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Artist Patrushka just sent us this great Day of the Dead piece she did and an upcoming exhibition announcement.

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This book was written in very basic form to cater to the maximum number of potential forex investors. Forex investing is very risky and investors can lose money. Therefore it is prudent to fully understand the markets before investing your hard earned money. There are many ways for potential investors to practice forex trading without actually opening an account. I believe that it is very sensible to use a practice account first just in case forex trading is not right for you. This book in no way should be considered a guarantee of profits in the forex markets. Forex trading is very risky. Only risk capital should be used for this type of speculative investment.The forex markets are a true electronic or over-the-counter exchange. There is no physical or central forex exchange location. The forex market is comprised of a global network of banks, corporations and individuals who are buying and selling currencies 24 hours a day, except on weekends. Forex trading follows the sun around the globe. The most active exchange centers are in Tokyo, Singapore, London and New York. When Asian trading session ends the European session begins and when the European session ends the North American session begins.

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Today’s markets are as volatile as anyone has ever seen. You have to think about everything – all the time. World politics. Tight credit markets. Fluctuating currency markets. In this uncertain world, our metals markets represent some of the most solid trading opportunities. We deliver the technologies and vibrant markets that let you manage risk how you want. Where you want. When you want. Safely and securely. Our metals products provid ecommercial metals buyers and sellers with long-term price protection and short-term arbitrage opportunities; the ability to reduce working capital requirements and physical storage costs associated with physical market operations; and the potential to improve creditworthiness and add to orrowing capacity. The extensive slate of futures and options contracts listed at CME Group enables a global pool of buyers and sellers to manage their exposure to market fluctuations. Reducing risk and creating opportunities, around the world, virtually 24 hours a day.In today’s market environment, effective risk management is a business imperative. Risk management opens the door to opportunity. It supports faster and smarter decisions and, although risk management can be measured in dollars, euros and yen, it also depends on the tangible benefits of security,trust and confidence.

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What are the basic mechanics of a forex trade? The currencies are traded against each other in one simultaneous transaction. For instance, you may believe that the EUR will strengthen versus the USD over the next few days. You might place an order to Buy 1 EUR/USD. Buying one EUR/USD leverages $100,000 worth of currency. To exit this trade you would Sell 1 EUR/USD and your trade would realize a loss, gain or break even depending on the currencies’ movements versus each other. Now let’s presume that you believe that the JPY will strengthen against the USD. You might sell 1 USD/JPY which leverages $100,000 worth of currency. Please not that the most valuable currency is listed first in the trade first. In other words, you would not buy 1 JPY/USD to accomplish your speculation that the JPY will strengthen versus the USD. The first currency is referred to as the base currency and the latter is called the counter or quote currency.

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Cash prices are the prices for which the commodity is sold at the various market locations. The futures price represents the current market opinion of what the commodity will be worth at some time in the future. Under normal circumstances of adequate supply, the price of the physical commodity for future delivery will be approximately equal to the present cash price, plus the amount it costs to carry or store the commodity from the present to the month of delivery. As a result, one would ordinarily expect to see an upward trend to the prices of distant contract months. These costs, known as carrying charges, determine the normal premium over cash,and create a market condition known as contango which is typical of many futures markets. In most physical markets, the crucial determinant of the price differential between two contract months is the cost of storing the commodity over that particular length of time. As a result, markets which compensate an individual fully for carrying charges — interest rates, insurance, and storage — are known as full contango markets, or full carrying charge markets. Under normal market conditions, when supplies are adequate, the price of a commodity for future delivery should be equal to the present spot prices plus carrying charges. The contango structure of the futures market is kept intact by the ability of dealers and financial institutions to bring carrying charges back into line through arbitrage.

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Day-trading, which was once the exclusive domain of the floor trader, is now fair game for all speculators. Inspired in part by large intraday price swings, instant availability of quotes, affordable high-powered computers and competitive commissions, the new wave of day-trading methods and systems has attracted thousands of traders in recent years. The undeniable thrill of trading within the time span of one day is, however, a double-edged sword: one that can hurt as well as heal. To be successful, a day-trader must have the discipline of a machine, the instincts of a fox, the emotions of a rock, the skills of a surgeon and the patience of a saint.The day trader works more with the emotions along with the fundamental analysis.
Very active currency trader who holds positions for a very short time and makes several trades each day. Day traders are individuals who are trying to make a career out of buying and selling stocks very quickly, often making dozens of trades in a single day and generally closing all positions at the end of each day. Day trading can be costly, since the commissions and the bid/ask spread add up when there are so many transactions.

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In stark contrast to the shrinking physical market, the futures trading on Tocom has experienced significant growth during the 1990s. Before showing you the bar charts, let me go through the general outline of the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.The Tocom is a non-profit membership organisation given the statutory powers by the Commodity Exchange Law of 1950, regulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The Exchange lists precious metals, energy products, and industrial materials like aluminium and rubber. The Tocom has 120 General Members, 44 Associate Members and 68 Broker Members.In precious metals, gold, silver, platinum and palladium futures contracts are traded in Japanese yen for up to 11 months forward. Weight units are 1 kilo in 99.99 gold, 60 kilos in 99.99 silver, half a kilo in 99.9 platinum and 999.5 palladium. Trading is all screen based. The morning session lasts from 9 until 11am Tokyo time, and the afternoon session is from 12:30 till 3:30 pm. It is possible for you to follow the Tocom afternoon session from your office in Delhi or Mumbai.There has been a tremendous growth in trade volume on Tocom over the last 19 years. Last year, Tocom traded just over 20,000 mt of gold, which is about 85 mt per day, equivalent to Japanese annual imports in recent years.

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Very active currency trader who holds positions for a very short time and makes several trades each day. Day traders are individuals who are trying to make a career out of buying and selling stocks very quickly, often making dozens of trades in a single day and generally closing all positions at the end of each day. Day trading can be costly, since the commissions and the bid/ask spread add up when there are so many transactions.Currency trader who, unlike most traders, takes a long-term, buy and hold approach. In currency trading,refers to holding until the delivery date is close, usually 5-7 months.Basically, a position trade approach is to enter the markets only during times of key reversal probability in order to capture large moves as they gradually or quickly unfold. It is designed for traders who favor a gradual, buy and hold approach when ideal trade conditions exist for high-odds success.

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Sid Vicious

Four vintage mug shots of musicians we know and love... well, at least their music! Rock, punk and jazz - all equal in the eyes of the law.

Elvis Presley

Billie Holiday

Steven Tyler

Johnny Cash

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