Sunday, July 26, 2009

Understanding The Market Sentiment (Part I)

By Ahmad Hassam

Do you see the market as a big mechanical matrix which is devoid of emotions? How do you view the forex market is very important. Most traders have a love hate relationship with the market thinking that the market is either against them or for them.

At a particular moment in time, the market is emanating the emotions of currency speculators sitting on their trading desks or on their computers around the world. The truth is that forex market is just the compressed display of these emotions.

A market is like a big living organism. Think that this organism is made up of millions of cells. Each cell carries its own functions. It also interacts with other cells of the body keeping the living organism alive around the clock.

Knowing what the market thinks and how it thinks is crucial to trading success. A forex market comprises millions of participants acting out their perceptions and emotions.

Ultimately, you as the trader are dealing with other traders out there in the market. These traders can be big institutional players or an independent individual trader like you and me. You need to know what the other traders are thinking at anyone time.

Market sentiment is the most important factor that drives the currency markets or that matter any financial market. What is the market sentiment? Market sentiment is simply what the majority of the market participants are perceived to be thinking or feeling about the market.

Traders tend to act based on what they feel and think of certain currencies regarding their strengths or weaknesses relative to other currencies. Market sentiment sums up to the overall dominating emotions of the market participants. It explains the current actions of the market as well as the future course of action.

Market sentiment is primarily based on the sum total of all the traders emotions. These emotions are one of the greatest factors in the determination of the currency pair prices. One important thing you should know: market sentiment is not logical.

Market sentiment is like a fickle lover. It is capable of changing its mind based on new information. This incoming new information can upset the existing emotion. Market sentiment can be bearish, bullish or just plain confused.

If the majority of the market participants want to buy that currency, the market sentiment is bullish. If the majority wants to sell the currency, the market sentiment is deemed to be bearish. When most market participants are unsure of what to do at a particular moment, the sentiments end up being mixed up.

Suppose you can understand what the other traders are thinking and why the market is doing what it is doing. You will be in a better position to plan the entry and exit for your trade. Understanding the current market sentiment is important for you. You can exploit it with an appropriate strategy that can help maximize your trading profits. In Part II of this article we will discuss what factors influence the market sentiment in the short term as well as the long term.

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