Margin Account Vs Cash: Which is Better for You?

Margin Account vs. Cash: Which is Better for You?

In this post, we’ll look at the key differences between a margin account and cash account, and help you determine which one might be the better choice for you.

For example, let’s say you’ve decided to start trading stocks. You’ve read some tutorials and watched some videos …

You’ve set your short-term and long-term goals, and you’ve drafted your trading plan and strategy …

You know how much money you can afford to lose without losing your shirt …

Download the key points of this post as PDF.

Then, you’ll need to open a brokerage account to start trading stocks. Typically, the brokerage you’ve picked will ask you if you want to open a cash account or a margin account.

Both accounts will allow you to trade securities, but — there are huge differences in the ways these two accounts work, what types of market transactions you can make with them, and how much money you need to invest.

Oh, and how much you could lose, of course.

So, Let’s start at the beginning …

• A cash account, as the name suggests, is a type of account in which you pay the full amount for the stocks you buy.

• A margin account, on the other hand, is an account for which your broker lends you money to buy stocks. The brokerage uses your account as collateral for that loan, on which you owe interest to your broker.

With a margin account, you can borrow from your broker up to 50 percent of the purchase price of securities that can be purchased on margin. If you have a margin account, you can short stocks, or trade futures and options—things you can’t do with a cash account.

So before you decide whether you want a cash account or a margin account, take a look first at your investment and trading strategy and your risk tolerance.

StocksToTrade—now better than ever! We ushered in the New Year with some major advancements that include 3 unique features, exclusive to our Platform.

How It Works  

Here’s a very basic example:

1. You buy a stock for $5.
2. The stock’s price rises to $7.50.

If you bought that stock in a cash account, that is — paid in full — then you have a 50 percent return on your investment.

If you bought that $5 stock on margin, you paid $2.5 for it in cash and the other $2.5 you borrowed from your broker. So, when the stock rises to $7.5, you get a 100 percent return on your $2.5 invested (not counting the interest you owe to your broker).  

However, the tricky thing with margin accounts is that percentage losses are steeper if your trade goes against you.

If that $5 stock drops to $2.5, in a cash account you would lose 50 percent of your $5 investment, but in a margin account, your loss is 100 percent of your $2.5 investment … and you’ll still owe interest to your broker for the loan.

In margin accounts, brokers have what’s known as a maintenance requirement. This is the minimum amount of equity you must keep in your margin account at all times.

The equity in your margin account is the value of your securities minus how much you owe to your broker.

If your account drops to below that maintenance requirement, your broker will make a margin call and will ask you to deposit more cash or securities in your account within a specific time frame — usually a few days.

If you fail to do this, your broker will sell your securities and take what you owe out of the proceeds.

In margin accounts, your broker may be able to sell your securities at any time without consulting you first, and without notice.  

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive a little deeper into some of the interesting things you can do with a margin account …

Short Selling

If you want to take advantage of a stock moving lower you can look to short the stock. This involves borrowing shares from a broker, selling them and then hopefully buying them back lower to return them to the broker.

If you’ve made a good trade, and you’ve bought the shares at a lower price, whatever the difference between the price you sold and bought at will be your profit (minus commissions and fees).

Since shorting involves the borrowing of shares, you’ll need to have a margin account set up first.

Be warned: There are normally fees involved in shorting stocks in addition to the interest you’ll have to pay, so make sure you do your research!

Day Trading

Stocks generally make their biggest moves over a period of weeks, months, or even years.

The movements of a stock in a single trading day are often of a much smaller size.

If you’re looking to trade these intraday movements and make the same amount of money as a longer-term trade, you’ll often have to hold more shares. Thus, you’ll have to have more funds in your account.

This is where a margin account can help you to maximize your profits day trading.

By using a margin account, you’ll be able to hold double the amount of your funds in open stock positions, which could potentially increase your day trading profits, but also, increase your losses – be careful!

Advanced Options Strategies

Not all options trading strategies are equal.

Some basic options strategies, such as buying call contracts don’t require margin as you’re purchasing the option contract outright.

When you start dealing in strategies where you have a potential future liability, such as selling puts, you’ll need more than a basic cash account.

Brokers define options strategies across five different levels, depending on the risk of the strategy.

Levels one and two are low risk and can be used with a cash account, but anything higher than that means you’ll need a margin account.

Pair Trading

The simplest form of pair trading involves buying a stock and then shorting another stock that the first stock is closely correlated with — buying the strong stock, selling the weak stock.

A basic example of this is going long $10,000 worth of Coca-Cola and going short $10,000 worth of PepsiCo.

With this strategy, the trader is attempting to profit from the difference in price moves between the two correlated companies, rather than make an outright directional trade on either stock.

For example, the market could drop 20% overall, but as long as Coca-Cola declines less than PepsiCo, the trader will have possibly made a profit (assuming it’s more than commissions and fees).

This is one of the more exciting strategies a margin account could allow.

Opening a Margin Account

A regulated brokerage can’t simply allow just anyone to open a margin account. There are various hoops you have to jump through before they let you open an account, but they’re not too tough.

First, you’ll need to make sure you have at least $2,000 to deposit as this is the federally required minimum account size. Some brokers require more.

Your broker will also check your credit rating and you’ll have to provide them with information about your assets and income for them to assess.

All of the jumping through hoops may seem a bit tedious, but you’re effectively asking to be allowed to borrow certain assets. Think of it somewhat like applying for a car loan or credit card.

What do we Recommend Next?

No matter what type of trading account you have, it’s important that you find the best trading opportunities each day — to do that, you need the right software.

Check out the StocksToTrade platform to see why many of the best traders in the world begin each day by loading up our platform.

StocksToTrade is a one-stop-shop for your order entry, charting, watchlists and newsfeed needs. If you’re ready to start trading at a higher level, get a 7-day trial of StocksToTrade for $7 now!

The Final Word

This post hopefully helped give you an idea of which type of account might work better for you.

Trading on margin comes with many exciting possibilities, but there are plenty of risks you need to be aware of. Make sure you know what you’re doing!

