Book Description

An in-depth how-to look at Forex trading using the methods, analysis, and insights of a renowned trader, Raghee Horner
As the fate of the dollar against foreign currency generates both anxiety and opportunities, currency trading has been drawing much interest and a growing following among traders in the United States. The Forex market is particularly attractive for investors because it trades with no gaps and has unlimited guaranteed stop-losses. The liquidity of the Forex market and worldwide participation makes for more reliable and longer lasting trends as well.
Raghee Horner has become legendary not only as a top Forex trader but as a master teacher of trading systems and techniques. Drawing on her winning tools and methods, including classic charting techniques, this book enables a trader or investor of any skill level to understand how the Forex operates and lays out a blueprint for getting starting in this little-understood but high-potential trading vehicle.
Raghee Horner (Pompano Beach, FL) is an accomplished trader with more than fifteen years in the markets. She is the cofounder and lead trader of the EZ2 Trade Institute and an educator teaching her style of technical analysis and charting strategies to students all over the world. Raghee has written more than 100 articles on investing, has been a regular on the MoneyWatch Radio Network, is featured at eSignal's "Trading with the Masters," and is a regular contributor to Trader's magazine. Her chart analysis and commentary have appeared on TradingMarkets, JAGNotes, StockCharts.com, and FXStreet. She is also a sought-after speaker who has conducted seminars throughout the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Asia. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

This book changed my trading.
I have read countless trading books, been to all the seminars, and tried alot of software.When the dust settled Raghee's book was still standing.Not to say that the other things did'nt help but this book simplified my trading.Now I know what to look for using the blueprint in the book.The pratical and tactical methods the book has taught me has increased my pip gain tremendously.It is not a magic box, you must be patient and work hard to apply the rules in the book.I still struggle at times, but with all things practice makes us better.Thank you Raghee for making a book that makes sense.Get the book.
Cecil Glenn

A classic view of one trader's style.
Aside from the editorial errors and small charts...this book is a thought-provoking classic. I believe everyone would like to speak with a successful trader and see what he or she does to achieve that success.I have never come across a book quite like this one.The author thoughtfully teaches you how she trades and shows you exactly what she does to set up the two kinds of trades she watches for, swing and momentum.At first I frankly didn't see what the difference would be since I have not actively traded and actually was more interested in the longer term view.However, the way she explains it, even if you are a longer term trader or investor if you will, one must to learn how to read charts.I was also impressed by her method of approaching news.She shows you which reports move the forex market and how to deal with news which actually was something I used to get caught up in.I feel like I have a plan that tells me what to do and where to go with each trade.I also appreciate that I only have to focus on around four to five trading tools.One can easily get lost in trying to learn or use too many.This has simplified trading for me and also shown me how to find chart patterns in the correct manner.The way she identifies chart patterns is so simple that I think I must be doing it wrong.However, when the trade works I know that I got it right!

A good skills sharpener
First the bad part: Ms. Horner needs a new editor!!!!This book is full every kind of writing error there is - grammer, spelling, syntax, sentence structure - you name it.But once I got over that, I found this book to be quite helpful.The book helped me to refocus on the basics of technical trading; namely, support and resistance, the mental processes involved in entering and exiting trades, and getting confirmation from other indicators before entering a trade.These are not new techniques, but they can be lost or forgotten in the daily grind of trading.The book did introduce me to a couple of new indicators, which I look forward to experimenting with.I am an experieced trader, and I'm not sure if a beginner would get enough out of this book to develop a comprehensive trading technique, but it would certainly help.It is user-friendly and easy to read.In short, it has had a positive effect on my trading.

waste of time
Apart from the fact that the editor of this book should be fired, I'm not convinced that the strategy will work. The author claims to be trading the forex markets, and her students can "smell a wannabe trader from a mile" but I'm not sure if she really is a wannabe trader or a real trader.There are no trading data or anything to back up the author's claims. The only reason I'm giving it 1 star is because it might be of some use to a novice trader.

awesome, deserves a read
I'm totally blown away by this book.It's going to be my trading bible.It has everything.A trading plan, a q&a with the author, psychology.I was afraid I may get another general book about Forex and market paticipants and the basic indicators.I was happy to find a complete trading plan that takes all the questions out of when to buy, when to sell, how to put in my orders, how to take profits.

The book is written like the author is talking to you and I finished it in 2 days, it's that good but I could have done without the many, many typos.

