Using forex signals to navigate the currency market

There are dozens of world currencies being traded around the clock on the foreign currency exchange, and no one can possibly monitor them all at once. That is why many traders rely on forex signals to keep them apprised of movement in the market.

Many brokers and other forex-related businesses offer forex signals to subscribers. Forex signals are simply recommendations to buy or sell based on mathematical algorithms and professional know-how. Usually these signals include specific entry, stop and target levels. They might say something like, in essence, “Right now the EUR/USD bid is at 1.2529 and dropping. When it gets to 1.2465, sell.”

Forex signal providers usually charge for their service, sometimes as much as $100 a month. For this the subscriber gets 1-5 signals a day, sent via e-mail, text message or instant messenger. The trader is under no obligation to do anything with the information, of course. They are advisory in nature, and the trader is free to ignore them entirely if he wants to. But most traders generally go along with the advice that comes to them through forex signals. They wouldn’t pay for the service if they didn’t find the advice useful.

There are two schools of thought about forex signals. One says that you’re a sucker if you pay for them, with the reasoning that if the people behind them are so good at playing the market, why do they have to sell signals to make a living? The opposing point of view says that since signals require analysis and experience to create, why shouldn’t the people who distribute them get paid for their efforts?

If you do choose to pay for a signals service, you should get a trial membership first. Be wary of a service that won’t give you a free trial period before you start paying, or that only offers a trial period of a couple days. (What do they have to hide? If their service is good, showing it to you for a week or two will only help sell it to you.)

On the other hand, one maxim usually holds true: You get what you pay for. Sites that offer free forex signals may not be as reliable or experienced as the professional sites. And in either case, you shouldn’t blindly follow the advice of forex signals. A smart investor will look at the trends himself to make sure he agrees with the signals he received. The decision to buy or sell is ultimately his, after all.