Here’s a quick recap of the pros and cons of trading with a margin account:

The Pros:

• You get more purchasing power to boost your returns.
• You can take advantage of stock prices today, even if you don’t have enough cash on hand.
• You can short stocks with a margin account

The Cons:

• You can lose more money than you invested.
• You may have to deposit extra cash or stocks into your account on short notice.
• You may be forced to sell a part of or all of your securities in your account if declining stock prices reduce the value of your account.
• Without consulting you, your brokerage firm may sell some or all of your stocks to pay off the loan it extended to you.
• Your broker charges you interest for borrowing, so you must know and calculate how that affects your returns.

That’s not necessarily the full list of the perks and risks of using a margin account, but now you have a better idea of the main differences between a cash account and a margin account, how they work, and how to protect yourself from risks.

Read your margin agreement carefully before you sign up. Always do your homework. Be informed and stay informed.

Pick the account that best suits your trading goals, strategies, risk tolerance, and limits on how much you can afford to lose.

No matter what, only take good trades. If you want to make finding those good trades easier, StocksToTrade will help you with all your charting, newsfeeds, watchlists and more. Grab the 7-day, $7 trial now!

Do you trade on margin? Why or why not? Share your comments below!

You demanded it, and we delivered: StocksToTrade now offers Paper Trading and a new Trading Module. Our Paper Trading platform offers our customers a safe environment to practice trading without ever having to risk a cent of their capital to the market. By leveraging the real-time data provided by our service, the paper trading simulation offers an experience as close to real trading as possible. Sign up for your 7 Day Trial Today!

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What Does It Mean to Short a Stock?

Did you know that there’s a way to potentially profit from stocks that are declining in price or losing value?

It’s called short selling, and it’s a method that traders have been using practically since the beginning of the stock market.

If you’ve seen the movie “The Big Short” then you probably have a basic idea of the mechanics behind short selling. While that’s an extreme example, it’s a technique that can be employed by everyday traders, even those with small accounts.

Here, we’ll delve into short selling on the individual trader’s level — explaining what it is, how it works, and some of the considerations to keep in mind if you’re interested in pursuing this style of trading.  

What Is Short Selling?

Think about the traditional method of buying stocks: buy low, sell high. Now, turn that idea upside down. That’s what short selling is.

Basically, the idea behind selling sort is that you have an opportunity to profit when stocks are going down.Short selling is completely legal, and it’s a trick that has been in the day trader’s repertoire for over 100 years. Legendary trader Jesse Livermore used this method of trading.

Here’s How Short Selling Works

First, you borrow shares from a broker.

Then, you sell them at a low price, taking a negative position. So, if you were shorting 1,000 shares, you’d see -1,000 shares (yes, that’s a negative sign) in your account. Right now, you’re hoping that they will continue to lose value.

Then, you buy back the shares, giving you a zero position. Ideally, you’d buy them back at a lower price than you sold, and the difference would be your profit.

It’s a strange thing to wrap your mind around, and it might seem complicated at first. But just remember: you’re still buying, and you’re still selling. In that way, it’s just like a traditional transaction. But you’re kind of doing things in reverse.

Why Sell Short?

Short selling can provide many benefits to both investors and to the stock market at large.

For one thing, short selling helps create liquidity in the market and keeps stocks from being inflated due to hype.

For another, short selling has the potential to generate impressive profits. If a stock continues to lose value after you’ve initiated the trade, you stand the potential to profit handsomely from the process.

Short Selling: What to Look For

Want to short sell, but don’t know what to look for? Here are some signs to look for in contenders:

• Fluff news: Is a stock up, but without any real news? It could mean that the news is without real merit, and the price will soon go down.
• Sympathy trades: If a stock is up because of news within the sector that has nothing to do with the company in question, prices could be poised to fall soon.
• RSI: If a stock has a low RSI (relative strength index) on the 12-month daily chart, it could be a sign that it’s ripe for short selling.
• Bad financials: if a company is benefiting from a current trend or fad, but has bad financials, it could be a good choice for shorting.

Is Short Selling Dangerous?

Plenty of people have a negative view of short selling. But why?

Mainly, because there’s a high level of risk associated with this method of trading. There are a few ways in which you as a trader can potentially suffer losses.

One risk is that, quite frankly, the system can work against you. Sometimes, when traders and investors notice that a stock is being shorted heavily, they’ll try to drive up the stock price.

The short sellers are then forced to cut their losses and repurchase the shares before the stock price rises too much and they lose too much money.

Another risk is that when you short sell, it’s not a given that you’ll be able to repurchase all of the shares you want to buy at the price you want to pay.

You need to look closely at the volume and liquidity of the stock in question. If there are too few sellers, or if there are too many people trying to buy, you can be shut out and incur some serious losses.

Yet another risk is that the stock could go up in value. For instance, what if you took a short position, only to learn that a big company like Amazon is partnering with the company offering the stock you’re shorting? This could raise the price, which will impact your short-selling position in a negative way.

Ultimately, perhaps the scariest risk associated with short selling is that while the potential earnings are extremely high, the potential losses are potentially unlimited … and that potentially stinks in a big way. The stock price could possibly keep on rising, mounting your losses ever higher.

Short Selling Considerations

Yes, short selling carries a substantial amount of risk. Be sure to consider these things before you execute trades:

• It’s a short-term strategy: Short selling isn’t intended for long holds. There are also restrictions that prevent it from being a sustainable long-term strategy.
• Consider the market: A bear market is generally better for shorting than a bull market.
• Beware of low-float stocks: These are prone to short squeezes.
• Look at the market: Even if a stock makes serious gains in the morning, it can lose value in the later hours unless the news or a catalyst is significant.  

Try STT Pro!

One thing’s for sure: You need to do your research before pursuing short selling. StocksToTrade Pro is the ultimate weapon for good in this regard. By employing our state-of-the-art charting software, you can perform the technical analysis that is so necessary for choosing stocks.

While there’s no wrong time to join STT Pro, right now is perhaps the best time ever, on the eve of our broker integration, which means that you can perform research and execute trades right from the platform!  

Conclusion: Short selling is a method of trading that can potentially provide great gains for traders. However, it’s not without its fair share of risk.

To make the most of your short-selling efforts, it’s important to do plenty of research and to consider the market conditions.

By joining StocksToTrade Pro, you’ll be equipped with many tools that can help you make smarter decisions about trades, whether you’re short selling or otherwise.  

Have you ever sold short? How did it go? Leave a comment below.

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Paper Trading: Master Your Trading Skills Without Risking a Cent!

Are you looking to get experience in the markets, but you don’t yet feel ready to risk your hard-earned capital?

