I have a job that allows me to keep an eye on the real time stock market. Starting in January I started playing with the Virtual Trading engine at OptionXpress, daytrading options on SPY. My strategy is rather modest; I buy 5-10 ITM contracts, either put or call depending on market direction, and sell when I see the trend reverse. I chose 10 contracts because I believe that with an order size that small, if I submit a sell order at the bid it should fill immediately unless the market is moving very fast allowing me to lock in a profit if the trend reverses. I open one position at a time, I never leave my desk with an open position and I am 100% cash at market close every day. I use SPY because being a basket of 500 stocks it is buffered from sudden drastic moves in price giving me time to get out of a position with minimal loss if the price goes the wrong way on me. My immediate goal is 0 after commissions per round trip, a target that requires only a {content}.15 move in option price. I don’t always guess right on direction, 4 out of 5 is typical, and I am netting between 0 and 0 a day on 6-7 round trips. My 00 initial play money stake has grown to about ,000 since 1/19 when I started doing this seriously. I won’t get rich doing this but over the course of a year that is an extra person’s worth of income for my family. If it lets me do nothing more than pay off my house and fund future college for my 3 kids it is worth it.

Now that I have proven to myself that this seems to be a reasonable strategy I am trying to understand what I can do better and am now in the area of "I don’t know what I don’t know." I know about Level 2 quotes but if these are something that can help me I am not clear how to use them. I know that there are all sorts of indicators that technical traders use but I don’t know if these scale down to the day trading level. I know about the existence of the Greeks, and while I understand roughly what the numbers and equations mean, I don’t know if these will help me on positions lasting 15 minutes or less.

My main interest in posting this question is to find out if there are tools I can use to help me make better choices about getting in or out of a position or tell me more about what the market is doing. This strategy seems to be working okay and if I can translate this to real money I will consider myself successful. I don’t want to be greedy but I certainly would like to know if I can do what I am already doing more effectively.

I spent time on 888options and optionetics.com but it seems much of the content out there deals with strategies like spreads, butterflies and condors, things that simply don’t apply to what I am doing. I know there are options day traders, even some specializing in SPY, who read these questions, and I’d be appreciative if I even had a list of books or even just some things to go research and learn about that you have found helpful in your experience.

Thanks for reading this far and any help y’all provide.
I definitely understand the problem with fills; in fact, I asked a question about that here the other day. I had noticed that I could put in a sell at a price like 3.10 and a minute later see a bid/ask spread of 3.15/3.20 with my sell order still open. My only thought was "What the ****?!" I was told by another answerer that in reality, on an order that small an ask below the bid would never stay open on something as liquid as SPY.
Regarding filling at the mid, on SPY I could live with this. The options on SPY move enough intraday that even if every buy order filled at the ask and and sold at the bid I’d still make money because I am looking for moves of .15 on options that can move .30 or more in a short time. I’ve gotten good enough at picking the trend direction that I will buy options that are 3 or 4 points ITM. This gets me my .15 or more move with only a small move in the price of SPY.

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Day trading SPY options: How can I do this better? (Long question)? is a post from: Finance Related

besides, you pay no taxes on betting winnings and you really understand what you’re putting your money into, and the crowd expectations have no effect on the outcome (contrarily to the stock market where a rumor can make you lose money)

My question: why many people still invest on stock markets? how much do they really make? and do their return outweigh the brokerage fees???

n.b: while arbitrage opportunities on stock are almost inexistent (may last for a few seconds), they may occur on sports betting once in a while!!

thanks for your professional answers,

n.b: i have a great knowledge about options trading strategies and forex markets, so feel free to go technical!
by the way , I’m from France and lately, sports betting has become legal and there is no taxation on your gains!

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Why would u invest in the stock market when u can bet on sports? is a post from: Finance Related

What are the differences and similarities?
What is the reason for invention of options
and futures as opposed to regular stock?

Also, is it a good idea to invest now
because stock market is going down,
or should I wait before it starts consistently
going up again?

What is a good amount to start with?

