 you have at disposal is definitely something you want to have in mind before getting started. It is important to have an initial capital that allows you to participate in the market of your choice, while following the strategy you prefer, and at the same time it shouldn’t be part of the budget you need to sustain yourself for your day to day living.

Futures trading is an activity that can help to increase your income, which is one of the reasons why so many people are interested in getting started with this type of investment. However, it is also an activity that you want to make sure you fully understand and will have a 

, so it should not be made without prior deliberation and a lot of studying.

In order to start off on the right foot, one of the things you want to understand is how much should be taken into account to have the proper amount of 

. Knowing cost, alone, is going to allow you to make the right decision for yourself when it comes to choosing the right market for you to trade. For example, it will cost a lot less for a trader to get started with micro-futures contracts than it would to start with the standard futures contracts.

Each market, broker, strategy and trading objective requires different amounts of money, so you can find what fits best in your budget. Thanks to this, you can start trading with a smaller account and grow both in the capital obtained for yourself and in the capital that you have available for further investments.

Below, we will share with you some of the most important factors to consider when defining how much 

Among the financial markets you can choose to invest in, there are some that require more money to start trading. Particularly, this divide is very evident between regulated and unregulated markets.

Regulated financial markets are those that are subject to supervision and regulation by the financial authorities of the country in which they operate. These authorities establish rules and requirements that market participants must comply with, in order to protect investors and guarantee market stability.

The stock market and the futures market are two well-known examples of these types of markets. To trade stocks, the amount required to get started can be very high; generally around $25,000. But in futures, the requirements are much lower; as low as $500.

As can be seen, within the regulated markets, the amount of 

is much lower than that required by other financial markets. This is possible thanks to the leverage, which allows to have a high profitability with a low investment.

However, this characteristic of the futures market also increases the risk to which traders are exposed. For this reason, although starting 

 is not that much, it is important for traders to have a cushion that allows them to cover expenses in case a trade does not go as planned.

In this sense, leverage does give the possibility of higher profits with a smaller investment, but it also opens the possibility of larger losses, which you will really need to make sure you are prepared for.

Now, another type of existing financial markets is the unregulated one. In these types of markets, as in Forex, there is no supervision or regulation by financial authorities. This can make them more flexible and less costly for traders, but they can also be riskier and less transparent.

In relation to the latter, we can see that the quantity of 

 can really be lower or higher and sometimes the risk is more, while other times the risk is less. Everything will depend on the decisions you make when investing, for which you should be well informed beforehand.

As you probably know, futures trading is an activity that requires prior knowledge and understanding of the market you’re trading.. The vast majority of traders emphasize this point, since starting to invest without the proper knowledge can lead to frustration and giving up on the dream of trading.

When trying to decipher the necessary amount of 

that you should set aside, don’t forget to include the learning phase. Whether you learn through courses, books or self-taught, it will take time and money. Nowadays, it is very viable to make a self-taught path in this area, as long as you have spent the time to learn from your journey in order to make profitable trades.

Just keep in mind that, with a good education, you will be able to start trading with a previously defined strategy. This will guide you not only to choose the best market and the most suitable asset, but also to align your actions to certain objectives, which can put you on the path to success.

you will need. Roughly speaking, in long-term strategies you can invest little by little, but you will not see profits for a long period of time. For this reason, you may spend quite a bit of time in expenses that will accumulate before you see a profit.

In contrast, a strategy such as day trading can give you short-term profits with investments that do not have to be anywhere near as significant. It all depends on the size of the contracts and which markets you decide to trade.

If you are a beginner trader, you probably don't want to risk lots of money on a single trade in the futures market. E-Mini and Micro E-Mini contracts are good alternatives for trading, with an exponentially lower economic pressure.

Mini and Micro futures are handled in the same way as standard futures, with the difference that traders can gain access to the markets with a much smaller amount of 

Microfutures are futures contracts in a smaller version, which allow trading for a fraction of the capital required. Like any other contract within the futures market, microfutures agree to trade an asset on a specific date and at a specific price.

 is much less with this type of contract than with standard contracts, but there are still certain expenses that are part of any futures trading operation, such as the margins.

Margin in futures trading is a method used by brokers to hedge against losses they may incur from owning a particular asset. To open and maintain a position in the futures market, a trader must pay this margin.