There's good info here.I know I will want to review some chapters like chapter 10 fibonacci levels and chapter 26 that talks about charting the US Dollar with other currencies.I liked the chapter on prep-work which makes finding trades very simple and fast using moving averages.She teaches how to trade from 5 time frames so I have the choice to play longer term with a daily chart or a short term chart like the 15 minute although she doesn't use anything smaller than the 30 minute chart.I found I could go to even the 10 minute with her Three Classic Tools to a Three Step Set Up.I think what was also helpful is that I thought I would have to get up early or stay up late to trade forex from what I had heard at other seminars I went to but she teaches market overlap and explains that you don't have to which was my biggest worry.

Look past the typos and you'll find good info.Worth a read.
... Read more

Book Description

The first plain-English introduction to foreign currency exchange trading--one of today's hottest profit opportunities

The foreign currency market is the largest financial market in the world, and foreign exchange trading is quickly becoming one of today's most high-profile, potentially lucrative markets. One problem is that books on the topic are complex, technically dense, and difficult for Forex novices to grasp.

FOREX Made Easy is the first book to approach the topic in a detailed yet accessible style, gradually and deliberately moving from simple to complex in easy and natural language. Author James Dicks--founder of the popular trading software 4X Made Easy--draws upon his trading knowledge to give readers only the information they need, from setting up a workstation to trading electronically.

This Forex guidebook provides traders with:

• An easy-to-follow, six-step process for FOREX trading
• Methods for gaining an advantage using technical analysis
• Dozens of examples to illustrate key points

Reviews (19)

Basic level oriented towards 4X Made Easy(tm) users
As beginning 4X Made Easy (tm) software user I found the book very useful. It goes into more technical analysis than the GlobalTec trainers are willing to offer. For example there is a good chapter titled "advanced trading charts and indicators" with basic explanations of Bollinger bands, DMI, Stochastics, moving averages, RSI, and ROC. Another chapter covers Fibonacci and Elliot waves. The introduction to technical analysis chapter includes candlesticks, support and resistance, and other trends. All of this is at the basic level, but unlike every other technical analysis book I have found, it is oriented towards the spot Forex (there is one chapter on Forex options). Because the Forex is open around the clock, it does require some modification of typical technical analysis methods.

There is another useful chapter on tax strategies and claiming trader status as a Forex trader. Again it is very basic, but because so few accountants are familiar with the spot Forex and because so many people will simply tell you "consult your accountant" it is useful introductory information.

The book uses examples from 4X Made Easy (tm) version 5.0. This is scheduled to be replaced very soon with version 5.9, now in beta. The changes I have seen in 5.9 beta will not affect the information in the book.

If you are already familiar with the Forex, and don't have any interest in Forex Made Easy software(tm), you may find this book too basic or be annoyed by the author's promotion of his own interests. He does not mention any alternative software to 4XME or even FX Trading Station. Some illustrations are based on 4XME screen shots. There is a full chapter on FX Trading Station software (almost like an operating manual) which is the trade platform used by FXCM brokerage. There are plenty of traders out there that use other companies' trading platforms and don't have any interest in 4XME and these readers should be forewarned. I do think in some way James Dicks is preaching to the choir with this book. He doesn't mention other broker platforms and the possible advantages or disadvantages of using different brokers, for example broker platforms that offer trailing stops, hedging within the same currency pair, tighter spreads, and problems like slippage or limitations on entry orders. This book is not an objective discussion of the spot Forex brokerage business, so don't expect that. Even so, at least 80% of the book is not focused on the author's company's products and is good basic information about the Forex market and trading.

I think all potential Forex traders, and especially 4XME users who want to learn more about technical analysis will find this book useful as an introduction and starting point. In fact this book is an excellent way to learn what Forex trading is all about before you open a live trading account

Im a new FOREX user and this book is GREAT
I just started trading the FOREX and this book gave me a great deal of information about the Market. This book is very informative and I highly recommend it to all FOREX users. I also own and am very happy with the 4X Made Easy software and subscribe to the James Dicks PremiereFX Alerts.

Not beneficial at all
I saw James Dicks' late night ads for 4xme -- Foreign Exchange Trading Made Easy. I explored his background and his firm's background over the net this early morning and read his book on another site where it's posted, in full.

The book does not really explain foreign exchange trading, but is mostly an ad for his firm's software and online services. Also, it's poorly written. So many people have been upset with it that used copies are available on E-bay for 99 cents.

(...)

I spent a dozen years as a retail broker at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and am a Wharton CPA. Also, I supported myself solely through trading from 1984 through 1988. IMHO stay away from James Dicks, his books, and his firms. No good can come from interaction with any of them.

