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December 31, 2008
NASDAQ
The stock market is a public or private market for the trading of company stock and derivatives of company stock at an agreed upon price. The size of the world stock exchange is estimated at about 36.6 trillion US dollars. The stock market in the United States includes the trading of all securities listed on exchanges such as the NYSE, the Amex, and the OTCBB and Pink Sheets. The OTCBB stands for over the counter bulletin board and is where over the counter stocks are traded. Over the counter stocks are stocks that are unlisted and come from smaller companies that do no qualify for the other major stock exchanges.

The NASDAQ is an American Stock Exchange and it is the largest electronic screen-based equity securities trading market in the United States. It was also the world's first electronic stock market. It has the most trading volume per day than any other stock exchange in the world. It stands for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations and it was founded in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). It was the successor to the OTC (over-the-counter) systems of trading and originally was a computer bulletin board system that did not actually have any buyers or sellers. What it did was lower the spread however many brokerage firms didn't like it.

The purpose of this and other stock exchanges is for companies to raise money. Companies can raise additional capital for expansion by selling shares of ownership of the company in the open market. Shareholders are created and the liquidity of the exchange allows investors the ability to quickly and easily sell securities. The stock exchange also acts as a clearing house for each transaction. This means that the stock exchange collects and delivers shares and guarantees payment to the seller of a security. This removes the risk that the counterparty to the buyer or seller could default on the transaction.

The NASDAQ was also the first stock market in the U.S. to advertise to the general public. They highlighted the companies that were traded on this exchange which were mostly companies in technology.

Investors new to the stock market should continue to learn about the different stock exchanges available in the United States and throughout the world. The London Stock Exchange, the Euronext, and the Paris Bourse are European stock exchanges that are also popular around the world.

Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow
High Profit 

Candlestick Patterns Book
WORDEN Brothers - TeleChart 2007
The Candlestick Forum Option Training
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December 16, 2008
Trading Online

Trading Online and What Every Investor Should Know

When trading online it is important to understand how brokers handle your trades. You may have some assumptions as it relates to trading and investing online that are false. For instance, many investors with brokerage accounts, who trade online, assume that they have a direction connection to the securities markets to execute a trade. This is actually not true. When an investor submits a trade online and order is sent to over the internet to your stock broker who then makes the trade on your behalf.

Also, the actual trade execution does not happen instantaneously. It can take time and the stock prices can change very quickly. For day traders or other types of traders who trade online in fast moving markets, the price quotes can be different by the time your order reaches the market. That is why you must be sure to research trade execution times for the brokerage firm that you choose to utilize when trading online. Whether they make the trade over the phone or online, each firm advertises their speed of execution and they must live up to that advertisement.

Whether you choose an online discount broker or a full service broker, your broker has a choice of markets it will choose to execute your trades. For those stocks listed on an exchange such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the broker may direct the order to that exchange, to another exchange, or to a firm that is referred to as a third market maker. Third market makers are firms that will buy stock or sell stock listed on a stock exchange at publicly quoted prices.  When trading online the over the counter stocks, broker may send the order to a NASDAQ market maker. They may also route your order to an electronic communications network that will automatically match buy and sell orders at specific prices. Broker will go this route when their client issues a limit order. The last option the broker has when executing your order, is to send your order to another division of your broker’s firm. The order is then filled out of the firm’s own inventory so that the broker can make money on the spread. This process is called internalization.

Trading online can be tricky so each investor must be sure to have full knowledge of their market of choice. Brokers are very helpful but make sure that you have a complete understanding of what they do, and how they do, so that you can choose a broker that fits well with you. Selecting the best broker is one of the most important choices you will make when you begin to invest in stocks online. 


Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow
High Profit 

Candlestick Patterns Book
WORDEN Brothers - TeleChart 2007
The Candlestick Forum Option Training
5-Star 

Trading Plan


December 12, 2008
Online Stock Trades

Online Stock Trades using Japanese Candlestick Analysis

Placing online stock trades using candlestick analysis is a very popular method for investing in the stock market. It is based on technical analysis in order to evaluate securities through analysis of statistics generated in the stock market. Rather than looking at the intrinsic value of stocks, like in fundamental analysis, technical analysis is based on the theory that stock prices move in trends and that history tends to repeat itself. Stock traders use candlestick analysis when placing online stock trades in order to identify chart patterns on stock charts. Additionally, technical analysis involves the use of other technical indicators such as oscillators when trading the stock market.

What is Japanese Candlestick Analysis?
Candlestick trading requires that you learn to identify different patterns that demonstrate investor sentiment. You do not have to learn complex formulas or ratios and can pretty easily see the patterns and signals. Online stock trades that are placed using candlestick analysis look at daily price movement that is represented by lines extending from a candlestick body, and these lines are referred to as shadows or tails. The candlestick body that is formed is either a white candle or a black candle. White candles signify that the stock price is closing higher than where it opened. Conversely, a black candle is formed when the stock price is closing lower than where it opened.

12 Major Candlesticks
There are 12 major candlestick patterns that investors must memorize in order to actually place online stock trades. They have credible and proven probabilities of indicating the future direction of stock. These twelve major candlesticks consist of patterns such as the doji candlestick, the bullish engulfing pattern, the hanging man, and many others. In total there are about 40 reversal and continuation patterns. There are also secondary candlestick patterns that investors can utilize once they learn the primary candlesticks. The secondary candlestick patterns consist of the three black crows, the two crows, the three identical crows and more.

Online stock trades made, using candlestick analysis, is a great way to earn profits trading the stock market. Continue to learn about Japanese Candlesticks and how they can help you.


Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow
High Profit 

Candlestick Patterns Book
WORDEN Brothers - TeleChart 2007
The Candlestick Forum Option Training
5-Star 

Trading Plan


December 9, 2008
Stock Price

The stock price, for shares of particular company, fluctuates continuously and the price is based on many factors. The roles of supply and demand play an extremely important role in the stock market in general. Economics teaches us that when the price for a stock falls is it typically due to lower demand as most of the stock has already been sold off. Conversely, as the price increases it is due to a higher demand as most of the stock is in the process of being bought.

Stock price fluctuates and this fluctuation depends on many factors. One of the most important factors affecting the price is the news. Negative press releases about a company, positive news about a company, and the projected performance by the company all lend a hand to affecting the price of a company’s stock. The Wall Street News especially and the information contained in the publication also affect the company’s stock. Newspapers cover the daily progress of the markets and offer analysis on so-called hot stock market picks and stock market websites also send out newsletters and updated to their members.

When determining the value or worth of a company you must look at the profit made by the company in the previous quarter, not necessarily the price of their stock. The price of the stock does not determine the value, but instead the perceived value of a company is what determines the stock price for that company. Market capitalization is the most important part of determining a stock’s value and this is obtained by taking the total number of outstanding stock in the market and multiplying that with the stock prices to calculate how much a company is worth.

To take this further, you must figure out the earnings per share of a company. Every company must publish a quarterly report that provides the earnings per share of the company. The earnings per share is simply the profit made by the company per share in the last quarter. Therefore it is obvious that you must pay attention to the quarterly reports if you invest in stocks using fundamental analysis. You can also use Japanese Candlesticks, a form of technical analysis that does not look at fundamental factors. It does not look at the specific fundamental factors because these factors are considered to be indicated in the candlestick chart patterns, which therefore indicate history of the price movement.

There are numerous factors that affect the stock price of a company. It is important to have a basic understanding of these factors whether your trade using fundamental or stock technical analysis.


Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow
High Profit 

Candlestick Patterns Book
WORDEN Brothers - TeleChart 2007
The Candlestick Forum Option Training
5-Star 

Trading Plan


December 6, 2008
Online Stock

Purchasing online stock requires extensive knowledge, proven trading strategies, as well as a stock trading plan. When trading stock the investor becomes a shareholder in that company no matter the amount of stock purchased. The company can then take the money that was used to purchase stock in their company and expand the company in order to make more money. As the company earns more money, the stock will grow as a result. Unfortunately, if the company loses money after the stock is purchased by investors, then the investors will lose money.

