How do you choose a Forex broker?

If you run a small business involved in import or export in any way – and you’ve decided to hedge your foreign currency exchange risk to iron out future fluctuations – how did you choose your broker?

Here are a few considerations to bear in mind:

Reputation is everything. Warren Buffett once said: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

Forex trading has no single governing body, so many brokers are unregulated. So try and find a regulated broker and try and find out everything you can about the company; how long has it been around and what do other people say about it? Be careful, though, when searching online for this information as many posters have an “agenda” and the information may not be objective. Reputation really is everything here.

Depending on which currencies you hope to trade, you should think about which currency pairs a broker has to offer. You should also think about the spread sizes quoted for the various types of common currency pairings – and, of course, the leverage offered. This lets you know what value of currency exposure you can gain for the amount you are willing to put down. The level of importance you place on the leverage offered will depend on the size of exposure you’re really looking for, which in turn depends on the size of the business you’re looking to hedge.

The broker should also explain the difference to you between fixed and variable spreads. This can make a real difference to your bottom line. Not all brokers quote rates in the same way. If your broker has a dealing desk, then the broker creates the pricing and executes your orders – and the spread is fixed, so those spreads are usually higher than the average variable spreads. Where there is no dealing desk, then multiple banks usually stream competitive prices through your broker, so your orders are executed by the banks.

If this is all new to you and a broker won’t take the time to explain the complications and possibilities as well as the downside risks – then this should be a big red flag.

Written by David, a keen financial blogger who loves writing about anything related to finance, from Sunbird MetaTrader to student loans.

Mobile protection at work

When thinking about internet security, the first thing for a business owner to sort out is a good antivirus software package for the computers in the office and the laptops that belong to the business. This is vital to protect your business and customer information and data contained on the computers. It also protects your hardware from viruses, Trojans and worms that can cause catastrophic damage and crash the machines.

You can get antivirus programmes via the internet – downloading programmes directly onto your PC. You need to install the programme onto every computer and keep it updated and running at all times. There are free antivirus downloads which are often produced by the same companies that make the pay-for products. This is a great option, because you can try them out before deciding to buy. Be aware, though, that the free versions are a little basic in comparison to the ones you pay for.  At home you may be ok with just antivirus software, but really for a business it’s important to have an internet security suite that includes firewall, anti-spyware and spam filters, as well as the antivirus software.

An area that sometimes gets neglected by businesses and home users alike is mobile devices. Since the advent of smartphones, mobile phones are used just as much via the internet as through the mobile network. So phones are just as susceptible to viruses and other malware.

Signs that your phone may have a virus include sudden draining of the battery and reduced functionality.  Sometimes though, you may notice no difference in the phone’s performance but receive a shocking bill at the end of the month. This is because certain viruses cause your phone to text a premium rate service automatically and repeatedly, with you completely unaware until the bill arrives.

To avoid this kind of infiltration, there is now mobile antivirus software available. The main providers of computer antivirus programmes also provide a range of options for mobile devices.

Metatrader 4 for Forex trading

If you’re interested at all in foreign exchange trading, it’s useful to have a good knowledge of the various trading systems around.

In this arena, there’s probably one system that stands out as having been the most popular of all since its first introduction back in 2005. Metatrader 4 – or “MT4” for short is trading platform software used very widely by online foreign exchange (“Forex “) speculative traders.

The software is licensed to Forex brokers who then provide the MT4 software to their clients. The system is primarily designed to enable traders to increase their trading opportunities via an automated trading system.

This in turn enables traders to trade far more quickly and the system monitors the market continually second by second, automatically handling a client’s trades.

There are many software platforms and trading system designed for trading, but Forex is different from most other markets in a number of ways.

First off, it’s by far the largest trading market in the worth and is reputed to be worth somewhere in the region of 1.8 trillion dollars each trading day.

Around 95% of this sum is accounted for by speculators.

The foreign exchange markets are also open 24 hours a day between Monday and Friday, so unless you have perma-insomnia or you’re extremely confident in your trades, you need some form of automated system.