The initial margin price for opening a position can vary widely depending on the market and the size of the contract you are trading. Generally, it represents 5% of the total value of the contract, but it can vary.

 should not only contemplate the initial margin, but also the maintenance margin. It is necessary to pay the maintenance margin to keep the position open, and its price may vary according to the market situation.

As you will see, within futures trading, many values depend on your particular decisions as a trader, so we cannot give you concrete numbers without knowing your profile beforehand. However, knowing about these factors can help you to study them thoroughly before deciding to make an investment.

It is important that you always have at least a slightly larger amount of 

 than is strictly necessary. This way, you can be prepared for any unforeseen event.

A key factor in calculating the budget you will need for trading is the short and long term goals you set for yourself.

Your Goals and Your Money to Trade Futures

When you start trading, it is important that you define goals that fit your strategy and that you can achieve. Many people expect to make large sums of money as soon as they start trading, and that, for the most part, is not the case.

For that reason, it is essential that you do not spend all your capital trying to make the market behave to your convenience. You should be guided by the knowledge you have acquired before you start, be consistent with the trading plan you have designed and understand that your goals will be adjusted to your level of available 

It is true that some traders make huge sums of money with just one move, but it is also true that those same traders probably have a huge amount of capital available for trades and extensive trading experience to know how and when to open or close a position in the market.

In their beginnings, those same traders surely did not make those same investments. Everyone must go at their own pace and with their own method, and it is very valuable to be able to do so without risking all your capital at once. For that reason, we recommend that you begin your journey as a trader with a funding test.

 for you to test your trading capabilities without risking your own capital. This way, your amount of 

 will not be a limiting factor for your potential as a trader.

The money to trade futures you have at disposal is definitely something you want to have in mind before getting started.

How Much Money Do I Need to Trade Futures?

 if you start doing it for the right reasons and with the proper mindset.

Depending on what your goals are when you start 

 with new learnings that will help you become better or you may end it frustrated and upset.

Chances are, if you've done a little research on 

, you've encountered a practice that gives freedom to those who do it. And if someone else can do it, why couldn't you?

However, there are many people who enter the futures market to trade out of a need for quick cash. Just remember, 

 out of necessity such as this is usually not very successful.

 work, you've lost before you start. This may seem a little harsh to some, but it is better to know beforehand than to enter with false expectations and be discouraged at the first trade executed.

, especially in the early stages of a trader's career.

It is important that the transition in your livelihood is not so abrupt: you should build up experience before becoming dependent on 

In this way, you will be able to see losses as learning instances and not as a large-scale failure.

Therefore, if you are thinking of entering the world of 

, it is better that you are clear about some previous questions.

Once you know them, you will discover an activity that can be exciting and profitable, where anyone can be successful if they have perseverance and discipline.

Futures Trading is All About Psychology and Attitude

A large part of the reason for success among many traders is their ability to adopt the right attitude when 

, as well as to control their mind and emotions, or at least their reactions to them.

 is not to be dominated by desires and anxiety.

In relation to this, one of the most common mistakes when starting 

 right away, without studying or testing yourself first.

When such a start is made, there always comes a moment of waking up to reality.

Now, this can be a great learning experience, but it can also be a moment of confusion and frustration.

The latter tends to happen because of being overconfident and simply rushing to get results immediately.

 requires some time to study and learn, and that is why it is not advisable to start 

One piece of advice we can give you: focus on the desire to learn about

 and not on the desire to profit from it.

When operating in a market without prior knowledge of it, it is possible to get a lucky break.

But keep in mind that it is also very likely that the market will behave in ways that you do not fully understand and that will lead you to make the wrong trades.

In the same way, when you feel that you know a market completely, that you have mastered it, is when you can run the most risk.

Overconfidence can work against you because, in 

, you are constantly learning due to the fact that the market changes continuously.

 is an activity that requires the ability to act quickly, while remaining calm.

Nevertheless, it also involves taking risks, while being very careful. So to manage the combination of these polar opposites, you need knowledge, practice and management of your mind and emotions.

Successful traders are not driven by the fear of losing, nor by the greed of always wanting to earn a little more.

