Getting Started in Stock Trading

    Stock trading has always fascinated many people. The problem is that people know there is a lot of money involved with stock trading but they do not know how to get in the business. As a new investor, one should time to first learn the basics of stock trading before going a head and committing money to the process. It is advisable for a new investor to have access to multiple sources of information. Stock trading is just like learning how to ride a bike. There are lots of trial and errors and there is also the ability for one to keep pushing ahead no matter what happens. New investors should know that one advantage of sock trading is that the game in stock trading lasts for a lifetime. Investors have to hone and develop their skills over time. The strategies that were used thirty years ago are still being used in the modern times.

    The problem that faces many new investors is getting started. The first step is to open a stock broker account. One just needs to find a good online stock broker and open an account. The next step is to get familiar with the layout and the tools involved in stock trading. It is also advisable for new investors to read a lot of books. It is better to read books since they are cheaper compared to taking classes. Reading articles is also a good idea since those articles usually contain a lot of useful information. One can find such article from Google search or other websites such as investopedia.com.

    The next step is to find a mentor. A mentor could be a professor, a co-worker or even a family who has good background in issues regarding stock trading. Such a mentor will offer you advice and guidelines as well as keeping you in high spirits when the going gets tough. The next stop is to read and ensure that you follow the markets. The final step is to buy your first stock or even practice stock trading through the use of a simulator.

What you need to know about Stock Market

    Stock trading have become very popular in the recent years. The reason behind the popularity of these free trading platforms is the fact that most people are just learning about online trading platforms and most of them would rather try a free trading platform before diving into the paid platforms. Another reason is the fact that most people usually do not have the cash required to pay for an online platform hence choose to use the free ones until they are financially stable. This article will take a look at some of the best and most popular free trading platforms. Performing an analysis of these platforms is not a simple job since there are literary thousands of these platforms available online.

    Forex brokerage offers an investor means to get into the business with the banking networks and buy the two currencies in an easy way. In the past, forex brokers were people who had special relationship with banks which enabled them to buy foreign currencies. These brokers had to have a lot of money in order to buy the foreign currencies. Forex broker make money by taking some of the money whenever an investor makes profit. The change in relationship between any pair of currencies is measured in pips. Therefore, when an investor makes trade, the forex broker charges the investor in form of a few pips.

    They consider several variables which will be covered here in order to settle on the best futures trading platforms. One of the factors to consider when searching for these platforms is the commission of fee per contract. This commission is applied per side, that is buying or selling and its amount varies on different futures trading platforms. Whenever the markets are in overdrive, slow execution can lead to big losses. This is especially true if there is a surge in the markets as a result of breaking news.

Options of free trading online

    It is a very good feeling to save some money in business but what would be more amazing and astonishing than an option of free online trading. Normally commission of the online trading platforms ranges from $3 to $10. However, there are certain online trading platforms which offer the facility of free trading online. Let us see the best options in this regard:

   Platforms like Robin Hood and Loyal 3 provides the opportunity of free online trading to new entrants. For example, Robin Hood offers access to about 5,000 stocks and exchange-traded fund trades.  It will cost you zero commission and in my opinion it is a very good option for anyone who is just starting his online trading business.

    Another good option on this part is Loyal 3 which provides the facility of free trading but in a limited number of stocks. Yet, it is a handy opportunity for growth of online trading business. However, these online trading platforms don’t provide access to mutual funds and do not give the option of retirement accounts.

On the other hand, there are some online trading platforms which provide free promotions for free trading online. USAA is a renowned name in this context which provides initial free online trading to the beginners. Another online trading platform is Scot trade which does not directly gives the option of free trading online but it has the option of referral program through which you can earn money by referring it to your friends or dear ones. USSA offers 50 free trade options for each new account.

    Other plat forms like Options House, E-Trade, Firstrade, Trade King and TD Ameritrade offer free trading online at zero cost to new entrants. Such opportunities are handy if you are planning to enter the arena of trading online.

Binary Option Trading Platform

    There is a small handful of software providers that build today’s Binary Trading Platforms. Most brokers license the platform and use it for the underlying trading software that runs their interface. Here are the leading binary options trading platforms online today. This is the platform of leading binary option broker, 24option. We rank it number one for it’s easy of use, its flexibility, it’s diversity of options and assets to trade and the historical reputation of the only broker offering the software, 24option.

