The history of the American stock market had its beginnings in the late 1700s during the fledgling years of the country. In Philadelphia, founding citizens of this new world instituted a stock exchange wherein currency could be exchanged in order to support business and stimulate this new economy. This initial exchange gave way to a group of merchants who banned together to form the New York Stock Exchange. This initial assembly of men met every day on Wall Street to trade their stocks and bonds – an outdoor ritual that lasted through to the early 1900s, when commerce moved indoors. Today, investment on this scale has come full circle – operating outside the bricks and mortar of traditional trading. Today’s investors operate en masse through the Internet, buying and selling stocks online with the click of a mouse. Buying and selling stocks online has become the new way of investing. In this chaotic world of long work hours combined with the juggling of frenzied family schedules, the computer has taken an ever-increasing role – giving us a place to work, communicate, and be entertained any time of day from the comfort of our homes. The computer has also taken an ever-increasing role in investing, offering consumers the opportunity to trade online. Several reputable companies have pioneered the online investment arena where they have kept pace with the changing needs of today’s modern investors. In accessing stocks online, investors have been given access to a bevy of services previously only obtained through visiting brokers in the brick and mortar world of finance. Online investment through reputable brokerage companies requires investors to set up an account through the website. They can then access their financial portfolio at the touch of a mouse. Additionally, these companies will offer up-to-the-minute stock quotes, historical performance and forecasts for each stock, as well as in-depth information about each of the companies. Investors report that the ability to trade stocks online offers many benefits not provided through traditional brokering. First and foremost, online investment offers lower brokerage fees than required through traditional brokerage houses. Through online trading, investors typically pay $10 and under per trade. Online trading also affords investors a level of independence and control not previously experienced through traditional trading. Investors can pick and choose stocks online that meet their own personal financial goals. Using the tools provided through the brokerage websites, investors can research those companies and stock in which they are interested. Further, investors can access their portfolio to keep careful track of their financial status as they move towards the goals they have set out for themselves. Part of what keeps the financial world moving at a pace that continues to stimulate economy and promote business is its ability to adjust to changing conditions in society. Online trading is simply a response to what is happening in the world of finance on a grander scale. The ability to buy and sell stocks online meets investors where they are in today’s world and gives them the opportunity to take a greater role in their own financial future.
Posts Tagged ‘New Economy’
Online Investing & Forex Trading
September 9th, 2009Online trading has caused a major paradigm shift in investing. At the turn of the millennium, there are over 6 million online investment accounts, up from 1.5 million in 1997. As a result, start-up firms now compete directly with financial institutions to serve investors in the new Economy, and the clear winner is the customer. The competition between the brick and mortar institutions and the Internet-based companies has dramatically lowered the costs of investing, and empowered the individual investor to take control of their own investment strategy.
On-line trading will revolutionize the currency markets by making it accessible to the small and medium sized investor. For the first time, these investors have the ability to execute transactions of between $100,000 and $10,000,000 at the same prices the Interbank market offers for deals well over $10,000,000. This benefits both those who wish to speculate on the direction of the currency markets for profit, as well as the money manager or corporate treasurer looking to hedge against unwanted exposure to future price fluctuations in the currency markets. I am going to discuss the Benefits of Trading Forex.
Very few on-line brokers are able to offer their clients real-time bid/ask quotes, which facilitates instantaneous deal execution – no missed market opportunities. Real-time prices also allow investors to compare an on-line broker’s dealing spread with that of other pricing services, to ensure they are receiving the best possible price on all their Forex transactions.
Many on-line Forex brokers require their clients to request a price before dealing. This is disadvantageous for a number of reasons, primarily because it significantly lengthens the execution process from just a few seconds to possibly as long as a minute. In a fast paced market, this could make a significant difference in an investor’s profit potential. Also, some of the more unscrupulous brokers may use the opportunity to look at an investor’s current position. Once they have determined whether the investor is a buyer or a seller, they ’shade’ the price to increase their own profit on the transaction.
Timing is everything in the fast-paced Forex market. On-line trades are executed and confirmed within seconds, which ensures that traders do not miss market opportunities. Even the incremental extra time it takes to complete a transaction over the phone can mean a big difference in profit potential. Introduction simply, executing trades electronically reduces manual effort, thereby lowering the costs of doing business. On-line brokers are then able to pass along the savings to their client base. The fast-paced nature of the Forex market compels traders to execute multiple trades each day. It is vital for each client to have real-time information about their current position in order to make well-informed trading decisions.
Access to timely and relevant information is critical. Professional traders pay thousands of dollars each month for access to major information providers. However, the very nature of the Internet affords users free access to reliable market information from a variety of sources, including real-time price quotes, international news, government-issued economic indicators and reports, as well as subjective information such as expert commentary and analysis, trader chat forums etc.
The main advantage of the Forex market over any exchange-traded instruments is that the Forex market is a true 24-hour market. Whether it’s 6pm or 6am, somewhere in the world there are always buyers and sellers actively trading Forex so that investors can respond to breaking news immediately. In the currency markets, your portfolio won’t be affected by after hours earning reports or analyst conference calls. The ECNs (Electronic Communication Networks) exist to bring together buyers and sellers when possible.
By: Andrew Daigle