Disappointing FX book
There's a real dearth of good investment books focussing on the FX market, and unfortunately this book does very little to fill that void. Instead of "Forex made Easy," I would love to read a book called "Forex made Profitable," which is definitely not this book. His technical analysis section is pretty much a wash-out. Do not buy this book.

Great book for a new trader to the Forex Market
I found the book to be fast paced and very informative. After reading some of the negative reviews it seems like they are all posted by the same person. Someone that hadn't even read the whole book. My views: The book will show you how to trade the Foreign Exchange and goes into advanced techniques. This is important if you want to protect your money while trading the Forex. I will note that different types of software are mentioned, but in reality there are probably 100 other companies flogging their wares. I did a free trial of the software James discussed and it worked quite well.

I would also recommend trading for a living and reminses of a stock operator for more on trading psycology. ... Read more

Book Description

An in depth look at the tremendous potential of this vital market with expert advice from one of the foremost authorities. The foreign exchange market is the world's largest and fastest growing financial terrain.Despite its high trading volume, it is also a market little understood and little regulated.This definitive resource brings the universe of foreign exchange within reach of every investor.The revised edition includescomplete comprehensive coverage of the euro and the latest historical and economic changes in the market.

Cornelius Luca, a renowned authority on international investing, draws on the insights of leading experts in diverse fields of specialty to explain every crucial aspect of foreign exchange.He provides investors with an arsenal of trading weapons, many on the cutting edge of technology.Demystifying the intricacies of these markets, the book includes:

Analysis of the mechanics of the market, the major players and markets, the pertinent risks, corporate trading, and methods of trading execution.

A thorough overview of foreign exchange instruments and major option strategies, with clear explanations of why currencies are traded and how to forecast currency behavior. An in-depth look at the three types of analysis: fundamental, technical, and econometric.Featuring 200 charts and graphics, TRADING IN THE GLOBAL CURRENCY MARKETS is an indispensable guide to a daunting yet promising financial playing field. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Trading in the Global Currency Markets
Loved Trading in the Global Currency Markets! While I only used it to brush up my FX knowldege, I had all my 5 FX traders read it to prepare them for this fast currency market. The book gives you everything you need, and then some. It's a very methodical book, leaving no stone unturned. It's also very objective. All other books on FX or technical analysis have "an angle". Not Luca's. In his book, he presents all facets of the industry. You just need to choose what's best for you.

Trading in the Global Currency Markets
"Trading in the Global Currency Markets" lands you smack in the middle of the currency markets and really makes you understand how all these FX traders maneuver money day in and day out. Due to the complexity of the subject I needed to take it easy, especially in the technical analysis sections. But I can now use the averages and MACD well enough to enter and exit successful FX transactions.

A 3rd Edition is called for . . .
In 2000, when this edition was released, it most probably provided a fair introduction and overview to the global forex market, but not for individual traders.

However, its use to traders, especially individual traders is limited. Since 2000, there has been an almost explosive growth in the number of forex market-makers and brokers, catering to the individual traders, making it possible and very easy for the individual to trade forex on the inter-bank system. One can now start trading a mini forex account with only $300 !!

These critical new developments in the forex trade, are unfortunately not covered in Mr Luca's book - hence my call for a 3rd edition. The amount of information contained in the various broker's websites - inclusive of "How to" sections, "FAQs", tutorials, and other background information, pretty much contains most of the info presented in Mr Luca's book, with the exception of forward contracts and options.

The Technical Analysis information presented, is similar to the stock market, but not covered extensivley. So, if you already have that knowledge, you wouldn't need to purchase this book to start trading forex. If you need to acquire this knowledge, then I would suggest any one of the excellent in-depth books on the topic of technical analysis available. These books, even though written for the equities market, will give any prospective forex trader most of the knowledge he/she will need to start trading forex.

Extremely informative!
Mr.Luca has out done himself. I am a 11 year veteran of the futures markets and I have written three book on futures trading. Mr.Luca's book exceeded my expectations. I read it and was completely enlightened at the chain of connections that drive the currency market. His technical analysis on forex trading was easily adaptable to my own strategies, plus I learned a few new tricks.

Mr.Luca's writing is very indepth and many beginners to forex trading will find a lot of information to wade through in order to find the nuggets they are looking for. That being said, any serious beginner will not have a problem with getting a thorough education in this fascinating subject.

Intermediate traders will see there mistakes and hopefully correct them by using this book.

Overall, this is a great book by Mr.Luca and I keep a copy as a refernce.

