Where do successful stock traders learn to trade?

Question

I would like to take some courses to learn how to research and trade stocks, but I'm not sure what to look for. Any suggestions? Thank you!

Answer 1

I know this may come as a surprise but I think the answer is quite different from what any of the other people have suggested.

The most successful stock traders learn to trade by experience--although not necessarily by investing their own money or other peoples' money, but by experimenting with investment in a simulated environment. People used to do this by hand, tracking newspapers, but now with computers it's even easier.

You can take all the courses and read all the books you want, but you need to get your hands dirty by simulating actual trading in order to learn. The most important thing to remember though, is to be patient--the most successful investors think in the long term, so don't expect to start to get a feel for how the market works until you've been following it for a few years.

There are three basic things you need to know in order to trade stocks successfully:

* The basics--how the market works, what all the data means, how to interpret research.
* Experience and general research--you need to have a feel for how the market works.
* Specific knowledge about specific industries. If you have specialized knowledge that gives you some sort of insider view into certain industries, this can help you beat the market. Often, the most successful investments that individuals make are ones that are in some area that they have some expertise or inside knowledge into.

How do you get these? Well, you can start by reading, but I would advise you that it would be more helpful to create an account on Yahoo Finance, and start playing around with stock portfolios. It's free, and you can experiment as much as you'd like. You can also do extensive research on companies, looking at information about insider buying and selling, how much top officers are paid, comparing them to other similar corporations, etc.

Answer 2

I learned by spending a lot of time reading books... Get a library card and go wild :)

I'd probably start with the "Idiots guide to stocks" (well, that's what I did anyhow)

Answer 3

You can find a lot of info online. Yahoo finance is very good. Read everything you can. The best way to learn is to try in out. Experience is the best teacher.

Answer 4

hi,well ,there are primarily two methods using which one can learn to trade stocks,1)fundamental analysis 2)technical analysis,the first one is the study of the stock u want to trade or invest on the basis of its progress over the years ,its profitability ,its industry prospects,overall track record of the management,its share holding pattern etc..while the second one is actually an art to study charts,basis of technical analysis(TA) IS human psychology,includes study of a traders greed,fear,hope,and all such mental factors that affects his trading ,TA is the study of day to day price (even intrady) movement of a stock represented in a graphical manner,studying which one can SUGGEST probable price movement(up,down,sideways)and on the basis of which a buy,sell ,hold decision can be taken,there are no.of theories using which (actually combining them all)one can TRADE in stocks,one can use moving averages,indicators like RSI ,MACD,STOCHASTICS,ROC,even volume plays an importnat role in it,there are no.of price patterns ,like,DOUBLE TOP,TRIANGLE,ROUNDING BOTTOMS,etc.,then there is candlestick study,one can study elliot wave theory too..so all in all a very very vast subject ,there is no ready made way to master all these,BUT experience !!!!,lots of books are available ,one must use TA SOFTWARE,to study it.the KEYto be a successful trader is TRADING IN FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND STOCKS USING TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Answer 5

Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Darthmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton or Yale.

Answer 6

Trainee stock brokers are usually hired as college graduates in Finance.
If you have a community college in your area, check to see if they offer non-credit courses in personal finance.

Answer 7

hi,
NSE India is offering such courses named The NCFM Programme in stock trading and broking you can check out their web www.nseindia.com for further details.