Learn Forex Factory
How to Use Forex Factory Free Trading Tools — A Complete Guide
Have you heard of Forex Factory?
You probably do since it’s the leading forum for Forex traders since 2004.
But here’s the thing…
…most traders don’t take the full advantage of what Forex Factory has to offer.
All they do is to go into the forum, enter the “Trading Systems” thread, and look for new trading systems.
Then they apply the strategies for a while and when it fails, they got back to the forum and look for “the next best thing”.
And the cycle rinse repeats itself.
No wonder most traders fail because they are in the cycle of hopping from one trading strategy to the next.
Now…
Forex Factory is more than just a place to find new trading strategies. In fact, they offer useful trading tools that will improve your trading experience, and it doesn’t cost you a dime.
Are you ready?
Then let’s begin…
Forex Factory calendar — stay ahead of the news and never get caught with your pants down
The Forex Factory calendar highlights key fundamental news that’s coming up.
You’re probably wondering:
“If I’m a pure technical trader, does it matter to me?”
Yes it does, especially for short-term traders.
For example:
You don’t want to enter your trades just ahead of a big news event because the spread could widen and put you at a huge disadvantage.
Or if you’re in an open position, you might want to reduce your risk exposure so you don’t get stopped out on the volatility spike.
Make sense?
Good. Now, let’s learn how to use the Forex Factory calendar to your advantage…
1. Select your timezone
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Forex Factory website
- Select the “Time” button at the top right-hand side of the page
- Then, select the time zone you’re in. And that’s it!
An example:
2. Filter yours news
Now…
There is plenty of news coming out each day from different countries. Like CPI, PPI, Retail Sales, Inflation, Central Bank, and etc.
And most of it does not affect the markets as they are not a major news event.
So, how do you know which news event to pay attention to and which to ignore?
Well, this is where the Forex Factory news filter comes in handy.
Here’s how to do it:
- Select the “Calendar” tab at the top of the page
- Then select the “Filter” button at the top right-hand side of the page
You’ll see something like this…
Next, check the red and orange box. This means the calendar will only reflect high and medium impacts news event (if you want to include the low impact event, feel free to do so).
Then, check all the event types as you don’t know which events are the high impact ones. So it’s safer to just check them all.
Lastly, you can select which country news you want. I suggest checking all of them so you’re aware of the important fundamentals going on around the world.
How to use Forex Factory Sentiment Indicator and find high probability trading setups
This is a trader’s sentiment indicator derived from Forex Factory Trade Explorer. It’s converted into a visual chart showing you how many % of traders are long or short (on a currency pair).
Here’s how to access it:
Select the “Trades” tab at the top of the page. Then scroll down a little and you’ll see something like this…
Now here’s the thing:
I’m sure you can agree that most retail traders enter the market at the worst possible time. Like “chasing” the market after it has made a huge move, or trying to pick market tops and bottoms.
Knowing this fact, you can then use the sentiment indicator as a contrarian approach.
You’ll look to go long when most retail traders are short, and long when most retail traders are short.
Here’s how to do it:
- Identify a currency pair that reaches an extreme reading of at least 60%
- Wait for a valid trading setup that is against the herd
An example…
As you can see, EURJPY has 63% of traders short this market.
This means as a contrarian, you want to go against the herd. So, you’ll look for a long trading setup.
Moving on… the EUR/JPY 4-hour timeframe looks like this:
So, how do you enter this trade?
Well, you could look to get long at the area of Support if there’s a price rejection like Pinbar, Engulfing pattern, and etc.
If you want a full explanation on entries, exits, and stop loss… go read The Complete Guide to Finding High Probability Trading Setups.
And one last thing…
You don’t want to enter a trade just because the sentiment indicator is at an extreme. It can remain at an irrational level longer than your account can remain solvent.
That’s why you need a valid trading setup with precise entries and exits so you can better manage your risk.
How to monitor your trading positions in real time (even if you’re at work)
I know.
You have a full-time job and it’s difficult to monitor your positions while at work.
You’ll probably sneak to the toilet every 30minutes or so just to see how your positions are doing.
But I’ve got good news for you…
…because it’s possible to monitor your trading positions in real time, without sneaking off to the toilet every few minutes.
Here’s how to do it…
Select the “Market” tab on the top of the page.
It’ll look like this…
Tada!
Live Forex charts in front of your screen. No downloads, login, or subscription required.
