Introduction to MetaTrader 4 Platform Interface

The following screenshot below shows the main MetaTrader 4 software inter-face. As a beginner trader trying to learn how to execute orders in the online market, the main tool for trading the trading market is the MetaTrader 4 software software. This MT4 software is the software which you will connect to your broker with & execute trade transactions & monitor your trading account balance from this MT4 software.

The Stock Indices MT4 software software is provided for free through the various broker sites. This MetaTrader 4 software looks like the trading examples explained below:

Main Areas of this MT4 platform as displayed above are:

1. MetaTrader 4 Navigation Menus
2. Toolbars
3. MT4 Chart Window
4. MT4 Navigator Window Panel
5. MT4 Market Watch Window
6. MT4 Terminal
7. MT4 Connection Bars

For this MT4 tutorial we shall look at a brief introduction for each of these learn MT4 software:

1. Navigation Menus

The MetaTrader 4 navigation menus are:

1. File
2. View
3. Insert
4. Charts
5. Tools
6. Window
7. Help

These are the main MetaTrader 4 navigation menus which can be used to navigate the MT4 software. As a beginner trader you can start by clicking any of these MetaTrader 4 navigation menus so as to familiarize yourself with the various MetaTrader 4 buttons which are arranged as MetaTrader 4 sub-menus within these MetaTrader 4 navigation menus.

The MetaTrader 4 navigation menus will be described and covered in details in the next MT4 guides about navigation menus.

2. Tool-Bars

The MT4 tool bars are used to manipulate MetaTrader 4 stock charts, either by placing MT4 indicators, MT4 line studies, change MetaTrader 4 chart timeframes and load MetaTrader 4 template from a list of saved MetaTrader 4 templates.

These MT4 toolbars will be discussed on other MT4 tutorials which will outline each MetaTrader 4 button on this MT4 tool-bar & how to add & customize these MT4 tool-bars.

3. Chart Window Panel

This MT4 stock chart window is the main area where MetaTrader 4 stock charts are portrayed and one can analyze the trend direction of a MetaTrader 4 stock chart whether up or down, place MetaTrader 4 stock chart indicators for technical analysis & even place orders from these MetaTrader 4 stock charts.

4. Navigator

MT4 Navigator will contain data about MetaTrader 4 accounts, whether practice or real, this MetaTrader 4 window panel will also have a list of all MT4 indicators as well as MetaTrader 4 Expert Advisors & scripts.

One can choose which MetaTrader 4 stock account to sign in by expanding the Accounts menu, choose a MetaTrader 4 indicator by expanding the MetaTrader 4 indicator menu or choose an MetaTrader 4 Expert Advisor by expanding the Expert Advisor menu.

5. Market Watch

MetaTrader 4 Market watch window is used to show streaming price quotes for MetaTrader 4 indices trading instruments. This can list as many quotes provided by your MetaTrader 4 broker or a few chosen by a trader. To save internet band width, right-click inside the MetaTrader 4 market watch window and select "Hide All", so as to hide the MetaTrader 4 symbols that you are not transacting on this MetaTrader 4 platform and save on inter-net band width.

6. Terminal

This is MetaTrader 4 window that's like the bank account trade area for your MT4 trade transactions, on this MT4 window panel you can view your trading account balance, profit and losses statement, equity, margin used also retrieve a copy of all your MT4 trade transactions history.

This MT4 panel will also list all open trade transactions & calculate all the profit and loss in real time as the charts move up or down.

7. Connection Bar

MetaTrader 4 connection bars - Red bars are for no connectivity, green bars show that there's connection to the servers and MT4 trade orders can be placed. These MetaTrader 4 connection bars should always be green when one logged into their MT4 demo account or MT4 live account.

The MT4 software main areas form the MT4 software interface & will be the main areas to be covered in detail in next learn MT4 tutorials. For now it's best to download MetaTrader 4 platform software & familiarize yourself with the MT4 platform inter-face.

Why Indices Software is Required for Placing Indices Trading Transactions with Brokers

platform is software that's used to access the market & interpret these price movements using charts and stock technical analysis tools. There are various reasons why one requires to use a good platform. A good indices software can determine if a as a trader you make profit or not.

So why does a trader need a good Stock Indices Software:

To connect to the Broker Trading Server:

To place a trade order one needs to use a indices software which will connect to the trading servers of their broker & this will allow them to open and close trade orders. Good trading softwares will connect with ease to the brokers' servers & allow stock traders to place orders at any time from their desktop computer PC.

To analyze charts using technical analysis tools

To place a buy or sell indices order a trader needs to first interpret the direction of indices using charts. This is why all good trading softwares provide stock trade technical tools such as price charts, indicators and various different chart time frames from which one-can analyze price moves using the chart time frames of their choice.

From the above trading platform inter-face, summary of all data required by a trader is provided on this MetaTrader 4 platform inter-face

• Connection - connection to the broker servers
• Charts - stock price graphs that display prices
• Tool-Bars - toolbars to add tools & analysis indicators on charts
• Market Watch - for displaying available financial instruments in MT4
• Data window - provides MetaTrader 4 trading account data & other indicator data
• Exchange rates - shows current market price on a chart
• Menu bar - Shows all menu items in MT4 software