     Second place goes to the SpotOption platform, powering leading brokers TradeRush and Banc De Binary. Right now binary trading is still in its early stages for the common investor. As such, there are four binary trading platforms that serve a growing population of binary brokers. You still have a lot of choices as far as brokers go, but the majority of brokers will use SpotOption, TechFinancials, Tradologic, or AnyOption. These platforms are the interfaces where you make your trades. You may or may not choose to use other charting software to help you to plan your trades before you place your orders.

• SpotOption – A Pioneer in Mobile Binary Trading – (TradeRush, Banc De Binary)
• TechFinancials – (24Option)
• AnyOption – (AnyOption)
• Tradologic

    SpotOption is used by Traderush and Banc De Binary. This is a user-friendly web-based platform which requires no download. The design includes sophisticated algorithm monitoring for options that are open, may be translated into any language, and allows for the use of all popular payment methods. Along with the necessary charts, there is also a live help feature, news, trading instructions, and additional information such as a glossary and an FAQ.


     TechFinancials is used by OptionFair and 24Option. Their platform is ideal for trading not only on a home computer, but also on a mobile device. Mobile binary trading is the way of the future. The other two platforms are similar, and are called Tradologic and AnyOption.

The Best Online Trading Software for a Newbie

    When branching out into investments beyond those offered at your local bank, you want direction and education so you know what to expect and how to improve your investment strategy. Online stock trading sites put you in the driver's seat, giving you the tools to research, buy and sell publicly traded stocks, options and other investments to diversify your investments and grow your nest egg. While the trading platform, or method of buying and selling stocks, and service you choose ultimately depends on your personal preference, the amount of educational resources an online service offers is invaluable when you are learning not only the ins and outs of the market but how to trade within a particular platform.

    The services on our lineup feature the top stock trading sites, but we've focused on the educational materials those services provide. Most services offer comprehensive knowledge centers with articles and videos to help you learn about trading. These options are designed to help you learn the basics and improve your knowledge.

     If you already have a working knowledge of trading investments or prior experience, you may benefit from our Online Stock Trading site, which presents our top services with less emphasis on beginner knowledge and resources. If you are seasoned investor and seeking out riskier investments, look at our Options Trading or Forex sites. For more information, have a look at our articles on stock trading. You should also understand the impact of trading stocks on your taxes. Capital gains tax, in particular, applies to any profit you make on a trade, which is assessed on the difference between the selling price and the purchase price. You only pay taxes on realized gains, meaning you do not pay taxes until you actually sell the stock and receive the funds, even if its value grows over the course of the year. Short-term holdings, holding an asset for a year or less, are taxed a higher rate than long-term holdings of between one and five years.

Best Online Trading Platforms

    In order for an investor to trade successfully, one has to rely on the trade platform that one is using. Therefore, an investor has a big task ahead when it comes to choosing the best online trading platform. In the modern world, trading platforms are not only web based but there are also some desktop versions as well as platforms that work on mobile devices. These online trading platforms offer investors advanced tools such as advanced charting, hot keys, screeners, option tools, virtual trading, level II, ladders, watch lists, back-testing and quotes among others. These are just but a few of the tools offered by these modern trading platforms.

    Over the course of the years that online trading platforms have been around, investors have learned that it is not just the tools that make  the difference between different stock brokers but also the speed, depth an the design as well as the overall execution when it comes to delivering vital trading experience. This is where different online stock traders such as TradeStation, or TD Ameritrade distinguish themselves. The decision to state that this online trading platform is better than the other one comes after spending very many hours on different trading platforms.

   However, at this point it is worth stating that TradeStation can be regarded as the best online trading platform. This is because TradeStation is reliable even when the markets are very volatile. It is also worth noting that both thinkorswim from TD Ameritrade and TradeStation execute very well when it comes to personal first choice. It is also worth noting that there are die hard fans for each platform and to any die hard fan the choice does not really matter because one can say with confidence that both of these platforms are reliable. Other platforms that might be considered as good platforms include Fidelity’s Active Trader Pro as well as Schwab’s StreetSmart Edge.

Online trading platform to secure future

     As a matter of fact, everybody will grow old and at that age one would not be able to earn as much as he is earning during his young age. So the retirement plans must be scheduled to enjoy life after retirement. Investment in online trading platforms is a good option to secure financial aspects for long time. There are various options which the online trading platforms offer to make long term investment. You should try to choose an option for the security of your retired life. Let us through light on the factors which play major role in this context.

Consider current financial state:

    First of all, you must analyze critically your current assets and other financial aspects to decide about investing. As a matter of fact, man is rational and he wants to purchase all things. But you must distinguish between your needs and unnecessary wants. In this way, you will be able to change your spending pattern and save something for investment. Whatever you will save today will help you in the future.

