Introduction to MT4 Interface

The following screen shot below shows the main MT4 platform interface. As a beginner indices trader trying to learn how to execute stock indices orders in the online stock indices market, the main tool for trading the stock indices trading market is the MT4 platform software. This MetaTrader 4 platform is the software that you will connect to your indices broker with and execute indices trade transactions and monitor your indices trading account balance from this MetaTrader 4 platform.

The Stock Indices MT4 platform software is provided for free through the various indices broker websites. This MT4 software looks like the stock indices trading example explained and illustrated below:

The Main Areas of this MetaTrader 4 platform as shown above are:

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

For this MetaTrader 4 tutorial we shall look at a brief introduction for each of these learn MT4 platform:

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

These MetaTrader 4 navigation menus will be discussed in details in the next MetaTrader 4 tutorials about navigation menus.

2. Tool Bars

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

These MetaTrader 4 tool bars will be discussed on other MetaTrader 4 tutorials that will outline each MetaTrader 4 button on this MetaTrader 4 tool bar and how to add and customize these MetaTrader 4 tool bars.

3. Chart Window

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

4. Navigator

MetaTrader 4 Navigator will contain information about MetaTrader 4 trading accounts, whether demo or real, this MetaTrader 4 window will also have a list of all the MetaTrader 4 indices indicators as well as MetaTrader 4 Indices Expert Advisors and scripts.

A indices trader can choose which MetaTrader 4 stock indices trading account to login by expanding the Accounts menu, choose a MetaTrader 4 indicator by expanding the MetaTrader 4 stock indices indicator menu or choose an MetaTrader 4 Indices Expert Advisor by expanding the Expert Advisor menu.

5. Market Watch

MetaTrader 4 Market watch is used to show streaming stock indices price quotes for MetaTrader 4 indices trading instruments. This can list as many quotes provided by your MetaTrader 4 indices broker or a few selected by a indices trader. To save internet bandwidth, 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 internet bandwidth.

6. Terminal

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

This MetaTrader 4 window will also list all open indices trade transactions and calculate all the profit and loss in real time as the indices charts move up or down.

7. Connection Bar

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

These MetaTrader 4 platform main areas form the MetaTrader 4 platform interface and will be the main areas to be covered in detail in the next learn MetaTrader 4 tutorials. For now it is best to download MetaTrader 4 platform software and familiarize yourself with the MetaTrader 4 software interface.

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

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

So why does a indices trader need a good indices trading platform:

To connect to the Indices Broker Trading Server:

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

To analyze indices charts using stock indices technical analysis tools

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

From the above indices trading platform interface, the summary of all information required by a indices trader is provided on this MetaTrader 4 platform interface

• Connection - connection to the indices broker servers
• Charts - stock indices price graphs that display indices prices
• Toolbars - tool bars to add tools and technical analysis indicators on indices charts
• Market Watch - for displaying available financial instruments on MetaTrader 4
• Data window - provides MetaTrader 4 indices trading account information and other indicator data
• Exchange rates - shows current market stock indices price on a indices chart
• Menu bar - Shows all menu items on the MetaTrader 4 platform