There are five important factors to take into consideration before buying stock online. This article will take a look at these factors in more detail below.

First of all, it is pretty simple to open an online trading account in order to trade stock online. You typically only need about $500 and once the account is opened, you can easily access the account and receive up-to-date stock information on the company you bought stock in. Additionally, you can buy stock or sell stock from the comfort of your home on your personal computer anytime the stock market is open.

Second, the broker fees can be pretty minimal especially if you go through an online discount broker. This broker buys and purchase online stock on your behalf and can do this in a fairly inexpensive manner. This reduces the overall expenses than if you went with a full-service broker, allowing you to quickly increase your return on investment when you sell stock. Day traders however should be aware that more frequent trading leads to more fees, so they must be cautious and have a full understanding of this trading strategy and the possible broker fees associated.

Third, investors should join and trading forum in order to exchange information with other stock traders. You are able to benefit from the experiences of other traders, and it is a great way to learn about different brokerage firms, trading platforms, and other resources. Members are also able to share successful methods and stock trading tips that they otherwise wouldn’t have knowledge of.

Finally, you must research and select a stock trading website that suits you and your trading style. Find a website that allows you to buy, sell, and trade online stock and you can then control your own investing from the comfort of your home. This acts as an alternative to a stock broker and serves well for more experienced investors.

There is so much to learn when it comes to investing in the stock market. Invest in yourself first through stock market seminars, stock trading courses, and other resources and then you are on your way to successful investing!


Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow
High Profit 

Candlestick Patterns Book
WORDEN Brothers - TeleChart 2007
The Candlestick Forum Option Training
5-Star 

Trading Plan


December 2, 2008
Swing Traders

Swing traders are not concerned about perfect timing when buying stock as it relates to the highs and lows, but instead they wait for stock to hit its baseline and to confirm its direction. Then these traders will make their move. Swing trading is actually described as the type of trading that lies in between trend trading and day trading. Trend traders hold stock for a few weeks to months whereas day traders hold stock for seconds of the day, but never more than one day. Swing traders lie in the middle because they hold stock typically for a few days to two or three weeks.

When swing trading, traders are better positioned when the markets aren’t going anywhere, unlike other types of trading. They look for markets where the indexes rise for a couple of days and then decline for the next few days, only to repeat this pattern over and over again. The trick, when swing trading stocks, is to know which type of market is currently being experienced. The theory that swing traders follow is that momentum will typically carry stocks in one direction for a long period of time during a bear market or a bull market. Some say that this confirms that swing trading is the best strategy to trade on the basis of a longer term directional trend.

Additionally, when swing trading, a critical factor is picking the correct stocks and many see large cap stocks as the best option. This type of stock is the most actively traded stock on the major stock exchanges, and consequently provide great rides for swing traders. During an active market, large cap stocks will swill swing between generally defined low and high extremes allowing the trader to ride the market in one direction for a couple of days or weeks only to switch to the opposing side of the trade once the stock reverses direction.

Equally as critical with this trading strategy is the timing in which swing traders exit the trade and take their profits. The goal is to exit the trade without being overly accurate, and as close as possible to the upper and lower channel line. It is interesting to note that in a strong market, traders can wait for the channel line to be reached before they take their profit as long as it is a stock that is exhibiting a strong directional trend. On the other hand, during a weaker stock market, traders must take their profits before the channel line is hit.

This type of trading brings with it the potential for great profit and is a great alternative to the more intense trading strategies such as day trading. It requires just as much extensive knowledge, but may be an investment option that may be a less stressful option for more conservative traders. Continue to learn about swing trading as well as other types of stock trading and see what works for you.


Online Stock Market Reviews presented live via the internet by Stephen Bigalow
High Profit 

Candlestick Patterns Book
WORDEN Brothers - TeleChart 2007
The Candlestick Forum Option Training
5-Star 

Trading Plan