Trading software

NobelTrading - tried out their paper trading software, but when I logged into my account there were already 15 trades or so and 164,787.17 in the account.
So that kind of take away most of the usefulness because now I have to keep track of how my trades are doing.
Also it looked like the Futures were not really working, the orders had a price from a week ago or something like that.

Also downloaded and installed the software from www.tradingsimulation.com it looks like the quotes for the lite version were not working, but it is 1:00 am so they may work during the day, I will have to check that later after the market opens and see if they are working. Unfortunately it will not let you enter any orders unless the markets are active.

decided to sign up for the free trading account with www.zecco.com
tried to install the software, and it says that I have to have windows 5.1.2 in order to run the software and I should contact my system administrator... I think that is me?

---- trading ideas from Zecco Forex

Cashing in on Short-Term Currency Trends

Most of the time, markets don't show a clear trend - they bounce back and forth between support and resistance levels. This sideways movement is called a trading range. Below is a strategy that can help you identify entry points on short-term trends, while protecting your profits with trailing stops.
Trade Set-up

The strategy uses two charts with different time periods (10-minute and hourly), along with two technical indicators: a 200-bar moving average and a 14-bar slow stochastic study.
Step 1: Identify a trend

Compare the moving averages on both charts. A trend may be developing when price is consistently above or below the moving averages on both charts.
Step 2: Pinpoint entry

Once you've identified a trend, look for the following two conditions at the same time on the 10-minute chart:

* Price is no more than 20 pips above (to buy) or 20 pips below (to sell) the MA.
* The "fast" stochastic (%K) crosses above the "slow" stochastic (%D) below 20 (to buy), or crosses below the "slow" stochastic above 80 (to sell).

Step 3: Ride the trend

Set a trailing stop after the trade entry.

On a LONG position, the stop order should be 10 pips BELOW the 200-period MA on the 10-minute chart. You'll RAISE the stop as the trade goes in your favor.

On a SHORT position, place the stop 10 pips ABOVE the MA. You'll LOWER the stop as the trade goes in your favor.
An example: EUR/USD, June 2002
Step 1: compare the hourly and 10-minute EUR/USD charts.

Look for a time when price is above the 200-period moving averages on both charts.

On the hourly chart, price is almost exclusively above the 200-hour moving average, indicating a persistent uptrend.

On the 10-minute chart, price moves (and remains above) the moving average in the last third of the chart.
Step 2: pinpoint the entry zone

When the market is within 20 pips of the moving average on the 10- minute chart, and the stochastic lines cross. As indicated in the chart, conditions are right around 8pm on June 27.

Buy EUR/USD at .9883
Protective t-stop set at .9858 (10 pips below MA)

Sell EUR/USD at .9992
Protective t-stop has moved up to .9967

Profit = 109 pips, or US $1090

Placing contingent orders may not necessarily limit your losses.

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