How to save for investment:

    If we deeply look into our daily expenses, we can easily judge that there are several things which we purchase without any need. For example, some people buy a lot of dresses without any requirement and other people spend money uselessly on hotels or recreation. These things are good but all of us must be moderate in this respect because the money you earn is not anything to waste. You must change your purchasing habits to save some money.

Try to avoid loans:

    Some people take loans and then they pay back original amount with a considerable amount of interest. These kinds of loans are often unnecessary and if you have taken any loan, you must work hard to pay it back. In this way, you will be able to save some money to invest in online trading platform to secure your future.

Online trade is best option for trade share

     Life only asks for a bold step and it is always ready to lay out its mystery. Same is the case with the business. Now a day, trade share business is gaining popularity among the business individuals and they are rapidly adopting this source to generate huge profits. When you think about online trading, a rather messy picture comes in mind where a hall full of noise and people are arguing and shaking their heads. All the things are too rough and tough to deal with. But with the advent of online trading platforms, trade share business is now achieving new milestones of success.

     At present, there are more than hundred websites which provide different features and facilities to do online trading. There are different kinds of prices and tools to help you boost your online business. These platforms are very good for those business individuals who want to invest small amount of money in trading.

     First of all these online options are cost effective. Most websites charge a flat fee normally from $3 to $20. It will not become a burden on your overall investment and you will enjoy a good profit even if you are trading more often. It is a really good option as compared to traditional trading in stocks.

Another benefit is the availability of information and statistics. Through online trading platforms, you normally get the previous, current and future trends in the market which are very helpful to make correct and timely decision in online trading business. Another important thing is the availability of analytical tools which help you to analyze the whole data regarding your stock. These little things help you largely in the end and the result of your effort is very healthy.

Conclusion:

    You can set up an online trading account with in just few minutes and start trading. You don’t need to go anywhere to purchase or sale your stock. All these things make online trading the best option.

Best Online Stock Trading Brokers

     Online stock trading has its ups and downs. Therefore, whenever a trader seeks to enter the world of online stock trading, it is advisable for someone to know the best online stock traders. This is the safest way to ensure that your money does not go down the drain or ends up buying useless stocks. This article will look at some of the best online stock brokers. It is also worth noting that when seeking the best online stock brokers, they are ranked according to many different merits. There are those stock brokers who are ranked top because of their exemplary award winning customer service while others are ranked top because of their cheap or powerful trading tools. This article will therefore look at some of the best online stock brokers and offer some tips that can help someone when choosing the right stock broker.

1.       TD Ameritrade – This online stock broker was ranked number one in 2015 by StockBrokers.com. This firm has $9.99 trades and still managed to come out as the best online stock broker. Its platform is known as thinkorswim was also ranked as the best online stock desktop stock trading platform. They offer education, investment guidance and robust research among others.

2.       ETRADE – This stock broker firm is given credit due to its ease of use. They have a very customer friendly platform which is loaded with a lot of tools and it also offers top of the game mobile technology. Its platform, the ETRADE 360 was voted the best client dashboard and ETRADE mobile was also rated as the best Smartphone App by the Stockbroker.com review in 2015.

3.       OptionsHouse – this was rated as the best options trading in the 2015 review by Stockbrokers.com. They have a $4.95 flat fee trading with options trades of the flat fee plus $.5 per contact. Their online platform which is referred to as tradeMONSTER is famous for its ease of use and discounted trading.

Online Stock Trading Software: What is it?

     Most brokerage firms today offer free or premium trading software applications to individual clients when they open a brokerage account. The bundled software applications, offering a wide variety of trade, research, and analysis functions, are used as a prominent sales-pitch to the trader client. They also boast features like inbuilt technical indicators, fundamental analysis numbers, and integrated applications for trade automation, news, and alert features. We will examine some of the most widely used, based on features:

• MetaStock Trader: One of the most popular stock trading software applications, MetaStock Trader offers more than 300 technical indicators, built-in drawing tools like Fibonacci retracement to complement technical indicators, integrated news, and fundamental data with screening and filtering criteria, with global markets coverage across multiple assets.
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• Worden TC2000: If you are interested only in US and Canadian stocks and funds, then TC2000 offers a good solution. Features include charts, watch lists, alerts, instant messaging, and news, scanning, and sorting. TC2000 offers fundamental data coverage, more than 70 technical indicators with 10 drawing tools, and an easy-to-use trading interface, as well as a backtesting function on historical data. It does not, however, offer automated trading tools, and asset classes are limited to stocks, funds, and ETFs.
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• eSignal: Another popular stock trading system offering research capabilities, eSignal trading tool offers various features depending upon the package one selects. It has global coverage across multiple asset classes including stocks, funds, bonds, derivatives, and forex. eSignal scores high on trade management interface with news and fundamental figures coverage. Available technical indicators appear to be limited in number and come with backtesting and alert features.
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• NinjaTrader: An integrated solution providing end-to-end solution from order entry to execution with customized development options and third-party library integration compatible for 300+ add-on products, NinjaTrader platform is one of the commonly used trading and research platforms. Apart from the usual technical indicators (100+), fundamentals, charting, and research tools, it also offers a useful trade simulator, enabling risk-free trade learning for budding traders.

Money Market Trading: What does it mean?

      Money market trading is like a subsection of the fixed income market. When someone thinks about fixed income, the idea of bonds pops up in their minds. Actually, in the real sense, a bond is just but one form of fixed income security. The distinction between bond market and money market is that money market is special in that it is focused on short-term debt securities. That means that the debt matures in one year or less. That is the reason why money markets are referred to as cash investments because they have very short maturity period.

    Money market securities are basically IOUs that are given by the government, large corporations or financial institutions. These instruments are considered to be very safe hence they are usually referred to as being liquid. Money markets offer very low returns than other forms of securities because of the fact that they are very conservative. One of the major differences between stock market and money market is the fact that money market securities trade using very high or even the highest denominations. This acts as a limit to individual investors. Another difference is that money market is regarded as a dealer market, therefore; companies and firms sell and buy securities using their own accounts. It is also worth noting that these companies trade at their own risk.

     This is very different to the stock market because, in stock markets, a broker gets his commission while acting as an agent while the investor is the one who takes the risk by holding the stock. Another major feature of the dealer market is that there is no exchange or trading floor. All the deals are done through electronic systems such as computers or through the phone. The best and the easiest way for anyone to get access to the money markets is through money market mutual funds or through a money market bank account. These accounts contain assets of very many investors and use those funds in order to buy money market securities on behalf of the clients or investors.

How to choose best online trading website

    There are several websites which provide the facility to do online trading. In this situation, it becomes tough for a beginner to choose the right website which can help to trade easily and conveniently. Let us see the aspects which should be considered before choosing the right online trading website:

Choose a website which is well established:

    At initial stages of your business, you should not try to invest with someone who is new in the arena. A well established name will help you in many ways. They have millions of clients and they can provide you better features, tools and updates about the market trends. These things are really helpful for a new entrant in online trading business.

Issue of miscellaneous fee:

    I will recommend large broker with a big name in the market because small brokers often charge less but it is just illusion. They bite your profit in the name of miscellaneous fee and other hidden charges. These little things cost you heavily in the end. So be careful about this issue.

Trading commissions:

    In this regard, flat-fee websites are the best which charge a flat fee for any kind of stock. They don’t charge for the type, size or price of the stock which you are purchasing or selling.

Customer service:

    Customer service and care is very important in online trading. How the broker deal with you and other clients is very important factor for your business. You must choose the website which provides a good and cooperative customer service on both ends.

Trading tools:

    Trading becomes much easy when you have some useful tools at your disposal. In this way, you will be able to manage your stock easily. Real time data, notifications, charts, prices and other similar things can boost your online trading business. So, choose the website in the light of all the things mentioned above.

Facts about FX Currency Traders

      FX currency traders have been engaging is the biggest financial trade in the world. However, this is a territory that is not familiar to the retail traders. Until internet usage improved a few years back, FX currency trading was a place that was left to multinational companies and secretive hedge funds. However, things are now different and individual investors have joined the fray and they are hungry for information. They are yearning to understand how the foreign exchange trade works. All that does not matter even if you are a beginner or you just need to refine your skills in the world of foreign exchange. This article will answer some questions about forex trade.

     Many people wonder how forex markets differ from other markets. Forex markets are not like other financial markets like options, futures or stocks; currency trading is not a regulated exchange. There is no body that governs or regulates the currency trading leave alone clearing houses or arbitration panels to settle disputes. Trading among members is done based on credit agreements. It is just like a metaphorical handshake.

