From the changing seasons to the ebb and flow of the economy, cycles are all around us. Each is driven by unique forces and made up of individual stages. Cycles and stages are also present in the movement of stocks, and understanding their dynamics can help you identify potential trading and investment opportunities. Identifying stock […]

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Technology is changing the face and structure of global commerce, from the way we shop, to the way we travel, to the way we buy and sell stock. Even the stop order—one of the basic building blocks of many trading strategies—may require a rethink due to technology. Technical Analysis Meets Darwinism? Although it’s not a […]

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Success in almost any profession requires familiarity with a basic set of tools. For the carpenter, it’s the hammer, saw, and screwdriver. The artist must know how to use brushes and pigments to make a canvas come alive. Even scientists rely on tools like formulas, spreadsheets, and computer modeling to prove their theories. And when […]

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The mechanics of trading are easy. A click or two gets you into a trade and a click or two gets you out. But the decision-making process behind those clicks is much more complex. And with complexity comes more opportunities to make mistakes that can affect your bottom line. Here are seven common mistakes that […]

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Legendary hedge fund manager George Soros is known for being a hands-on trader with an uncanny ability to make money. And when the opportunity presents itself, he’s not shy about making big bets. Case in point: His 1992 short of the British pound, which almost toppled the Bank of England and netted him a $1 […]

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Key Takeaways After-hours trading preparation can help hone your trading skills Consider planning your trades ahead of time with specific entry points Use extended-hours trading sessions to formulate routines and habits, and to evaluate mistakes The markets are closed. Is it time to pull out a good bottle of red wine and kick back in […]

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Key Takeaways Storied index changes as the economy evolves A small number of companies may make for easier following  The Dow Jones Industrial Average can be vulnerable to global growth worries When you think of the stock market or Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) may also come to mind, as it’s one […]

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Key Takeaways A bull market is marked by increasing prices A bear market is marked by decreasing prices  Digging deeper, there are details and nuances that can help investors understand the differences If you listen to enough popular investor-speak, you’ll notice that people tend to lump market-related matters into one of two categories: bullish or […]

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Key Takeaways Exchanges aim to facilitate fair and orderly trading of securities and provide real-time, transparent pricing information Participant groups include retail and institutional investors, market makers, and specialists Exchanges are worldwide We take a lot of things in life for granted. Turn on the faucet and you expect water to flow. Flip on the […]

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Key Takeaways High-frequency trading (HFT) uses computers to buy and sell stocks much faster than any human Algo traders seek tiny profits on each transaction but generate large returns through speed and volume About half of daily overall U.S. equities trading is high-frequency trading Think fast: you’ve probably heard of high-frequency trading or algorithmic trading. […]

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