Blog

From the desk

Practical guides to position sizing, risk management, MT5 trade reviews, and using AI at your trading desk.

Trading analytics
Risk management
MT5

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Sharpe vs Sortino Ratio: Check the Return Series Before Comparing Traders

Calculate a small Sharpe and Sortino example, state the downside-deviation convention, and check frequency, targets, costs, and data coverage in an MT5 review.

Trading analytics
MT5
Drawdown

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Recovery Factor: Compare Profit with Drawdown, Not Recovery Time

Calculate recovery factor using matching profit and drawdown amounts. Check why identical ratios can hide different loss paths, duration, and account funding.

MT5
Order execution
Trading analytics

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Measure MT5 Slippage: Compare the Right Quote with the Fill

Build an execution-quality worksheet with direction-aware slippage, weighted fills, timestamps, and broker records. Avoid mixing spread with quote-to-fill movement.

MT5
Position sizing
Account setup

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Cent Accounts: Check Balance Currency and Lot Units Before Sizing

Avoid mixing cent-denominated balances with dollar tick values. Follow a hypothetical risk calculation and verify the broker contract before using AI sizing.

Economic calendar
Forex
GDP

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

GDP on a Forex Calendar: Annualized Growth, Quarterly Growth, and Revisions

Convert a quarterly GDP change into an annualized rate, separate real from nominal measures, and preserve release vintages before interpreting a forex event.

Economic calendar
Forex
Inflation

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

PCE vs CPI for Forex and Gold: Identify the Inflation Measure First

Distinguish PCE from CPI and headline from core before reading a calendar surprise. Check the Fed’s inflation reference, units, and release-time evidence.

Forex
Gold
Risk management

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Weekend Gap Risk in Forex and Gold: Review the Position Before the Break

Model a stop fill beyond its requested price, inspect broker trading sessions, and review open and pending exposure before holding forex or gold through a closure.

Crypto
Order execution
Position sizing

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Binance Spot Order Filters: Minimum Notional, Step Size, and Price Precision

Check why a valid-looking crypto quantity can fail minimum-notional or step-size rules. Follow a hypothetical BTC order example and separate spot filters from MT5 lots.

Strategy testing
AI trading
Trading analytics

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Walk-Forward Testing for AI Trading: Keep Selection Behind the Test Date

Design rolling development and test windows, preserve parameter and prompt versions, and combine forward results without leaking later information into earlier decisions.

AI trading
Auto trading
Tutorial

Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

AI Trading Strategy Prompt Template: Turn Instructions into Testable Rules

Write an AI trading strategy with explicit data, entries, invalidation, management, and no-trade conditions. Separate session settings from guidance in TickerAI.

Economic calendar
Forex
NFP

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

NFP Explained: Payrolls, Unemployment, and Revisions Before a Forex Trade

Read an NFP release beyond the headline. Separate payroll jobs from unemployment, inspect revisions, and keep a release-time record for forex and gold analysis.

Economic calendar
Forex
FOMC

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

FOMC Statement, Press Conference, and Minutes: A Trader’s Event Checklist

Separate an FOMC rate decision from its statement, press conference, projections, and later minutes. Build a timestamped event plan for forex and gold exposure.

MT5
Trading costs
Forex

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Swap and Rollover: Calculate an Overnight Holding Cost

Check swap units, long and short rates, rollover multipliers, and account-currency conversion. Follow a hypothetical points-based financing calculation.

Indices
Position sizing
MT5

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

NAS100 and US30 Lot Size: Calculate Index CFD Risk per Point

Size an index CFD using tick size, tick value, stop distance, and broker volume steps. Compare two hypothetical NAS100-style contracts with different point values.

Crypto
Market data
Trading costs

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Crypto Spot vs Perpetual Futures: Funding, Basis, and Chart Differences

Distinguish a spot crypto pair from a perpetual contract before using an AI chart. Calculate hypothetical funding and basis, and check TickerAI’s actual data source.