This allows them to close their positions at the right time, without rushing or waiting longer than convenient. It is important to understand that risk is part of 

In fact, it is an activity where it is normal to fail. You must accept failure as part of your day-to-day business and keep it under control.

If you have found it to get out of control, it may be time to change something in the way you trade.

There are quite a few common mistakes that new traders make when getting started, all with particular consequences in the results obtained and all learning experiences to create better habits for their 

How Does Your Mindset Affect Your Operations?

Among traders who are starting to operate in a futures market, one of the most common mistakes is to take monetary losses as personal failures, which end up affecting them emotionally.

Therefore, it is important that you do not get emotionally involved with the trades you make, even if it is difficult at first.

Yes, it is likely that you could have done things in a different way that worked out better for you, but, as we said, risk and losses are an inevitable part of 

 don't emotionally affect you for the worse, you shouldn't allow those decisions to lead to overconfidence either.

It is very common for inexperienced traders to find information to support their theories without having seen both sides of an argument.

Therefore, it is advisable to remain neutral, without taking sides on a decision, until you have analyzed the whole picture, with its positive and negative aspects.

The same is true for past experience. You should not let your past 

Learning from your mistakes and successes is important, but even more important is staying current and knowing that things are constantly changing, especially in markets with high levels of volatility.

In this sense, the best recommendation you can take would be to design a 

 that fits your way of carrying out the activity and that will be nurtured by the learning you achieve day by day.

, especially today. A few years ago, the only way to do it was with a personal account, with your own capital.

Fortunately today, that scenario has changed for the better. Most experienced traders have had to go through "reality shocks", which have led them to become more cautious and make certain adjustments in their approach to 

For this reason, many that have experienced that have recommended going through a funded testing.

This is the evaluation period offered by some platforms to be able to have access to financing for 

During the funded testing process, traders do not operate in the real market, but start to take part in a simulation of 

, where exactly what happens in the real market is reproduced.

Using this method, as a trader, you can have access to the futures market with a small investment. This allows you to test your 

 without risking a large amount of money.

This way, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments in your operations, according to the results you obtain with real market data.

Best part is, you are able to do this without the risk that you take from funding your own account, thus reducing the anxiety and fears that it may generate.

 specially designed to offer fair and flexible conditions to traders, so that they can start 

 on their own terms, following some basic rules that are part of our plans.

This will give you the opportunity to enter the world of 

Perhaps you will also become passionate about this amazing activity that can, not only, change the way you look at money but also the attitude you have towards life.

We want to share with you the talk we had with Yose de los Santos, who told us about his journey in the world of 

, and can surely serve as inspiration if you are thinking of making a start:

 with the right mindset and achievable goals, especially when you are taking your first steps.

Futures trading is a good idea if you start doing it for the right reasons and with the proper mindset.

Is Futures Trading a Good Idea?

 is a tool that allows access to the futures markets in order to visualize movements and make investments in a time period no longer than one day.

All traders, regardless of the investment strategy they apply, can operate from these 

 that will provide them with data to make informed decisions.

 is a short-term investment strategy, mostly used in more liquid markets.

 is to make profits from these rapid market movements by opening positions that usually last from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

 lies in the high speed at which prices move in the markets where this strategy is used.

If it does not provide accurate data together with indicators that help to make quick decisions, the 

 account, you will be able to trade with the 

 of your choice, as we work with the most popular ones, just as long as they support RTrader data.

, it is important that you take into account certain characteristics which are necessary for you to be able to perform at your best in your operations.

, since it must be agile and stable to allow the execution of fast and accurate operations.

 that offers accessibility from different devices so that you have alternatives to access from your cell phone, computer or any other device you prefer.

 allows you to customize its tools to suit your preferences and needs as an operator.

 should include advanced technical analysis tools to help traders identify price patterns and trends. It is important that you can view charts and tables that allow you to speculate on the price action and thus know when it is convenient to open or close positions in the market.

 must provide you with accurate, real-time market data to enable you to make informed decisions.

: it is important that you check that the commissions and fees are reasonable in order to minimize the costs of trading. However, you should not choose the cheapest one just for the sake of it as not all of them offer the same tools. You can look for one that provides you with the information you need without charging excessive fees.