Great waste
There is nothing in this book. It's a waste of money and time reading it, and also even if it's free, you should not read it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Pithecanthropus
The book contains a wealth of practical information however there are errors in the mathematical formulas, dates and etc. This is most frustrating from a reader point of view and dampened the confidence in the material presented. However, it is relatively a easy read for general understanding of the money and FX markets. I hope the author does a more thorough check in the future edition in order to do this book justice.

Excellent practical book for the beginners
This is a great practical book for the beginners and intermediate people in the market. When I started in the market as a business analyst, with no prior experience, it was a confused world of trading. After reading this book, things make much more sense. In addition, the book explains brief analytics on how to price and when and why certain instruments will be used for trading. It is geared towards trading. Refer to other books if you are more interested in middle/back office functionality (like settlements, P&L calc, risk management etc.)

Great help for trainers
Many a times, trainers in the banking industry find it very difficult to teach complex subjects like foreign exchange and money markets to relatively junior guys. This book will prove to be of great help to those trainers. Probably the first ever attempt in this subject.( Luca's text book can easily be replaced by this book just because of its excellant padagogy). Hope other titles advertised by RFT will also become available soon, specially the one on Risk Management.

Not recommended for anyone who has previous experience
If you have some experience of foreign exchange trading, this book is not for yourself. You would learn everything written here within the first six weeks of your job as a foreign exchange trader.

However, this book is great for the REAL beginners who want to learn about foreign exchange from the very beginning and for trainers or teachers who teach those who has little knowledge the foreign exchange. This book starts from explaining what bids and asks are and explains so far up to the mechanics of foreign exchange derivatives. The most remarkable feature of this book is illustrations of deal components and market segments showing how each deal components and markets are related to each other. Detail explanation on different market conventions applied to different currencies is also useful. Short questions at end of chapters are good to review what you should take away from the chapters.

Excellent Book
This book is excellent for beginner as well as for advance. It covers all the details right from bottom to top in a very lucid language. It also covers enough diagrams that explains the subject very well. ... Read more

Book Description

Eurodollar trading volume is exploding, with no end in sight tools phenomenal growth. The Eurodollar Futures and Options Handbook provides traders and investors with the complete range of current research on Eurodollar futures and options, now the most widely traded money market contracts in the world. The only current book on this widely-followed topic, it features chapters written by Eurodollar experts from JP Morgan, Mellon Capital, Merrill Lynch, and other global trading giants, and will quickly become a required reference for all Eurodollar F&O traders and investors.

Reviews (2)

The Standard!
Clearly the best book on Eurodollar futures and options. The book is a must for anyone involved in fixed income securities.

Highly recommended
Having just finished reading the author's treatment of bond futures in the 'Treasury Bond Basis,' I was happy to see that Burghardt was updating some of his material from the early 1990s on Eurodollar futures. The 'Bond Basis' was an excellent and thorough analysis, and 'The Eurodollar Futures and Options Handbook' follows the same trend.

He provides an excellent overview of the institutional details of Eurodollars and their uses. The book is at its strongest when dealing with issues of the convexity bias and also scores high by not neglecting important issues like the stub period. Perhaps my favorite chapter was on callable bonds and the extension/compression risk, which, while a little misplaced in a book on Eurodollars, still provided a very lucid explanation of the relevant issues.

With regard to options, the author touches upon some of the interest strategic combinations using serial and mid-curve options, but I feel that he could've delved a bit deeper in this part of the book. It's the only area in which I felt the book was somewhat lacking.

Having said all that, if you're looking to learn about Eurodollar futures, I can't imagine there's a better book out there. This is an excellent compilation of a number of Burghardt's research from the 1990s together with more recent updates. Even if Eurodollars are not your main area of expertise, this book will still help you to gain a more solid understanding of many of the pertinent topics in fixed income. ... Read more

Book Description

The opportunities for unmatched returns and investment protection in the brave new world of foreign currency investing are second to none. In Foreign Currency Trading, financial executives Russell Wasendorf, Sr., and Russell Wasendorf, Jr., describe foreign currency trading in plain terms, and help you understand the risks, benefits, and operational requirements that you will need to take advantage of this market’s tremendous potential. Look to Foreign Currency Trading for clear explanations on the mechanics of foreign currency trading, in-depth discussion of all pertinent foreign exchange rules and regulations, and a comprehensive glossary with literally hundreds of terms essential to forex trading. With formerly imposing currency trading restrictions having been struck down in recent court rulings, the world of foreign currency trading is an exciting and rapidly-expanding field. Let Wasendorf and Wasendorf’s Foreign Currency Trading be your comprehensive guidebook for effectively taking advantage of this exciting opportunity, not only as a source of unmatched income and profits, but also as a sophisticated hedging instrument in any investment portfolio. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Rarely have encountered a book this useless.
As others have said clearly, this book is a waste of trees, ink and the time of its reader. The "authors" should be ashamed of such blatant hucksterism and poor description of even the most basic aspects of trading. Even if you are a neophyte, look somewhere else.

save your money ...
... I have no idea what objective these guys had in mind when they sat down to write this book.... This book is just a bunch of information thrown together (probably downloaded from the internet) and they obviously took no time to put any real effort into this book. I was terribly dissappointed with my purchase of this book.....look elsewhere if you are interested in getting started in forex trading.

