We recently discussed some of the technical indicators that many professional traders harness to determine their opinion of a stock’s valuation and decide when to buy and sell. That article covered some pretty complex stuff, including the Relative Strength Indicator (RSI), the stochastic oscillator, and the Commodity Channel Index (CCI). Those techniques, although somewhat arcane, […]

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Editor’s note: This is the final part of a three-part series on Richard Dennis and his “turtle traders,” and what traders can learn from the 1980s experiment. Part 1 tells the turtle traders’ story and offers a few tips on how to trade like a turtle. Part 2 explains how turtle traders follow the trend. […]

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Risk control. It may not be the most glamorous aspect of a trading opportunity, but some traders say it’s among the most critical elements. In a recent article, fund manager and Market Wizards author Jack Schwager said the most important investment advice he ever received was this: “Know where you will get out before you […]

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Technology has turned us into a non-stop, 24/7 society. News and information flow never ceases, and you can buy almost anything you want, anytime you want, from the convenience of your smartphone. And yet, the stock market is still only open for 6 1/2 hours a day, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Not […]

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Question: What do time travel and trading have in common? Answer: In both cases, it’s critical to know what type of environment you’re entering. Step out of your time machine into the Jurassic badlands, expecting 1950s New York City, and it’s going to be a long day. Try to trade a range-bound stock like a […]

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In a time before mobile phones and coast-to-coast cell coverage, roadside diners and gas stations did good business selling fold-out maps to the travelers who passed through their towns. These maps were crucial instruments of navigation, showing you not only were you currently were, but also, where you came from and possibly where you were […]

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Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a 4-part series explaining domestic and international stock markets. Part 1 introduced the series. Future installments will look at the markets in Asia and Europe.  Once upon a time, the world’s financial markets consisted of small, regional exchanges whose hours depended on the whims of local merchants. And […]

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Back in the 1980s and 90s when JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist for TD Ameritrade, traded in the storied Chicago futures and options pits, there were certain days he had to be more wary than usual about potential risk to his pocketbook. Those were the so-called “triple witching” sessions, which come up every quarter as contracts […]

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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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