to get an electrician who is an expert in the field to do the work. This is not a DIY job! But once installed, you should quickly start reaping the rewards and paying back the cost of the hardware and installation. Best of all, you can free yourself from those monthly energy bills and guilt trips about the planet's future.

Author Resource:- Expert electrician India Cooper advises the public to seek the assistance of a professinal electrician when harnassing the power of solar energy. To find out more please visit http://www.ratedpeople.com/find/electrician

Global Warming - Does Global Warming Lead To A High Death Rate

By : Chris Marshall
Global Warming is one of the things people search a lot for on the Internet. People often search for articles with questions like does global warming lead to a high death rate and whilst there is information around a lot of it will not be useful if you do not word your search well. It is also important to remember that the Internet is full of websites written with agenda and that the information on some websites may not be factual or correct, this is especially important in the case of websites about Global Warming.

Climate change can affect everything and it could eventually affect the death rate of our population if things do continue to get worse over the next few years. Climate change will affect everything and that includes global warming affecting ocean life. The truth about climate change is that no matter how people deny or ignore it the Worlds temperature is increasing and with that rise the sea levels in the world are rising so the global warming affecting ocean life will happen and make things different in the World.

If you are wanting to know about the human causes global warming then there is not only plenty of information available online but also plenty that you can do to help prevent global warming from getting worse.

People often want to know about the effects of global warming in Singapore and the places like this that are at major risk and there are websites on the Internet that can offer you accurate advice about what exactly climate change will do and what areas will be most affect by Global Warming.

One of the biggest worries about the planet is that global warming can't be reversed and it will eventually destroy our planet if we do not take action against the rising temperature and the problems that it will cause for future generations. If you do ignore the problems then they may go away for you but will not in the long term and we are all accountable and could do more to ensure that our planet is save for many years to come. If you are interested then there are plenty of things you can do and you can start to make a difference straight away even with little things like turning appliances off and making sure that you wash clothes on a lower temperature. They may seem trivial things but if everybody in the world starts to do them then it will start to make a big difference.

Author Resource:- Global Warming Website explores the issue of climate change and the environment so that you can find out more information about the effect you have on the environment and the effect it has on your life. For more information please visit http://www.globalwarmingwebsite.com

The Greatest Product Design Of All Time

By : Catherine Harvey
When it comes to product design, there can be little doubt that plastic is the one time biggest invention that has helped make billions of items affordable and readily available to everybody.

Plastic, coming from the Greek word Plastikos meaning to mould or shape, is the product design of Alexander Parkes and was first publicly demonstrated at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London. This is an organic material made from cellulose that can be heated and moulded to any shape, retaining this new shape on cooling.

The invention of plastic has opened the doors to a myriad of new product designs that otherwise would either not have been possible, or at best would have still been invented but at vastly inflated prices as to those that plastic brings about.

Plastic has increasingly been used in product design throughout the years with varying popularity. Warehouses were full to the rafters with plastic furniture in the sixties but some people saw the products as 'cheap' as in cheap quality as well as cheap prices. And this was looked down upon for a time.

But that is the whole beauty of this product design. It is cheap. It is flexible, mouldable, resilient and very strong. It means that anything from furniture to food and drink containers, from toys to paints, from cameras and phones to radios - all have plastic elements.

Plastic can be coloured in whatever way you want it to stand out or blend in, to look natural or completely manufactured.

The invention of plastic itself has opened doors to product design in every single area of life. And this itself brings about another problem. Plastic does not simply rot away. It can give off toxic fumes if burnt and will overwhelm landfill sites the world over.

However, there really is no reason to be throwing plastic items away in landfill sites as it can all be recycled. The problem arises in trying to encourage people to do the right thinking when plastic products are finished with. Water bottles are one derivative of plastic product design and with today's emphasis on health and well being many people have taken to constantly carrying water bottles with them and sipping regularly.

It seems crazy that they want a healthier body so they drink more water but care little about their environment to the point where they are quite happy to pollute it by not recycling in a responsible manner. In 2002, a staggering 15 billion plastic water bottles were produced and of this total, a mere 12 per cent were recycled. This compares with thirty per cent of soft juice drinks bottles but is still nowhere near enough.

