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Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Trading the trend: up 12.5% year-to-date

Having closed out our last hypothetical trade of the year, we are looking at our monthly profit distribution, risk/reward, and how we manage risk.

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(AI Video Summary)

Assessing previous USD/JPY trade

In this video, host Axel Rudolph talks about a trade he made in the past with the USD/JPY currency pair. He noticed a technical pattern called Harami, which made him think that the price would go up. But unexpectedly, the Governor of the Bank of Japan hinted at changes in their monetary policy that could cause the yen to strengthen against the US dollar. Because of this, he lost money on the trade.

Reviewing the Trading the trend 2023 results

Instead of presenting a new trade today, Rudolph shows us his spreadsheet with all his trades for the week. He explains that he was right about half of the time, with some trades resulting in gains and others in losses. He wants to emphasise the importance of considering risk and reward when trading. On average, the potential reward in his trades is at least 2-3 times greater than the risk. Sometimes, it can even be 10 times greater. He always aims for a larger reward than the risk.


When analysing his monthly performances, Rudolph shows us that there were months where he had losses, but they were not significant, only about 2-3% lower. On the other hand, the gains were much more substantial, with some months showing returns of 8% or 5%. Overall, he's ended the year with a gain of around 12.5%.


Next week, Rudolph plans to go into more detail about his different trades and setups, as well as how he manages the risk and money involved. He is grateful to the viewers for watching the show throughout the year and promises to find ways to improve the information he provides, especially when it comes to trading spreadsheets.

This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.

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