Trading analytics
Trade management
MT5

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

MAE and MFE Explained: Review What Happened Before a Trade Closed

Calculate maximum adverse and favorable excursion with a worked example. Check data resolution, position size, and why chart extremes are not executable exit promises.

Position sizing
Order execution
Risk management

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Trade Entry Zones: Why Midpoint Risk Differs from Your Actual Fill

Compare risk and reward across an entry zone, not just its midpoint. Calculate how the same volume can exceed an estimated budget at a different fill price.

Crypto
Strategy testing
Market scanning

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Crypto Scanner Backtests: Avoid Survivorship Bias in the Coin List

Check whether a historical crypto scanner test used the assets available then or only today’s survivors. Follow a simple basket example and record universe changes.

MT5
Demo trading
AI trading

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Demo vs Live Trading: What an AI Test Can and Cannot Prove

Separate demo workflow testing from live performance expectations. Compare fills, costs, account settings, and model changes before interpreting AI trading results.

MT5
Order execution
Troubleshooting

Oct 20, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Order Timeout: Check Broker State Before Retrying a Trade

Distinguish an order timeout from an explicit rejection. Reconcile pending orders, positions, and deals, and understand how TickerAI reuses an idea reference on retries.

MT5
Order execution
Troubleshooting

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Invalid Stops: Check Stop Level, Freeze Level, and Price Units

Troubleshoot an MT5 invalid stops rejection using broker distance rules, point size, current prices, and valid price increments without removing risk controls.

MT5
Pending orders
Trade management

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Pending Orders: When to Cancel, Expire, or Recheck an Entry

Give pending MT5 orders a clear lifetime and cancellation rule. Review stale entries, expiry settings, activation risk, and TickerAI session behavior.

Market data
Crypto
Technical analysis

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

Tick Volume vs Real Volume: Read Forex and Crypto Charts Correctly

Distinguish MT5 tick counts from traded volume and Binance candle volume. Check units, unfinished bars, and how TickerAI uses a volume spike in its scanner.

Silver
Position sizing
MT5

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

XAGUSD Lot Size: Calculate Silver Trade Risk from the Contract

Calculate silver CFD lot size with explicit XAGUSD contract assumptions. Compare stop distances, volume rounding, and minimum-lot constraints before trading.

AI trading
Scalping
Trading costs

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

AI Scalping: Check Spread, Response Time, and Credit Cost First

Evaluate an AI scalping workflow using target size, execution costs, decision delay, and usage budgets. Understand TickerAI check intervals and holding-time limits.

Economic calendar
Forex
Gold

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

Headline vs Core CPI: Read an Inflation Release Before a Forex or Gold Trade

Separate headline and core CPI, monthly and annual readings, and actual-versus-forecast surprises. Use a release worksheet without assuming a guaranteed price reaction.

Strategy testing
Market data
MT5

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

OHLC Backtest Problem: What If Stop and Target Hit in the Same Candle?

See why candle OHLC data cannot always identify which exit came first. Compare two intrabar paths and document conservative assumptions before trusting a backtest.

Auto trading
Account equity
Risk management

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

Auto Trading Profit Goals: Equity Progress Is Not Realized Profit

Understand how TickerAI measures auto-trading goals from account equity, why floating P/L matters, and what a completed session does to open positions and orders.

Technical analysis
Moving averages
AI trading

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

SMA vs EMA: Compare Moving Averages Without Changing the Test

Calculate a simple and exponential moving average example, check warm-up and candle settings, and compare SMA with EMA using TickerAI charts and a fixed rule.

MT5
Trading analytics
Account setup

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

Compare Multiple MT5 Accounts with AI: Identity, Currency, and Risk First

Compare connected MT5 accounts without mixing balances, currencies, or trade samples. Use explicit account names, matched date ranges, and normalized results.