Knowing all this and taking into account your preferences, objectives and conditions, you can choose the 

However, we will mention some that, in our opinion, are the best for trading and that we recommend to all traders who join 

. It is one of the leaders in the market, with more than 500,000 traders who find support in its 

 to trade different types of financial assets.

Something important to highlight is that it is a free 

 from which you can visualize and analyze the market, elaborate advanced charts, develop trading systems and simulate operations. These tools allow traders to discover opportunities with potential for trading.

 makes it possible to trade 24/7, since the schedules of the different markets in which you can invest from the 

 are different, with the possibility of automating stop, limit and trailing orders.

 suitable for traders of all levels, whether they are just starting out or are experts in the area.

 that we recommend the most to our traders because it has a powerful and easy to use 

, in addition to having first class support.

 is one of Rithmic's applications, a data feed service that serves as an intermediary between traders and 

It provides access to fast, accurate and reliable data flows, bringing security and accuracy to traders' operations.

A great advantage of Rithmic is its process, which offers its traders the possibility of "storing" orders, so that you can demand the guarantee of a price for a given order even if you are not in front of the computer to do so.

It offers the possibility of viewing the current and actual quotes in the investment markets, as well as the volume of transactions carried out.

On the other hand, this same application allows you to place, modify and cancel orders and view standard statistics such as your past performance, positions and risk limits.

 do not have the option to view charts, an essential feature for every trader.

Those who use it most probably need a second screen to access their charts from another 

. The latter is one of the big differences in comparison to the other 

 offers the same functionalities as the previous one but with the option of accessing charts from the 

 and with the incorporation of Microsoft Excel in the interface to enable you to manage your trades and create your own, customized indicators.

A great attraction of this version is the convenience it offers traders, as they can set up and send trades from within Excel, as well as activate automatic trades for those who wish to implement a trading strategy based on algorithms.

At the same time, when viewing charts, this 

 allows you to draw trend lines, shapes, fans, arcs and any common visual signals you prefer.

You can also manage primary and secondary studies, and add technical overlays you have created or used from the pre-programmed selection.

 has about 100 pre-programmed indicators, although more experienced traders usually prefer to do different ones independently.

Another valuable aspect of this version is the ability to access the 

 via a mobile application. This gives traders the freedom to consult charts, market activity, order flow and order history.

In this way, you will be able to travel without losing sight of your operations and new market opportunities, although for the moment it is not possible to place orders from your cell phone.

, available for any trading strategy. You can start trading on them by accessing one of our 

They are designed to offer fair conditions to all traders, regardless of the strategy they prefer to follow. Try them to do trading in your own way, without risking your capital.

Day Trading Software is a tool that allows access to the futures markets in order to visualize movements and make investments.

Best Day Trading Software

 continue to be the most valuable resources available for any trader to learn about an investment strategy. Thanks to these books, you can learn through the words of authors who have accumulated some great experience in their field. They openly share their techniques on how to use their strategy successfully, as well as some of the secrets and wisdom that can only be found through actual experience.

Nowadays we have numerous alternatives to learn about any discipline or subject. However, books still offer the advantage of receiving the words of experts without intermediaries and also the advantage of dealing with a topic in depth and detail. In contrast, other sources such as texts or videos on social networks don’t always foster a deep understanding of a topic in the same way.

When preparing for short-term investments in the futures market, it is important that you make a good selection of the 

. With that being the case, below we’d like to share with you our list of recommendations!

Mind Over Markets: Power Trading with Market Generated Information

This is a reprint of a classic for every trader, written by J. Dalton, E.T. Jones and R.B. Dalton. Since its first edition, it is considered one of the best approaches to trading from the analysis of the dynamics and structure of the different financial markets.

Given that the markets are constantly evolving and have changed a lot since the first edition of this book in 1999, this instant classic has been updated to continue to take its place as one of the 

It may be necessary to read Dalton's first book, Markets in Profile, to get the most out of this in-depth analysis, which provides a solid and relevant breakdown with a more holistic view on technical analysis of financial markets. However, the authors explain each notion in detail, so it is also possible to understand it without having read the earlier one.

This book provides traders with a unique and practically developed method for interpreting market behavior and identifying investment opportunities from that perspective.

 because it is written by a leading educator and authority on technical analysis and Market Profile. In this way, it offers information corroborated by experts on one of the most popular techniques for Day Trading.

