Is there a book that explains in some details how traders can make money, ranging from a simple buying and selling stocks to options, shorts, etc...? If you are pro, I'd be interested in knowing how you made your first money trading (don't need the specific numbers, just info on how you made your first check) Thanks, VK edit - also, it would help if you could estimate the start up costs that are required. Are there absolute must have subscriptions, feeds, etc... ? edit no. 2 - is there a platform that I could trade with funny money (not real money) similar to forex platform? That way, I could similate trading without actual real losses.
Open accounts at TD Ameritrade & OptionsXpress, go through all thier 'learning center' info. I'm pretty sure there's a 'Books' tab uptop here. I've found the 'Search' function on this site to be incredable. Lots to read: 9pm-midnight for the next year, easy.
I'd say you should start with: Perry J. Kaufman "A short course in Technical trading" Wiley editions I think
Thanks to all for your responses. Sarah, this book appears to be exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again.
BOOKS Read everything that you can get your hands on. Library, web. PAPER TRADING Many brokers offer it. Here's some non broker (have no idea if any good) http://simulator.investopedia.com/ http://www.cboe.com/tradtool/virtualtrade.aspx Not a pro. Started off 10 eyars ago trading slow and small. Traded not to lose. Made a few bucks - nothing worth bragging about. Then two huge years during the GFC. Now back to small ball
the best library is 4shared.com all trading books available for download Technical analysis of stock trends by Edwards & Magee Technical analysis by Schabacker Trade Chart Patterns Like the Pros by Suri Duddella Reading Price Charts Bar By Bar by Al Brooks Trading in the zone Do not pay for any snake oil mentors or for trading courses Mirus futures gives you a 1 month Ninja trader demo with data feed, so you can do all you sim trading etc. After the month use a new email :eek: You can open an account with 5k. Always use the minimum as you will blow your account. The more money you have available to lose, the more you will lose before you start learning, you know what I mean. PM me your email, I'll send you a good start up book. GL shark bait
I didn't come across this book until much later into my learning phase. http://www.amazon.com/Futures-Game-Who-Wins-Loses/dp/0070637342 It should save you a lot of time and hassle. Some used copies are kicking around on Amazon.
'The Market Wizards' and 'The New Market Wizards' by Jack D. Schwager i thought were interesting and entertaining reads - see reviews at Amazon 'The Elliott Wave Principle: Key to Market Behavior ' by Frost / Prechter which describes a theory of Price Movement, however, interpreting a chart based on EW is Difficult with a 50/50 chance of being correct/incorrect, no info about 'trading' visit your local library the books might be there along with a couple of hundred other books that won't cost anything to borrow and read + interlibrary loans personally i think fx trading is the best bang for buck trading available particularly when having a limited sum available to trade with, or limiting how much one wants to risk plus there's lots of free 'how-to' books available oh and many fx brokers provide mostly currency specific realtime news on the other hand 'Phil' made a 600% return last week with an option trade: 'a 'news trade' of a weekly DIA option went from 0.20 to $1.40 in a couple of hours' http://watch.bnn.ca/friday#clip355520 . . . but Phil's 'membership' fees range from $49 - $499 per month - https://www.philstockworld.com you should 'Favorites' an Economic calendar or two: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/econodayframe.asp?page=http://anasdaq.econoday.com/byweek.asp?cust=nasdaq is mostly US only http://www.forexfactory.com/ is World http://www.ac-markets.com/forex-news/economic-calendar.aspx is World plus you can move dates back and forth as too the Econday calendar google: beginners guide to trading - about 2,050,000 results scan the pages and you'll find all the info you want/need in order to trade