Perhaps you have a new trading strategy that you want to try out, but you’re worried it might not be profitable?

Or maybe you’re an experienced trader who’s simply lost the ‘winning touch’ and you need a way to get back into the swing of the market?

If any of these scenarios sound something like you, then learning to paper trade could be the solution you’re looking for right now.

Let’s take a look at what paper trading is and how to do it properly …

What is Paper Trading?

Paper trading is simulated trading, to give you the opportunity to watch the markets and see how your trades would theoretically perform in real time, without having to risk a cent of your capital.

You select trades, the entry price, the stop loss, the order types, just the same as you would when trading a live account.

Instead of entering those trades into the live market, you record all the details. You could note them in a trading journal, use a spreadsheet, or use a trading platform with a paper trading feature.

Then you follow along, making the same decisions you would if you were trading a live account: when to close the trade, when to buy more, etc.

Whatever happens, you record what happens to see how profitable your trading decisions would’ve been.

Paper trading is basically a zero cost, real-time education in the markets.

Pretty cool, huh?

Reasons for Paper Trading

Maybe you’ve heard that newbie traders should paper trade before they ever risk real money, right? That’s true, but there are reasons for traders of all skill levels to paper trade at times as well.

Here are a few of the main reasons for paper trading …

To Get Initial Experience

When you’re an absolute beginner it’s very likely you won’t be a profitable trader from the get-go. Just like anything, you need practice.

You’ll need to balance things like finding good trades, entering orders correctly, managing your winning trades correctly, cutting your losses when you have to … the list goes on.

To expect to do all of this perfectly when you’re just starting out is unrealistic. That’s why everyone tells newbies to paper trade before they even fund a live account.

Paper trading allows new traders to learn the ins and outs of order types and how to enter them properly, gives them screen-time watching the markets, and provides feedback on how profitable they could be if they executed their strategy with real money.

It’s a no-risk, high upside activity. If you’re new, make sure you paper trade first!

To Test New Strategies and Setups

Perhaps you have some experience under your belt, and you’ve discovered a new setup that looks good, but you don’t have any statistics on how it will perform.

You could just trade the setup with a small amount of risk on each trade and hope for the best. But, if you want to be a smart trader, why risk capital on something that’s not yet proven?

In this case, many traders do a form of trading called forward-testing. They may trade their normal strategy with real money, but on the side, paper trade their new setups.

If you’re excited about a new setup, paper trade it for a month or more — or at least until you feel confident that the setup works for you and turns a profit.

To Regain Your Feel for the Market

Even the most hardened, experienced traders can — and should — paper trade at times.

It’s no secret that every trader, no matter how good they are, goes through losing periods where they lose their feel for the market.

It may be because they’re distracted and unable to focus, or it could be that the market is acting a different way and they need to get back into the flow of the price action.

If you’re an experienced trader who’s struggling in the current market, don’t feel ashamed to step back and do some paper trading for a while.

Sure, it may be hard on the ego — but just think of yourself as Tiger Woods putting in work at the driving range, preparing to get back and compete on the golf course.

How to Paper Trade the Right Way

Do you see the value in paper trading? Good. Now let’s look at how to do it correctly, so you can get the most benefit from it and — hopefully — start turning it into profits as quickly as possible.

To paper trade, you need a way to record all of the details of the trade.

As mentioned earlier, if you want to keep it very basic, you could just write everything down in a notebook. Using a spreadsheet is even better. But if you really want to get the best experience, we recommend you use a trading platform with a paper trading feature, like StocksToTrade Pro.

• Be as realistic as possible. It’s no use recording that you would’ve kept a big winning trade if you would’ve most likely closed the trade early on a live account. Doing something like this will give you incorrect feedback on how your trading will perform in the real world. The main idea with paper trading is to try and simulate exactly what you would do with real money at stake, so follow your trading strategy to as close to 100% as you can and make sure to record all losses, commissions, and costs.

• Analyze your performance. After you’ve had at least a few weeks and many trades under your belt, you’ll have a good idea of how you could expect your strategy to work. At this point, you’ll probably want to work on refining your trading strategy to make it perform better. This could mean examining the losing trades and looking for ways to skip them, or at least lose less. Or, it could mean looking at the characteristics of the big winning trades and looking for ways to find more of them or hold on them longer. There are many ways to analyze and improve your trading, but just make sure you do it very scientifically — look at all the angles and run all the numbers.

• Downgrade your expectations. Perhaps you’ve seen some blistering performance on your paper trading account? It’s fantastic that you’ve found something that seems to work, but realistically, almost every trader performs worse in live market trading.

The reason for this is that there are many psychological forces at play when you have to perform with real money in a live trading environment.

A good rule of thumb is to halve your performance expectations: expect to make half the amount of profits. This provides a buffer to protect you against the disappointment that could come after you go live.

• Go live. If all things have gone well, your strategy has shown it’s likely profitable, and you’re feeling confident in your abilities, you can now consider trading it with real money.

Many traders find it’s a good idea to start out risking small amounts of capital, increasing size as they make more profits.

After you get some live experience under your belt, compare your performance with how you did when paper trading the strategy. If there’s a massive difference, it could mean that you’re not executing correctly, you weren’t realistic when paper trading, or the markets have simply changed their patterns.

Whatever happens, if you ever lose confidence in your abilities or your strategies, never hesitate to go back and paper trade for a while.

What Do We Recommend Next?

By this point, you can probably see how paper trading is beneficial to developing your trading abilities and becoming as profitable as you can be — but we hope you realize how important it is that you’re realistic about recording everything accurately.

Yes, being this realistic can sometimes be a chore, considering you have to chase down things like:

• Would your stop-loss have gotten hit today?
• Would you have gotten filled at your limit order?
• Would you have seen the setup in time?

It’s a lot of work!

Thankfully, with StocksToTrade Pro you can make the process much easier with our state-of-the-art paper trading feature.

You simply enter your trades into the platform just as you would when trading a live account.

But you won’t have to check each day for things like your stop-losses getting hit or your entries being filled — the StocksToTrade software does it all for you and provides you with feedback on how your trades work out.

The STT Pro paper-trading feature could save you hours each day so that you can focus on finding the best setups and becoming profitable as quickly as possible. Sign up for STT Pro now to get started.

