Introduction to MT4 Platform Interface

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

The Stocks Trading MT4 stocks trading platform software is provided for free through the various stock broker web sites. This MT4 software looks like the stocks examples illustrated & described below:

Main Areas of this MetaTrader 4 stocks software as illustrated above are:

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

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

1. Navigation Menus

The MT4 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 stock trader you can start by clicking any of these MT4 navigation menus to familiarize yourself with various MT4 buttons which are arranged as MetaTrader 4 sub-menus within these MT4 navigation menus.

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

2. Tool-Bars

The MT4 tool bars are used to manipulate MetaTrader 4 stock charts, either by placing MetaTrader 4 indicators, MetaTrader 4 line studies, change MetaTrader 4 stocks 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 key on this MetaTrader 4 tool-bar & how to add & customize these MT4 tool-bars.

3. Chart Panel

This MT4 stock chart window is the main area where MetaTrader 4 stocks charts are displayed & a trader can analyze the stock 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

MetaTrader 4 Navigator will contain information about MetaTrader 4 accounts, whether practice or real, this MetaTrader 4 window will also have a list of all the MetaTrader 4 indicators as well as MetaTrader 4 Stock Trading EAs & scripts.

A trader can select which MetaTrader 4 stocks trading account to login by expanding the Accounts menu, choose an MetaTrader 4 indicator by expanding the MetaTrader 4 indicator menu or choose an MetaTrader 4 Stock Trading Expert-Advisor by expanding the Expert Advisor menu.

5. Market Watch

MetaTrader 4 Market watch is used to show streaming stocks price quotes for MetaTrader 4 stock trading instruments. This can list as many quotes provided by your MetaTrader 4 stock broker or a few chosen by a stock trader. To save inter-net 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 stocks platform & save on inter-net bandwidth.

6. Terminal

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

This MT4 panel will also list all open stock trade transactions and calculate all the profit & loss in realtime as a stock 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 & MT4 stock trade orders can be set. These MT4 connection bars should always be green when one logged into their MT4 demo stock account or MetaTrader 4 live account.

These MT4 stocks platform main areas form the MetaTrader 4 stocks trading platform interface & will be the main areas to be covered in detail in the next learn MT4 tutorials. For now it is best to download MT4 stocks trading platform software & familiarize yourself with the MT4 platform interface.

Why Stocks Platform is Required for Placing Stocks Trading Transactions with Stock Trading Brokers

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

So why does a trader need a good Stock Trading Platform:

To connect to the Stock Trading Broker Trading Server:

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

To analyze stock charts using stocks trading analysis tools

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

From the above stock platform inter-face, the summary of all information required by a trader is provided on this MetaTrader 4 stocks software interface

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