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What Is The Art Of War? The Art of War is an ancient Chinese book on military tactics and strategy who written by Sun Tzu around 500 BC. These writings are considered by many to be the most significant literature on military tactics and wisdom that can be applied to everyday life ever conceived.

In this multi-article series, we will be interpreting this ancient text, and exploring its application to modern day investing and trading. The whole book has 13 chapters and is only 6,000 characters long, which is relatively concise for such an old and complex language. I will be breaking this down into sections, explaining the meaning behind each phrase and how to apply this to your trading style or strategy.

Military Style Trading Imagine this. You're sitting in front of your screen opening a candlestick chart and trying to figure out the recent patterns and getting ready to place an order. What if you viewed this chart like a military map?

The money in your account is like the soldiers under your command, and the buy or sell orders are like attack or retreat orders. Can you see what I'm hinting at here? —— Trading and War tactics are both arts and similar in many ways. So why don’t we try absorbing some knowledge from the ancient masterpiece?

Perhaps we'll discover some inspirational gems that we can use in our approach to the financial markets. Chapter 1: Strategy Tips: As we progress through the following sections, whenever you see the word “War,” try to replace it with either “Investment” or “Trading” in your head. Explanation: In ancient society, the theory was those who fail to consider strengthening their military force will die.

Nowadays, modern society suggests if you ignore investment principles, you will also die, not physically, but perhaps perish in mediocrity. For example, we all know that since 2008, the wealth inequality gap has become much worse. A vast number of billionaires have emerged, while the middle classes are considerably poorer than one decade ago.

Different Class Different Mentalities One possible explanation behind this is because most rich people tend to invest their money into the stock market or high yielding assets in contrast to the general middle-class who's mentality is geared towards savings and consumption. If Sun Tzu were around today, he'd likely suggest investments over savings. The reason for this is because investing can amplify your wealth if managed correctly, but the method of saving money could be considered a slow death.

Death By Inflation In short, cash in the bank is devalued over time by the act of inflation. While saving money is not necessary a bad thing for some, failing to learn about investing might mean sacrificing opportunities or degrading one's wealth as its value inevitably starts to erode on the sidelines. (1) Tao Explanation: Tao could represent the basic, intrinsic rules of each investment product. For example, the movement of a currency pair (say GBPUSD) is often affected by the fundamentals, news events (such as Brexit) or even just human behavior.

So how can we trade the intrinsic values as the price is always changing? The answer is to find specific patterns or characteristics that are inherent to whatever product you are trading. To do this, you need to explore all the elements and try to make an informed decision as to the possible move in price.

However, given nobody can predict these moves with 100% accuracy, perhaps the only thing we can do is use the following four factors as a guide to help eliminate bad trading habits, and increase the probability of executing profitable trades. (2) Time You can think of this second factor as Fundamentals. As a qualified investor, you should understand what economic data means (such as GDP growth, unemployment, CPI, etc.), What types of events could cause the price to rise and fall (for example you should know how Bond-yield affects the value of USD) As with the cyclical nature of seasons or knowing the exact time of the sunrise and sunset, fundamentals can provide clues as to when we should place a trade based on the upcoming data. This idea is just like a weather forecaster predicting the chances of rain tomorrow.

Keep in mind that the weather, like markets, is not an accurate science and is subject to change. (3) Earth Ea rth or Topography would represent the field of Technical analysis because this method explores the “landform” of a price chart. For example, the highs and lows are like highlands and lowlands in battlefields, with support and resistance lines acting as potential grounds to set up an ambush or mount a defense. By mastering technical analysis, you will be like a commander, studying the geographical features of a map, navigating the terrain and using this knowledge to plan an attack or send reinforcements.

I will use a straightforward chart to illustrate all the factors that mentioned in Sun Tzu's original text. From the chart below, we can see the trend of oil prices is going up, and the most obvious move is to look for an area of value. The idea is to place a buy order while the level is relatively low.