But it’s not just paper trading that STT Pro can help you with …

With STT Pro, you also get daily market webinars with our lead trainer, Tim Bohen, where you watch as he builds his watchlists and maps out the trading day. He also streams the market close so you can exit positions and build a trading plan for the next day!

You can also gain insights from other traders in the exclusive STT chatroom and learn cutting-edge trading tactics in the weekly strategy webinars.

So, if you’re serious about becoming a top trader, don’t just sit there by yourself, recording your paper trades in your notebook. When you go it alone, you risk making small-but-critical mistakes that deplete your profits.

Join StocksToTrade Pro and be part of an elite community, sharing knowledge and using the best tools to help you take on the stock market. Join us at STT Pro today!

Do you paper trade? How long do you usually practice before going live? Tell us below!

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Day Trading Software [Infographic] – StocksToTrade.com

Today’s post is centered on an infographic quickly detailing the advantages of StocksToTrade.

Do you know where to start when it comes to stock trading software? From tracking price movements, to researching key company news, to executing trades, the right electronic trading platform is absolutely critical to any trader’s success. If this is your very first look at trading penny stocks, you should start with Penny Stocks for Beginners.

(Also worth checking out, our 40 ‘Stock Trading Terms For Beginners‘ Article and Infographic!)

While platforms like E*Trade Pro are popular, I created this infographic to provide an overview of how to select the right software for you and why I helped develop and use StocksToTrade. Most brokerage software is very general and not totally geared towards day traders. StocksToTrade was developed specifically for day traders and is constantly being improved to cater to our industry. We have an entire team of traders with a combined 100+ years of trading experience offering input and customization each and every day. 

Download a PDF version of this post.

 

Click the image below to view.

Embed this Infographic

<i>Click image to see a larger version</i></br><a href=”http://www.timothysykes.com/what-is-day-trading-software-infographic”><img alt=”What Is Day Trading Software – Infographic” src=”https://stockstotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DayTradingSoftware_1.0-01.png” alt=”What Is Day Trading Software – Infographic” width=”540″ />What Is Day Trading Software – Infographic</a> via <a href=”https://stockstotrade.com”>StocksToTrade</a>

Only StocksToTrade will be constantly evolving and improving every day. We are committed to our mission of being the ONLY piece of software you need to be a consistently profitable trader. Unlike most brokerage firms that are primarily concerned with collecting trading commissions, our goal is to make you a better trader. Maybe that means trading less, but making the very best and well researched trades each day. If you have not checked out StocksToTrade yet, head over to our orders page for a current offer.

Conclusion:

Making successful trades is about identifying movements and understanding catalysts in real time and even before they happen.

To do this, you need the right data, from Level II Quotes to company news, presented in an accessible and easy to use fashion in order to act quickly and effectively.

While there are other tools on the market, StocksToTrade puts the tools at your fingertips to make smart decisions and maximize your chances of successful trades.

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Best Stock Trading Monitors for 2018

StockToTrade’s 6 Best Monitors for Trading

In this post, we’re going to go into some of the best stock trading monitors for this year.

As a trader, it’s important to choose a monitor that strikes the right balance between image quality, contrast ratios, responsiveness, and cost. Here are our top picks:

1.) Samsung CHG90 Series 49″ Curved Gaming Monitor

What it is: An ultra-large, ultra-wide curved screen with a 32:9 aspect ratio.

Why it works: The curved panel allows you to see the entire screen easily. No matter how complex the chart or how tiny the numbers, everything can spread out right before you in billions (yes, billions) of shades of color, thanks to the Quantum Dot color technology.

Where to Buy It: Amazon.com

This monitor features a very fast 1ms MPRT (moving picture response time) as well as a fast refresh rate, so you can keep track of stocks by the second without any motion blur on the screen.  

2.) Samsung CF791 Series 34-Inch Curved Widescreen Monitor

What it is: A generously sized 34-inch widescreen monitor with a deeper-than-average curve.

Why it works: A 3000:1 contrast ratio allows for deep blacks, which means you’ll be able to see trading charts in great detail.

Where to Buy It: Amazon.com

The 100hz screen refresh rate means minimal stutter, and a 4ms response time means that the motion blur is minimal.

The screen resolution of 3440×1440 is 2.5 times the pixel density of Full HD, so that means no matter what you’re looking at, it’s going to be extremely sharp.

Finally, one of the great benefits of this monitor is a PBP (“picture by picture”) function that lets you connect two different input sources using HDMI and DP without sacrificing the original image quality.

3.) LG 34UC98-W 34-Inch Curved Monitor

What it is: A 21:9 Curved UltraWide QHD IPS Monitor

Why it works: The curved shape of the screen means that you can see everything at once and in great detail.

Where to Buy It: Amazon.com

An on-screen control system allows you to control how you configure the screen, which lets you customize your workspace with ease. Split screen and display presets help keep you organized.

The design of this monitor is thoughtful, with ergonomic touches like an adjustable height and tilt so that you can set up your display at your optimal eye level.

4.) Dell P Series 42.51″ Screen LED-Lit Monitor

Image Source: Dell.com

What it is: An LED-lit monitor with a massive flat screen.

Why it works: Look at that thing — it’s amazing! This is our pick for the best single monitor for trading. (Besides the 49″, but let’s face it, that’s not super-affordable for everybody.)

Where to Buy It: Amazon.com

Within one setup you can replicate a four-monitor setting, as there are four inputs allowing for a single screen with a multi-display. You can easily rearrange or zoom to any of them, too.

The Ultra HD 4k display is beautiful with crisp detail, and nothing to break up your view. The colors stay consistent across the wide angle, too, letting you see clearly up to 178 degrees, which is impressive if you want to show your friends your latest chart pattern.

A matte finish and low reflective rate mean that this screen is easy on the eyes, so you won’t experience strain when logging long trading and research sessions!

5.) A Pair of Dell UltraSharp U2412M Monitors (24″)

What it is: The Dell UltraSharp U2412M is an IPS panel screen with LED backlighting; StocksToTrade suggests picking them up as a pair.

Why it works: By configuring two of these moderate-sized monitors, you can attain a massive 2400 x 1920 in portrait mode. With 167 million colors, the screen shows a beautiful, clear, crisp image.

Where to Buy It: Amazon.com

Each screen has built-in pivot, adjust, and swivel function, so you can shimmy them into whatever alignment you like on your desktop.

