A List Of 10 Free Backtesting Options

 MetaTrader 4/5 (MT4/MT5): These are popular trading platforms that offer built-in backtesting functionalities. Many brokers provide these platforms, and they often come with historical data for backtesting.

Forex Tester: While Forex Tester isn't entirely free, it does offer a free demo version with limited features. This allows you to test its capabilities before purchasing the full version.

TradingView: TradingView is a widely-used platform that provides a powerful charting tool. They offer some backtesting capabilities, and you can use it for free with limitations, or subscribe for more advanced features.

ProRealTime: This platform offers a free version with limited features, including backtesting capabilities. It's known for its advanced charting tools.

ZuluTrade: ZuluTrade is a social trading platform that allows you to follow and copy the trades of professional traders. It also offers a basic backtesting feature.

QuantConnect: QuantConnect is a platform that provides a cloud-based algorithmic trading engine. They offer a free community version which includes backtesting capabilities.

Myfxbook: While primarily known for its social trading network, Myfxbook also provides some basic backtesting functionality.

TradingSim: This platform offers a free version with limited features. It provides a simulation environment for backtesting trading strategies.

NinjaTrader: NinjaTrader provides a free version of their platform that includes basic backtesting features. It's more advanced than some other free options but still has limitations.

Python with Backtrader or Zipline: If you have some programming knowledge, you can use Python with libraries like Backtrader or Zipline for backtesting. These libraries are open-source and offer a lot of flexibility.

Exchanging 100 USD to CAD- What Are The Current Rates?

Table of contents

1) Convert USD to CAD to find out what current rate is instantly in real time 

2) find out what institutions rates are for converting it. this will be different because they charge a fee for converting it

3)What can you buy for 100USD when you convert it? 

4) Find out what future holds for theses 2 currencies. Whats its done in the past and where it will most likely go in the next 3 months.

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So you want to convert 100 USD to CAD? Find out quickly what it is below with our converter.

1)If you are trying to find the current exchange rate today for USD to CAD use our converter below to find out quickly what it is right now in real time. 

Convert it now

Currency Converter

2)Find out what the different institutions rates are below. Can you exchange/convert usd at these banks? Find out below. Also find out USD to CAD with tax/fees included looks like? They all charge fees and have different rules about exchanging money. How much is $100 American in Canadian money?

a)RBC- you can find out the latest exchange rate for RBC here

b)CIBC-you can find out the latest exchange rate for CIBC here

c)TD-you can find out the latest exchange rate for TD here

d)Western Union -you can find out the latest exchange rate for WU here

e)Paypal -you can find out the latest exchange rate for PP here

f)BMO-you can find out the latest exchange rate for BMO here

3)Find out what can you buy for 100 USD when you convert it? Its called the PPP or (Purchasing Power Parity) between the 2 countries. If you are going on a trip you've likely wondered will my money be worth less, more or about the same? Is it better to save US dollars or Canadian dollars?

PPP is the most common metric. It works by comparing different countries currencies through a "basket of goods" approach.  As an example to help you understand what that looks like there is something called the "Big Mac Index" which tracks the cost of a Big Mac McDonalds meal in 118 countries. So if a Big Mac meal costed 8$USD in California and then you bought the same meal in China and it costed 6$ USD after the conversion into YEN you actually saved 2$ after exchange rate fees and taxes.

The OEDC has an updated chart showing it yearly here

4) Find out what future holds for theses 2 currencies. Whats its done in the past and where it will most likely go in the next 3 months. We'll look at future charts and historical ones. Will the CAD get stronger than the USD or possibly be go back to parity in the near future?

When looking at future forecasts you will inevitably be met with a wide variety of opinions from various institutions and governments. So who do you trust? 