It is relatively easy to recycle plastics and they can simply be reformed into something else. Take a look at the blonde woman from Texas. One minute she was normal but after some reforming with plastic surgery she turned into Pamela Anderson. All very well but what happens after death? In years to come will the ground be littered with plastic body parts that used to be implants?

On a more serious note, plastic surgery is one area that has hardly been touched by actual plastic and the name is slightly misleading. Plastic surgeons concentrate on remodelling bones, cartilage, muscle and skin using various products and are sometimes mistakenly called cosmetic surgeons.

One way or another, it has to be said that plastic is one of the greatest product design results the world has ever seen and has opened the floodgates for so many more possibilities. All we need to do is dispose of it responsibly and it will see us through many more generations.

Five Things To Do With Old Computer Equipment

By : Daniel Johansson
As with most electrical items computers have become totally disposable when it comes to buying a new model. If one breaks down it is often cheaper to buy a complete new set-up rather than have your equipment repaired. Or, if you simply need a go-faster, bigger-memory machine in some cases it may also be cheaper to buy new, than upgrade. So, what can you actually do with old computer equipment? Is it possible to recycle it or is your PC destined for the landfill?

1. Send them to a worthy charity - certain charities collect and either export older, but perfectly functioning computers to Africa and other under-developed economic countries, or upgrade them and distribute to schools around the UK. If you have a social conscience then this will be your preferred way of getting secondary use out of your old computer system.

2. Refurbish, upgrade and keep - in some cases, although definitely not all, it can prove cheaper to upgrade your equipment rather than purchase a completely new system. Adding more RAM, upgrading your motherboard and/or adding a faster processor to convert your current system to an all-singing, all-dancing high-spec computer may be the way forward. So, it is definitely worth costing up your options before considering other computer disposal methods.

3. Secure destruction - We've all heard of those cunning technical wizards who can find all the information that you thought you'd deleted from your machine, and use it for ill-gotten gain. So, if you, or your company, have sensitive information that should prove very damaging if it got into the wrong hands consider a specialist company to handle your PC disposal. They'll ensure that the hard drives are destroyed in such a way as to make data retrieval impossible.

4. Re-marketing - There are companies out there that will help you sell on your old computer equipment if it is in good cosmetic condition and working order. In return for a percentage of the price obtained, usually 20 - 30%, they will refurbish and sell on your equipment, either in the UK or abroad using their contacts or networks.

5. Rebuild the Enterprise Bridge - Be the envy of all your Trekkie mates and construct your own home-based Enterprise operations room. Strategically distribute your various computer components around your living room - the more monitors the better - add a few coloured lights and a lot of silver paper. For the final touch purchase a prestige leather chair such as a Lazyboy, and place it plum centre in front of a huge 72" plasma screen to recreate your own Starship Enterprise Bridge. In the words of Captain Picard: "Make it so!"

Author Resource:- Daniel Johansson is an Internet technologist whose main interests include Web Standards, XML and writing for the Web. Computer disposal companies offer a reliable means of securely disposing of, refurbishing and recycling old computer equipment. http://www.computerdisposals.co.uk/

For The Safety Of Your Laptop Batteries

By : Victor Epand
The laptop battery is an indispensable organ of the laptop. The battery is what gives your laptop the convenience of being portable. These batteries can be recharged over and over again.

Laptop batteries should be charged only when they fall below 80% in its capacity. These are usually manufactured for a long lifetime and can be used at least for 500 to 1200 cycles. The use of the laptop batteries can be optimized by handling them carefully and with caution. These batteries should be conditioned on a regular basis. and that should be at least once in a month. While charging the battery, the laptop should be turned off when possible. If kept on, the batteries won't acquire the required charging power. Also the metal connectors that connect the battery to the laptop should be cleaned. Any dust or moisture in this area can damage the battery.

When you wish to see a movie or listen to music on your laptop, it is better to write the
CD or DVD onto your had disc. Doing this will not require as much power as when you just play the CD or DVD on the laptop. In turn, this will help extend the overall life of the battery. A few cautions like these can help the battery to last a long time.

