What is Scalping?

Welcome to the Investors Trading Academy talking glossary of financial terms and events.
Our word of the day is “Scalping”
So what is scalping, in case of forex, forex scalping? Scalping is a method of trading where a trader “skims” small profits continuously. It is the act of entering and exiting positions several times in one day while trying to make profits during high velocity moves, a scalper will act quickly on releases of economic data and other significant news events that influence trading activity.
Although similar, scalping is not the same as day trading. While day trading, a trader will open a position once or twice within one day, but close it before the day is through. He will never leave the position open overnight or carry it into another session. A day trader opens and closes positions once or maybe a few times a day based on information they obtain from five minute, fifteen minute or 30 minute charts. A scalper is even more feverish as he aims to skim tiny profits multiple times through going in and out of positions numerous times within a single day. This trader makes trades according to data from tick charts or one minute charts.
As day traders chase after few profits involving dollars and cents per share or unit, scalpers aim to make numerous gains on trades involving between five and ten pips (fractions of pennies). They act fast and furiously when conducting transactions. When trading on standard lots, these petty gains add up. The average made on one pip for trading one lot is $10 and if five pips are involved, $50 can be made on a single trade. If this trade is successfully made ten times within a trading period, the trader can profit by $500. Of course, if everything goes properly and without any problem. Sometimes just one single position takes the profit made through several winning positions down the drain.

By Barry Norman, Investors Trading Academy - ITA

Видео What is Scalping? канала Investors Trading Academy