When you start making "virtual" money, then you can risk your own.
http://simulator.investopedia.com/home.aspx
http://investopedia.com
http://investing.sitesled.com/
http://futures.tradingcharts.com/learning/
Blogs
http://winners-and-losers.com/
Training & classes
http://bettertrades.com
http://investedcentral.com
ETF news and analysis
http://ETF-World.Org/
Article: Trading is Timing
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/06/TradingisTiming.asp
Stock Charts
Bigcharts.com
http://www.stockTA.com
http://www.stockcharts.com
http://www.incrediblecharts.com…
www.prophet.net
americanbulls.com
Books on Investing
"Which Is Better, Buy-and-Hold or Market Timing?"
"Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Market Timer
The Beginner's Bible in Technical Analysis is:
Edwards & McGee"Tech. Anal. Of Stock Trends"
Droke, ClifTechnical Analysis Simplified
Kahn, Michael N.Tech. Anal. Plain & Simple
Kamich, Bruce M.How Technical Analysis Works
Lefevre, EdwinReminiscences of a Stock Operator
Lofton, ToddGetting Started in Futures
Lowenstein, RogerBuffet (Warren)-The Making of a Capitalist
O'Neil, William J.How to Make Money in Stocks
Oz, TonyHow to Make Money From Wall Street
Rotella, Robert P.Elements of Successful Trading, The
Schwager, JackStock Market Wizards
Please aslo explain to me the meaning of "day trades"
So if you bought and sold 100 MSFT 4 times in 2 days, let's say (and if these 4 trades were more than 6% of your total trades during these 2 days–which is very likely), you'd get labeled a "pattern day trader."
Day trading is buying and selling the same security within the same trading day (though if you don't already know that, you shouldn't be answering this question).
Suppose I process a series of buys on a particular security in the morning. Then sell them all in the afternoon.
Buy – Buy – Buy – Sell
Does this count as one day trade or three? What if either the Buy or Sell orders were partial fills?
Thanks
Thank you very much StopSpending.
What if the buys were separate orders, but you execute a single sell for the total lot?
From Rule 2520:
"The term "day[-]trading" means the purchasing and selling or the selling and purchasing of the same security on the same day in a margin account"
"The term "pattern day trader" means any customer who executes four or more day trades within five business days. However, if the number of day trades is 6% or less of total trades for the five business day period, the customer will not be considered a pattern day trader"
It's pretty clear to me that to "execute" a trade. I place an order and get fills. The order and the fills are a "trade". Now, if your two "buys" are based upon two separate orders, then the pattern you ask about would be two day trades.
Further info:
Interactiveborkers gives clear examples of day trades on their website. Another reason why I like that firm so much. Looks like your two buys and one sell example is just one day trade.
So a good guess would be 40%.
Online trading has lowered commissions to the point where they are no longer the primary consideration. Ditto for good execution, if indeed they are Direct Access. If you decide later to trade commodities, options, futures, or currencies, TerraNova may be the only one that you can trade everything, real time, online, direct access. A lot of online brokerages claim to give you direct access, but if they take more than a second to execute your trade, it aint direct.
What you probably should be concentrating on is the best trading software or trading platform. But even then, everyone's criteria are different.
Find the articles online that have evaluated and compared online brokerages. I found a good one online in Barron's, but you'll find others in the trading magazines. Active Trader, Futures Mag, etc.
This is worth putting a little time and effort into, because it's a pain to switch, so once you choose, you're kinda stuck with it.
Townsend Electronics, the Parent company of TerraNova, is the one that digitized and electronified the Nasdaq. They are technological industry leaders and have a powerful and well built trading system.
I use RealTick at TerraNovaOnline, but it costs $275/mo. I think the Investor package is free to use, and just uses one screen.
What you should try is a free trial of their Investor platform, which is free. Their rates are good also, but of course, it depends on how often you trade. It will take you months to learn all the bells and whistles of what this program can do.
The other top-of-the line program is TradeStation, but it costs big bucks to join and operate. Some people consider it the Cadillac of trading and technical analysis.
TerraNova is the home of the Day Trader, so they think nothing of you making several hundred trades a day. You don't have to do that, but it's okay here if you do.
