Introduction to MetaTrader 4 Interface

The following screen shot below shows the main MetaTrader 4 platform interface. As a beginner stock 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 market is the MetaTrader 4 platform software. This MT4 platform is the software that you will connect to your stock indices broker with and execute stock indices trade transactions and monitor your stock indices account balance from this MT4 platform.

The Stock Indices Trading MetaTrader 4 platform software is provided for free through the various stock indices broker websites. This MetaTrader 4 software looks like the stock indices example illustrated below:

The Main Areas of this MT4 platform as shown above are:

1. MT4 Navigation Menus
2. Toolbars
3. MT4 Stock Index Chart Window
4. MT4 Navigator Window
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 MetaTrader 4 platform:

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

These MT4 navigation menus will be discussed in details in the next MT4 tutorials about navigation menus.

2. Tool Bars

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

These MT4 tool bars will be discussed on other MT4 tutorials that will outline each MT4 button on this MT4 tool bar and how to add and customize these MT4 tool bars.

3. Chart Window

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

4. Navigator

MT4 Navigator will contain information about MT4 trading accounts, whether demo or real, this MT4 window will also have a list of all the MT4 stock indices indicators as well as MT4 Stock Index Expert Advisors and scripts.

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

5. Market Watch

MT4 Market watch is used to show streaming stock index price quotes for MT4 stock indices instruments. This can list as many quotes provided by your MT4 stock indices broker or a few selected by a stock indices trader. To save internet bandwidth, right click inside the MT4 market watch window and select "Hide All", so as to hide the MT4 symbols that you are not transacting on this MT4 platform and save on internet bandwidth.

6. Terminal

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

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

7. Connection Bar

MT4 connection bars - Red bars are for no connection, green bars show that there is connection to the servers and MT4 stock indices trade transaction orders can be placed. These MT4 connection bars should always be green when one logged into their MT4 demo stock indices account or MT4 live account.

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

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

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

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

To connect to the Stock Indices Broker Trading Server:

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

To analyze stock indices charts using stock indices technical analysis tools

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

From the above stock indices platform interface, the summary of all information required by a stock indices trader is provided on this MT4 platform interface

• Connection - connection to the stock indices broker servers
• Charts -price graphs that display stock indices prices
• Toolbars - tool bars to add tools and technical analysis indicators on stock index charts
• Market Watch - for displaying available financial instruments on MT4
• Data window - provides MT4 stock indices account information and other indicator data
• Exchange rates - shows current market stock index price on a stock indices chart
• Menu bar - Shows all menu items on the MT4 platform