Introduction to MT4 Interface

The following image below shows the main MetaTrader 4 software inter-face. As a beginner trying to learn how to execute stock orders in the online stock market, the main tool for trading the stock market is the MT4 platform software. This MetaTrader 4 software is the software which you'll connect to your broker with & execute stock trade transactions and monitor your account balance from the Meta Trader 4 platform.

The Stock Indices Meta Trader 4 trading platform is provided for free through the various stock broker sites. This Meta Trader 4 trading platform looks like the stock example illustrated below:

The Main Areas of this MetaTrader 4 software as displayed above are:

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

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

1. Navigation Menus

The Meta Trader 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 platform. As a beginner you can begin by clicking any of these MT4 navigation menus to familiarize yourself with various MetaTrader 4 button keys that are arranged as MetaTrader 4 submenus within these MT4 navigation menus.

These Meta Trader 4 navigation menus will be discussed & covered in details in the next MetaTrader 4 guides about navigation menus.

2. Tool-Bars

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

These MT4 toolbars will be discussed on other MT4 guides that will outline each MetaTrader 4 button on this MetaTrader 4 toolbar & how to add & customize these MT4 toolbars.

3. Chart Window Panel

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

4. Navigator

MT4 Navigator will contain info about MT4 accounts, whether practice or real, this MT4 window will also have a list of all the MT4 technical indicators as well as MT4 Stock Index Expert Advisors and scripts.

A trader can select which MT4 stock account to sign in by expanding the Accounts menu, choose an MT4 indicator by expanding the MT4 indicator menu or choose an MT4 Stock Index Expert Advisor by expanding the Expert Advisor menu.

5. Market Watch

MT4 Market watch window is used to show streaming price quotes for MT4 stock indices instruments. This can list as many quotes provided by your MT4 stock broker or a few chosen by a trader. To save inter net band-width, rightclick inside the MT4 market watch window and select 'Hide All', so as to hide the Meta Trader 4 symbols that you aren't transacting on this Meta Trader 4 platform and save on inter-net band width.

6. Terminal

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

This Meta Trader 4 window will also list all open stock trade transactions and calculate all the profit and loss in real-time as a stock charts move up or down.

7. Connection Bar

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

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

Why Stock Indices Platform is Required for Placing Stock Indices Transactions with Brokers

Stock index software is the software which is used to access the stock market & analyze these price movements using stock charts and stock technical analysis tools. There are various reasons why one 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 one need a good Stock Indices platform:

To connect to the Stock Indices Broker Trading Server:

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

To analyze stock charts using trading technical analysis tools

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

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

• Connection - connection to the broker servers
• Charts - price graphs that illustrate prices
• Tool bars - toolbars to add tools and technical analysis indicators on stock trading charts
• Market Watch - for displaying available financial instruments in MT4
• Data panel - provides MT4 stock account data and other technical indicator data
• Exchange rates - shows current market stock price on a stock trading chart
• Menu bar - Shows all menu items on MT4 platform