Trading can be very exciting and very rewarding. You probably don’t know that there are numerous types of trading. There are rules, strategies and risks for each type. We’ll explore some of the most common types of trading to give you a better idea of which might work best for you.
Day Trading
The whole idea of day trading is making quick trades. In a single day, traders take buy or sell position in stocks. They want to make money from small price changes. Attention to that type requires a lot of attention, and quick decisions. Technical indicators and charts are often used by day traders to predict price movements. The market during the day they need to keep a close eye on.
And this style of trading is risky. You need a good strategy in place. Stop loss orders are used by many day traders to cap the loss they can incur. If a trade doesn’t do as planned, they protect their investment.
Swing Trading
Swing trading is more relaxed approach than day trading. For several days or weeks traders hold onto their positions. They are trying to make a profit of short to medium term price moves. For swing traders, they want to see those stocks that have strong movement potential. Often they use the technical analysis to spot this opportunity.
With this type of trading you require a less intense schedule. Traders don’t need to be watching the market all day. Nevertheless, they still have to keep up with seeking news and trending in the market. Swing traders also have to endeavor to keep their risks in check, just as day traders.
Position Trading
Long game is the name of the game with position trading. Traders do not let it go, so he might hold on to his investments for weeks, months, or years. Rather than variations over time, they focus on long term trends. This is a laid back way of investing that is well suited to those that do not want to be so active.
Some position traders do make their decisions on fundamentals. Also they study company performance, industry trends and economic indicators. They may often be less swayed by daily market noise because they generally serve short term terms.
Scalping
Among the fastest trading styles is scalping. This pressure usually involves scalpers, who make many trades per day looking for small profits on each one. These people hold onto positions for a few seconds, or maybe minutes at most. The required focus sometimes needs a lot of speed in reflexes. Technical analysis and real time data are key elements in scalper’s trades.
As a result of its speed, scalpers need to take action quickly. But they usually rely on high frequency trading software for help. Scalping can be lucrative, but it is high risk. You need a good strategy and strict risk management.
Algorithmic Trading
Computer programs run algorithmic trading. A program analyzes market data and automatically executes a trade according to pre set conditions. This can even help the traders save some time and reduce some emotional decision making.
Those that know how to program are ideal for algorithmic trading. You can make your own algorithms according to your strategies. Still, you want to be on the lookout for these algorithms. What worked well yesterday might not work today — and market conditions can change quickly.
Options Trading
Options trading are contracts in which the option owner has the right, but not an obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specified price. Trading this way can be tricky but opens up lots of opportunity. Hedge dealers or make speculations on price movements.
With options, you should understand the risks and rewards. There are different strategies and how options work and you need to learn before going in.
Forex Trading
Forex means buying and selling currencies in the foreign exchange market. They’re open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Traders try to make money in changes in currency values. To do Forex trading you need to know economic indicators and geopolitical events.
Most forex traders use technical analysis in making their decision. They study currency pairs and look at trends to find who and when. Trading in the forex market is volatile, therefore it’s important to manage risk.
If you are interested in trading strategies and tips you can read more from Moneyphobia.