Please keep your answers very simple,
if possible avoid using yield, dividend
and "complicated" language without
explaining what it means first.

Thanks

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can someone explain in lay language what are future and options and why are they more desirable than stocks? is a post from: Finance Related

There is no restriction to the foreign exchange level of market buying and selling along with your good results in this area is defined by your own practical experience. Most forex trading investors are experienced more than enough to learn how to get profits for their own reasons through manipulation of the rise or crash of worth of money in the marketplace in their favor. Just about all investors, experienced or amateur should be aware of the forex trading range of market investing. It is the best way to produce a hit from your career as the forex trading investor. Most forex currency trading traders should be aware of perfectly that, like every alternative market trading, this kind of dealing also entails a couple of actions, namely, purchasing as well as selling of foreign currencies.

The usual strategy adopted by traders engaged in foreign exchange buying and selling is by using one foreign currency as the base and then to check along with other foreign currencies to learn the relative values. This is a extremely effective way for newcomers in this collection to comprehend the functions at the rear of the regular rise and fall of different currency values in a provided day. Therefore, if you are looking to master how you can increase your currency trading profits, you will need to increase your expense and try to involve additional main foreign currencies as the bottom in your own buying and selling cycle.

As soon as this can be done, the prices of currencies that usually are not your chosen base currencies may be compared with the price of your base foreign currencies. This is the reason it is vital to possess detailed knowledge about the foreign exchange depth of marketplace buying and selling. But though this sounds easy to understand, it has to be remembered that maintaining monitor of numerous foreign currencies, their own graphs as well as their buying and selling costs can make out to be rather a difficult task. That is the reason a number of beginners and also experienced traders prefer to take the assist of certain automated forex software to help keep monitor of their own currency markets buying and selling business. This kind of software helps to keep an eye on the frequent fluctuations in the forex prices.

Everybody must be aware of the fact that managed forex is a risky investment, because forex trading in itself can bring both profits and losses.

That is why we highly recommend to study more about the industry of forex investment, before you start spending any money on it.

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Does A Beginner Has A Chance In Forex? is a post from: Finance Related

There’s no limit to the forex degree of marketplace investing as well as your achieving success in this area is actually defined by your own experience. Most forex trading investors tend to be skilled enough to learn how you can extract earnings for themselves through manipulation of the rise or crash of value of currencies in the marketplace in their favor. All investors, experienced or even amateur should be aware of the forex trading degree of market trading. It’s the only way to produce an achievement from your career being a currency trading entrepreneur. All currency trading investors should be aware of well that, like any other marketplace trading, this type of investment additionally entails a couple of actions, that is, purchasing and putting up for sale of currencies.

The usual strategy adopted by investors engaged in forex market trading is to apply 1 foreign currency as the base currency then to compare along with other currencies to discover the relative values. That is a extremely effective method for beginners in this collection to understand the workings behind the regular rise and fall of different currency ideals in a given day. Therefore, should you be looking to master how you can increase your currency trading earnings, you will need to improve your expense and then try to include other main currencies because the bottom in your own buying and selling cycle.

As soon as this can be done, the prices of foreign currencies that usually are not your preferred base currencies may be in contrast to the cost of your base foreign currencies. This is the reason it is crucial to have comprehensive information about the foreign exchange depth of market buying and selling. However though this particular seems easy to understand, it should end up being appreciated that maintaining track of numerous foreign currencies, their graphs and their buying and selling costs can change out to be quite a difficult task. That is the reason several beginners as well as experienced traders choose to consider the assist of certain automated forex software to keep monitor of their currency markets trading company. This kind of software program keeps tabs on the frequent variances in the foreign exchange prices.

Please before you launch your forex trading – get nicely prepared for the realities of the forex trading market.

Or you can use managed forex trading service where other forex traders will take care of managing the trading process on the currency exchange market.

