What is trading and how does it work?
Assets and Markets:
- The assets you trade can be stocks, currencies (forex), commodities (like oil or gold), or even options contracts. Each has its own marketplace where buyers and sellers meet.
Buying and Selling:
- You don't directly own the underlying asset (like a company) when you buy a stock. You're buying the right to represent ownership of a share.
- Buying happens at a bid price (what someone is willing to pay), and selling happens at an ask price (what someone is willing to sell for). The difference is the spread, the broker's commission.
Making a Profit:
- You profit when you sell an asset for more than you bought it for. For example, if you buy a stock at $10 and it goes up to $15, you can sell it for a $5 profit per share.
Short Selling (Optional):
- This is a more advanced strategy where you borrow shares you think will go down in price, sell them immediately, and then buy them back later at a hopefully lower price to return to the lender. The profit is the difference between the selling and buying price.
Key Factors:
- Market Analysis: Traders rely on technical analysis (chart patterns) and fundamental analysis (company financials or economic data) to predict price movements.
- Trading Strategies: There are various strategies, like day trading (buying and selling within a day) or swing trading (holding positions for a few days or weeks).
- Risk Management: Stop-loss orders are crucial to limit potential losses if the price goes against you.
Things to Remember:
- Trading involves inherent risk. You can lose money if the market moves against you.
- It's a complex skill that takes time and practice to develop.
- Start with educating yourself and using a demo account before risking real capital.