The most reliable 2 ways are to 

a)look at the consensus across a dozen or more agencies or 3rd parties about the larger or macro trends in the markets

b) then for the short term complexly ignore what the market is saying and just focus on what its doing or using technical analysis.  In my opinion 

The Best Stochastic Settings For 1 Minute Chart

I have been working with, using consistently and have done literally 1000's of back-tests with the various stochastic indicators over the years. The basic stochastic indicator/oscillator is what I will be focusing on. If you've seen or heard of a stochastic indicator then likely its the basic "stochastic oscillator" indicator since its available on most trading platforms by default. There are others however like the stochastic momentum index, and stochastic rsi . I will be focusing on the stochastic oscillator in the back-tests below.

I have done a lot of testing with it on various time frames, with various settings and paired it with other indicators and strategies. I have mostly tested it on the 1 minute chart, 5 minute, and 15 min charts since I'm a day trader primarily.

Everybody that has traded on lower time frames charts like the 1 minute knows that its far more volatile and prone to flash movements around some news event but it also depends on the time of the day and day of the week even. The same news event during the Asian session vs the new York/Euro overlap session will have quite a different impact on the market simply because of the differences in volume. Most indicators lose their effectiveness on lower time frames.

You also need to take into account the instrument you will be trading. Some are well known to be far more volatile than the others. I trade the Forex, crypto, stock and futures markets on a daily basis. Primarily the futures however more than anything else and specifically the NQ index has been my main go-to. I will doing a rundown of some of the best bask-tests/setups I have found so far on the 1 minute charts. I have actually done far more but they performed poorly so I won't bother showing them.

If you read through this entire article I promise you that you will come away with something you can apply immediately to help you become more profitable assuming that these setups perform better than yours.  

How the stochastic oscillator works 

So a quick rundown on how this works. You need to understand the weaknesses and strengths of each indicator you use. This will help you either decide when to use it, how to use it in relation to another indicator to just avoid using it at all. I wont be going into great depth into the math behind it as that would take an entire article just for that alone. But rather just to give you an overview and get right into how to use it. There is a link to Investopedia that goes into far greater detail at the bottom of the article under resources if you wish to learn more about this indicator in detail. 

If you've use this then you know its a non-painting indicator which necessary to know to start off with. Its very common and easy to find on most charting platforms so the accessibility means you wont have to pay for any add-ons which is a bonus. Its a range-bound momentum based indicator. Generally most traders think of it as a momentum based indicator which are usually seen as being best at choppy markets-sideways markets and  not as good at trending markets. Usually most traders use in 2 ways with standard settings.

1) Watching for divergence points ( these don't happen as often as OB/OS situations)

2) Watch for overbought situations( above 80) or oversold situations (below 20)

Both can be useful but you have to take into accounts other factors like any other indicators you are using and exit strategies both for taking profit and loss.

If you adjust the settings however you can use it other ways as well.

I will be going through the best stochastics settings for a 1 minute chart on 3 different setups with different settings for the stochastic oscillator. For each setting I'm doing 4 tests so that's a total of 12 back-tests. I have included a spreadsheet showing how the backtests performed against each other and which was the best as well as a list of all trades taken in the backtests just to prove to you that these tests are legitimate. There is a growing trend of wanna-be gurus out there claiming things but have no evidence to back it up. I'm not doing that here. I don't make any claims that we cannot 100% back up with hard data as evidence. Everything we do here is data driven. Anything else is really just wishful thinking. Every strategy listed below was back-tested on the following instruments. NQ, gold, BTC/USD, EURUSD, TSLA, JNJ. 

Reasons why those were chosen

NQ-Most commonly traded  futures index besides ES. Its also commonly traded in the stock market

Gold-Most commonly traded futures product

BTCUSD- Most commonly traded cypto

EURUSD- Most commonly traded

TSLA- Most commonly trade high beta company

JNJ- =Most commonly trade low beta company 

How I conduct backtests is to make sure that we have at least 100 trades although more is better and those trades have to be over multiple( at least 2) periods or more of bullish trends, bearish trends and sideways choppiness. That way you will find out where it works best and worst and hopefully improve your usage of it going forward.

