Currency Trading Information


Stocks Trading - Advantages and Disadvantages


What is Stocks Trading?

Companies throughout the world issue new stock shares every day. They do so to raise capital in order to invest in the business. Once stock shares have been issued the public is free to buy and sell those issues through a stock broker. As the supply and demand for the shares changes so too does the price. Changing stock prices means opportunities to profit for a trader.

With the arrival of the internet it is now possible to buy and sell stocks relatively cheaply and almost instantly. This, coupled with increased volatility has given rise to more and more people trading stocks rather than just buying and holding them for years.

Advantages of Stocks Trading

Better returns. Actively trading stocks can produce better overall returns than simply buying and holding.

Huge Choice. There are thousands of stocks listed on markets in the US (such as the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq) and around the world. There is always a stock whose price is moving - it's just a matter of finding them.

Familiarity. The most traded stocks are in the largest companies that most of us have heard of and understand - Microsoft, IBM, Cisco etc.

Disadvantages of Stocks Trading

Leverage. With a margined account the maximum amount of leverage available for stock trading is usually 4:1. Meaning a $25,000 could trade up to $100,000 of stock. This is pretty low compared to forex trading or futures trading.

Pattern Day Trader Rules. Requires at least $25,000 to be held in a trading account if the trader completes more than 4 trades in a 5 day period. No such rule applies to forex trading or futures trading.

Uptick Rule on Short Selling. A trader must wait until a stock price ticks up before they can short sell it. Again there are no such rules in forex trading or futures trading where going short is as easy as going long.

Need to Borrow Stock to Short. Stocks are physical commodities and if a trader wishes to go short then the broker must have arrangements in place to 'borrow' that stock from a shareholder until the trader closes their position. This limits the opportunities available for short selling. Contrast this to futures trading where selling is as easy as buying.

Costs. Although online trading costs for stock trading are low they still add considerably to the costs of daytrading. Online futures trading is about 1/4 of the cost for the equivalent value. In the UK 0.5% stamp duty is also levied on all share purchases making trading virtually impossible - Hence the popularity of spreadbetting.

Tim Wreford runs Online Futures Trading, a website that provides information and resources for traders. Tim also provides a free day trading system, the results of which are updated daily on the site.


MORE RESOURCES:

msnbc.com

UBS Gaining Market Share In Currency Trading
Fox Business
ZURICH -- As it is moving towards conducting more flow business on behalf of clients, UBS AG (UBS) is gaining market share in currency trading, Tom Naratil, chief financial officer at Switzerland's largest bank, said Tuesday.
UBS warns of poor Q1 as investment bank strugglesReuters

all 280 news articles »


FXstreet.com

Currency trading in London surges
Financial Times
Currency trading over the summer was unusually high as tensions mounted over the eurozone crisis, with July and August, traditionally quieter months for the foreign exchange markets, seeing strong trading volumes. Investment banks have also reported ...
UK Currency Trading Fell 3% in October From April to $1.97 Trillion/DayBloomberg
Forex Trading Volume Drops for First Time Since 2009Wall Street Journal

all 15 news articles »


India Eases Currency Trading Limits for Some Banks
Wall Street Journal
By SUDEEP JAIN MUMBAI -- India's central bank has asked banks to approach it individually for relaxing some foreign currency trading limits and has already eased restrictions for some banks, a top official said Monday. "Some limits, based on their ...

and more »


Two Principals of Foreign Currency Trading Firm Sentenced for $17 Million ...
LoanSafe
by Evan Bedard on February 3, 2012 in Scams (Source: FBI) – CHICAGO—Two principals of a foreign currency trading firm that collapsed in 2007 were sentenced to 17 years and 12.5 years in federal prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to fraud ...
2 sentenced for stealing millions in fraud schemeHarrisburg Daily Register
Feds: 2 sentenced for stealing $17 million in fraudChicago Tribune

all 34 news articles »


Foreign Currency Trader Sentenced on Tax Charges
Accounting Today
By Michael Cohn, Accounting Today An investor in a foreign currency trading fund has been sentenced to five years in prison for evading more than $150000 in taxes. William H. Nurick, 76, of Camarillo, Calif., was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ...

and more »


FOCUS: Technology Buoys Retail Currency Trading, Reshapes Old Models
Wall Street Journal
By Eva Szalay Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones)--Retail foreign-exchange trading is emerging as one of the biggest growth areas in the currencies space, and some of the trading firms that facilitate these flows are building up a whole new ...

and more »


Argentina Sends Tax Agents to Control Currency Trading
Wall Street Journal
Afip said that one well-known currency trading business, Banco Piano, refused to let inspectors do their job. As a result, Afip officials interviewed Banco Piano customers outside three of the company's branches. The government will fine Banco Piano ...

and more »


Morgan Stanley Currency-Trading Head Stephen Mettler Leaves Bank
BusinessWeek
By Michael J. Moore Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Stephen Mettler, who oversaw Morgan Stanley's interest rates and foreign-exchange trading businesses, has left the bank. Mettler, who joined the firm in 1997, retired, according to an internal memo obtained by ...

and more »


BBC News

Europe must do 'real' business
BBC News
This currency trading worth $4 trillion does not create any jobs or spin off any business. So it is not a very productive kind of activity. Justin Rowlatt: Now obviously currency trading has been a big issue for you, hasn't it?

and more »


German Industrial Production Plummets
TheStreet.com
DailyFX is the forex news and research arm of FXCM, Inc (NYSE: FXCM), which provides currency trading and brokerage services and is an advertiser on TheStreet websites. Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, or other information is provided as ...

and more »

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