The generous size of the screens combined means that you can configure your setup to create the “4 windows” look with two setups on each monitor.  

A Pair of AOC i2367Fh 23-Inch Monitors

What it is: Each is a 23-inch IPS frameless LED-lit monitor. StocksToTrade suggests picking them up as a pair.

Why it works: This is a budget-friendly option that meets all of STT’s platform requirements, making it one of our top choices!

Where to Buy It: Amazon.com

The display is sleek and only 12mm thick; the ultra-narrow bezel on the edge measures just 2mm, making it ideal for a dual-monitor setup.

The beautiful IPS panel allows for consistent image viewing from all positions so you can flick your eyes back and forth between screens without straining.

With a 250 cd/m2 Brightness and 5ms response time, the screen is fast to refresh and offers a beautiful visual for the price.

Note: Regardless of which monitor you pick, be sure to choose one that meets the StocksToTrade system requirements for the best results.

Conclusion

As a trader, your monitor setup is your gateway to trading. It’s important to choose a setup that allows high visibility and functionality so that you can easily see the tickers and charts in front of you on StocksToTrade Pro!

These monitors are all great picks for traders at all levels. Read through the choices above and let us know which one you like best!

REMEMBER…Trading with a bad monitor can be tiresome. Just imagine peering and straining your eyes for hours, trying to view fuzzy charts and texts.

Before long, you’ll be suffering from serious eye strain, which will make you feel terrible. Not only will your health suffer, but it could affect your decision-making capabilities.

So make sure you choose wisely, the guide above is a GREAT place to start!

What kind of trading monitor setup do you have?

Don’t be shy — let us know!  

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Bull Vs Bear Market: What’s the Difference?

Bull Vs Bear Market: What’s the Difference?

In this post we’re going to explain one thing: Bull Market Vs Bear Market. Figuring out whether it’s a bull market or a bear market can better help you determine what types of investments are best suited to the overall mood of the market right now.

Bulls and bears aren’t just for the zoo or sports teams. In the financial world, they’re specific terms that are used to refer to different stock market conditions.

While the rules of the stock market remain constant, the overall tone of the market is ever-changing.

Here, we’ll delve into the difference between a bull and a bear market, and how to take advantage of both.

What is a bull market?

A bull market makes for ebullient times in the stock market. These are the times when prices are on the rise or there are strong expectations that they will rise in the near future.

• Think of a bull, rushing forward, pushing those prices upward with its horns.

• A bull market is characterized by plenty of optimism, high expectations, and a high level of investor confidence in general.

• Usually, bull markets are determined by a 20 percent rise in stock prices. This is often preceded by a drop in prices, and comes before a decline in prices.

What type of trading works in a bull market?

If you’re a bullish investor, you’re buying a stock with the expectation that it will go up in price.

Bull markets are the time to go longer in positions, as they are more likely to appreciate in value during these times.   

What is a bear market?

A bear market is the opposite of a bull market.

• Instead of a bold, forward-moving bull, think of a grumpy bear hibernating.

• In a bear market, stock prices are falling, or there is an expectation that they will fall.

• This results in a general pessimistic attitude and low expectations.

Investors are cautious and tend toward penny pinching, which keeps the market in the state of decline.

What type of trading works in a bear market?

When stock prices are going down, a bearish investor is typically unwilling to go long on a position. This means it’s the right time to take advantage of short sales.

Short selling means that you’re borrowing shares of a stock and then selling them, with the expectation that the price will fall. The idea is that after you sell, you can buy it back at a lower price, give the shares back to the broker from which you borrowed them, and keep that difference in price for yourself.

While it may sound funny to trading newbies, this is actually a method of investing which has been around since the days of legendary investor Jesse Livermore.

If you’re interested in short selling, you have to be extremely diligent in doing research, relying on plenty of analysis before executing a trade. Your losses could mount quickly and things can get very scary very fast when selling short!

Additionally, shorting isn’t always the easiest method of trading. You have to borrow shares to short, and sometimes these can be hard to come by.

How can you tell if it’s a bull or a bear market?

There isn’t a clear-cut switch that indicates whether we’re in a bull versus a bear market.

The market is cyclical, so timelines can be very hard to predict. There are also natural pullbacks that can indicate optimism or pessimism, so sometimes it can be hard to discern which type of market we’re in.

Typically, investors stick to the “20 percent rule”. This means the market rises 20 percent over a period of time (two months or more is a good general rule) it can be considered a bear market; the opposite would be true for indicating a bear market.

Often, it’s only possible to tell if we’re in a bull or a bear market after we’re already in it.

Bull Vs Bear Market: is there a winner?

Some investors have opinions on which type of market is better than the other. However, these are usually based on the style of investing they prefer.

When it comes down to it, one type of market isn’t better than the other. They’re simply different.

Conclusion: Both bull and bear markets can provide different opportunities for investors. Optimistic bull markets can provide opportunities to go long on positions, where more pessimistic bear markets can offer the chance to benefit from taking short positions.

As an investor, you can take advantage of both types of markets. The key is adapting your trading techniques so that you can best take advantage of the type of market you’re in right now.

Do you consider yourself a bullish or bearish investor?

Don’t be shy, let us know in the comments below!

What Do We Recommend Next?

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What is Day Trading? – StocksToTrade.com

When people think about making money in the stock market, “day trading” is often a key phrase that pops up in many curious minds.

Whether you’re a new or an experienced trader, day trading has become quite a popular conversation topic among stock market fans these days. 

But what exactly is day trading? And why has it become so popular?

Day trading is the practice of buying and selling securities — primarily stocks — within the same trading day.

Unlike traditional investors and position traders who hold their positions for years or swing traders who hold a position for a few days, day traders don’t hold any trading position overnight. They stay 100% in cash.

Most day traders seek to capture small profits (even just cents) and are willing to take small losses during the trading day. This way, they can avoid the risk of major stock price fluctuations caused by news or events overnight.

Day trading is a practice that has gained popularity over the past few years thanks to the introduction and adoption of online brokerage and the ease with which investors can execute online transactions.

Since day trading provides an opportunity to potentially generate income, it’s no surprise that many people are interested in this trading style. However, as with anything related to the stock market, day trading also has its downside — and it carries its own risks.

Here, we’ll cover day trading fundamentals, then focus on some key elements that can help you with your day trading path.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section at the end of this post. We love ‘talking trading’ with you.