MT5
Market data
Forex

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Symbol Suffixes: Why EURUSD and XAUUSD Charts Can Differ

Troubleshoot MT5 symbol suffixes, missing instruments, and mismatched broker charts. Verify the exact symbol, contract, feed, and candle settings before trading.

Forex
MT5
Position sizing

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Pip vs Point vs Tick: Calculate Forex Pip Value on USDJPY

Separate forex pips, quoted points, and minimum ticks. Calculate USDJPY pip value in JPY and USD, and check why account currency changes the result.

MT5
Account setup
Automation

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Netting vs Hedging Accounts: What Happens to Your Positions?

Compare MT5 netting and hedging with same-direction and opposite-order examples. Check position counts, stop settings, and automation assumptions on demo.

Technical analysis
Bollinger Bands
Crypto

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Bollinger Band Squeeze: How to Evaluate a Breakout Setup

Define a Bollinger Band squeeze using bandwidth, then check breakout rules, completed candles, and trade costs. Includes a worked band-width calculation.

Technical analysis
MACD
AI trading

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

MACD Line, Signal Line, and Histogram: Read the Difference

Distinguish MACD zero-line crosses from signal crosses, calculate a histogram example, and check why TickerAI and MT5 can show different indicator values.

MT5
Order execution
Risk management

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Stop Loss vs Trailing Stop: What Keeps Working When You Disconnect?

Compare a broker-held stop loss with MT5 terminal trailing logic and AI stop updates. Follow a trailing-stop example and verify what happens after disconnection.

Forex
Economic calendar
Trading sessions

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Forex Session Times and Daylight Saving: Avoid a One-Hour Calendar Error

Convert London, New York, UTC, and Pakistan time correctly around clock changes. Check broker server timestamps and use a dated trading-session review process.

Trading analytics
MT5
Trade management

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Partial Close Trading: Calculate Realized R After Scaling Out

Calculate total realized R across partial exits, remaining stops, and costs. Compare scaling out with holding full size using a transparent hypothetical example.

Risk management
Trading analytics
Position sizing

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Trading Losing Streaks: Model Drawdown with Fixed Fractional Risk

Model ten losing trades at different risk fractions, distinguish a specified streak from any streak in a sample, and build a practical loss-review rule.

Trading journal
AI trading
Trading analytics

Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read

AI Trading Journal Template: Record Decisions Before Reviewing Results

Use a practical trading journal template for entry evidence, initial risk, execution, and weekly AI review. Separate rule adherence from profitable outcomes.

MT5
Order execution
Forex

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

MT5 Order Types Explained: Market, Limit, and Stop Orders

Compare MT5 market, buy limit, sell limit, buy stop, and sell stop orders using worked price examples, then check how TickerAI selects an order type.

Forex
Trading costs
Risk management

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Forex Trading Costs: Spread, Commission, Swap, and Slippage

Calculate forex trading costs without double-counting the spread. Follow EURUSD examples showing commission, slippage, overnight charges, and net results.

Forex
MT5
Leverage

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Forex Leverage and Margin Explained: Why Margin Is Not Trade Risk

Understand forex leverage, used margin, free margin, and margin level with a worked EURUSD example. Separate broker collateral from stop-based trade risk.

Technical analysis
RSI
AI trading

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

RSI Overbought, Oversold, and Divergence: How to Check the Signal

Learn what RSI 70, RSI 30, and bullish or bearish divergence describe. Use a reproducible chart-review process instead of treating an extreme as an entry.

Technical analysis
ATR
Risk management

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

ATR Stop Loss Explained: Volatility, Stop Distance, and Position Size

Use average true range to compare a stop with recent volatility. Follow an ATR calculation and see how wider stops change lot size at a fixed cash budget.

Forex
Technical analysis
AI trading

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Multiple Timeframe Analysis for Forex: A Reproducible AI Workflow

Give each forex timeframe a clear role: context, setup, and trigger. Avoid unfinished-candle look-ahead and keep AI analysis tied to timestamped evidence.