This book will teach you how to learn about market dynamics through the organization of price, time and volume by being able to record information about price fluctuations. Most importantly, it is about learning to fuel one's intuition with this information.

In this way, you can access an intuition bounded by accurate, analytical knowledge, which allows you to make quick but informed decisions, from reason and not from emotion, ideal for any day trader.

This book by Schwager is part of a trilogy that includes interviews with some of the most successful investors in America. In this way, it is possible to give a face to the different strategies followed to trade, and to learn, in the words of different experts, some of the best tips to implement them with favorable results.

In this way, as readers, we can see how different personalities relate to the strategies followed for investing. This can be very useful to identify the types of personalities and investors that are most similar to us, and therefore can serve as role models, at least in some characteristics.

J. Schwager is a recognized expert in the futures and hedge fund industry and the author of several widely acclaimed financial books. Thanks to his knowledge, he is able to ask the right questions to his interviewees, to answer those questions that all traders want to know.

because of the high level of its interviewees, who, although they are not so famous in general, are an elite trading team that makes huge money movements in the market, some of them earning millions.

In addition, the different voices that make up this book not only serve as motivation to persist in trading thanks to their success stories, but they can also teach us from their mistakes. In this way, they give us information about their method of trading, but also about the right mentality to carry out this activity.

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets

This bestseller by J. J. Murphy was updated to cover new advances in technology and includes new material on candlestick charting, intermarket relationships and several examples that help illustrate some of the concepts developed.

Although it was updated, it is still a book that is several years old, so it may be outdated in some dynamics and tools. However, Murphy's excellent explanatory skills make it worth reading.

John J. Murphy is a former technical analyst for CNBC and head of Merrill Lynch's Futures Technical Analysis Division. His experience as a trader allows him to explain the fundamentals of technical analysis from a unique perspective and review all the most prominent methods in one of the 

Technical analysis is a craft (or even an art, as Murphy says) that requires judgment, experience and common sense. After reading this book, you will be able to start charting, that is, to apply technical analysis immediately, until you develop the way that is most practical and useful for you.

This book, in our opinion, is one of the 

 because it will make you less naive about how the market works, something that can prevent mistakes and spare you losses, and will inspire you to be more technical when trading in any financial market.

All of this is accompanied by illustrative examples, with a pleasant and easy-to-read text, which will make you fall in love with trading once again.

Trading Psychology 2.0: From Best Practices to Best Processes

In this 2015 book, B. Steenbarger gives us a practical look at the psychology behind trading that can be applied to the operations of any trader today. It is not a book specifically for day trading, but it is highly recommended for anyone who is serious about improving their financial results and their life in general.

 because it was written by an acclaimed trading psychologist and bestselling author, who chose to approach it as a guide that allows anyone to apply psychology to the art of trading.

In this way, the book offers readers the possibility of applying the basics of positive psychology to trading and other aspects of life. In addition, it is supported by academic studies presented in an accessible and easy-to-read manner, with examples, illustrations and case studies that give context to the techniques explained.

Throughout the text, Steenbarger's own experience is complemented by the insights of other traders and experts in the field, many of whom are dedicated to writing books and blogs about trading.

At the same time, the psychological perspective is approached in a practical way, as it offers the viewpoint of experienced traders who apply the techniques developed in the book on a daily basis, while guiding the reader to put them into play at different stages, such as when analyzing the markets, for example.

A great lesson from this book is that, although market dynamics vary widely, humans always have the same tendencies in the way they act. By understanding these, it is possible to comprehend how human behavior guides the behavior of markets.

This was our list of recommendations of the 

. Remember that study and research is a fundamental part of every trader's career. And once you feel ready, you can put that knowledge to the test at 

, which offer transparent and fair conditions for all traders.

The best books for Day Trading continue to be the most valuable resources available for any trader to learn about an investment strategy.

Best Books for Day Trading

 comparison, we are faced with two strategies for trading in the futures market that are very popular among 

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and depending on the profile of each investor, one can be considered more convenient than the other.

If we were to say that one strategy is better than the other at a general level, we wouldn't be entirely fair.

In the Swing Trading vs Scalp Trading comparison, we are faced with two strategies for trading in the futures market.

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