Strategy 1 Rules

Settings 

-14,3,1

Entry rules

-daily + 15min strategy long trade

-look at daily and see if stochastic if the k% is below 20 

-on the daily when it the d& and k% crosses above the 20 line go to 15min 

-now on the 15min wait for the d to cross the 20 as well 

-once it crossed above you will now look for a 3 candle pattern on 15min

-enter on the candle close of the last candle in the 3 candle pattern  

Exit loss?

Exit tp?

Strategy 2 Rules

Settings 

stoch setting is 5,5,5, and the 2 ema's  are 150/50 entry

Entry

-emas show trend. For a long trade wait for the 50 to be above the 150. And for short positions the 50 must be below the 150. The price needs to be on around the 150 or between the 50 and 150 for an entry 

-Now you wait for the stochastic to cross down from overbought or cross up from oversold price

-One other additional criteria. The price action must also not break previous low if going long or previous high if going short. This will ensure the trend is still continuing and not coming to an end.(it should be making new highs or lows if going long and new lows if going lower)

-once the price crosses the 50ema you enter in the direction of the trend on a break above that high in the price action

Exit stop

-stop just above recent swing high or low by a few pips

Exit Tp 

-1.5-1 reward to risk

Strategy 3 Rules

Settings

-stoch 14,3,3 

-macd -remove histogram 14 with ma standard setting volume ma set to 30

Entry

-need all 3+ vol above ma to go long or short 

Exit Tp 1.5-1 reward to risk

Exit Stop -recent swing low

Which one performed the best?

The winner for each instrument is listed below which was based on reduced draw-down and total return was strategy #2. 

NQ  - The best performing one was strategy #2 which had 231 wins 164 losses which = a 71% win rate 

Gold- The best performing one was strategy #2 which had 157 wins 

BTC/USD- Strategy #3 was the best 

EURUSD- The best was strategy #2 which had 

TSLA- Strategy #3 was the best 

JNJ - Strategy #1 was the best - This barely beat out #2

The strategy that performed the best across all 5 instruments 

Strategy #2 was the one that performed the best on the most of them however you may notice that strategy #3 seemed to perform better on higher volatility instruments. Even though strategy #2 performed the best it did not massively outperforms the other 2. It was actually very close and really using all 3 strategies and just managing your risk you could easily make $$ consistently using any of them as their win rates were all at least 60%+ Considering that the R/R ratio was at least 1.5-1 that makes it very worthy of more testing imo.

If you are interested in seeing a list of trades for these back-tests give me a comment below and ill publish the link to the pdf.

Link to Investopedia on the Stochastic indicator

First Class Forex Funds Review

So I decided to try out First Class Forex Funds 3 months ago and this is my review of it.

My review

Just to start it all off I will say that I believe it to be a complete ripoff and that you should avoid it like the plague. Its likely they are already out of business as I am writing this. They have even belligerently admitted to scamming people in their twitter feed. 

They also stated that they are based out of New Jersey but in reality they are operating from somewhere else it appears. As you can see from these interactions they don't give 2 shits about the law and flat out admit to stealing people money.

Its poor operators in the trading market like this that give it a bad name. I signed up for an account back in June 12 2023. I passed their test and started trading live at the end of June. At the end of July I had made roughly a 9% return on my account at which time i requested a withdrawal.

Initially I was met with silence and thought maybe I hadn't submitted the request properly or maybe a technical error. So I submitted it again and tried to contact support for the 10th time. This time I got an email from them saying that I was not eligible for a withdrawal and they gave me no reason as to why. 

Its now into September or 1.5 months later and still no withdrawal. I have not touched the account since the beginning of August until I get a response about the payout.

Whats being said about them online 

There area also as it seems hundreds of other complaints just like mine about this company

As of Sept 12 2023

1)Trust pilot rates it at 1.6/5 stars over 1244 reviews

2)Google reviews has a rating of 1.2/5 stars over 29 reviews

3)WikiFX is saying they are not even licenced.

