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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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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