Day Trading Basics - Information for Beginning Day Traders
If you have just started day trading, or are thinking of becoming a day trader, the following articles will provide the basic information that you need to get started. Topics such as an introduction to day trading, the markets that can be day traded, and explanations of the tools that you will need, are all covered in detail, and will provide a good understanding of the basics. With this solid foundation, you will be able to progress to day trading's more advanced topics with confidence.
What is Day Trading?
Explanation of what day trading actually is, and how it relates to other styles of trading. Includes some of the differences between day trading styles, types of trade, and day traders' personalities.
Explanation of what day trading actually is, and how it relates to other styles of trading. Includes some of the differences between day trading styles, types of trade, and day traders' personalities.
Which Markets can be Day Traded?
Introduction to the markets that are available to day traders, including some popular futures, options, currencies, and stock markets.
Introduction to the markets that are available to day traders, including some popular futures, options, currencies, and stock markets.
Trading Stock Indexes
Discussion of trading stock indexes using futures and options markets, including charting the stock indexes while trading the futures and options markets.
Discussion of trading stock indexes using futures and options markets, including charting the stock indexes while trading the futures and options markets.
Choosing a Trading Style
Discussion of different trading styles, and suggestions for finding the trading style that best suits your personality.
Discussion of different trading styles, and suggestions for finding the trading style that best suits your personality.
Discretionary or System Trading
Descriptions of discretionary trading and system trading, with suggestions for choosing the correct type of trading for your personality, and examples of each type of trading.
Descriptions of discretionary trading and system trading, with suggestions for choosing the correct type of trading for your personality, and examples of each type of trading.
Fundamental or Technical Analysis?
Discussion of the differences between fundamental analysis and technical analysis, and which type is better suited for day trading.
Discussion of the differences between fundamental analysis and technical analysis, and which type is better suited for day trading.
Introduction to Scalping
Description of the trading style known as scalping, with examples of the type of trades that a scalper would make.
Description of the trading style known as scalping, with examples of the type of trades that a scalper would make.
The Best and Worst Ways to Learn Trading
Descriptions of the most popular methods of trading instruction, with my recommendations for which ways are the most effective, and my suggestion for an alternative to learning trading.
Descriptions of the most popular methods of trading instruction, with my recommendations for which ways are the most effective, and my suggestion for an alternative to learning trading.
The Holy Grail of Trading
The holy grail of trading is revealed, including a description of the holy grail, and suggestions for using the holy grail in your trading.
The holy grail of trading is revealed, including a description of the holy grail, and suggestions for using the holy grail in your trading.
Trading Using Leverage
Discussion of trading using leverage (margin), and whether leverage is an efficient use of trading capital, or a quick way to lose a lot of money.
Discussion of trading using leverage (margin), and whether leverage is an efficient use of trading capital, or a quick way to lose a lot of money.
Leverage is Good, and More Leverage is Very Good
Discussion of how leverage affects the potential profit and loss of a trade, and why professional traders always trade using the highest leverage possible.
Discussion of how leverage affects the potential profit and loss of a trade, and why professional traders always trade using the highest leverage possible.
Day Trading Tools
List of the tools needed for day trading, with minimum specifications and recommendations. Includes discussions of day trading computers, Internet access, brokerages, trading and charting software, and market data.
List of the tools needed for day trading, with minimum specifications and recommendations. Includes discussions of day trading computers, Internet access, brokerages, trading and charting software, and market data.
Day Trading Charts - Bar, Candlestick, and Line Charts
Descriptions of bar, candlestick, and line charts, with the trading information that they represent, and instructions for reading and interpreting them during trading.
Descriptions of bar, candlestick, and line charts, with the trading information that they represent, and instructions for reading and interpreting them during trading.
Time and Sales
Description of the time and sales (or tape), with an explanation of the trading information that each element of the time and sales represents.
Description of the time and sales (or tape), with an explanation of the trading information that each element of the time and sales represents.
Day Trading Market Data
Description of day trading market data, and the trading information that market data provides. Includes profiles of the most popular market data feeds, with the markets that they offer, their monthly fees, and their software and programming interfaces.
Description of day trading market data, and the trading information that market data provides. Includes profiles of the most popular market data feeds, with the markets that they offer, their monthly fees, and their software and programming interfaces.
The Bid, Ask, and Last
Definition of the market prices known as the bid price, the ask price, and the last price, with an explanation of how these prices affect day trading.
Definition of the market prices known as the bid price, the ask price, and the last price, with an explanation of how these prices affect day trading.
Buying and Selling Volume
Description of buying and selling volume, including how each type of volume affects the current market price.
Description of buying and selling volume, including how each type of volume affects the current market price.
How Market Prices Move
Explanation of how buying and selling moves market prices, with reference to individual trades and how they are displayed on the time and sales.
Explanation of how buying and selling moves market prices, with reference to individual trades and how they are displayed on the time and sales.
Day Trading Order Types
Description of the day trading order types that are combined to make a complete trade. Includes market, limit, stop, stop limit, market if touched, and limit if touched orders.
Description of the day trading order types that are combined to make a complete trade. Includes market, limit, stop, stop limit, market if touched, and limit if touched orders.
Stop or If Touched Orders
Explanation of the differences between stop orders and if touched orders, with examples of how using the wrong type of order can greatly affect your trading.
Explanation of the differences between stop orders and if touched orders, with examples of how using the wrong type of order can greatly affect your trading.
How To Place Stop Loss Orders
Discussion about placing stop loss orders, with suggestions for where, and where not, to place stop loss orders depending upon how they are being used.
Discussion about placing stop loss orders, with suggestions for where, and where not, to place stop loss orders depending upon how they are being used.
Stop Loss Orders - Market or Limit?
Discussion of whether stop loss orders should be market or limit orders, with an explanation of how each type of order can affect the stop loss.
Discussion of whether stop loss orders should be market or limit orders, with an explanation of how each type of order can affect the stop loss.
Trading Logs
Discussion of trading logs, including the information that a trading log should include, and the different formats that a trading log can be stored in.
Discussion of trading logs, including the information that a trading log should include, and the different formats that a trading log can be stored in.
Trading During News Releases
Discussion of whether day traders should have active trades, or be flat (no active trades) during news releases.
Discussion of whether day traders should have active trades, or be flat (no active trades) during news releases.
Trading with a Small Account
Discussion of under capitalization, and how it affects a trader's ability to make a profit, with advice for traders who have small trading accounts.
Discussion of under capitalization, and how it affects a trader's ability to make a profit, with advice for traders who have small trading accounts.
Calculating One Percent Risk
Description of the one percent risk management calculation, with an example of how the one percent calculation is used to determine the size of a stock trade.
Description of the one percent risk management calculation, with an example of how the one percent calculation is used to determine the size of a stock trade.
Calculating Your Break Even Percentage
Description and calculation of the break even percentage, which shows the ratio of winning and losing trades that are required for a break even profit / loss.
Description and calculation of the break even percentage, which shows the ratio of winning and losing trades that are required for a break even profit / loss.
Emergency Hedging
Description of emergency hedging, and an explanation of when it is used, with examples of emergency hedging strategies.
Description of emergency hedging, and an explanation of when it is used, with examples of emergency hedging strategies.
Overcoming a Losing Streak
Discussion of day trading losing streaks, with examples of acceptable losing streaks for different types of trading system, and suggestions for overcoming a losing streak.
Discussion of day trading losing streaks, with examples of acceptable losing streaks for different types of trading system, and suggestions for overcoming a losing streak.