Stock Trading Online Guidelines

October 25, 2009 by theforex  
Filed under Forex Trading

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The process of stock trading has of course evolved a lot over the years as technology as developed. In the early part of the 20th century you had to physically visit a stock brokers office or trading room to buy and sell stocks.

When the postal mail became into common use you could then buy and sell stocks by mailing a letter to your broker, of course today nobody would dream of doing either of these.

Today the most used method of trading is either using the telephone or stock trading online. When using the telephone to trade stocks you can still do it by speaking to a broker and giving them your clear instructions, or you can do it all yourself by using some form of menu system using the digital key pad.

But by far the most common form of trading is done online, so what do you need to know about stock trading online?, more than you may think!

Here are some points that you may not have considered:

1. Virtually all brokers can do stock trading but what about options, Forex and futures?. While you may not be interested in trading either Forex or futures it is quite likely that at some time you will want to trade options online, even if it is just covered calls. Make sure that your chosen broker allows you to trade all the markets that you want to.

2. Of course the fee’s charged by your online broker is an obvious point to check, the fee’s can vary a lot and if you are doing hundreds or thousands of trades a year it can add up to quite a lot of cash. Did you know that you can just call up your online broker and ask for a reduced commission charge?, yes you can, I’ve done it. Of course they don’t advertise it but if you do a lot of trades they will want to keep your business.

3. Have you planned what you will do if you are trading and your internet connection goes down for any reason, it could be a power failure, problems with the internet or your PC crashing?. If you are in a day trade you will want to telephone your broker and manage your trade, probably you will just want to close it. How will your broker deal with your call, will they answer quickly, will they look at charts for you and describe what is going on?. Make sure that your broker has good telephone support.

4. Are your trading funds safe?, make sure that your broker is a member of SIPC, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which protects against losses caused by the financial failure of the broker-dealer, but not against losses resulting from depreciation in a security’s value. Usually trading accounts are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), up to 0,000 (including up to 0,000 for cash claims).

Whatever you decide to do, before trading stocks, options or anything else make sure that you get a good trading education by reading the best trading books that you can.

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Do You Need Forex Trading Training?

October 9, 2009 by theforex  
Filed under Forex Trading

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Does everybody need forex trading training or do some people have a natural talent for trading currency on the forex market? You will not be surprised to learn that nobody is born understanding all of the ins and outs of foreign exchange trading. While it is true that some kinds of experience or personality traits can be useful and can mean that you will pick it up more quickly, everybody needs some kind of training if they plan to make a profit.

But there are many kinds of stock day training available these days and it may be hard to judge what is the best. With so many websites, blogs, articles and ebooks available on the internet, often low priced or even free, it is tempting to think that we may be able to pick up all we need to know for dirt cheap.

However, it can be a big mistake to limit yourself to this kind of bit by bit training. There are some great ebooks and free systems out there but others are outdated or never had any success at all. As a beginner you will find it hard to know which ones to trust.

Even the best manuals generally do not cover everything you need to know. They may focus on one or two strategies that are not necessarily the best match for your situation. The cash saved on training may be lost several times over once you start currency trading for real.

In most cases you will be better advised if you sign up for formal training through a membership site. This is likely to be run by a trading group or an experienced currency trader. They will have set up a step by step process that you can work through from complete beginner to knowledgeable trader.

Beginners are usually attracted to forex day trading by the lure of quick and easy money and most know nothing about it when they start. It is great to have a system that covers pretty much everything and someone who can answer your questions.

Many formal forex training programs have a forum where you can discuss your strategies and results with others. Sharing information in this way can be a great way to learn. In fact, in many cases the forum itself is worth the cost of membership and many people remain members after completing the program just to have this exposure to the knowledge and experience of other traders.

Solid forex training is unlikely to be free except at the most basic level. If you just want to dabble in the forex market as an experiment, without caring too much whether you win or lose, you may be satisfied with free training. The best type of free training is often given a way as a teaser or taster by sites or brokers who hope you will then join them as a paying member. In fact, you can often pick up top level tips this way and a free report from a reputable trader will often be more useful and valuable than a $20 ebook.

Whatever type of training you choose, be sure to follow it exactly. Don’t skip over the first steps hoping to get straight into making cash – that would be a fast route to disaster. Test out the system you are being taught, either with small trades or in a demo account. Ask questions. Make sure you get every bit of wisdom from the training you have chosen so that you put yourself in the best position to turn a profit on completion of the forex trading training program.

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