When the price approaches the trend line, perhaps this is a safer place an order? On the other hand, when activity reaches the upper band, in the context of Sun Tzu, it might be considered “too far and dangerous” to keep attacking; thus the best move is to retreat (close your position and take your profit). We'll be discussing more on topography and technical analysis in further chapters. (4) Commander A commander (i.e., investor) should aspire to obtain the characteristics listed above.

If any of these traits are missing, Sun Tzu would perhaps suggest you are more vulnerable to trading losses in the future. Thus, Investment is also a process of exercising yourself to become a better person. (5) Discipline Discipline involves organizing a set of rules to follow while trading and the text would suggest you should not change these on a discretionary basis. Similar to military orders on a battlefield, it is imperative a commander's orders are followed and not disobeyed.

In short, without discipline and proper execution, the fundamental and technical analysis that you apply above will be meaningless. By Lanson Chen - Analyst Lanson Chen @LansonChen This article is written by a GO Markets Analyst and is based on their independent analysis. They remain fully responsible for the views expressed as well as any remaining error or omissions.

Trading Forex and Derivatives carries a high level of risk. Sources: DB Global Markets Research, "The Art Of War" -Sun Tzu.

One of the worlds most profitable Hedge Fund Managers Paul Tudor Jones called it in Tony Robbins Money Master Book " my #1 Trading indicator " and some of my colleagues in institutions and banks have referred to it as a key barometer for where substantial money flow often occurs. I am referring to the 200-Day Moving Average on a Daily chart and as the charts will demonstrate below the 200 MA (moving average) not only has the potential to reverse a currency market but can also be a general guide to where the overall trend is. So how can you use the 200 MA to potentially improve your strike rate in the currency markets?

It is generally viewed by most professional traders that if price is above the 200 MA they will not attempt to short a currency and will generally only look to use their trading system to buy into the market they are trading. The opposite when price is below the 200 MA, they will generally look to only short the currency pair they are trading. Trading systems that appear to have an edge on a higher time frame such as a 4-hour or daily chart can potentially be enhanced by applying this rule of thumb.

Following are 4 charts showing the 200 MA on a Daily Chart. If you’d like to apply a 200 MA to your MT4 platform simply go to the Menu at the top of the page, click on Insert, then click on indicators and then trend. You will see Moving Average listed there for you to click on and load.

Make sure you input 200 into the Period box under Parameters. Andrew Barnett | Director / Senior Currency Analyst Andrew Barnett is a regular Sky News Money Channel Guest and one Australia’s most awarded and respected financial experts, and is regularly contacted by the Australian Media for the latest on what is happening with the Australian Dollar. Connect with Andrew: Email

Aftermath of Brexit Today we'll take a look at the aftermath of the Brexit vote using point and figure analysis. As we begin to process the magnitude of last week’s ‘Brexit’ vote, it is important to understand that we are still not of the woods yet regarding event risk and market stability. It may well be the start of an extremely volatile period that leaves many areas of the financial markets vulnerable to liquidity issues and potentially large swings.

It could be some considerable time before the dust settles, but in the meantime, we’ll use the Point and Figure method to help identify any potential trading opportunities, and analyse the currency carnage that was ‘Brexit.' GBPUSD Click for larger view Let’s start with most affected pair on the day GBPUSD. Difficult to assess prices at a new 30 year low We saw an incredible 10% move from a high of 1.5017 down to a 30 year low of 1.3227. At this point, it becomes extremely difficult to assess when you have relatively little price action to compare it with.

One element that has remained constant is the bearish resistance line as shown in the chart above. This downtrend was tested at those 1.50 highs and held strong just before the referendum vote. Perhaps a ‘Bremain’ decision would have painted a much different picture, but in this case, the leave vote has only added fuel to the fire, giving the Pound Bears a huge boost in momentum.

While finding areas of support at this moment in time is a tall order, if we look at where the previous supply level ran out on the chart around the 1.40 mark, this provides us with a clue as to what price action could potentially do in the short-term should the Pound see an immediate recovery. I suspect any retracement will consider the 1.40 level as key resistance and possibly even a turning point should price regain some of this lost ground. XAUUSD Click for larger view The next chart we will take a look at is gold.

