There are many investors who don’t know what to do to protect themselves in the stock markets. It comes as no surprise: every self-proclaimed guru claims to have the best strategy since sliced bread. What these ‘gurus’ don’t provide is details — at least not free of charge.

Fortunately, there are several simple strategies that you can use to protect yourself from downside risk in both bull and bear markets. In this article we will cover sell stops, sell stop limits, buy stops and buy stop limits, as well as tips and techniques you can use to place them effectively in any type of market.

Read More »

You might have had success beating the market by trading stocks using a disciplined process that anticipates a nice move either up or down. Many traders have also gained the confidence to make money in the stock market by identifying one or two good stocks that may make a big move soon.

But if you don’t know how to take advantage of that movement, you might be left in the dust. If this sounds like you, then maybe it’s time to consider using options to play your next move. This article will explore some simple factors that you must consider if you plan to trade options to take advantage of stock movements.

Read More »

Stock options provide advanced investors with additional opportunities for potentially rewarding returns. But stock options do possess risks that require an in-depth understanding of how they work. This article provides a basic overview of stock options.

An Introduction to Stock Options

Options on stocks and stock indexes are derivative instruments. Stock investors may use stock options to hedge against a price decline, to lock in a future purchase price, or to speculate on the future price of a stock. Employees may also receive stock options through an employee compensation plan. For employees, stock options represent the potential for growth in value and the possibility that the increase in value will be taxed at a favorable capital-gains tax rate.

Read More »