     Another thing that people wonder about in forex trade is the commission. People who are used to trade in stocks or futures normally use a broker. The broker ensures that he or she must do the exchange according to the instructions given by the customer. In that case, the broker has to be paid some commission whenever the customer sells or buys tradable instrument. However, the foreign exchange market does not have commissions. This is a principles only market. The foreign exchange firms are not brokers but dealers. In that case, dealers have to assume market risk because they serve as counterparty to the investors’ trade. They make their money no through commissions but through bid-as spread. In foreign exchange, an investor cannot try to sell or bid at the offers like in markets that are based on exchange.

Futures Trading Platforms: Common Mistakes to Avoid

       Futures trading platforms are very many especially in this current world where internet has made communication and connection very fast, simple and reliable. Futures traders have the knock of making some common mistakes. One of the most common mistake that they make is that they just start trading, some impressive profits and then all over sudden they hit an endless stream of losses. Through this process, a futures trader might find himself losing all the profits and eventfully end up losing even the trading capital as he tries to figure out what he is not doing right. In order for someone to be a successful futures trader, one needs to know about the common pitfalls so that one will be in a good position to avoid those mistakes.

      To become a successful futures trader, one needs to have a system which is supposed to help the trader make better trades while at the same time ensuring that losses are kept at the minimum level possible. One of the common mistakes that they make includes not sticking with the system. When trading starts to show good results, many futures trader might opt to deviate from the system. That means that one does not have the capability of evaluating the markets unemotionally. As expected such a trader will eventually start making losses.

      The second mistake is not protecting oneself. Futures’ trading just like any other form of trading has a certain degree of risk. Therefore, it is important for a trader to have a way of ensuring that he is protected in case things go south. One such protection is using a sell or buy stops in order to ensure that losses are minimized as much as possible. Another mistake that futures traders make is losing focus. One must ensure that their full attention is focused on reading the markets in order to evaluate them accurately.

Best Futures Trading Platform

       There are several factors that one needs to consider when choosing the best futures trading platform. One needs to consider issues such as commission per contract, the speed at which the futures trading platform is executing, simplicity and ease of  use as well as analytical trading tools, quality of the customer support and fees among others. This article will take a look at some of the best futures trading platforms as well as giving an insight in some of the factors that were considered in order to come up with list.

Below is a list of the best futures trading platform. The list is not based on merit of the platforms rather it is alphabetical.

1.       TD Ameritrade

2.       MB Trading

3.       E*TRADE

4.       optionsXpress (Charles Schwab)

5.       TradeStation

6.       Interactive Brokers

       Whenever such a list is compiled, the professionals who compile the list consider several factors in order to find the best platforms. They consider several variables which will be covered here in order to settle on the best futures trading platforms. One of the factors to consider when searching for these platforms is the commission of fee per contract. This commission is applied per side, that is buying or selling and its amount varies on different futures trading platforms.

Another factor that one should consider is the fees. This is because one will have to consider the total fees charged in order to select the best platform. The fees are inclusive of the commission, National Futures Association as well as the exchange fees. Another factor to consider is the execution. In the futures trading, a platform with advanced computational capability is better since it will offer the user quick execution. Whenever the markets are in overdrive, slow execution can lead to big losses. This is especially true if there is a surge in the markets as a result of breaking news.

What is the meaning of Free Trading

      Free trading refers to the unrestricted purchase and sale of goods and services between countries without the imposition of constraints such as tariffs, duties and quotas. Free trade is a win-win proposition because it enables nations to focus on their core competitive advantage, thereby maximizing economic output and fostering income growth for their citizens. Formerly insular economies such as China and India have expanded at much faster growth rates since they adopted free trade principles in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively.

     Free trade enables nations to concentrate their efforts on manufacturing products or providing services where they have a distinct comparative advantage, according to the theory first espoused by economist David Ricardo two centuries ago. A free trade policy should enable a nation to generate enough foreign currency to purchase the products or services that it does not produce indigenously. The process works best when there are few if any barriers to entry for such imports. The imposition of artificial constraints such as tariffs on imports or the provision of subsidies to exports will introduce distortions and impede free trade.

     Forex market is also at other times referred to as interbank since banks trade with other electronically and the prices of the commodities might change as from one bank to the other. Forex trading account is just like a bank account where one can buy currencies and hold them. It is also worth noting that these currencies are usually purchased in pairs. That means that if one buys Euro against the US dollar, one is holding for the US dollar to become worth less against the Euro over a period of time. Therefore, for one make a profit in that transaction, the Euro must be worth more over that period of time. These brokers had to have a lot of money in order to buy the foreign currencies. Forex broker make money by taking some of the money whenever an investor makes profit.