Gold is leading the charge for safe haven flows As expected during Friday’s referendum, we saw a rapid increase in safe haven flows. Currencies such as the US Dollar, Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and also precious metals such as gold, all benefited from traders/investors attempting to park funds into assets that are perceived as financially safer amid volatile environments. Gold itself moved over USD $100 in price from the lows of 1250 up to the highs of 1358.

When we look at the point and figure chart above, it identifies an uptrend (Bullish Support line) that began back in January this year. It’s plausible to imagine that larger market participants have been positioning themselves ahead of this major risk event long before it even took place as gold is commonly used to hedge against these type of market moves. With the current uptrend firmly intact, an upside target appears to be located in the region of 1400 an ounce.

Last time the gold price was at this level was back in March 2014, and given the congested price structure since this period, I think we might see a some staggered moves up to test this area in the short to medium term. Key support for gold is suggested initially at the round number of 1300, but even below this level, 1260 is shown to have greater importance with multiple weekly pivot points as shown in the candlestick chart below. Also on a brief side note, the yellow line represents the 200 Day Moving Average.

As you can see, the price is trading well above this line which provides further confirmation of an uptrend in place. Click for larger view AUDUSD Click for larger view Finally, a quick look at where the Aussie stands after the onslaught of Brexit. With the US Dollar gaining strength, it was inevitable that the fate of the Australian Dollar would suffer.

Recent bullish moves have been slashed, replaced with the familiar sight of a bearish resistance line as shown above. Bearish pennant formation suggests downward pressure I’ve left the previous bullish support line visible too as I believe it helps highlight the latest pennant formation on the chart. This triangular structure suggests further downside pressure could be building and during the upcoming days or weeks, the price could test the levels of 73.75 and 72.00 respectively.

A daily close above the 76.00 level would test the current downtrend and is suggestive of a bullish signal. However, until price breaks the 78.00 mark, I’d be inclined to look for selling opportunities in light of recent events. The theme will be a continued flock to safety As I mentioned earlier, it will take some time for the financial markets to settle and fully digest what occurred over in Britain last week and many of the implications are still yet unknown.

Let’s not forget with the upcoming US and Australian elections and ongoing negotiations between the UK and Britain emerge, market volatility will more than likely increase and sizable price swings become a regular occurrence. I suspect we will continue to see continued interest in traditional safe havens like gold and the Japanese Yen, at least until the end of the year. Please note that trading Forex and Derivatives carries a high level of risk, including the risk of losing substantially more than your initial investment.

Also, you do not own or have any rights to the underlying assets. You should only trade if you can afford to carry these risks. Our offer is not designed to alter or modify any individual’s risk preference or encourage individuals to trade in a manner inconsistent with their own trading strategies.

Adam Taylor | Senior Analyst Adam Taylor joined the GO Markets' team in early 2013 and has gone on to become a valued analyst on our Research and Trading team. Adam's key strength lies in his technical analysis skills, perhaps honed over his time as a Champion Chess player for his native Scotland. While Adam's primary role is concentrated towards risk management for GO Markets, he's a regular contributor to our News and Analysis team, using the highly regarded but rarely used, point and figure method.

Connect with Adam: Twitter | Email | Adam's posts

Last night the Swiss National Bank and the Bank of England kept rates on hold, which was expected. The CPI data came out worst than expected but no big surprises. We also had the Philly Fed manufacturing index, which was much better than expected at 4.7.

As to what was expected at 1.1, so it was a good strong figure. Unemployment came out a bit worse than expected at 277k. Now European and US stocks had a very good rebound last night off lows.

So the US 30 bounced off its support line at 17470 and it is looking like it could be a possible reversal point but we need more confirmation. This is due to a Brexit figure coming out suggesting the stay camp had a lead. This had a very big impact on Gold.

Watch our full report by clicking play on the video below.

We have seen a quiet recovery for Pound Sterling in the absence of any negative headlines. Add to this some rambunctious tweets from President Trump weakening the Dollar and the GBPUSD pair is tip-toeing upwards, shrugging off the recent dip below 1.30 as nothing more than a temporary blip. It is these sudden blips or brief recoveries in Cable that leave traders scratching their heads and pondering the now tiresome question, "Is this Brexit related?".