The performance of the battery is determined by its weight, cycle period and rate of discharge. There are three types of batteries available, Some are costly while others in comparison are quite reasonable. These batteries will have a long life if properly stored
and used. Hotter temperatures will have an affect on the battery as opposed to keeping the battery at room temperature. However, the terms for storage and usage of the battery vary from one brand to another. The newly manufactured batteries have certain rules
for charging them. The new chargers are designed in such a way that they don't need to be directed regarding the voltage, trickle charge, etc. Therefore, these batteries are said to be "smart batteries" which are smart enough to perform all their tasks own their own.

Theses batteries usually come with the laptop when purchased, and hardly ever need to be replaced because of damage. However, a reputed brand name should always be used to guarantee longer life and better performance. Also, most brand names will come with a warranty.

Laptop batteries can be purchased online also. However you should make sure that the site you are using will offer you quality products and service.

Fixing Computer Slowdowns and Stopping Them From Crashing

By : Ed Lathrop
Most people recognize it as "the blue screen of death." The computer crash screen can be a very frustrating experience. The sudden appearance of this screen is a terrifying, especially if you were about to finish something important and you forgot to save it.

All of your hard work is lost because your computer decided to give up and crash. Most people never expect their computer to crash, but they should understand everyone is prone to having computer failures.

The Early Signs

Prior to crashing, your computer will probably start to act differently. This can include things like going very slow and even freezing. This should be the first sign your computer is about to crash, or that there are problems with it. Your computer needs a little bit of fixing or tweaking so it can get back to proper working condition.

The first cause of a computer crash could be associated with recently installed hardware or programs. Check to make sure any new additions to your computer have been installed properly. Sometimes, your programs just need to be updated, especially if you are running a brand new operating system. Some older versions of hardware and software might not be compatible with your system at all, so do your research before you install anything.

The Registry

The registry can become corrupt and cause a lot of problems for your computer. The registry is what your Windows operating system is made of. If it gets too bloated and its files become unorganized, a crash is likely to occur. The registry files can be repaired, and better yet, kept in top condition by running a registry-cleaning program on a regular basis. This will in most cases prevent computer slow downs and crashes.

Your computer is able to perform several different types of tasks. It's not uncommon for it to get bogged down and tired. Crashing means serious problems are developing with your registry. This is something that can't be taken lightly. In fact, there could come a point when the registry gets so corrupted, only a complete hard drive reformat will help.

There is hope

On the other hand, I've seen it happen many times when somebody was advised it was time to reformat the hard drive and then re-install the operating system when this was not necessary. What really needed to be done was to have a technician scan for viruses and spyware from another computer.

Then when the computer got back up on its feet again, a registry cleaner finished the job of restoring the computer to excellent health. Of course, if the registry had been cleaned regularly in the first place, the computer may never have gotten to this critical stage of near death.

There was an old T.V. commercial where an automobile mechanic proclaimed, "You can pay me now or pay me later." He was referring to the fact you could pay a little more for a better oil filter now, or pay for a new engine later.

This axiom holds true for today's operating systems. You can spend a little time and incur a small expense now to keep your registry clean and organized, or you may lose all your files to a reformat later. If you ask me, it is an easy choice!

Author Resource:- The author, Ed Lathrop is a certified computer technician familiar with the repair PC's. His site, Free Use Registry Repair Compare Website, rates the latest registry programs and tells what works and what might actually be dangerous to your computer. Also, get up to date tips on your registry at: Registry Repair Tools.

How To Fix Your Ever-Increasing Windows Registry Problems

By : Alex Miller
Many are the problems that may occur while operating our personal computers. Viruses are somewhat popular as the main cause challenging the health of our computers, and also our patience. Yet, they are not the only ones to fear. Errors and slow operation can negatively affect the efficiency of our work and they stand for a serious source of trouble. Is there anything to do in order to remove those nuisances? In order to fix the problem, we first have to identify its cause. And the most often this cause has to do with the Windows registry.

