Learning The Basics of Stock Trading: Best Sources and Options to Consider
Learning stock trading can help you to boost your wealth like nothing else. Wondering how?
That’s what this article is about. Stick around to learn how to trade stocks.
Why do you need to learn to trade stocks in detail?
Learning stock trading might be daunting in the initial phase. You must master the complex strategies, tools, and platforms used in stock trading. Moreover, many new traders, learning how to trade stocks, need help to achieve their real potential.
However, a good thing is that you can quickly learn stock trading with an in-depth understanding of the market. Adam Hayes from Investopedia says- you need the right mindset and approach for Learning stock trading too.
Here, I will suggest some fundamental books for learning stock trading. You also need access to some tools to monitor performance daily.
It is called technical analysis. I will also share some valuable tips.
Must-Read Books for New Traders
Michael Simmons from LinkedIn says, “Books Are Still the Best Way to Learn.” Therefore, I suggest some good beginner books for learning stock trading.
Stock Market Wizards by Jack D. Schwager
Why read this book? It amalgamates strategies followed by the best traders. If you are thinking about how to learn to trade stocks, go through the in-depth interviews with experts from this book.
Most new traders fish out while learning to trade stocks. They need help to fathom the complex domain of the financial market.
Trading for a Living by Dr. Alexander Elder
This book is a complete guide for aspiring new traders. This book provides you with a complete course on stock trading. It covers:
- The nuances of technical analysis
- The right mindset for beginners in the stock market
- Practical strategies that traders can directly use
Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets by John Murphy
To make quick profits from the market, you need to analyze the stock chart precisely.
Technical analysis is the technique used to monitor stock charts. There is no better book than this to learn technical analysis.
Before you start digging into the book, learn what technical analysis is. Read the article
“Technical analysis vs fundamental analysis: what’s the best way to analyze stocks?”
for clarity about technical analysis.
Winning on Wall Street by Martin Zweig
This book takes you through the investing strategies that Martin Zweig personally followed. Are you still wondering how to learn stock trading?
Then this book is the best for you. Zweig’s informative and guiding approach will undoubtedly help you.
The Nature of Risk by Justin Mamis
The name of the book is self-explanatory. The stock market is never free of risk. You’re always at risk whether you’re a pro or a newbie to learning to trade stocks.
In his book, Mamis said,
“The risk can never be cured by knowing enough.”
So, it would help if you also learned the risk aversion techniques in the book.
Following the Market Daily
Most experts say that if you want to be a champion trader, be a market nerd. But why do you need market knowledge?
It’s simple. You must buy when the market rises. And then sell when you see it declining. But you must track the changes in the market, for that.
Importance Of Staying Updated on Market News and Trends
You must learn market news and trends for three reasons:
- Deciding if it’s a time for short-term or long-term investment
- Reviewing your current assets and setting trading strategies
- Ensuring you invest in stocks that will indeed perform
Resources Like Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, and The Wall Street Journal
You already know why you need market knowledge to learn stocks trading. But books are a source of theoretical and static knowledge. Who will give you the current market information? The equations change every second in the market.
In this relation, learn how these 3 sources can help you:
Sources | Benefits |
---|---|
Yahoo Finance | Provides a holistic market viewAny real time stock quote is available Financial analysis of the markets and particular stocks by experts Shares knowledge of big-time investment opportunities |
Google Finance | Best tool for tracking how your portfolio is performingLatest updated news and events related to the stocks that you boughtSetting watch lists to view later or check real time |
The Wall Street Journal | Biggest repertoire of financial news and news of significant stocks All active traders can read WSJ to learn how to interpret a business, before investingLearning about the forces that influence investments and profits in the market |
Basics of Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is a baby step in learning about stock trading. However, it’s the backbone of your investment decisions, too. But it’s not rocket science.
You must study past prices. Then, tally the prices with volume data and predict how prices will move.
Understanding Price Charts in Different Time Frames
There are some parameters of the fundamental price charts. While learning stock trading, remember these two parameters:
- The Y axis on the chart denotes the price scale
- The X axis is the time scale
You can understand the variance in price surge or price slump from this cart. But experts say that you must also learn about the different price points. There are some static time points.
1. “Open Price”
If I am anticipating the feasibility of investing in a stock for a quarter, look out for the open price. It is the price that opened trading for that period.
2. “High Price”
It is the highest price of a stock within a given period.
3. “Low Price”
It denotes the minimum price of the stock recorded in that given period.
Balancing Technical Analysis with Fundamental Analysis
Fundamental analysis is crucial to identifying suitable stocks for long-term investment. However, you analyze the firm’s performance in the recent past rather than the stock charts.
However, the technical analysis only includes a detailed stock chart data study.
However, the question is how to balance technical and fundamental analyses.
The first step is to choose a more extended period for analysis. It may be weekly or monthly.
After learning the overall trends in that period, tally the projections with asset performance. But how to do that?
Do a fundamental analysis of the assets separately/ Then compare the findings from both analyses.
Importance Of Studying Company Spreadsheets
What are company spreadsheets?
Some standard spreadsheets released by a company are:
- Asset information sheet
- Sheet of purchases and sales
- Balance sheet
- Investment sheet
You must do a detailed study of viable information on these sheets. It will give you a clear idea of the company’s organizational health.
If you think the company will grow, invest in it.
Practicing Trading
What are the common dos and don’ts in the trading market? Remember, you only started to learn about stock trading. So, make choices only after thinking.
Benefits Of Paper Trading or Virtual Trading
Moore stated:
“Try investing in the market without putting money in the market yet to just see how it works,”
If you also think it is a good way of learning stock trading, then paper trading is your game.
Pick one stock that you like. Then, observe its performance for three months minimum. After that, you will know what would have happened if you invested in it.
However, experts say that there are also some paper trading tools.
These tools allow people to test their skills when they learn about stock trading.
Analyzing Results and Identifying Flaws in Trading Strategies
The best way to analyze your result is to compare your result with another’s portfolio. But you both must start simultaneously with the same stock capital.
However, experts say most beginners learning stock trading make common mistakes.
Firstly, they need to judge the evolving conditions in the market. Secondly, the National Bureau of Economic Research says that 67% of Americans still need diverse portfolios.
But it would help if you diversified your portfolio to avoid failures.
Conclusion
I shared many tips, tricks, and resources on trading stock. However, you must follow only one golden rule while learning to trade in stock.
Do a fundamental or technical analysis of stocks. Then do some paper trading. After that, make your first real investment when you are ready.
Learning and practicing will reduce your risks in the market. It will also help you to make more informed decisions. So, your chance of earning high will flourish.
Just stick to continuous learning.
After learning stock trading, the basics of trading are straightforward to you. So, I will now share some tips for setting better investment goals.
Always be sure of what you want from the market. Get to know the risks involved in trading also.
You must also set a time scale for trading. For instance, a stock giving high returns now might slump in the next quarter. If you know your goals, risks, and time scale, you are well in control of your trading.
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