Do you know what else I like about it?
Just below the charts, you can see what the current market session is (whether it’s Sydney, Tokyo, London, or New York).
An example:
This is useful for traders who are wondering what time does the London or New York session opens, and whether there are daylight savings or not.
With this tool, you never need to second guess yourself again — plus it is synchronized with your local time.
How to find the correct Forex trading broker
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s difficult to find a broker you can trust.
You never know if the broker is on the opposite side of your trades, whether they are financially strong, or would simply vanish after taking your money.
And this is one reason why I never recommend brokers publicly because you never know what’s going on behind the scenes.
Well, the good news is…
Forex Factory can help you filter down a list of brokers that you might consider trading with. They provide a list of brokers you can compare with side by side, so you can identify the ones that meet your needs.
Here’s how…
Select the “Brokers” tab on the top of the page.
An example:
Now, there are many things you can compare across brokers. Their real-time spread, markets available, minimum deposit, platforms available, languages, regulatory bodies, headquarters, and etc.
And I know it can be overwhelming to look at so many things when selecting a broker.
So, here’s my top 5 list to consider:
- How many countries is the broker regulated in?
- What is their real-time spread like during normal hours and major news release?
- How many markets can you trade?
- Is it easy to deposit and withdraw your money?
- Is their customer support responsive?
So do your own due diligence and find out which brokers suits you best.
And one last thing…
There’s an important disclaimer on Forex Factory website that states:
Brokers pay Forex Factory a fee to be listed on this page, so a claim of complete independence cannot be made. However, this product was entirely designed from a trader’s perspective, and several practices have been implemented to ensure information is presented impartially.
This means there are other good brokers that aren’t mentioned on Forex Factory and you must do some digging to find out for yourself.
Now let’s move on…
How to set up a trading journal in Forex Factory and improve your trading results
Here’s the thing:
If are serious about trading, then you must have a trading journal. It’s the only way to keep track of what you’re doing so you can improve on it.
Without one, you might as go gambling in a casino (and it still provides free booze and babes).
However, I bet that 80% of you reading this right now don’t have a trading journal, or you don’t properly record your trades.
So in this section, you’ll learn how to do it using a trading journal from Forex Factory.
But you’re wondering:
“Why set up a trading journal in Forex Factory when I can do it on my computer?”
That’s a good question and here’s why…
3 reasons why you should set up a trading journal in Forex Factory
1. Accountability
The reason why traders give up on their trading journal is that there’s no one monitoring them.
So, by having a trading journal in a public domain, you’re making a commitment and have someone to be accountable to.
This increase the odds of you doing it since it makes you look bad if you go back on your word.
2. You can learn from other traders
Once you start journaling your trades, it will attract like-minded traders to your thread. From there, you can exchange ideas and feedback to improve your trading together.
3. It’s stored in the cloud so you don’t risk losing your information
Have you ever had your computer crash on you? There goes all your precious information that goes along with it.
But by having your trading journal hosted on a cloud, that risk is greatly minimized and you can be certain it will be there for years to come.
How to set up your trading journal in Forex Factory
Here’s how:
- Select the “Forum” tab at the top of the page
- Then select the “Trading Journals” link in the middle of the page
- Then select “Start New Thread”
Once you’ve done it, you’ll see something like this…
Now you’re probably wondering:
“But Rayner, what do I post in my thread?”
Here’s what I suggest…
- Introduce yourself and declare a commitment of 6 months
- Explain your trading methodology and write down your trading plan
- Post the charts of all the trades you’ve entered
- Post the charts of all the trades you’ve exited
- Post your thoughts and reflection for the trading week
- After 25 trades, find patterns that lead to your winners and losers
- Rinse and repeat
Now the key here is CONSISTENCY.
There’s no point doing it for a few days and then stop doing it because it defeats the purpose.
To see results, you must commit yourself to do it for 6 months. If you follow what I said, your trading results will improve.
Summary
I hope you’ve realized that Forex Factory is more than just a forum to learn new trading strategies.
You should take advantage of their useful trading tools like:
- Forex Factory calendar to stay ahead of the news
- The sentiment indicator to help you find high probability trading setups
- The charting tool to monitor the Forex markets in real time
- The broker comparison tool to find the best broker for your needs
- Forex Factory trading journal to improve your trading results
Now I’ve got a question for you…
How do you use Forex Factory for your trading?