Again, in order to cure the Windows registry one has to acquire a registry cleaner. Registry cleaners are programs designed to deal with the difficulties that the Windows registry has to face. The Best Registry Fix program is one of these registry cleaners that understand how the problems occur and consequently get rid of them. Any Registry Fix Review shows, like all others objective reviews, that this registry cleaner is appreciated as well as it is criticized. The fact that some users are extremely pleased with this program and others denigrate it makes you wander.

The Best Registry Fix program is designed to scan and inform the user about the presence of errors related to ActiveX controls, Windows explorer and Windows installer issues, Runtime errors, Svchost and EXE errors, and a lot of other issues. As great as it may be the Best Registry Fix program has some limits, and in order to be satisfied with it, one has to learn about them. It is only natural to be disappointed with anything if you expect it to perform beyond its actual limits.

Reading a Registry Fix Review may puzzle you a little. Some customers pretend they had to pay after the first fifty scans. Others do not mention something like that, but express their gratitude. Others claim the program is not Vista compatible, and others again state that the program is much more performing than any other similar program. Who to trust? And, above all, what should we understand from so many contradictory testimonials? Perhaps confronting any Registry Fix Review is not enough for gaining a proper understanding of this program. Reviews may encourage us to acquire the program, as well as they may dissuade us from doing so. In any case, the decision we make should not be entirely grounded on these reviews.

Choosing the Best Registry Fix program requires a prior study. One should learn about what this program is supposed to do. Errors linked to missing system fonts and DLL files, application paths and invalid device drivers, as well as to startup programs and missing file associations are on this programs agenda. Some testimonials prove that the program scans and identifies about six hundred errors. However, the result is a faster operation. Computers begin to respond much prompter; surfing on the Internet is much more rapid. Everything begins to work as it was supposed to be and, above all, our work developed on the computer is no longer at risk.

Using Registry Cleaners To Speed Up Your PC

By : Alex Miller
In case you have problems with your personal computer, the first thing to do is try to find the cause in order to eliminate it. Should you neglect those problems, your entire activity and work stored on that computer is at risk.

A large range of errors is due to the fact that the Windows registry is affected by several events, for instance, traces of information left after some uninstalling processes. Acquiring one of the best registry cleaners will solve your problems, but why do these problems occur from the first place?

The explanation is that if we uninstall certain programs, some items may resist to the process. Consequently, these items will interfere with our operating the personal computer. But an incomplete installation of programs may just as well trigger errors. Also, frequent installation and un-installation of programs and hardware can corrupt the Windows registry.
Infected drivers, spyware and viruses, malicious Internet sites and countless other circumstances have a negative impact on the Windows registry. All sorts of errors will pop up troubling our activity and endangering it as a result of the above mentioned causes. Employing one of the best registry cleaners will save us from that trouble and will allow us to focus on whatever it is that we work on the computer.

RegCure is an example of a registry cleaner. This software is engineered to cope with a large range of issues: application installer and uninstall errors; errors regarding Windows boot, start up and shutdown; errors linked to DLL, EXE and runtime; disabled drivers and spyware applications; partition and hard disk slowdown and Windows media player error. These are just a few of the many problems that have a negative impact on your personal computer.

Due to the fact that RegCure is designed on the most recent technologies in registry cleaning, it is highly rated with respect to effectiveness, speed, ease of use and support. It is designed to provide a series of services, such as: creating a backup file in order to assure no useful item is removed; the removing process can be set both on automatic and manual mode. RegCure also displays the scan process, can be scheduled to perform the scan whenever the user wants, deletes empty registry keys and checks the invalid class ones, removes duplicate files and so on.

Tests have been made and the results were at least impressive. Lots of so called registry cleaners were simply inefficient, some of them had a decent performance, but RegCure proved to be the best of all. It was able to identify most of the redundant items and corrupted files specially stored in some computers.

Friday, April 18, 2008

What Makes A Good Forex Trading Market?

Whatever you are trading, whether it is stocks, futures, bonds, foreign currency or anything else, there are certain conditions which must exist for the market to be attractive to the trader and profitable for him. The four characteristics of a good investment market are liquidity, transparency, minimal trading costs and trending.

