Markets

Testing Simple Strategies: MACD Works and Futures are Rewarding

Traders are fascinated by indicators. But just because something is interesting, logical or mystical does not mean it works in the market. Testing is needed to be sure the indicator adds value, and we will define value as improving profits. If an indicator beats a simple trend following strategy, it

Indicators on Indicators: The Next Step in Analysis

Traders and analysts have been developing market indicators for decades. Many of these indicators are simply measuring the same idea in only a slightly different way since most indicators are based on the same limited amount of market information. For any given time frame, there are only four price

Alternative Investments: An Introduction to Managed Futures

With the equity markets currently going through a rough patch, many institutional and individual investors are looking at alternative investments. In an effort to diversify their portfolio among different asset classes, many investors are looking at managed futures as a way to hedge their equity bet

Forex Trading Leverage and Costs

Many people would like to trade for a living, but the biggest problem they face is a lack of capital. In order to make a living trading in the stock market, traders really need to plan on having an initial balance of at least $100,000. That’s possible for mid-career professionals and retirees, but

Investing in the Chinese Yuan: Appreciation Imminent?

With the impressive economic growth in China, many investors are getting interested in owning Chinese currency, aka the Yuan (which translates as round coin) or Renminbi. The distinction between the two is that the Yuan is the actual unit of currency while the Renminbi is name of the Chinese currenc

Bill Ackman Profile

By Muhammad Raheel William Albert Ackman more commonly known as Bill Ackman (born 11 May 1966, New York) is the founder and CEO of hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management LP. Ackman was raised in Chappaqua, NY. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1988,

What Are Rare Earth Elements?

By Edwin Tucker If you are using a computer screen to access this article, rare earth elements are involved. Europium, Terbium and Cerium all play key parts in the production of flat panel screens. These essential elements have made possible most of the devices that we associate with modern life.

Introduction to Trading IPO’s

There are basically two types of companies: private and public. A private is just that, a company that is wholly owned by a group (or individual), that makes the decisions for the company without having to get approval from any sort of outside agency, i.e. board.  A public company is a company that

Using Market Internals to Improve Your Trading

By Tim Racette The Market Internals are similar to the instrument cluster on your car, without them you really don’t know which direction you are headed or how fast you’re moving. There are four indicators that make up the core market internals: - Breadth Ratio - Advance/Decline Line - Trin - Ti

Wall Street Shuffle: Despite Poor Start To ’11, Financial ETFs Earn Closer Look

By Brian O’Connell Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Financial service exchange traded funds (ETFs) haven’t had a banner year so far. How bad is it? Put it this way – if financial ETFs were a major league baseball team, they’d be the Mets. According to the Russell 2000 Index