Have you heard of Forex Factory?
You probably do since it’s the leading forum for Forex traders since 2004.
But here’s the thing…
…most traders don’t take the full advantage of what Forex Factory has to offer.
All they do is to go into the forum, enter the “Trading Systems” thread, and look for new trading systems.
Then they apply the strategies for a while and when it fails, they got back to the forum and look for “the next best thing”.
And the cycle rinse repeats itself.
No wonder most traders fail because they are in the cycle of hopping from one trading strategy to the next.
Now…
Forex Factory is more than just a place to find new trading strategies. In fact, they offer useful trading tools that will improve your trading experience, and it doesn’t cost you a dime.
Are you ready?
Then let’s begin…
Forex Factory calendar — stay ahead of the news and never get caught with your pants down
The Forex Factory calendar highlights key fundamental news that’s coming up.
You’re probably wondering:
“If I’m a pure technical trader, does it matter to me?”
Yes it does, especially for short-term traders.
For example:
You don’t want to enter your trades just ahead of a big news event because the spread could widen and put you at a huge disadvantage.
Or if you’re in an open position, you might want to reduce your risk exposure so you don’t get stopped out on the volatility spike.
Make sense?
Good. Now, let’s learn how to use the Forex Factory calendar to your advantage…
1. Select your timezone
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Forex Factory website
- Select the “Time” button at the top right-hand side of the page
- Then, select the time zone you’re in. And that’s it!
An example:
2. Filter yours news
Now…
There is plenty of news coming out each day from different countries. Like CPI, PPI, Retail Sales, Inflation, Central Bank, and etc.
And most of it does not affect the markets as they are not a major news event.
So, how do you know which news event to pay attention to and which to ignore?
Well, this is where the Forex Factory news filter comes in handy.
Here’s how to do it:
- Select the “Calendar” tab at the top of the page
- Then select the “Filter” button at the top right-hand side of the page
You’ll see something like this…
Next, check the red and orange box. This means the calendar will only reflect high and medium impacts news event (if you want to include the low impact event, feel free to do so).
Then, check all the event types as you don’t know which events are the high impact ones. So it’s safer to just check them all.
Lastly, you can select which country news you want. I suggest checking all of them so you’re aware of the important fundamentals going on around the world.
How to use Forex Factory Sentiment Indicator and find high probability trading setups
This is a trader’s sentiment indicator derived from Forex Factory Trade Explorer. It’s converted into a visual chart showing you how many % of traders are long or short (on a currency pair).
Here’s how to access it:
Select the “Trades” tab at the top of the page. Then scroll down a little and you’ll see something like this…
Now here’s the thing:
I’m sure you can agree that most retail traders enter the market at the worst possible time. Like “chasing” the market after it has made a huge move, or trying to pick market tops and bottoms.
Knowing this fact, you can then use the sentiment indicator as a contrarian approach.
You’ll look to go long when most retail traders are short, and long when most retail traders are short.
Here’s how to do it:
- Identify a currency pair that reaches an extreme reading of at least 60%
- Wait for a valid trading setup that is against the herd
An example…
As you can see, EURJPY has 63% of traders short this market.
This means as a contrarian, you want to go against the herd. So, you’ll look for a long trading setup.
Moving on… the EUR/JPY 4-hour timeframe looks like this:
So, how do you enter this trade?
Well, you could look to get long at the area of Support if there’s a price rejection like Pinbar, Engulfing pattern, and etc.
If you want a full explanation on entries, exits, and stop loss… go read The Complete Guide to Finding High Probability Trading Setups.
And one last thing…
You don’t want to enter a trade just because the sentiment indicator is at an extreme. It can remain at an irrational level longer than your account can remain solvent.
That’s why you need a valid trading setup with precise entries and exits so you can better manage your risk.
How to monitor your trading positions in real time (even if you’re at work)
I know.
You have a full-time job and it’s difficult to monitor your positions while at work.
You’ll probably sneak to the toilet every 30minutes or so just to see how your positions are doing.
But I’ve got good news for you…
…because it’s possible to monitor your trading positions in real time, without sneaking off to the toilet every few minutes.
Here’s how to do it…
Select the “Market” tab on the top of the page.
It’ll look like this…
Tada!
Live Forex charts in front of your screen. No downloads, login, or subscription required.