Not fair
I have been trading futures and options for 11 years. I have written three books on the subject. This is the worst example of authoring that I have ever seen. There are no real insights into the subject of Foreign Currency Trading. Mr.Wasendorf fails dismally at being objective and goes overboard in promoting his company PFG. I was sorely disappointed. I was really looking forward to additional insight into Foreign Currency Trading.

A dishonest sales plug for PFG Inc., NOT a trading book
Do not waste your time and money. The "authors" (much a dignified word for the compilers of this mismatched and unfocused jumble of trivial materials) are the owners of PFG Inc., and the obvious purpose of this book is to get your business. Their main tactics are: a) The tedious description of all conceivable risks associated with broker selection, the implication being that they (PFG Inc.) are the no-risk choice. b)Four chapters grinding the theme of how risky is to do it on your own (chapter 2: "What you don't know may hurt you", chapter 4: "Buyer beware, be very aware", chapter 5: "Are you qualified to invest in Forex?" and chapter 9: "The sensitive question of risk, risk, risk ...") and one (chapter 7) where they tie it all leading you to the grand conclusion: use the services of Currency Investment Managers! (Your choice shoulod be them, of course.) Of the 241 pages, 114 pages are apendices with forms, primitive-looking graphs, and glosaries you can find in a couple minutes for free using a search engine. Voila', there you have it: nothing about trading, much about cover-selling you their services.

To be fair
I started reading this book, but after the first two chapters I returned it to the store so that I could buy a book dealing with what I wanted to know. But, to be fair, this author did write a good book on the basics of futures trading. ... Read more

Book Description

For commodity traders and portfolio managers—a practical, hands-on guide to profiting in today’s growing international cross rate markets. Cross rates trading is growing increasingly popular, fueled in no small part by banks and multinationals seeking creative strategies for hedging currency risk and speculators seeking profits from interest rate plays and exchange rate moves. Trading Currency Cross Rates is the passkey to this vastly profitable financial sector. Written for the experienced trader moving into the currency futures and foreign exchange cash markets, as well as for the corporate portfolio manager seeking to limit company exposure, this professional guide covers the fundamentals of today’s cross rates markets and delivers the step-by-step techniques needed to trade cross rates successfully. Packed with charts and tables that apply over a broad range of international markets and currencies, the guide:

• Explains what cross rates are and profiles the different types that currently are traded
• Shows whether to trade on an agency or principal basis, and how to avoid counterparty failure
• Covers the building blocks of currency valuation and the best methods for forecasting moves in currency cross rates
• Reveals how to profitably trade exotic cross rates among currencies from the Pacific Rim and Middle East
• Explains how to cross over to the growing interbank currency market, and which fundamental and technical analysis techniques specifically apply to it
• Discusses how to easily adapt any current trading system and its input to the profitable cash markets

Book Description

The floating exchange rate environment has created a need for banks and their corporate customers to arrange their currency exposure on an active and commercial basis. This book addresses current practice and future issues and is written for both new entrants into the markets and for seasoned professionals seeking to refresh or broaden their knowledge. The book covers issues such as: A radical new settlement system for FX will be going live in the 3rd quarter - named continuous linked settlement or CLS for short, Foreign Exchange Portals Atriax and FXAII, Electronic Broking EBS, The increased profile of the spreadbetting agencies in the FX markets e.g. IG Index, Emerging Markets, and New Exotic Currency Options. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a survey of exchange-rate economics. Using the latest econometric techniques, it covers the main theories that explain the determination of exchange rates and utilizes recent empirical data on exchange rate behavior. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Outstanding!
This is a well-written and comprehensive survey of the modern international finance literature. I recommend this book to PH.D students who looking for a dissertation topic. Researchers should also have a copy of this book for reference. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a paperback volume taken from the successful hardcover mid-level International Economics textbook.The two paperback volumes are intended for separate quarter or shorter courses in international trade and monetary economics. They could also find use in MBA programs and other departments offering International Economics courses. The preface suggests chapters for one-semester comprehensive course. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Concise but not superficial
This is quite concise book but it contains all necessary parts for good understanding of this problematics. I can recommend it as good intro to international economics studies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Understandable primer on ETFs
While I have been following the growth of ETFs for a some time in the financial media, I've been confused about how to select them and why they're sound investment alternatives. This book provided sound discussions about the various funds and why this is a good investment strategy. The charts were helpful and overall this is a very well written investment book