All of their social media accounts on Instagram, twitter, discord, Facebook and Youtube seem to have gone suddenly silent as of May and they haven't posted since then. Before that they were posting almost daily. Again though if you see the comments it seems nobody has anything good to say about them and that they are no honoring the payouts. Most seem to have gotten their account banned as well for no reason. 

Back in March of this year they broke their contractual relations with Eightcap (the broker they use) and all accounts from all clients were disabled.

There are even meme's being created about them as this one from twitter shows

Simply put avoid them like the plague

Forex God- What Does It Mean?

What is a forex god? What is the meaning of it? Who is a Forex God and how you can become one?

A "Forex God" is an informal term referring to exceptionally successful and renowned forex traders like George Soros, Bruce Kovner, and Paul Tudor Jones. These individuals have demonstrated exceptional skills and profitability in the forex markets. 

Many traders aspire to attain the status of a Forex God, which signifies extraordinary achievement and success in Forex trading. In essence, a Forex God is a trader who has reached remarkable heights of success in the forex market.

Who are the generally seen as the top 10 traders in the forex market? What are these Forex Gods net worth?

Here is a list of the 10 most well-known and successful forex traders up to last year. Please note that the rankings and reputations of traders can change over time, and there may be new influential figures in the forex trading world.

1.George Soros: George Soros is perhaps one of the most famous forex traders of all time. He is known for "breaking the Bank of England" in 1992 when he shorted the British Pound and made over a billion dollars in profit.

2.Paul Tudor Jones: Jones is a prominent hedge fund manager and trader. He is known for predicting the 1987 market crash and has been successful in various financial markets, including forex.

3.Stanley Druckenmiller: Druckenmiller is another legendary hedge fund manager and trader. He was George Soros's lead portfolio manager at the Quantum Fund and is known for his exceptional risk management skills.

4.Bruce Kovner: Kovner founded Caxton Associates, a highly successful hedge fund. He is known for his disciplined trading style and his ability to adapt to changing market conditions.

5.Bill Lipschutz: Lipschutz is a former currency trader at Salomon Brothers and is known for turning a $12,000 inheritance into millions by trading forex.

6.Andrew Krieger: Krieger is known for his large short position on the New Zealand dollar in 1987, which led to significant profits.

7.John R. Taylor Jr.: Taylor is known for creating the Taylor Trading Technique, a method for trading in the forex market.

8.Joe Lewis: Lewis is a British businessman and investor known for his currency trading exploits. He's also a prominent figure in the world of professional golf.

9.Michael Marcus: Marcus is known for turning a $30,000 account into over $80 million through trading. You can find him being featured in the book "Market Wizards" by Jack D. Schwager.

10.Richard Dennis: While he's more known for his success in commodities trading, Dennis was also involved in forex trading. He was a key figure in the famous "Turtle Traders" experiment.

SO now you know who the top traders are. The next part will explore how they became successful and what are some of the common traits or characteristics that they all posses? 

Here are the top 14 we've identified

1.Discipline: Successful traders have the discipline to stick to their trading plans and strategies, even in the face of emotional or impulsive decisions.

2.Risk Management Skills: They understand the importance of managing risk and employ strategies like setting stop-loss orders to limit potential losses.

3.Patience: They wait for the right opportunities to present themselves rather than forcing trades when conditions aren't favorable.

4.Continuous Learning: They are always seeking to expand their knowledge of the markets, economic factors, and trading techniques. They stay updated with current events and market trends.

5.Emotional Control: They can keep their emotions in check, avoiding impulsive decisions that can lead to losses. They don't allow their emotions like greed or fear control their actions.

6.Adaptability: Successful traders can adjust their strategies in response to changing market conditions. They know that things change all the time and nothing is 100% guaranteed and understand what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow.

7.Analytical Skills: They have a strong ability to analyze market data, charts, and technical indicators to make informed trading decisions.

