FOMO – Fear of Missing Out - is a relatively recent addition to the English
language, but one that is intrinsic to our day-to-day lives. A true phenomenon
of the modern digital age, FOMO affects 69% of millennials, but it can also have
a significant bearing upon trading practices.To get more news about
FOMO, you can visit wikifx.com
official website.
For instance, the feeling of missing out could lead to
the entering of trades without enough thought, or to closing trades at
inopportune moments because its what others seem to be doing. It can even cause
traders to risk too much capital due to a lack of research, or the need to
follow the herd. For some, the sense of FOMO created by seeing others succeed is
only heightened by fast-paced markets and volatility; it feels like there is a
lot to miss out on.
To help traders better understand the concept of FOMO
in trading and why it happens, this article will identify potential triggers and
how they can affect a day traders success. It will cover key examples and what a
typical day trade looks like when it is driven by FOMO. There are various tips
on how to overcome the fear, and the other emotions which can affect consistency
in trading - one of the most important traits of successful traders.
WHAT IS
FOMO IN TRADING?
FOMO in trading is the Fear of Missing Out on a big
opportunity in the markets and is a common issue many traders will experience
during their careers. FOMO can affect everyone, from new traders with retail
accounts through to professional forex traders.
In the modern age of social
media, which gives us unprecedented access to the lives of others, FOMO is a
common phenomenon. It stems from the feeling that other traders are more
successful, and it can cause overly high expectations, a lack of long-term
perspective, overconfidence/too little confidence and an unwillingness to
wait.
Emotions are often a key driving force behind FOMO. If left
unchecked, they can lead traders to neglect trading plans and exceed comfortable
levels of risk.
The psychology of trading is a key theme covered in our
webinars, where our analysts share expert tips to keep emotions in check,
maintain consistency and maximise trading success. Sign up to a webinar with our
analyst, Paul Robinson, where he discusses FOMO and the psychology of trading in
depth.
WHAT CHARACTERIZES A FOMO TRADER?
Traders who act on FOMO will
likely share similar traits and be driven by a particular set of assumptions.
Below is a list of the top things a FOMO trader might say, which sheds light on
the emotions that can affect trading:
Become a better trader with our analyst
Paul Robinson – learn to overcome the FOMO and trade more successfully.
WHAT
FACTORS CAN TRIGGER FOMO TRADING?
FOMO is an internal feeling, but one that
can be caused by a range of situations. Some of the external factors that could
lead to a trader experiencing FOMO are:
Volatile markets. FOMO isnt limited
to bullish markets where people want to hop on a trend – it can creep into our
psyche when there is market movement in any direction. No trader wants to miss
out on a good opportunity
Big winning streaks. Buoyed up by recent wins, it
is easy to spot new opportunities and get caught up in them. And it‘s fine,
because everyone else is doing it, right? Unfortunately, winning streaks don’t
last forever
Repetitive losses. Traders can end up in a vicious cycle:
entering a position, getting scared, closing out, then re-entering another trade
as anxiety and disappointment arise about not holding out. This can eventually
lead to bigger losses
News and rumours. Hearing a rumour circulating can
heighten the feeling of being left out –traders might feel like theyre out of
the loop
Social media, especially financial Twitter (#FinTwit). The mix of
social media and trading can be toxic when it looks like everyone is winning
trades. Its important not to take social media content at face value, and to
take the time to research influencers and evaluate posts. We recommend using the
FinTwit hashtag for inspiration, not as a definitive planning tool.
As well
as affecting traders on an individual level, FOMO can have a direct bearing upon
the markets. Moving markets might be emotionally driven – traders look for
opportunities and seek out entry points as they perceive a new trend to be
forming.
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