Want to learn more about ETFs?
I did, and I found that this book gave me a clear and comprehensive knowledge base for this new (at least new to me) investment vehicle. ... Read more

Book Description

The foreign exchange (FOREX) market used to be the exclusive arena for professional currency traders and major financial institutions. With the barriers to this market now removed, you too can participate and profit from currency trading–but first you must learn how.

In Currency Trading: How to Access and Trade the World’s Biggest Market, expert trading veteran Philip Gotthelf provides a cutting-edge and comprehensive overview of the largest market in the world–where currency trading volume exceeds $1 trillion daily–and shows you how to take advantage of the fluctuations within currency markets to reap enormous rewards.

Currency Trading is filled with in-depth insights and valuable advice that any level of currency trader can appreciate. Numerous real-world examples and case studies help drive each point home in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner. Topics discussed include:

• The principle of "parity" and how to master it
• How currency markets such as futures, options, Interbank, and forwards work
• Events that affect currency value–from interest rates to a country’s economic position
• Forecasting using fundamental and technical analysis
• Basic to advanced trading strategies for currency markets
• How to avoid scams and take advantage of legal manipulations within currency markets

The dynamics and rules of currency trading are constantly changing. There is no point in following the outdated advice of "experts." Currency Trading offers practical information which will allow you to cultivate your own views of currency trading, sharpen your skills, and ultimately, draw your own conclusions on where, when, and how to trade almost any currency–from U.S. Dollars to Euros. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Thanks Disappointed and Disgusted from Northern California
The author spends way too much time explaining basic economic indicators that should be basic knowledge for any investor. After I read another review that outlined the blundering editorial mistakes, I had to see for myself. All true! I cannot continue reading this text... How can anyone who makes this many conspicuous mistakes get a book deal much less be right about anything? Not worth the $70 price tag!

Great book to start with!
As the author of the book "Futures For Small Speculators" I tend to be very critical of books that discuss my industry. Although this book had a few editorial mistakes, Mr.Gotthelf still did a solid job of getting his point across. For a beginner this is a great start. For more indepth analysis I would go to Mr. Cornelius Luca's books.

Hastily slapped together, poorly written, sloppily edited
It appears that Gotthelf dictated much of this book into a tape recorder, some far-away typist created the manuscript, and nobody bothered to read or edit the final result. How else to explain that "Jim Ellis is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oracle" on p.43 (I thought it was Larry Ellison)? These sorts of editorial lapses are rife throughout the book.

To name but a few examples, Fig 6.5 caption says "Cash Currency trading screen" but it's actually a bar chart of Yen futures (p.124)

The data for Figure 8.11 (a perpetual contracts bar chart of Yen) is presented with the caption of Figure 8.10 ("Soybeans futures monthly chart"). No soybeans chart is presented at all; instead, a Nikkei futures chart mysteriously appears (p. 212)

Figure 8.41 is printed upside down! (p.236). Honestly. This is perhaps the ultimate insult to the reader and ought to be a source of acute embarrassment to the editor and author.

Academy Award nominee James Caan, with two a's, will be amused to read p. 89 which states "... has been depicted in fiction such as the movie Rollerball starring James Cann" with two n's.

Those who buy the book believing it may deliver on the dustjacket's promise "How to trade the world's biggest market" will receive a disappointment. The only trading strategy Gotthelf reveals is "Go Long when price crosses above a moving average, Go Short when price crosses below a moving average." Then he regurgitates standard methods of creating a synthetic position using options. There is absolutely nothing new here.

No review would be complete without mentioning Gotthelf's mysterious concept of Parity. First he tells you it's "a ratio that always equals one" (page 24). Next he tells you "there are no exact relationships" in FOREX (page 32), leaving you to wonder how Parity could always equal one if there are no exact relationships. Then he muddles through two hundred more pages and eventually you, the reader, decode the fact (which Gotthelf never bothers to state exactly) that his "Parity" actually means "Equilibrium". Great. But where's the insight?