The short answer is that it is just too difficult to dissect the Brexit fundamentals, mainly due to a lack of clarity surrounding negotiations. I guess you could argue that the longer-term drop in the Pound could be a sign that the market has already begun pricing in a degree of uncertainty, but it's more likely that nobody truly knows the outcome. Whatever happens, the technical picture for GBPUSD suggests we may be in for a continued move down unless something drastically changes the overall market sentiment.

A Look At The Charts First, we will visit GBPUSD on the daily timeframe using the Point & Figure method, as I believe it provides us with a reasonable downside target. (GBPUSD – Daily) As shown, a bearish resistance line formed around the 1.36 mark which put us firmly in a downtrend. It was a bold move south from the 1.44 highs and shows signs that the bears are in control longer-term. Price collapsing through the 130.50 support level was significant as it had failed on three previous attempts.

Assuming the weight of this trend continues, the chart suggests 1.28 as the next major area of support. Given we reached as low as 129.60 last week, it appears this level could be within reach in the coming weeks. Alternatively, a bullish move towards 1.33 would require us to reassess the latest trend, and anything above this region has the potential to be a minefield of choppy resistance.

On the daily Ichimoku chart below, we see a great example of this. Note the thickness of the cloud above 1.33, although not impenetrable, it will likely be gather upward momentum. (GBPUSD -Daily) Perhaps the most precise view of Brexit's progress when it comes to the value of Sterling can be seen in the EURGBP pairing. (EURGBP – Daily) The EURGBP daily chart highlights Brexit's indecision or lack of clarity as reflected in this longer-term range. Since October last year, we have yet to see a final move from either the Pound or the Euro.

Euro Winning The Race To Break First One thing I would point out is that the Euro has its nose in front regarding strength against the Sterling. The latest price is trading well-above the 200 EMA (Exponential Moving Average) which is a bullish signal. We can also see the Euro gaining much ground over the past month against its counterpart.

Any continuation of this move would make 0.90 a critical level to watch. Remaining Focused In A Sleepy Market There is always a tendency to become complacent when currencies have been trading in a long-term range, or when political campaigns survive well past their use by date, polluting the fundamentals. Trading can become less exciting, and we start to assume that the status quo will remain.

In this case however, it is worth keeping tabs on the Pound Sterling, as once Brexit is resolved one way or another, we could see some considerable shifts in the market whilst as those on the sidelines are caught napping. Adam Taylor CFTe GO Markets This article is written by a GO Markets Analyst and is based on their independent analysis. They remain fully responsible for the views expressed as well as any remaining error or omissions.

Trading Forex and Derivatives carries a high level of risk.

South Africa Update 8 th August 2017, the day president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, which made sure that he will maintain power of one of the biggest economies in the African continent. It is worth noting that it was the eighth vote of no-confidence that Zuma has survived since being in charge. About Jacob Zuma Name: Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma Born: 12 April 1942 Birthplace: Nkandla, South Africa Political part: African National Congress Jacob Zuma, who has been involved in corruption allegations since being elected as the president of South Africa in 2009, survived the vote by a majority of 198 votes to 177 after the vote was called by the Democratic Alliance party who accused Zuma of suppressing democracy.

Even though the motion was defeated, it might still have an impact on the party which currently leads South Africa. Unlike the previous no-confidence votes, the latest vote was held anonymously and there were suggestions it could reach 50 votes of no-confidence from the Zuma’s African National Congress party, which is the number required to pass the motion. Instead 24 members of his part voted against their leader, around 12 others refrained or failed to show up to the vote which would suggest further unrest within the party further down the line.

Many have suggested that Zuma will not last until 2019, which is when the next general election takes place. Financial Markets The South African Rand weakened against the US Dollar after President Jacob Zuma survived a no-confidence which could have ended his administration of the African nation. The decline was a big turnaround for the Rand which was the best performing major currency on earlier in the week.

Despite the result, it is unlikely to cause a major weakness as the result was largely priced in before the vote took place. USD/ZAR By: Klavs Valters GO Markets