Day Trading for Beginners: How It Works

You know that day trading stocks involves the buying and selling of a stock the same day (or selling short and covering it the same day), but how does it work?

The first thing you should know is that regular trading hours for major exchanges in the U.S. are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday (excluding some holidays).

For example, if you buy 100 shares of Apple (APPL) just after the opening at 9:31 a.m., and then sell those shares at 11:30 a.m., that’s considered a day trade.

You can also make several transactions for the same stock during the day. For example, you could buy 100 APPL shares at 9:31 a.m. and 100 more at 1 p.m., and then sell 200 at 3:59 p.m. before the closing bell. That’s also considered day trading.

As long as you buy and sell your position the same day, it’s considered a day trade.

Though technically you could make as many trades as you want, you must be aware of your trading activity for a couple of reasons …

First off, every time you trade you can potentially generate some income, but you can also possibly lose money if the stock takes the wrong direction — and a streak of losses could deplete your capital.

Second, If you make more than three day trades during a within any five-day period, your account could be labeled as a pattern day trading account, triggering a the minimum balance of $25,000 FINRA set for day trading accounts. Not all traders have that much available capital.

Now you understand that day trading is the practice of buying and selling securities the same day, seeking to capture small trading gains while risking only small losses.

It sounds simple — like something anybody could do, right? Not so fast. In practice, it’s not that simple. And it’s not a practice that’s a good fit for everyone.

So the real question here is: Is day trading right for you?

Let’s take a deeper dive …

Is Day Trading Right for You?

Naturally, we can’t answer that question for you. It depends on several factors, like your trading style, goals, personality, and risk tolerance.

(It also depends on your willingness to learn and use the right tools and resources, but more on that on a minute.)

That’s why several types of investment and trading styles are best for different people. This isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” thing!

Every trading style has its own advantages and disadvantages — and depending on your personality, preferences, and goals, certain styles will fit you differently than other.

Trading styles are characterized by a series of factors, including:

• The holding period of a trade
• Trading frequency
• The duration or level of attention required to trade
• The method used to analyze a trade.

For example, fundamental investors and position traders trade over the long term; they can hold a position for years. They seek larger gains and are willing to deal with larger losses. They trade much less frequently, and their main goal is capital accumulation or income through dividends.

But swing traders and day traders take the opposite approach. They’re short-term types.

Swing traders hold positions for a few days and day traders only during the same trading day. They also trade more frequently and seek to capture smaller gains while taking smaller loses. Though they also seek to grow their capital, many become traders to generate daily income.

Can you spot the differences? They’re significant ones. Where do you see yourself fitting best?

You’re the only one who knows that answer. But no matter your preference, it’s important that we review another factor that you MUST consider: risk tolerance.

No matter your trading style, there’s always risk involved. But every trading style typically holds a different approach to risk, so you have to take this into consideration.

For example, day traders prefer taking smaller loses when a stock runs in the wrong direction. This seems less risky in comparison with the larger losses the position traders are willing to take, right?

But having small losses in every trade doesn’t necessarily mean day trading is less risky! If you trade more frequently and have a streak of losses, you could deplete your account quickly – then it’s game over!

That’s why becoming a successful day trader requires much more than a desire to succeed. It also takes serious commitment, studying hard, developing the right mentality, and using the right resources and tools.

Let’s expand on that now …

Tips to Help Boost Your Success

By now you’ve learned that several factors can help you determine whether day trading is the right style for you.

But what else can new traders learn to help boost their success chances in this field?

Here are three of the most important things: technical analysis, position management and developing the right mental state.

Technical analysis is the study of chart patterns. You should learn to master chart patterns and recognize those that work frequently. The sooner you develop an eagle eye for patterns, the better.

Remember that day trading isn’t gambling — it’s about identifying and trading the right patterns, under the right circumstances, to help you try and trade with the odds in your favor.

Position management is also a very important aspect to consider. It’s about trading only the patterns with a good risk/reward ratio and following a defined trading plan, to make sure you help maximize profits and limit any possible losses.

And finally — but no less important — you have to develop the right mental state. This is a big deal, and if you don’t learn to properly do this, you might as well kiss your capital goodbye.

Day trading is a challenging profession, so you must have proper mastery over your emotions — before, during, and after every trade.

There’s no magic way to master all these elements all at once. If there was, then everyone would be a wealthy trader. But there is something you can do to potentially develop your skills faster: Never stop learning!

Make a point of continuously learning from successful traders and also from your own trading triumphs and mistakes. This is something you should always practice throughout your trading career.

Also, learn as much as possible from the reputable resources available to you. Our StocksToTrade library of blog posts is a great place to start.

Tools of the Trade

Day trading could be a potentially rewarding opportunity for you, but it also offers its fair share of landmines — especially when you’re just starting out.

How do you get quality stock charts? Which stocks should you follow? What news should you pay attention to? How can you connect with other traders on this same journey?

That’s where we come in …

With all those factors — and way more — in mind, we developed our StockToTrade Pro platform. Developed by traders for traders, it’s an easy-yet-sophisticated, all-in-one tool designed to help traders like you succeed.

With StocksToTrade Pro, you not only get charts, quotes, news, watchlists, and more, but you can also learn from lead trainer Tim Bohen, who live-streams his trading screens for the open and close of the market every day …

… That’s an invaluable experience!

Learning from others can speed up your learning process and boost your confidence to help you trade the market the right way, every day.

StocksToTrade Pro also gives you access to weekly strategy webinars, chat, and forums. You can share your experiences, ask questions, and learn from others. You don’t have to feel alone in this journey — we can all help each other.

Part of being successful in day trading involves educating yourself and using the tools that can leverage your game. You can get both with StockToTrade Pro. Sign up for the trial offer today!

Have you started day trading yet? What are your biggest challenges right now? Share your comments below!

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Cyber Monday Sale! – StocksToTrade.com

It’s Cyber Monday … do you know where the best deals are for traders?

Bypass the big-box retail sales online and give yourself the gift of trading with an incredible StocksToTrade Cyber Monday deal!

Read on to discover what we’re offering for both new and existing STT members.  

Cyber Monday Specials!

Check out these killer Cyber Monday Deals …  

For New Members

THIS WEEK ONLY, starting Cyber Monday and ending on Friday, StocksToTrade is offering a 20% discount on your first month. This is a savings of $36, which means more money for trading! You’ll also gain access to an exclusive webinar with STT’s lead trainer, Tim Bohen.

