The world of foreign exchange, or forex, can be daunting even to experienced hands-on investors. However, there are plenty of books on the subject of currency trading, ranging from basic introductions to the forex market to advanced strategies based on fundamental analysis and technical analysis. These are six of the best that have stood the test of time and the market's ups and downs.Currency Trading for Dummies, by Brian Dolan
Day Trading and Swing Trading the Currency Market, by Kathy Lien
Currency Forecasting: A Guide to Fundamental and Technical Models of Exchange Rate Determination, by Michael Rosenberg
Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques, by Steve Nison
How to Make a Living Trading Foreign Exchange, by Courtney Smith
Forex Trading: The Basics Explained in Simple Terms, by Jim Brown
Currency Trading for Dummies, by Brian Dolan
Currency Trading for Dummies is one of the best of the lot for beginners. It presents clear, easy-to-read instructions on currency trading and descriptions of the forex market. In fact, it's not a bad read for more seasoned hands who need a quick refresher on the basics. It's regularly used as a resource by the financial media. Originally published in 2011, the book was co-written by Brian Dolan, chief currency strategist at Forex.com, and Kathleen Brooks, research director at Forex.com.
Day Trading and Swing Trading the Currency Market, by Kathy Lien
Kathy Lien is a world-renowned currency analyst, BK Asset Management's managing director, and a frequent guest on Bloomberg, CNBC, and Reuters programs. Now in its third edition, her book employs a two-pronged approach that combines theory and actionable learning with balanced insight into the fundamental and technical forex trading strategies designed to generate regular profits. Lien walks readers step-by-step through Forex fundamentals such as the long- and short-term factors affecting currency pairs. She also covers the technical analysis trading strategies that professional forex traders use on a daily basis.
Currency Forecasting: A Guide to Fundamental and Technical Models of Exchange Rate Determination, by Michael Rosenberg
Rosenberg, then an analyst at Merrill Lynch, wrote one of the definitive works on forex trading. It was first published in 1995, and ever since, analysts and traders have turned to his concise, intuitive, and brainy text. It combines the macroeconomics of foreign exchange and international monetary dynamics with fundamental and technical analysis. Rosenberg's ability to delineate clear connections between disparate financial and economic factors continues to make Currency Forecasting a go-to guide for currency traders.
Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques, by Steve Nison
Steve Nison's Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques is credited with introducing this versatile technical-analysis tool, now widely used by forex traders, to the Western world. The book provides a lengthy and in-depth education on candlestick charting, which is also used for futures, speculation, hedging, equities, and anywhere else that technical analysis may be applied. Nison's work is ideal for traders seeking to up their trading strategy game. As they do, they might want to consult one of the sequels Nison has written: The Candlestick Course, Beyond Candlesticks: New Japanese Charting Techniques Revealed, and Strategies for Profiting with Japanese Candlestick Charts.
How to Make a Living Trading Foreign Exchange, by Courtney Smith
Courtney Smith begins How to Make a Living Trading Foreign Exchange with an introduction to the world of forex that explains how the market works. But most of this 2010 work is devoted to making money, offering six strategies to earn a steady income by trading. He also provides important risk management techniques as well as material on the psychology of trading. It includes an explanation of Smith's unique "rejection rule," a strategy designed to double the profit generated from basic channel breakout systems.
Forex Trading: The Basics Explained in Simple Terms, by Jim Brown
As the title indicates, this book is oriented toward giving beginners the basics. The author is a self-taught forex trader who became intrigued by currency exchange and its profits at a private gathering for stock traders. The text stands out for Brown's clear, concise language that, without being condescending, never takes the reader's knowledge for granted. Some of the basics covered are:
The definitions of forex and forex markets
Strategies for entrances and exits
Trading psychology
The ins and outs of forex pairs
Places to trade foreign currencies
Tips for selecting a broker