Liquidity
Trading in its simplest form comprises two elements, a sale and a purchase, and the liquidity of a market is nothing more than the ease with which a trader can both buy and sell. For a market to be truly liquid however a trader must not merely be able to buy and sell with ease, but he must also be able to do so in substantial volume without this having a marked effect on the price of the items being traded.

If a market is not sufficiently liquid delays in buying and selling can often result in considerable differences between the price when an order is placed and when it is executed. Additionally, traders can often find that it is difficult to sell items in a market with poor liquidity.

The foreign currency market is arguably the world's most liquid market with an enormous trading volume which is second to none.

Transparency
When we talk about the transparency of a market we are referring to a trader's access to accurate information throughout the trading process. The greater the access to accurate information, the greater the transparency.

Information is the key to successful trading in many of the world markets and indeed there are numerous examples of individuals and companies running into problems because they did not have access to accurate information.

Fortunately, in addition to being the world's most liquid market, the Forex market is also the world's most transparent market.

Minimal Trading Costs
In any market the market makers need to make a profit and that means that there are inevitably costs to be met by the trader. The secret to a successful market, as far as the trader is concerned, is for trading costs to be as low as possible, as the higher the trading costs the lower his profit, or the greater his loss.

The Forex market enjoys some of the lowest trading costs of any market with no commission or similar trading costs and trading costs being largely limited to the difference between the buying and selling price in any currency trade. This difference, which is known as the 'spread' and which is common to many markets, is also extremely tight in the case of the foreign currency market, keeping trading costs to a minimum.

Trending
In most markets the biggest problem traders face is knowing when to buy and when to sell and it is vitally important that traders have some way of gauging the direction in which a market is moving.

In the case of the Forex market many traders employ a technique known as technical analysis, which essentially studies the past performance of the market and looks for trends which can then be used to predict its future direction.

Such predictive tools are not unique to the Forex market and most markets will display at least some form of trend. However, the Forex market shows particularly strong trending characteristics and this makes it much easier for traders to identify when to enter and exit trading positions than is the case in most other markets.

Getting Into The Lucrative World Of Forex Trading

For many years the foreign exchange market was the preserve of major players such as national banks and multi-national corporations. In the 1980s however new rules were introduced which permitted smaller investors to enter the market through a margin account. In simple terms, a margin account allows you to trade with more money than you actually have in your trading account. For example, a 100:1 margin account allows you to participate in trading up to $100,000 with an investment of only $1,000.

Now, although this entry level has opened up the market to the smaller investor, care needs to be taken as Forex trading is not easy and is certainly not without its risks. For this reason the very first thing that any novice trader needs to do is to sit down, study the foreign exchange markets carefully and learn the ins and outs of trading before putting any money at risk.

In addition to some basic training, the newcomer will also need to find a good broker as all trading must be conducted through a broker. Here a personal recommendation is often the best place to start but, in the absence of this, you should choose a broker who is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM). This will provide you with protection against both abusive trade practices and fraud.

It is normally a simple process to open an account with a broker and once this is done and funds are added to your account you can start trading. Brokers will normally offer a number of accounts to suit individual clients and most will have "mini" accounts which will allow you to begin trading with as little as $250. The margin on which you are permitted to trade will vary from one account to the next.

One thing that you should always look for when selecting a broker is the ability to cut your teeth by carrying out simulated, or paper, trades for a period of time. This is a facility which many good brokers will provide and which simply allows you to trade in the normal manner but to do so simply on paper and without any money changing hands until you have found your feet. Many online brokers provide simulated accounts allowing you to make free paper trades for up to 30 days.

One thing that worries newcomers is the subject of trading charges and brokerage fees. Unlike many other markets, the Forex market is free of commission and so you can make as many trades as you like without worrying about running up huge brokerage fees. Your broker will make his profit from the 'spread' on each trade, which is the difference between the buying and selling price of a currency pair and is a subject all of its own.