For Current Subscribers

Already a subscriber? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. THIS WEEK ONLY, starting Cyber Monday and ending on Friday, if you upgrade to an annual plan, you’ll get a year of TipRanks and the StocksToTrade chat room for free. That’s a savings of over $400, AKA a true holiday miracle.

To Recap:

1. New subscribers: Get 20% off your 1st month of subscription, plus access to an exclusive one-hour interactive “Getting Started Webinar” with lead trainer Tim Bohen
2. Current monthly subscribers: Upgrade to Annual and you’ll get one year of free TipRanks + STT Chatroom ($400+ savings)

StocksToTrade Is the Ultimate Trading Platform

As a trader, you need to have the right tools to be able to make the most educated and calculated trades. StocksToTrade is the trading platform that can give you an edge.

Created by traders for traders, this platform is considered one of the best on the market, including extensive research tools, state-of-the-art charting software, and a great paper trading module.

But that’s not all …

Now Featuring Broker Integration

Great news: The platform is now set up for broker integration, meaning you can combine these must-have trading tools with your brokerage account for seamless, simple execution of trades right from the STT platform!

StocksToTrade is now compatible with the following brokers: E*Trade, Interactive Brokers, Robinhood, Ally Invest, and Just2Trade.

Don’t have a broker yet? Consider our exclusive offer in partnership with Tradier Broker …   

Tradier offers an exclusive deal for STT subscribers:

• $14.99/month gets you unlimited, commission-free trades
• The account minimum is just $500
• Seamlessly integrated with the StocksToTrade platform

Don’t delay! StocksToTrade is the ultimate trading platform and an extremely helpful tool in helping you conduct stock market research.

Specials like these don’t come along often, so take advantage of these savings while they last!

Are you a StocksToTrade member yet? If so, what are some of your favorite features and why? Share your comments below …

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The 10 Best Trading Computers & Laptops

As a stock trader, no amount of talent can make up for a lack of great tools. And since most trading is conducted online these days, one of the most vital trading tools is a laptop or desktop computer.

Don’t misunderstand: A great computer in and of itself won’t make you a great trader. But the quality of your laptop or desktop setup can have an impact on your effectiveness as a trader, so it’s important to choose one that can perform the tasks you need.

With high-tech gadgetry, the choices can be overwhelming. Laptops and desktop computers come in all shapes and sizes. As the consumer, you’ve got to strike the perfect balance between reliability, durability, functionality, and price.  

In this post, we’ll share our favorite picks for both laptop and desktop computers for traders.

Scroll down for additional tips on what to look for in a laptop or computer and answers to FAQs.

Laptops and Desktop Computers for Traders

Here’s what you’ve been waiting for!

Here are several of StocksToTrade’s picks for some of the best laptops and desktop computers for traders. In no particular order:

Laptops

Huawei MateBook X Pro

What it is: A higher-end lightweight (only 2.93 pounds!) 13.9-inch touchscreen laptop with a very slim profile.

Why it works: An eighth-generation Intel Core i5 8250U processor boosts performance up to 40% over its predecessor, which means it’s a fast and powerful machine.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

A high-resolution display ensures that you can see everything clearly and in living color, and it’s a great laptop for streaming content, so you can watch your favorite trading videos without hiccups.

MacBook Pro (Quad Core)

What it is: The latest MacBook Pro, featuring a powerful quad-core processor. It comes in various screen sizes and includes a lot more bells and whistles than prior models.

Why it works: A seventh-generation Intel Core processor helps this laptop deliver an amazing performance. This means you can move fast, even when working in multiple windows.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

The video quality is incredible, so can watch lessons on this laptop without stalls. The display is possibly the best ever in a MacBook, meaning that every chart and screen will dazzle your very eyes.

Oh, and the battery power is incredible. While trading software might challenge the 10 hours it’s advertised to last, it will hold its power longer than many other laptops.

Dell XPS 15

What it is: A slim, lightweight performance laptop with a borderless display.

Why it works: This laptop packs a pretty big punch in a small package. With an eighth-generation Intel Core processor, it’s a powerful machine and can handle all of the trading programs and platforms you might be running.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

It has an UltraSharp 4K Ultra display, making for an even better visual than full HD, with smooth, seamless color and display.

An anti-reflective screen can be viewed from multiple angles and won’t hurt your eyes. The touchscreen is optional but handy so that you can quickly interact with the technology.  

ASUS ZenBook 14 UX430

What it is: A thin, super-light (2.75 pounds!) laptop with a nano-edge bezel display.

Why it works: For an affordable option, this laptop delivers great results. It’s equipped with the latest eighth-generation Intel 1.8 GHz processor and has great storage and memory.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

Visually, the ZenBook 14 has a high-resolution display with wide viewing angles and good color. It has good visual performance and its display is easy on the eyes, so you won’t suffer strain.

Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN

What it is: A slightly smaller and even more lightweight version (2.47 pounds) of the aforementioned laptop.

Why it works: The technology is comparable to the ZenBook 14 but in a slightly smaller package. It’s perfect for traders on the go.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

Desktop Computers

If you prefer a desktop (or want a desktop in addition to a laptop), here are some of our picks.

iMac 27″ i7

What it is: An all-in-one desktop system (this includes the screen) with a quad-core processor.

Why it works: The massive screen means that you’ll be able to see all the trading action, and the powerful processor and memory ensure that you won’t drop out while making charts or executing trades.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

Oh, and while it’s not the most important thing, it’s a slick looking desktop unit.

iMac 21.5″ i7

What it is: A slightly smaller all-in-one desktop system (this includes the screen) than the one above, also with a quad-core processor.0

Why it works: Same benefits as the 27-inch version, so if space is at a premium, it’s a perfect pick that’s generous without dominating your entire desk.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

Dell Inspiron 5680 Gaming Desktop

What it is: A high-powered desktop designed for gaming with an Intel Core i7 processor. Note: This is a computer tower only, not the monitor.

Editors Note: See our Top Trading Monitors Here

Why it works: While it’s called a “gaming” desktop, that same responsiveness can be applied to market quotes and charts, which can employ a similar amount of processing power.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

Not only is the computer powerful, but it’s quiet, too. It features a thermal design, smart component placement, and optimized graphic solution to help make this one of the quietest computers of the bunch.  