Do you know what else I like about it?
Just below the charts, you can see what the current market session is (whether it’s Sydney, Tokyo, London, or New York).
An example:
This is useful for traders who are wondering what time does the London or New York session opens, and whether there are daylight savings or not.
With this tool, you never need to second guess yourself again — plus it is synchronized with your local time.
How to find the correct Forex trading broker
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s difficult to find a broker you can trust.
You never know if the broker is on the opposite side of your trades, whether they are financially strong, or would simply vanish after taking your money.
And this is one reason why I never recommend brokers publicly because you never know what’s going on behind the scenes.
Well, the good news is…
Forex Factory can help you filter down a list of brokers that you might consider trading with. They provide a list of brokers you can compare with side by side, so you can identify the ones that meet your needs.
Here’s how…
Select the “Brokers” tab on the top of the page.
An example:
Now, there are many things you can compare across brokers. Their real-time spread, markets available, minimum deposit, platforms available, languages, regulatory bodies, headquarters, and etc.
And I know it can be overwhelming to look at so many things when selecting a broker.
So, here’s my top 5 list to consider:
- How many countries is the broker regulated in?
- What is their real-time spread like during normal hours and major news release?
- How many markets can you trade?
- Is it easy to deposit and withdraw your money?
- Is their customer support responsive?
So do your own due diligence and find out which brokers suits you best.
And one last thing…
There’s an important disclaimer on Forex Factory website that states:
Brokers pay Forex Factory a fee to be listed on this page, so a claim of complete independence cannot be made. However, this product was entirely designed from a trader’s perspective, and several practices have been implemented to ensure information is presented impartially.
This means there are other good brokers that aren’t mentioned on Forex Factory and you must do some digging to find out for yourself.
Now let’s move on…
How to set up a trading journal in Forex Factory and improve your trading results
Here’s the thing:
If are serious about trading, then you must have a trading journal. It’s the only way to keep track of what you’re doing so you can improve on it.
Without one, you might as go gambling in a casino (and it still provides free booze and babes).
However, I bet that 80% of you reading this right now don’t have a trading journal, or you don’t properly record your trades.
So in this section, you’ll learn how to do it using a trading journal from Forex Factory.
But you’re wondering:
“Why set up a trading journal in Forex Factory when I can do it on my computer?”
That’s a good question and here’s why…
3 reasons why you should set up a trading journal in Forex Factory
1. Accountability
The reason why traders give up on their trading journal is that there’s no one monitoring them.
So, by having a trading journal in a public domain, you’re making a commitment and have someone to be accountable to.
This increase the odds of you doing it since it makes you look bad if you go back on your word.
2. You can learn from other traders
Once you start journaling your trades, it will attract like-minded traders to your thread. From there, you can exchange ideas and feedback to improve your trading together.
3. It’s stored in the cloud so you don’t risk losing your information
Have you ever had your computer crash on you? There goes all your precious information that goes along with it.
But by having your trading journal hosted on a cloud, that risk is greatly minimized and you can be certain it will be there for years to come.
How to set up your trading journal in Forex Factory
Here’s how:
- Select the “Forum” tab at the top of the page
- Then select the “Trading Journals” link in the middle of the page
- Then select “Start New Thread”
Once you’ve done it, you’ll see something like this…
Now you’re probably wondering:
“But Rayner, what do I post in my thread?”
Here’s what I suggest…
- Introduce yourself and declare a commitment of 6 months
- Explain your trading methodology and write down your trading plan
- Post the charts of all the trades you’ve entered
- Post the charts of all the trades you’ve exited
- Post your thoughts and reflection for the trading week
- After 25 trades, find patterns that lead to your winners and losers
- Rinse and repeat
Now the key here is CONSISTENCY.
There’s no point doing it for a few days and then stop doing it because it defeats the purpose.
To see results, you must commit yourself to do it for 6 months. If you follow what I said, your trading results will improve.
Summary
I hope you’ve realized that Forex Factory is more than just a forum to learn new trading strategies.
You should take advantage of their useful trading tools like:
- Forex Factory calendar to stay ahead of the news
- The sentiment indicator to help you find high probability trading setups
- The charting tool to monitor the Forex markets in real time
- The broker comparison tool to find the best broker for your needs
- Forex Factory trading journal to improve your trading results
Now I’ve got a question for you…
How do you use Forex Factory for your trading?
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