Online Stock Trading Companies

Everything is happening online. You do not need to go to a bigger store. There are many online department stores and shops at your disposal.

You do not need to visit the bank. The banking transactions can now be coursed through the Internet. Bookings at hotels and housing? You guessed right, they are today made on the net.

Stock markets

The stock markets are not left behind either. Various operators transact billions of dollars worth of investment around the world.

The stock markets have now gone online. Yes , you can now trade stocks and shares by sitting online, through the portal website.

The stock markets are always active. Through investment in stocks, we can double or triple investment amounts overnight. That's how fast-paced the stock markets are.

Of course, because the trading has gone online, the concept of selling portals and online services to users of stock transactions can be a good source of income to technology companies.

A little about online stock trade companies

There are many companies trading stock online today on the markets. It should be kept in mind that these companies are mostly doing good and making significant income. Offering online trading has proven a very profitable venture. So many companies generate income from these transactions. In addition, the number and volume of these enterprises are growing steadily and significantly thanks to the increase in demand.

Stock companies on the net are highly profitable and successful. This is because almost all investors, whether individual or institutions, are making the move to online transactions.

The Convenience

And why not move online? The convenience of the service is very significant. Commercial operations can proceed, even if the investors are nowhere in the city.

Offshore border trades or transactions can be easily and effectively facilitated. Thats the best thing about online technology.

Buying and selling stocks is truly the best investment you can make in the market place of today.

Therefore the stock exchange is the happening thing and holds the most confidence of all options that an investor may face today.

Beyond just the reliability and convenience, accuracy of information and transaction details are also important. And they are clearly and effectively coursed stock trading online through transactions.

So how can you find these online stock trade companies?

These stock trade companies are really everywhere. Why not look on the net to find their locations? You will no doubt find a company offering these services located close to where you live. All you would have to do is keep a look out and soon you will find one. And then you can always consult with other who trade using such services. Be sure you work with a trusted company.

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Stock Exchange - Everyday Trading On The Stock Exchange

By : Abhishek Agarwal
The stock markets are pretty unpredictable. One minute you could be excited and encouraged thanks to the fact that the stocks you invested in are booming, and the next you could be broken because the bull run reversed and the stock fell even lower than it started.

Obviously, a profit or a loss is calculated by comparing the prices of purchase and sales of the stocks.

Stock exchange trades usually are done in the day. This is because of the assumption that it is during the day, that most of the big companies around the world normally conduct business transactions.

As the saying goes, a work day cant ever be too long for stock trades. It is a common feeling that a work day is too short to negotiate all trades you wished to.

Stock trade transactions

Prior to the purchase and sale of stocks,one is expected to do some homework, meaning do some background checks on the companies you are planning to invest into.

The choice is solely yours, where you put your money in, or if you take out investment from a particular stock. Make sure you have a well thought out decision because your profits of commercial transactions will be based on this.

When you buy securities, you should inform your brokerage partner on your intention and the amount you would like to buy, on whatever stock.

Make sure you have all adequate information on your choice of stock. What good would it do to invest in a company on the edge of bankruptcy?.

Your money would soon disappear with the company's losses.

Evolution

In a time span of over 4 centuries, trading has gradually evolved to be a safer and better tool for investment.

Within this short period, the stock markets of Commerce have emerged as the largest and most widely used investment strategy in the world, across every market, from the third world to the American economy.

Any country's average economic performance is today judged and evaluated on the basis of how its local stock market trading or exchange is doing. This system of research in the economy should proliferate and spread over time.

Every day, as mentioned earlier, brings fresh threats and promises of new markets for stocks on the Exchange. Trading is not similar to trading the previous day.

Every day is just as promising and just as risk prone as the other day in the stock market. But one thing is certain, when you face a terrible day, you still have the hope that tomorrow will bring success.

This is one of the beauties of the rapid and happening stock trades exchange. Go ahead, try your own hand at it.

Laptop and Notebook Buying Guide

A laptop is the ideal replacement for your desktop computer. The greatest advantage of a laptop is its portability. Unlike desktop computers, you can easily move a laptop around your home, carry it to work or class and take it with you when you travel. Laptops are a big investment, so before buying one, you should consider many factors like the manufacturer, performance and features.