Dell XPS Tower Special Edition (8930)

What it is: A tower desktop with an eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8700. Note: This is a computer tower only, not the monitor.

Why it works: The powerful processor is designed for lots of action and multitasking, which is helpful for traders who are running charts, monitoring positions, and doing research in multiple tabs. The unit features award-winning audio, so as you watch trading tutorials or stream on YouTube, you won’t have weird crackles or pops.

Where to Buy: Find it on Amazon

Another Option: BUILD YOUR OWN EPIC COMPUTER!!

What it is: A self-built system using components you purchase separately.

We suggest using:

This option is best for those that know how to build a computer, but it’s fun none-the-less!

Why it works: By putting together the components yourself, you can build an extremely powerful trading machine and customize it to suit your needs.

Before You Buy

Before forking over your credit card, it’s important to first consider your tech needs as a trader. While a laptop might look sleek and professional, you’ve got to know you can count on it when you’re ready to dump shares immediately after a quick mid-day spike.

Also, a word on price: Don’t pick your laptop or computer purely based on which one costs the least. Everyone wants a good deal, but is it really worth it if your computer crashes and you miss a $500 or $5000 trading opportunity?

Evaluating Laptops

There are two critical elements to consider when evaluating a trading laptop: functionality and reliability. Why?

Picture this: You’re mid-trade and your laptop powers off when your so-called eight-hour battery fails you.

Or, maybe your computer keeps crashing when you open your tenth Chrome tab because it can only process a few tasks simultaneously.

While these might cause momentary blips in your technology, it can have huge ramifications on your trades.

A laptop or desktop computer needs to be able to handle intense trading software, multiple tabs, streaming videos, and other activity. If using a laptop, the battery has to have staying power so that you can keep monitoring your watch list, timing your trades, and striking when the iron is hot.

The good news is that there are great laptops available for a variety of different price points.

What Does a Professional Trader Look For in a Computer?

Before we get into the top picks, let’s hear some common questions that people ask about trading laptops and desktops.

Q: What type of laptop does Tim Sykes use?

A: Well, until January 2015, Tim used a MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, while he was making a video about how it’s great to be able to make money while chilling next to a pool, the wind blew it into the pool. If you haven’t seen the video footage of this yet, you should. The scream is worth it.

To replace it, Tim bought another MacBook Pro … then in short order, he spilled water on it and fried the circuitry. To replace that one, he bought … another MacBook Pro. Safe to say, Tim’s a MacBook Pro fan.

Q: Is there anything special about laptops for traders? Can’t I just buy a regular laptop at my local Staples or Best Buy?

A: Trading software can be a beast. It hogs lots of resources and sucks battery power like you wouldn’t believe. Trading software is chart-heavy, and traders typically view multiple graphs at a time, so it’s important to have great graphics to see all those bars, lines, tails, etc.

Q: Don’t all laptops have the same things on the inside? Does it really matter which one I choose?

A: Like a car, yes, laptops have the same vital organs on the inside. So, in that way, yes, they have a lot of basic similarities. That said, some cars have 6.2-liter engines, while others have 1.5-liter engines.

Some cars go 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, while others may struggle to beat 11 seconds.

You get the idea. For laptops, the main differences to look out for are processor speeds, RAM, graphics cards, and cooling mechanisms.  

Fun fact: Gaming computers often work particularly well for traders, because they focus on graphics and running large programs that are similar in size to trading software.

What to Look For in a Laptop or Desktop Computer

Let’s talk about some of the things you should look for in a computer. Here are some of the most important things to consider:

RAM

RAM (Random Access Memory) is largely misunderstood.

Contrary to popular belief, adding RAM doesn’t necessarily make your computer faster. However, having enough RAM can keep your computer from slowing down.

You need enough RAM for your computer to run your programs. Too little and it will crash, not run or slow down. While if you have too much RAM it might go unused, it’s better to have too much than too little.  

Processor speed

Way back in the dark ages of the 80s and 90s, you’d just choose the fastest processor you could afford and be done with it.  It was pretty straightforward. Each processor had a numerical value assigned to it that showed how fast it was.

Today, there are a crazy amount of processors that don’t fit so neatly onto a linear speed scale. We have AMD, dual core, quad core, i3, i5, A8 and gigahertzes, to name a few.

And they all have their own strengths. For instance, dual core is faster than quad core, but quad cores are better at processing multithreaded applications.

Because of this fact, it’s important to know what your needs are so that you can seek out the machine best suited to your work.

Hard Drive

This is the thing that spins around inside your computer (most of them, anyway).

The faster it spins, the more responsive your computer will be. Hard drive speeds are measured in revolutions per minute. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are much faster than spinning ones.

Yes, the price tag for those are quite a bit more, but the increase in boot speeds for applications is noticeable.

You also probably guessed that the absence of moving parts makes SSDs the more durable choice.

Size matters, too. No, you probably don’t need to get that 3 terabyte hard drive. But you might want to set your sights higher than 500 gigabytes (GB).

If you use your laptop ONLY for trading, there may not be a call for a ton of storage space, unless you’re saving chart images and such.

Display

The display on your laptop or desktop computer matters. Since you’re going to be logging many hours staring at that screen, you want to make sure that the display is adjustable and as gentle on the eyes as necessary.

Consider where you’ll be working (in an office with little natural daylight? Outside on your patio?), and make sure to choose a computer with a display that’s well suited to your work environment.

Battery Life

When it comes to laptops, the battery life matters … big time. You can’t always plug in your laptop when you’re in a cab, plane or train. If you’re camped out on the beach, electrical outlets can be scarce.  

Please note that while you’re running trading software, there is absolutely NO WAY that your battery is going to last as long as the manufacturer says it will. Not even close. Prepare yourself for this reality.

Weight

Usually, battery power usually comes as a tradeoff to weight. The longer the battery life, the more the laptop weighs.

However, you’ve got to keep your comfort in mind. You may be hauling your laptop around for hours on end, so you want a unit that won’t strain your shoulders to carry.

Screen Size

Small computers, and therefore, small screens, are easy and convenient to carry around.  However, trading charts are awfully hard to look at on a tiny screen. If you view multiple charts simultaneously, a larger screen size can make a big difference.

What kind of computer do you use for trading? Share your comment below.

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