ECNs, or electronic communication networks, are computerized networks in which traders can trade directly with one another. ECNs have several advantages, including tighter spreads and more options for after-hours trading. However, they can also have drawbacks such as...

Unusual options activity occurs when trading volume in an options contract is high above its average. This type of activity is often due to institutional investors and it can be a signal that smart money thinks the price of a stock will move soon. Keeping an eye on...

Time and sales is a running display of all trades executed for a particular stock. It is often used by traders as a way to gauge activity around a particular stock and to find potential entry and exit points. In this guide, we’ll explain what time and sales is and how...

Technical indicators play an important role in trading, and particularly in day trading. Indicators provide deeper insight into price movements and give traders the information they need to identify potential setups and make trading decisions. While there are hundreds...

Learning to manage risk effectively is key to success as a trader. Good risk management helps minimize your losses and preserves the gains from your winning trades. By understanding the risk/reward ratio of any individual trade, you can better decide which setups to...

Quadruple witching is a market day when single stock options, stock index options, single stock futures, and stock index futures all expire. Quadruple witching days typically see above-average trading volume, although this volume isn’t necessarily accompanied by...

Iceberg orders are a type of trade typically placed by institutional investors. They are designed to mask the size of an order, such that only a small portion of the total trade – the tip of the iceberg – is visible to the market. Traders who can recognize iceberg...

Gaps in a stock chart occur when the price of a stock moves suddenly up or down, usually in response to news outside of market hours. In some cases, these gaps don’t last – rather, they’re “filled” as trading action brings the price back towards the previous close....

Trading halts can be a big deal for active investors, particularly if you are holding a stock that temporarily can’t be traded. But since trading halts are relatively rare, many traders don’t know why they happen or how they work. In this guide, we’ll explain why...

Zero-commission brokers have been in the news emphasizing the democratization of investing, pitching cost-savings for clients, and helping fuel the momentum of meme stocks. However, some of these brokers have also received criticism for the gamification of the stock...

Whenever a publicly traded company releases big news that drives the share price up or down, it’s common for the company’s competitors in the same industry to see significant stock price movements as well. These ‘sympathetic’ movements offer a chance for traders to...

In the world of trading, the term “route” refers to the path an order takes to get to the market. While most traditional discount brokers automatically route orders for clients, day trading brokers give clients control over their order flow. If you’re a trader using a...

Volume is a key metric that every trader should be aware of. While trading volume on its own is informative, relative volume is particularly important for trading. Relative volume can indicate when trading interest in a stock is high or low and it may provide signals...

Every time the stock market goes on an extended bull run, fears of a bubble begin to creep in. Stock market bubbles have the potential to wipe out enormous gains when they pop. So, it’s important for traders to be able to recognize them and to know how to trade when a...

You’ve likely heard the term “algorithms” or (algos for short) used in reference to trading. Algorithms run the markets and are responsible for most of the trading volume in the U.S. stock markets on any given trading day. Let’s take the mystery out of stock market...