Trading Stocks and Bonds
By Ken Little, About.com Guide
Finding a Broker
Finding the right stockbroker will make your trading experience more efficient and profitable. There are several different types of brokers and financial advisers that will work with you.
- Choosing a Broker
- Top Online Stock Trading Sites
- Opening an Account
- How Much Help do You Need from Your Broker?
- Do You Need a Financial Adviser?
- What Type of Financial Adviser do You Need?
- Is a Fee-Based Broker Right for You?
- Stuck in Bad Investment Thanks to Stockbroker
Getting Started
The basic of trading cover a lot of ground, but you can easily get up to speed by following these steps.
- Trading Basics
- Understanding Stock Quotes
- Understanding Bid & Ask Prices
- Market Makers Keep Nasdaq Humming
- Market Specialists Make NYSE Work
- Understanding Stock Orders
- Should You Own Foreign Stocks?
- How Many Stocks Should You Own?
- Who's Watching Your Back in Stock Market?
- Don't Leave Stocks Unattended while on Vacation
- Trading Stocks After Hours is Risky
- Level II Quotes Capture Stock Prices
- Naked Short Selling - Don't Try this at Home
Stock Market Trends
Stock market knowledge you should have to become a better investor.
- Don't Let Emotions Get in the Way of Investing Success
- Don't Follow Panicked Stock Investors over a Cliff
- Investing in Chinese Stocks Becoming Easier
- Time to Re-Think Role of Stocks in Retirement
- It's Never 'Different this Time' in the Stock Market
- Too much Money in Stock Market?
- Add Some Giant Stocks to Your Portfolio
- Don't Let Stock Screens Cloud your Judgement
- Averaging Down - Good Idea or Foolish Risk?
- The Next Big Thing in Stocks
- Five Things Women Need to Know about Investing in Stocks
- Margin Trading - Not for Beginners
- How to Profit from Insider Trading
- Short Selling Stocks- Not for the Faint Hearted
- Options - Understanding the Basics
- Trading Stock Options Adds New Dimension
- Small Cap Stocks can Pop
- Understanding IPOs
- You will Get Burned Following Hot Stock Tip
- Keep Eye on Interest Rates to Protect your Portfolio
Advanced Trading
Once you have mastered the basics of trading, you are ready for more sophisticated trading terms and actions.
- Introduction to Asset Allocation
- Dollar Cost Averaging - A Powerful Tool
- Understanding Stop Loss Orders
- Using Trailing Stops to Protect Stock Profits
- Should You Care about Bull or Bear Markets?
- Corrections are Natural Part of Stock Market
- Prepare Stocks for Bear Market
- Don't let Stock Market Disrupt your Plan
- Don't try to Time Bottom of Falling Stock Market
- Use all Four Asset Classes to Build your Portfolio
- When Stock Short Sellers get the Squeeze
- Don't be Misled by this Stock Cliche
- Don't be too Conservative with Stocks in Retirement
- Stock Investors Must Ask about Tomorrow
- Consider Some Domestic Stocks Foreign Investments
- Rebalance Your Portfolio to Stay on Track
- IRAs Offer Tax-Advantaged Investing
- Keep your Stock Portfolio Balanced
- Long-Term Investing Becoming Shorter in Global Economy
Investing in Bonds
Bonds should be a part of every investors portfolio. They counter the volatility of stocks and provide income, especially for people at or entering retirement.
- Bond Basics
- The Long Bond Returns
- Muni Bond Market Headed for Big Change?
- Understanding Bond Types
- Understanding Zero Coupon Bonds
- How to Use Zero Coupon Bonds
- Convertible Bonds - A Good Investment?
- I Bonds: Inflation Protection & Safety
- Understanding Bond Prices and Interest Rates
- A Bond Ladder to Success
- Finding the Right Stocks/Bonds Ratio
- Bonds and Taxes
- How to Avoid Defaulting Bonds
Types of Investors
There are two basic types of investors: Growth and value. Most investors tend to be more of one than the other. Although it is common for investors to employ both styles when market circumstances are right.
- Getting Started in Stocks: Growth or Value Investor?
- Buying Growth Stocks is all about the Future
- Value Stock Investors Dig for Treasure
- What do Value Investors Look for in Stocks?
- Growth, Value Stocks Defined
- Understanding Value Investing
- Find a Stock Investing Strategy that Works for You
- Bottom-Up Investors Pick Stocks on Fundamentals
- Top Down Stock Investing Thinks Big
- Four Investment Objectives Define Strategy
- Are You a Trader or an Investor?
- Stock Decisions may be Matter of Perspective
- Computer Models as Stock Pickers
- Let Go of Old Stock Investing Strategies
- Let your Dreams Motivate your Investing
- Understanding Warren Buffett
- Investing Philosophies
- Following the Stock Market Herd Often Wrong Decision
When to Buy Stocks
Timing is everything. Knowing when to buy or sell can mean the difference between profit and loss.
- Buying Winning Stocks
- How to Pick Winning Stocks
- Picking Stocks with Competitive Advantage
- The Dangers of Market Timing
- Use a Buy Case to Justify Stock Purchase
- Finding Winning Stocks in Down Market
- Do Gut-Check Before Buying Stock
- Market Cycles Create Stock-Buying Opportunities
- Market in the Dumps? Go Shopping for Discounted Stocks
- When to Buy an Expensive Stock
- Investing in Stock Market Leaders
- When a Stock You Want to Buy Takes Off
- Trying to Save Pennies on Stock Buy Could Cost You Plenty
- Buying High, Selling Low
- How to Deal with Losses in the Stock Market
- Be Careful of Investing in Safe Stocks
- How to Identify the Bottom of the Stock Market
When to Sell Stocks
Timing is everything. Knowing when to buy or sell can mean the difference between profit and loss.