The music of forex

摘要

In The Psychology of the Foreign Exchange Market, author Thomas Oberlechner provides the results of research into how professional traders view the markets. One approach he uses is to characterize these views with different metaphors. Oberlechner says the main metaphors used by forex traders are a bazaar, machine, living beast, gambling, sports, war and the ocean. Such uses are not accidental. Metaphors are an important way people organize information as well as form their own expectations of the market. The major point behind the research is that the mindset used to understand and observe the forex markets is itself a factor in how you proceed to trade. The person who views the forex market as sports will look to winning trades as the main focus, but may become emotionally damaged when faced with a losing trade. In contrast, the person who views forex as an ocean may adopt longer-term views of market moves. Many view trading as a war and, as a result, formulate trading strategies that capture pip moves as if they were the enemy.