Trading analytics
MT5
Risk management

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Trading Expectancy vs Profit Factor: Why Sample Size Matters

Calculate trading expectancy and profit factor from net outcomes. See how one outlier, unequal risk, and a small sample can change the story behind a strategy.

Forex
Portfolio risk
Risk management

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Correlated Forex Pairs: How to Review Total Account Exposure

Map forex positions into currency exposure, add planned stop risk, and test shared scenarios. Learn why several symbols can still represent one dollar bet.

MT5
Account setup
AI trading

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Connect MT5 to an AI Trading Assistant with Read-Only Access

Understand MT5 investor passwords versus full trading access. Connect a supported account to TickerAI for analysis, check the server, and verify permissions.

Strategy testing
AI trading
MT5

Oct 17, 2026 · 4 min read

Backtesting vs Forward Testing an AI Trading Strategy

Separate historical backtests, out-of-sample validation, and demo forward tests. Build an AI strategy test that records costs, timestamps, and rule changes.

Forex
Position sizing
Risk management

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Calculate Forex Position Size from Your Stop Loss

Calculate forex lot size from account risk, stop-loss distance, and pip value. Follow a worked EURUSD example and learn when to round down or skip a trade.

Gold
Position sizing
MT5

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

XAUUSD Lot Size Calculator: How to Size a Gold Trade

Work out gold lot size using stop distance and your MT5 broker's contract specifications. Includes an XAUUSD example and a table of planned dollar risk.

MT5
Trading analytics
AI trading

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Analyze Your MT5 Trade History with AI

Review MT5 trading performance using expectancy, profit factor, drawdown, and symbol breakdowns. Learn which questions to ask AI and how to verify its answers.

AI trading
MT5
Automation

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

AI Trading Assistant vs Trading Bot: What Is the Difference?

Compare AI trading assistants, automated trading bots, and MT5 Expert Advisors by execution authority, risk controls, data access, and testing requirements.

Risk management
Trading basics

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

Risk-to-Reward Ratio Explained: Formula and Trading Examples

Calculate risk-to-reward and reward-to-risk ratios, compare break-even win rates, and see why a 1:2 trade setup can still lose money after costs.

Forex
Gold
Risk management

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

A Forex and Gold Pre-Trade Checklist You Can Reuse

Use this pre-trade checklist for forex and XAUUSD: verify market data, economic releases, stop loss, lot size, account exposure, and order details.

Economic calendar
Forex
Gold

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Read an Economic Calendar for Forex and Gold Trading

Understand actual, forecast, previous, and impact ratings on a forex economic calendar. Build a practical review process for CPI, NFP, and FOMC events.

MT5
Auto trading
Tutorial

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Test AI Auto Trading on an MT5 Demo Account

Set up a TickerAI auto-trading demo test with a supported MT5 account, symbol whitelist, strategy instructions, risk limits, and an execution review checklist.

Risk management
Trading analytics
MT5

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

Trading Drawdown vs Daily Loss Limit: What Each Measures

Learn the difference between balance drawdown, equity drawdown, and a daily loss limit, with recovery calculations and examples for MT5 account reviews.

Crypto
Market scanning
AI trading

Oct 16, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Use an AI Crypto Market Scanner to Build a Watchlist

Build a crypto trading watchlist using trend, RSI, breakouts, and volatility. Learn what TickerAI's scanner scores mean and how to verify a shortlist before trading.

Product

Sep 22, 2026 · 4 min read

Introducing TickerAI: an advisor, not a chatbot

Most AI trading tools are a chat window with a price feed. We built the thing that sits next to you on the desk instead.

Risk
How it works

Sep 22, 2026 · 5 min read

How TickerAI sizes a trade

Risk per trade in, lot size out. The arithmetic is simple; getting it exactly right at the broker is not.

Risk

Sep 22, 2026 · 4 min read

Four rules that keep the AI honest

Max risk per trade, max open positions, a daily loss limit, and a minimum reward-to-risk. Every idea passes all four or it cannot be executed.