8.Confidence: Successful traders have confidence in their strategies, but they are not overconfident or reckless. They understand that losses are part of the trading process.

9.Long-Term Perspective: They don't get discouraged by short-term losses and are focused on achieving consistent, long-term profitability.

10.Goal Setting: They set clear, realistic goals for their trading activities. They make those goals very specific, but also measurable, achievable, relevant.

11.Adherence to Trading Plan: They have a well-defined trading plan that outlines entry and exit points, risk management strategies, and profit targets. They stick to this plan religiously.

12.Ability to Cut Losses: They are not afraid to admit when a trade is not going their way and are willing to cut their losses before they escalate.

13.Financial Discipline: They manage their trading capital responsibly and avoid overleveraging, which can lead to significant losses.

14.Humble and Open-Minded: They understand that no one can predict the market with certainty, and they are open to learning from both successes and failures.

It's important to note that while these traits are common among successful traders, there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success in forex trading. Each trader may emphasize different aspects of their trading style, and what works for one individual may not work for another. Additionally, success in trading also requires a certain degree of luck, as market conditions can be unpredictable.

In conclusion

You might have already decided that you want to learn how to do this or are interesting in finding out how to do this. If so the next article explores the exact step-by-step process you can take to right away to achieve success in Forex and become a Forex god yourself one day.

Best tech stocks with a dividend for September 2023

Dividend-paying tech stocks represent a unique and increasingly attractive investment opportunity in the ever-evolving world of technology. Traditionally, the tech sector has been associated with rapid growth and capital appreciation, often at the expense of regular dividend payouts. However, many established tech giants have matured to a point where they generate significant cash flows, allowing them to reward shareholders with consistent dividends. These companies have managed to strike a balance between innovation and financial stability, making them appealing to both growth-focused and income-seeking investors. By investing in dividend-paying tech stocks, investors can not only benefit from potential capital gains driven by technological advancements, but also enjoy a steady stream of income, providing a level of stability in an otherwise dynamic industry.

One key advantage of dividend-paying tech stocks is their ability to provide a hedge against market volatility. In times of economic uncertainty or market downturns, these stocks tend to offer a degree of resilience. This is because they often have strong fundamentals, diversified revenue streams, and robust cash reserves, allowing them to weather economic storms more effectively than their non-dividend counterparts. Additionally, the regular income from dividends can be reinvested or used to cover expenses, providing investors with a sense of financial security. Moreover, these tech companies typically have a track record of consistent performance, indicating a level of operational maturity and reliability. This combination of growth potential and income stability positions dividend-paying tech stocks as an intriguing option for a wide range of investors looking to navigate the dynamic landscape of the technology sector.

Oracle (ORCL)

Oracle, a multinational IT corporation, specializes in computer hardware and enterprise software products. Renowned for its database management systems, Oracle commanded a 50% market share in this domain in 2011. The company also excels in crucial areas such as enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and supply chain management software. While its dividend may be on the modest side, Oracle remains a robust stock. Notably, it was a favored choice among hedge funds and institutional investors, as indicated by 13F filings.

Microsoft (MSFT)

Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, has been at the forefront of operating system development since the introduction of MS-DOS in the 1980s. Its foray into the mobile computing sector with Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8 underscores its ongoing market presence. Boasting substantial revenue and stability, Microsoft offers an attractive 3.36% dividend yield. This, combined with its industry-leading status, makes it an appealing option for investors seeking long-term stability.

Intel (INTC)

As the foremost semiconductor chip manufacturer by revenue, Intel is pivotal to modern electronics. Its leadership in microprocessor production, alongside a diverse product range, positions it as a key player in the industry. Intel commands significant market share in microprocessors worldwide, as affirmed by International Data Corporation. Despite challenges, Intel remains an industry leader, and its dividend yield remains noteworthy.