I own several other Wiley Finance books and all of them have wonderful quotes from important figures in the trading world, in the form of testimonials and gushing recommendations on the rear dustjacket. Kaufman's "Trading Systems and Methods" has five, Hill and Pruitt's "The Ultimate Trading Guide" has four, Ryan Jones's "The Trading Game" has five, Sweeney's "Maximum Adverse Excursion" has three, et cetera ad nauseum. But this currency book by Gotthelf has exactly zero quotes on the dustjacket. No recommendations, no congratulations, no endorsements. I suggest you follow the advice of everyone who DIDN'T write a recommendation for Gotthelf's book: stay away.

Soros's Resource
OK, I don't know if Soros used this resource, but he probably would have enjoyed it. This is a classic for anyone who wants to engage in serious trading or speculation in the foreign exchange markets. This book entertains as it illustrates. One caveat is convertibility risk detailed in Tavakoli's book on "Credit Derivatives". We saw this happen in several Latin American countries, Iran, and more, and that effects settlement on foreign exchange and foreign exchange options. Another product Tavakoli writes about is credit default contingent foreign exchange. One can speculate and earn big premiums, but the risk is difficult to evaluate. ... Read more

Book Description

Now updated and revised with all new charts and key information on the euro.The introduction of the euro and the recent explosion of electronic trading has changed the outlook of the foreign exchange market dramatically.Global currency trading offers staggering rewards for those with the knowledge to capitalize on it.

This updated guide provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for beginners and experienced traders alike on how to use technical analysis-with revised charts and graphs-to cash in on these enormous opportunities.The only guide of its kind to focus solely on all aspects of technical analysis, Luca explains and illustrates:The fundamentals of technical analysis and how it applies to foreign exchange What one must learn about trends and trend patterns How the major players in foreign exchange analyze their charts The quantitative methods of analysis-including all types of moving averages, oscillators, and other indicatorsThis book provides a thorough, yet easy-to-grasp explanation and analysis of point and figure charting, candlestick charting, the Gann methods, and the Elliot Wave principle.Also included is an updated CD-ROM that lets readers test the methods presented and apply them to real trading-and quickly increase proficiency in charting and chart analysis. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

To be critical is to be constructive.
If this book is very bad, I am glad to learn it from people who consider themselves knowledgeable and who have read it.But should it be possible for such critics to propose another reference which they appreciated the content.It would be much more instructive for readers who are shopping for quality books.

Not any help at all...
As a Foreign Currency Dealer, I was NOT helped from this book at all! Actually the title is misleading since he does NOT concentrate on FX, he only shows some graph examples using FX crosses instead of stocks... The author just refers to a lot of TA indicators only reviewing their typical Buy and Sell signals that are written in every TA book, and furthermore the sections are very bad structured. Really very very disappointed!!!

Very Very good book
This is a very good book. If you want to start trading currency online(like me) you must read this book first.

excellent value!!
I haven't completed the book but if I never read another page it's well worth what I payed compared to some prices of other simular books on the market. I don't know what the initial cost was, but those who wrote the unfavorable reviews should have waited to purchase. Maybe they would have been more positive.

Very very bad indeed
I have read many many book on Forex trading and this is one of the worst written ones I have come across in 8 years or so. As other reviewers have pointed out you'll notice all the good reviews on this book (all 5 star not surprisingly) seem to be written by the same person or persons. Don't waste any money on this what so ever!!! ... Read more

Book Description

A professional's guide to controlling risk when investing in the foreign exchange and money markets. Particular emphasis on the use of derivatives. The book offers a unique perspective combining coverage of all three areas. ... Read more

Book Description

An accessible introduction to the exploding foreign exchange trading market

Getting Started in Currency Trading is both an introduction and reference tool for beginning and intermediate foreign exchange (Forex) traders. This information-packed resource opens with a clear description of the Forex market and a section of Forex terms that are clearly defined with examples. Readers are then shown how to open their own trading account with step-by-step instructions-accompanied by numerous screen shots of what to expect inside a dealer's trading platform-that walk them through the physical process of placing and liquidating currency orders. Other chapters introduce various trading strategies and tactics in detail, along with some fundamental and technical analysis to assist the trader in their decision-making process. ... Read more

Book Description

In the near future the UK will need to decide whether or not to join the euro. Yet few of us really understand the issues at stake. Will the Government lose control of the economy if we join or will we lose investment and weaken our international voice if we remain outside the euro? When, if ever, will the time be right to join?
In this clear, accessible guide, Paul Temperton, explains in a straightforward and totally impartial manner the pros and cons of the UK joining the euro. This book contains all the information necessary for the layperson to make up his or her own mind about an issue that will affect the lives of everybody living in the UK.
... Read more

Book Description

The foreign exchange market is the largest market in the world, with an estimated $1.6 trillion average daily turnover. This book sets out to introduce the novice to the practical skills necessary to understand the foreign exchange market today.

