Table of Contents
Introduction 9
Chapter 1 Introduction to Markets and Trading 13
Functions of the Markets 14
Who's Who in the Marketplace 19
Commonly Traded Products 24
More Commonly Traded Products 29
Trading Basics 35
Chapter 2 Creating a Trading Plan 39
A Good Day in the Markets 40
A Bad Day in the Markets 45
Writing a Business Plan 50
Making the Best Use of Your Time 54
Chapter 3 The Cost of Trading 57
Working Alone 58
The Day Trader's Tools: Trade like a Pro 60
Brokerage Basics 64
Chapter 4 Getting Started in the Marketplace 71
Trading Stocks 72
Day Trading Foreign Exchange 76
Commodities 81
Futures 85
Starting to Trade 89
Advice on Trading Ideas 94
What to Trade Seasonally 98
Keeping Things in Perspective 103
The Benefits of Practice Accounts 107
Chapter 5 Handling Risk 115
Risk and Cash Accounts 116
Offensive and Defensive Risk 119
Controlling the Risk of Each Trade 124
Chapter 6 Trade Setups and Information 129
How Does Margin Work? 130
Learn to Trade Opportunistically 135
Trading in an Overheated Market 139
Trading in the World Markets 143
Chapter 7 Analyzing the Market 145
Fundamental Analysis 146
Fundamentals of Commodities and Currencies 153
Technical Analysis 161
More Indicators 167
Chapter 8 Advanced Day Trading 173
Looking for Trades 174
Trading Entry Points 178
More Risk Management Techniques 182
Programming Your Trades for Entry Points 186
Preset Profit Points 189
Emotions and Trading 192
Trade What's Hot 196
Advanced Risk 199
Quick Trading 203
Trading Overnight or Longer 207
Diversification, Leverage, and Trading Risk 210
Leverage and Trading Risk 214
Chapter 9 Managing Your Accounts and Profits 219
Full Time or Part Time? 220
Realistically Looking at Profits 224
Building Your Account Slowly 227
Recording Gains and Losses 231
Trading Profits, Expenses, and Taxes 235
Extend Your Knowledge 240
Index 244