Cisco (CSCO)

Cisco Systems specializes in designing, producing, and selling networking equipment, essential for electronic communication over networks. While some argue that it no longer holds its former bellwether status, Cisco's substantial cash reserves of over $50 billion offer a cushion. Moreover, since initiating dividend payouts in 2011, the company has consistently increased them, indicating a strong financial position and commitment to shareholders.

Apple (AAPL)

Renowned for its consumer electronics and personal computing devices, Apple's relatively modest 3% annual dividend yield complements its industry leadership. While concerns about market saturation persist, projections of a 20% annual growth rate for the next five years signal continued potential. Apple's debt-free status and substantial cash reserves of over $145 billion further enhance its appeal.

Texas Instruments (TXN)

As the third-largest semiconductor manufacturer globally and a significant supplier of cellular handset chips, Texas Instruments has a resilient dividend history since 1962. With semiconductors constituting the bulk of its revenue, the company plays a vital role in the industry.

Corning (GLW)

Corning specializes in manufacturing glass, ceramics, and related materials, primarily for display, environmental, and telecommunications technology. Despite fluctuating revenue and net margins, a 20% increase in the company's quarterly common stock dividend in 2012 reflects growing confidence in its potential.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)

As a multinational IT corporation, Hewlett-Packard offers software solutions and services across various sectors. While it once held the largest market share in PC manufacturing, the company's diverse product range includes enterprise solutions, servers, storage devices, and imaging products. Despite recent challenges, its dividend potential could be a valuable asset for shareholders if it successfully navigates the competitive PC market.

Exploring Forex Trading Systems in 2015

 

Looking back when  started trading back in 2015 in the world of forex there have been some things that have changed and some still remain the same. Below I'll go through 6 core strategies that I used to use and still do with many of them today 

2015 was a year marked by significant economic events and market volatility, making it imperative for traders to employ a range of strategic approaches. Successful forex trading in this period demanded a combination of adaptability, analysis, and risk management. Here, we delve into some of the most effective forex trading strategies that dominated the landscape in 2015. Economic events like Quantitative easing that boosted European markets through many for a loop.

1.Trend Following Strategy: Riding the waves of trends was a favored approach. Traders meticulously studied long-term and short-term trends using technical indicators such as moving averages and Relative Strength Index (RSI). By entering trades in the direction of the prevailing trend, traders aimed to capitalize on sustained price movements, often achieving impressive profits.

2.Breakout Strategy: The volatility in 2015 offered traders ample breakout opportunities. The strategy involved identifying key levels of support and resistance and waiting for a breakout above or below these levels. The breakout signaled a potential shift in market sentiment, leading to quick gains as price surged beyond established ranges.

3.Carry Trade Strategy: In a year characterized by divergent global monetary policies, the carry trade strategy gained traction. Traders leveraged the interest rate differential between two currencies to earn profits. They borrowed funds in a currency with a lower interest rate and invested in a currency offering a higher rate, pocketing the difference.

4.News Trading Strategy: With central banks around the world announcing significant policy changes and economic indicators creating market-moving events, news trading was a popular approach. Traders closely monitored economic calendars, reacting swiftly to news releases that often led to sudden price fluctuations.

5.Range Trading Strategy: The increased volatility also saw traders adopt range-bound strategies. They identified well-defined levels of support and resistance and executed trades when prices approached these boundaries. Profits were made as prices oscillated within the established range.

6.Diversification Strategy: Sensing the uncertainty in the markets, traders diversified their portfolios across various currency pairs. This strategy aimed to spread risk and capitalize on different currency dynamics, potentially offsetting losses in one trade with gains in another.

So 2015 was a year of both challenges and opportunities in forex trading. Traders navigated through the turbulent waters with a diverse set of strategies, adjusting their tactics to suit the evolving market conditions. Whether capitalizing on trends, breakouts, interest rate differentials, news events, or range-bound movements, the successful forex traders of 2015 demonstrated a keen ability to adapt and thrive in a constantly changing trading environment.