Foreign Exchange Primer provides a clear understanding of how this market functions, from the main products through to the techniques used, coverage of the main participants, details of the various 'players' and an understanding of the 'jargon' used in everyday dealings.

This concise and highly accessible primer, is ideal for anyone new to or wanting to become involved in the foreign exchange market, from a dealing room or sales perspective through to the novice investor. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A poor text book
This book does not help me much with my foreign exchange course as a financial engineering student.

Many examples in the book have obvious numeric errors. Also it does not talk about any logic behind the calculation. The little calculation it has is neither rigorous nor complete. Reading this book only caused me more questions and confusions. I had to read other books as a correction or supplement.

It's definitely not for people looking for mathematical reasoning. It does not even talk about Garman-Kohlhagen formula, or Spot-Forward parity etc. It only has some explanations of some jargons, even those explanations are not very well presented.

Another thing I don't like is that at several places two consecutive paragraphs are identical except for a few keywords -- an obvious result of copy & paste.

Had I known the content of the book, I would not have bought it! I bought the e-book & didn't know the content until after I bought it. And e-books cannot be returned. Otherwise I would have done it!

The perfect forex primer!
Although this book is primarily written for people that are clueless about foreign exchange (FX), it will actually teach the clued-up a thing or two also. The broad range of topics covered is what you'd expect to find in a book that is considerably thicker and more expensive - there's a detailed insight into the marketplace and its participants, the products (spot, forwards, swaps, options), fundamental vs. technical analysis, and more. The author writes in a concise, but extremely readable style and makes extensive use of pictures and diagrams. Furthermore, the book is bang up to date with recent developments in FX, such as the Euro and electronic dealing (that is, at the time I wrote this review). Finally, as an added bonus, this book is not overly biased towards the US or the US dollar, which I feel is especially appropriate for an FX book. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

A groundbreaking collection on currency derivatives, including pricing theory and hedging applications.

"David DeRosa has assembled an outstanding collection of works on foreign exchange derivatives. It surely will become required reading for both students and option traders."—Mark B. Garman President, Financial Engineering Associates, Inc. Emeritus Professor, University of California, Berkeley.

"A comprehensive selection of the major references in currency option pricing."—Nassim Taleb. Senior trading advisor, Paribas Author, Dynamic Hedging: Managing Vanilla and Exotic Options.

"A useful compilation of articles on currency derivatives, going from the essential to the esoteric."—Philippe Jorion Professor of Finance, University of California, Irvine Author, Value at Risk: The New Benchmark for Controlling Market Risk.

Every investment practitioner knows of the enormous impact that the Black-Scholes option pricing model has had on investment and derivatives markets. The success of the theory in understanding options on equity, equity index, and fixed- income markets is common knowledge. Yet, comparatively few professionals are aware that the theory's greatest successes may have been in the derivatives market for foreign exchange. Perhaps this is not surprising because the foreign exchange market is a professional trading arena that is closed virtually to all but institutional participants. Nevertheless, the world's currency markets have proven to be an almost ideal testing and development ground for new derivative instruments.

This book contains many of the most important scientific papers that collectively constitute the core of modern currency derivatives theory. What is remarkable is that each and every one of these papers has found its place in the real world of currency derivatives trading. As such, the contributing authors to this volume can properly claim to have been codevelopers of this new derivatives market, having worked in de facto partnership with the professional traders in the dealing rooms of London, New York, Tokyo, and Singapore.

The articles in this book span the entire currency derivatives field: forward and futures contracts, vanilla currency puts and calls, models for American exercise currency options, options on currencies with bounded exchange rate regimes, currency futures options, the term and strike structure of implied volatility, jump and stochastic volatility option pricing models, barrier options, Asian options, and various sorts of quanto options. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is solid book that has depth
This book covers so much in the derivatives marketplace. After being involved in the business for 12 years and writing three books on futures and commodity derivatives I was definitely refreshed and enlightened by Mr.DeRosa's book.

Excellent choice of papers!
DeRosa has picked excellent papers. If one reads the papers in detail, the currency derivatives literature, as well as related derivatives literature, becomes very easy to understand.

Comprehensive
This book presents highly technical papers on diverse topics from variuous academics. It would be very helpful to anyone looking to understand theoretical aspects of FX derivatives. Since most papers are written by different authors, notation is not consistent. In addition, academics do not always write like Hemingway. Nevertheless, the book covers everyhting from vanillas to exotics very well. ... Read more