Quote from late apex:
And that is precisely the problem.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
Anyone with an account size / risk capital of less than $10,000 - $20,000 has no business attempting to learn the trading business by trading CME currency futures.
Three words: forced excessive leverage. Enough said.
Unfortunately, that description covers 95%+ of newcomers, and probably the majority of not-so newcomers.
There are far better options at the small capitalization stage... including at least one reputable firm in the cash forex market.
sure.
however some brokers will allow you to trade with a $5k account. this would allow you to trade 4 eurofx contracts intraday, or about 8 (??) bp contracts.
to be honest, we should ask ourselves if anyone should be trading with less than $5k. being undercapitalized is the reason for most failures in business - trading or otherwise.
a $5k account will still let you trade a number of contracts remember on an intraday basis. more contracts means you can manage the trade and use leverage more effectively thus reducing risk.
due to the higher liquidity and deeper market, there are no liquidity gaps, so little slippage. this allows you to set a tight stop etc - more flexibility than you could do with a bucket shop.
i wouldnt have thought position trading (overnight) would be advisable with a $5k account. if you want to do this, then i would probably say paper trading is the best option until the person has enough money to do the job properly.
so, imo, anyone trading with an account less than $5k is just being greedy. they dont have the patience to wait until they can do the job properly. they are filled with the pie in the sky bullshit that fx bucket shops pump out with their silly fx trading competitions, mini accounts, and other golden carrots dangling out on the end of a stick for the greedy sheep off to the slaughter.
most good brokers remember ask for a $10k account. i dont think trading is a career for dreamers. it certainly shouldnt be considered a hobby unless one likes throwing money down the drain.