What kind of laptop user are you?
A home user wants all the features of a desktop PC in the form of a notebook. If you are a home user, then choose a notebook which is easy to carry and comes with the most basic computer applications. Students should opt for an affordable laptop which is light and durable. Frequent fliers need slim notebook models with long-lasting batteries. A business user should purchase a laptop with plenty of hard disk space and advanced security features while a gamer needs a fast processor and the latest graphics card.

What are the different kinds of laptop computers available?

Laptops for Entertainment:
Multimedia laptops are always more expensive and heavier than your standard model. These laptops come with a powerful processor, abundant memory and a large hard drive. You can use these laptops as a mobile DVD player, MP3 jukebox and a digital photo album. If you buy a TV tuner card, you can even use your multimedia notebook as a television set. These notebooks are ideal for PC gaming.

Laptops for Business:
Laptops especially designed for business use are ultra portable. These laptops are durable and more secure than the basic laptop. They are best suited for consumers who are always on the move. A good business laptop should offer a fingerprint reader or SmartCard support to prevent data theft. These notebooks usually have advanced computer applications and wireless capabilities, so you can work even when you are away from your desk.

Laptops for Home:
The home user typically uses a laptop for checking mail and browsing the web. These laptops perform general tasks. A high speed processor is an unnecessary luxury and tends to be wasted on most home users. Opt for a notebook with at least a 14-inch screen and a comfortable keyboard. These laptops are generally heavy, weighing more than 4 kg at times. Their average battery life is less than three hours.

What constitutes a good laptop?

Ergonomics:
If you are going to use your laptop extensively, then you need to be comfortable with the keys. Try a laptop with slightly larger keys to avoid straining your fingers from typing. Most laptops come with a touch pad or a tracking pointer instead of a mouse. If you are a PC gamer, buy a separate mouse which can keep up with the fast-paced action on screen.

Operating Systems:
The Windows XP Media Center Edition is a good operating system for entertainment laptops. It makes optimal use of multimedia features like TV tuners, radio tuners and media players. If you are a professional who prefers Apple notebooks but are concerned about compatibility, check out the dual boot models by Apple that allow you to install and run Windows as well as Mac OS X. If you prefer PCs, Microsoft Vista is an ideal alternative to Windows XP. Vista comes in several editions, including Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium for the home user, Vista Business for the professional and Vista Ultimate for the best of both worlds.

Memory and Storage:
All data and applications are stored in the RAM (random access memory). Many laptops commonly use 256 MB of RAM. Most business laptops and entertainment laptops come with 512 MB or more of RAM. The more RAM you buy, the more data you can store.

The hard drive stores all programs and files. For the average home user, a 20 GB hard drive will more than suffice. If you buy a laptop for entertainment or business purposes, a 60 GB hard drive will better serve your needs. Some entertainment laptops even have multiple hard drives for better performance. Hard drives come with different speeds. Most laptop hard drives have a speed of 5,400 rpm. However, faster hard drives go up to 7,200 rpm.

Display:
The size of a laptop is based on the size of the screen. Screen size starts as small as 10.6 inches and goes up to 20 inches diagonally. Most laptops have an LCD monitor. However, if you are using your laptop for CAD, a CRT monitor will serve you just as well, if not better. The screen resolution determines the crispness of your image. A 12.1 inch display uses WXGA resolutions (1,280 by 800). A 14 or 15 inch display typically uses WSXGA+ (1680 by 1,050), although a small number of notebook computers use WUXGA (1,920 by 1,200) instead.

Processor:
It is more difficult to upgrade a notebooks processor than it is to upgrade a desktop computer. For this reason, you should buy a processor with a speed that will best suit your use. Also, it is wise to choose a processor with less battery consumption. Processors with 1.4 to 1.6 Ghz are preferred by most users.

Battery:
Lithium ion batteries are commonly used in laptops. The average battery life is about 3 hours. It takes around 75 minutes to fully recharge a lithium ion battery.