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There is no restriction towards the forex depth of industry buying and selling as well as your achieving success in this field is actually defined by your knowledge. Most forex trading investors tend to be skilled more than enough to know how you can get earnings for themselves through manipulation of the increase or crash of value of money in the marketplace in their favour. All investors, experienced or new must be aware of the forex trading range of marketplace trading. It is the best way to create an achievement from the job being a forex trading investor. Just about all currency trading investors should be aware of perfectly that, like any other market investing, this type of dealing additionally consists of two steps, namely, buying and selling of foreign currencies.

The typical technique adopted by traders engaged in forex market trading is to use one currency as the base currency after which to compare along with other foreign currencies to discover the relative ideals. This is a very effective way for beginners in this line to know the workings at the rear of the frequent go up and down of different foreign currency ideals in a given day.

Once this is achieved, the prices of foreign currencies that aren’t your selected bottom foreign currencies may be compared with the price of your base currencies. For this reason it is vital to possess detailed information about the forex depth of market trading. However although this particular sounds easy to understand, it must be appreciated that keeping track of various foreign currencies, their charts as well as their own trading costs can turn to be rather a difficult task. That is the reason why a number of newcomers and also experienced investors would rather consider the help of certain automatic foreign exchange software program to help keep monitor of their foreign exchange buying and selling business. Such software program helps to keep track of the regular fluctuations in the foreign exchange pricing

You must know that managed forex is a risky investment, because forex trading in itself can bring both profits and losses.

Hence, we seriously recommend to read more about the industry of forex investment, before you start spending any money on it.

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Win And Change Your Life In Forex is a post from: Finance Related

There is no restriction towards the forex depth of marketplace trading as well as your success in this area is based on your knowledge. The majority of foreign exchange investors tend to be knowledgeable enough to learn how you can get income for themselves through maneuvering of the increase or fall of value of money in the marketplace in their favor. Almost all investors, experienced or even new should be aware of the foreign exchange depth of market investing. It really is the best way to make a success from your job being a forex currency trading entrepreneur. Almost all forex currency trading traders should know perfectly that, like any other market trading, this type of dealing also involves 2 steps, particularly, purchasing and also putting up for sale of currencies.

The usual technique adopted by traders engaged in foreign exchange trading is to use 1 currency as the base currency then to match with other currencies to learn the comparative values. Thus, should you be looking to master how to increase your forex trading earnings, you will need to increase your investment and try to include other major currencies as the bottom in your buying and selling period.

This is the reason it is vital to possess detailed understanding of the forex depth of market buying and selling. However though this seems easy to follow, it has to end up being appreciated that maintaining track of numerous currencies, their own graphs and their buying and selling costs can make to be rather a struggle. That is why several beginners as well as seasoned investors prefer to take the help of particular automated forex software to help keep monitor of their own forex market trading business. Such software program keeps track of the frequent variances in the foreign exchange pricing.

Everybody must be aware of the fact that managed forex accounts is a risky investment, because forex trading in itself can result both in profits and losses.

Due to this we seriously recommend to study more about the sphere of forex investment, before you start investing any money on it.

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What Do You Know About Forex Robots? is a post from: Finance Related

In the past traders with great amounts of capital available can take a part in the Forex trading. For you to know the minimum requirements to trade the Forex market was $10 millions. And thus as you can understand just few people could trade the Forex market. However with the development of the World Wide Web, a lot of different opportunities arose for Forex companies to offer trading accounts to day traders with limited investment capital.

If you look at the Forex trading quotes you will easily notice that all the currencies are quoted in pairs. It means that you are actually purchasing one currency and selling the other currency simultaneously. For instance, on the Forex market you will see quotes for the American dollar and the Euro listed like USD/EUR.

One of the major advantages of the Forex trading is the ability to trade round the clock. Since there is no physical exchange, all the transactions happen electronically every second across the globe. And because of so huge transactions that take place on a daily basis there is no need to worry about filling your order or selling your currency. You have to know that there is always a person willing to buy from you or to sell to you regardless what time of day it is.