Also, Forex is a zero sum game. There is no “micro” human intervention in other words; so little room for trickery unless it’s perpetrated on an absolutely vast scale – and no directors and staff to pay unlike with shares.

MT4 client’s terminals include an “editor” and “compiler” with access to a user-contributed library of software, articles and help. Meanwhile, Yahoo hosts a group devoted to the development of free software for MT4.

It’s worthwhile reading up about MT4 and trialling the software if you’re even thinking about starting or improving Forex trading.

This article was written by David, who is always trying to boost his understanding and knowledge of mt4 software in the hope it’ll improve his trading.

The Importance Of Taking Out Comprehensive Business Insurance

A leading business insurance broker has reported a recent significant rise in demand for home and mobile business insurance, with an increased number of Brits hit hard by the recession and current economic doom and gloom fighting back by taking their future prospects into their own hands, setting up their own small companies or else setting themselves up as freelance workers in a number of diverse industries.

With unemployment figures now at an all-time high, and both small and major companies going bust with increasing regularity, the temptation of working for yourself has arguably never been greater, despite the various difficulties of being your own boss.

However, one aspect that invariably gets forgotten in the potentially stressful process of setting up your own company and sorting out all the paperwork that goes along with such a process is purchasing a sensible and reliable insurance policy. However, mobile business insurance is growing in popularity, particularly in trades such as plumbing, where workers have no one set business location.

As with home insurance, where some people forget the importance of taking out home contents insurance to safeguard their most valuable possessions, some business owners forget to take out Business Equipment Insurance, which acts as an extra element of cover to an existing policy.

This is particularly important for workers who depend upon their own equipment in their day to day job, with photographers and film-makers a good example of those who simply need insurance for valuables.

Ultimately, if you take time and care picking the best policy for you, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to benefit from the time and care that a decent level of cover can provide in your working life.

How To Save Money On Insurance At Home And Work

There are very few people living in the UK who have been left unaffected by the recession and the current economic crisis that is plunging the economy into doom and gloom all over again. Many homeowners and small business owners are struggling to keep up with rising electricity bills and shopping bills, while the rise in unemployment and increase in companies going bust is only making matters worse for all concerned.

As a result of these cash-strapped times, splashing large amounts of cash on any one single purchase, whether you own a house, office, or other company premises, can seem like the wrong choice, especially when faced with the option of spreading the payment over a number of months. This rule applies to anything, whether it be buying a new TV or purchasing a new buildings contents insurance policy. However, a short-term win in this respect can lead to a significant long-term loss, as recent research has revealed that individuals who decide to spread the cost of their home insurance policy on a monthly basis pay almost 12% extra compared to the one-off cost that would otherwise apply.

The research did, however, show that the difference between monthly payments and a one-off fee with some companies can be as low as 0%, while other companies offer a differential of just 5%.

If you’re looking to cut costs on your cover, whether you’re buying insurance for your own home or your business, follow the basic advice that has always applied to purchasing new home insurance quotes. Make sure the locks on your doors and windows are up to date, actually work (!), and fit industry standards; if they don’t, replace them. At home, don’t give in to the temptation to leave your spare key somewhere obvious; that flowerpot is meant for flowers, not hiding a door key! You should also install security lighting and an externally visible burglar alarm, especially on business premises. These simple and easy tips can save you bundles, so make sure you take time when picking a new policy.

Most Popular Women Speakers

When you think of popular women speakers, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres instantly spring to mind. And rightly so, these women in business are leading examples of success and provide a continual inspiration to both men and women across the world. These women as constantly in the media spotlight and are widely known, but they are amongst a long list of successful women in business.

Sahar Hashemi is a business motivational speaker and the co-founder of Coffee Republic, now one of the leading chains of coffee shops in the UK.

Angela Jia Kim is a successful woman entrepreneur who is a young and multi-talented professional. In addition to being an accomplished pianist, she owns two businesses: Om Aroma & Co., that sells luxury organic spa and skincare products; and Savor the Success, a boutique social network for female entrepreneurs and professionals.

Anna Wintour, is the British-born editor-in-chief of American Vogue. Wintour has become an institution throughout the fashion world, widely praised for her eye for fashion trends and her support for younger designers. [Read more...]