Graphics Card:
A graphics card, sometimes referred to as a video adapter, is responsible for generating the images you see on a laptops display. For businessmen who need to do lot of presentations, a graphics card containing 32 or 64 MB of dedicated memory is the right choice. There are also specially designed cards for gaming. These cards are expensive and should be avoided unless you require excellent graphics.

USB Ports:
Laptop computers come with at least one USB port so that you can connect peripherals to the notebook. Recent models have a FireWire connection that lets you transfer digital information from camcorders or MP3 players.

Optical Drives:
Most laptops come with either a CD-ROM (compact disc, read-only memory), a CD-RW (compact disc, re-writeable) or a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc, read-only-memory). The DVD+RW/+R with CD-RW is a combination drive which will read a CD or a DVD and write data to a DVD as well.

Modem:
Laptops are available with integrated modems for dial-up connections, Ethernet ports for cable internet and DSL and wireless modems for Wi-Fi connections. Many business laptops also have a cellular wireless modem so you can browse at broadband speeds with just a mobile phone signal.

A Purchase Guide For Notebooks

By : Roberto Sedycias
The term Notebook computers and laptop computer is often used interchangeably. However notebook computers are smaller, lighter and costlier than laptop computers. You can carry this computer with you when you are away on a business trip, can watch movies and access internet also.

The first notebook computer which was launched in the market in 1981 was expensive and was not as versatile like present day computers .Portable versions of laptops were launched in the market by IBM and Epsom in 1983.

With introduction of Windows 95, the world of notebook computers took a giant leap forward and was now able to compete with other personal computers because of the operating system and the advancement of technology. Prices of these computers started falling, attracting more consumers. Life of battery improved and acids were no longer required. The notebook computers now consumed less power and could hold more data.

Notebook computers come in various sizes. For a quick reference, have a look at the following figures (without power adaptors and accessories): Tablet PC - it weighs less that 3 lbs; Ultra Portable - it weighs less than 4 lbs and less than 1.3 inches thick with size between 10 and 11 inches; Thin and Light - it is between 1 and 1.4 inches thick and weighs between 5 to 7 lbs with size from 11 to 14 inches; Desktop replacements (Largest) - it is 1.5 inches thick and heavier than 7 lbs. Size between 11 and 13 inches.

Some important points are listed here which may help you to have an informed purchasing decision:

Size and Weight: The point to remember that while choosing a very lightweight and small size, you may have to sacrifice some items such as drives. So you have to decide what you want.

Processor: Note book processors perform like desktop processors. Dual core processors carry multitasking and are common. Notebook processors directly impact the battery life and performance of the computers. For Intel premier processor, higher the number, the faster it will process. The rotational speed of the disk also affects the performance of these computers.

Memory (RAM): For Windows XP and Mac OS X, at least 256 MB is required. However the capacity of RAM is increasing with new varieties of notebook computer and in some machines it is 2 GB even!

Displays and Video: In a notebook computer video consists of video processor and display. Again the display consists of native resolution and screen size. But portability will be reduced with larger display. These days the popularity for the wide screen displays is increasing. Performance of PC gaming and 3D graphics will be determined by graphic processor.

Drives: Optical drives play an important role in notebook computers. These may be simple CD ROM drives to the high definition DVD burners. Most notebook computers these days are equipped with a dual layer DVD burner.

Connections: Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g, Fujitsu lifebook N6010 having trimode of 802.11a/b/g, etc are different wireless system available with notebook computers. Transferring rate of data depend on the type of wireless connection chosen.

Battery Life: Notebook computers come with four cell, 6 cell, and 8 cell batteries. Normal battery life is 2 to 3 hours. However 5 or 6 hours battery life is also available these days. Generally, the bigger the notebook computer, the lower is the battery life.

Warranty Plans: Make sure that you get at least one year warranty from the manufacturer while choosing your notebook computer. A system having a three year warranty will be a better choice if you are going to use your computer extensively.

It is suggested that you should update your knowledge periodically by logging onto the net keeping in mind the factors which need to be checked as stated above.

Author Resource:- This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/notebook.php