The other benefit of the Forex trading is the ability to leverage investment funds. It means that you could control huge amounts of money with quite small amounts of actual cash. As a rule, Forex trading brokers offer a 100:1 leverage, which means that you can control $100,000 worth of currency with $1000 worth of capital. If used correctly, leverage could get an average Forex trader into the higher level of the Forex trading. But you have to bear in mind that even if leverage could provide the Forex trader with the ability to trade in levels unreachable in other areas of investing, rushing in without the proper knowledge could cause you to lose all your investment capital at once.

Fortunately, today there are demo trading accounts along with the Forex reports, news and updated charts. Patience is extremely important when it comes to the Forex trading and taking the time to practice trades and learn how to read the Forex charts in the most effective way could make the whole difference between great profits and losing at all.

As in any other sphere of our life Forex needs some education.

Surely, you can start forex trading and get quite successful about it. However sooner or later the losses will come. This is when you might think “Why didn’t I start with a good forex book?”

This does not imply that after reading even the top materials you will start making money, but this info will save you from many troubles. And even if you decide to get the help of a managed forex trading service, still you will be able to make a much wiser decision.

And some general tips – today the Internet technologies give you a really unique chance to choose what you require for the best price on the market. Funny, but most of the people don’t use this chance. In real life it means that you should use all the tools of today to get the information that you need.

Search Google or other search engines. Visit social networks and have a look on the accounts that are relevant to your topic. Go to the niche forums and participate in the discussion. All this will help you to create a true vision of this market. Thus, giving you a real opportunity to make a wise and nicely balanced decision.

And also sign up to the RSS on this blog, because we will do the best to keep this blog tuned up to the day with new publications about Forex currency trading.

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What Beginners Should Know About The Forex Trading is a post from: Finance Related

As a new investor, you have to know some of the investing basics and investing tips for newcomers that you can use. Probably you will be surprised, but you can still make money in investing when a lot of people just lose money. Among all the best investing rules and tips ‘buy low and sell high’ must be outlined. The number of people who lose money investing in stocks is increasing on a daily basis.

Because you are a new investor, you are able to buy in modern stocks at an underestimated price. The majority of expert investors currently tend to agree that stocks have performed better in a long run over any other financial asset. But it is still recommended that before you become involved into the stock market, you learn the stock market investing basics including the functioning, risks and language that are associated with stock investments.

When you just start investing, it is recommended that you take small steps as well as keep your risk as low as possible. First of all, you have to decide on how much you can afford and do not get in over your head. When you start slowly, you can allow yourself to learn how to invest without getting burned by your mistakes. New investors who want to invest in separate stocks do not obviously have to understand how to carefully choose separate stocks. A great way to start investing is to invest in professionally managed stock portfolios though mutual funds.

By decreasing the risk you are taking with your hard earned money, mutual funds save you the problem of choosing separate stocks yourself as well as your portfolio is automatically quite diversified.

Today the world is oversaturated with lots of information of various type. Each day amounts of details fall on our heads and it is unreal to track everything. That’s why it is useful to take advantage of news sites. If you are searching for some info on earning money online, go to this HYIP monitor site.

Luckily we live in the world of high technologies with such marvelous tools like online network, search engines, social networks and forums. Internet technologies have become a way to earn for living. Should you want to deal with investments, a piece of cake – go to HYIP review page where you will find info on investments as well as about scams in the niche.

Still having doubts? Don’t get upset! The Internet network is large – check out this HYIP monitor site. It will help you not only make cash but save them from scam programs and offers.

And subscribe to RSS feed on this blog – it is a nice way to be aware of new publications on the subject.

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You Can find in our monitor the latest news and listings about the Investment and Hyip industry, we provide a daily update of the Status, payout proofs, user votes for
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HYIP stands for High Yield Investment Program. These can be both online and offline companies which offer a higher return on your investments than banks do. But due to the fact that offline HYIPs usually have very high investment minimums only online HYIPs are of interest to private investors. HYIP owners usually claim getting their above average returns on the stock market, FOREX, by placing bets on sports events or by participating in various online ventures. A part of the profits from these activities is shared among the investors according to the program’s investment plans and the remaining amount is used to cover the hosting/maintenance fees and to pay the owners. There are two main types of online HYIPs – investment funds and autosurfs.

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