TOOLS OF THE TRADE (pun intended)

The next few sections will discuss some of the tools you will need to scalp trade.
YOUR COMPUTER
Obviously you’ll need the standard tools such as a trading account and charts (we’ll get to those shortly), but here is a topic I haven’t previously discussed in my other eBooks – your computer.
With most Forex trading techniques you can make do with a lame computer and slow Internet (dial up), however with the fast paced world of Forex scalping you really do need a reliably quick computer.


As a Forex scalper you need your charts to display the most up to date price possible, and you need your brokerage software to execute a trade promptly. Even with the best computer and a screaming fast Internet connection you’ll still have some lag time (not to mention how long it takes for you to physically move your mouse and click to enter a trade). Often as a scalper you’ll experience missing out on a few pips (of lost profit) because of slight inefficiencies (somewhat frustrating at times), but if you have to deal with a painfully slow computer and a molasses Internet connection speed then you’ll soon be tempted to introduce your computer to a sledge hammer. For a scalper lost seconds means lost pips which means lost profits. Even in a single day of trading this can add up to HUNDREDS of dollars, even thousands, of missed profits.
The first thing to do to ensure that your computer is running your trading tools smoothly is to NOT have other programs running on your computer while trading. Having many programs open eats up your computer’s resources, which can mean that your charts aren’t refreshing as fast, and it may take longer to execute a trade. If you must listen to music then please turn on the radio, don’t listen to MP3s on your computer, or God forbid, DON’T be streaming music off of the Internet unless you have a very fast computer with High-Speed Internet (even then it’s still better not to).
Chances are your computer itself is good enough to scalp trade with (unless you are using something that is 10 years old), however you may find that it starts running slower over time. If you ever find that your computer is running like molasses, or much slower than you remember from the past then it may be time to reformat your computer. It is generally a good idea to reformat your computer every 6 months (kind of like going to the dentist) to keep it running smoothly. If you don’t know how to do this then invite a tech-savvy friend over for a few beers to help you out with this.
If you think that your computer sucks then perhaps you should consider buying a new one. You don’t have to spend a fortune buying the best