Lessons In ETF Trading For Beginners

By Patrick Deaton

Becoming successful at ETF trading will require some commitment and work in order to develop the knowledge and skills that are required to see a substantial gain on a trade. It is important that a person who is just looking at trading as a viable way to increase their portfolio that they have a basic understanding of how ETF works and what to expect from their trading efforts.

A person will find that there are many classes, courses, and books offered on the Internet regarding ETF and ETF trading. When selecting a course or book, it is important to research the company or individual carefully to make sure that they have experience with ETF and knowledge of the types of strategies that are needed to be a successful trader.

ETF trading is growing at a tremendous rate. There are almost twice as many ETFs in 2009 as there were in 2008. This growth is a result of the many benefits that one can achieve through ETF trading and the flexibility that a trader is afforded.

ETFs can be traded throughout the trading day. Unlike with mutual funds which can only be traded at the end of the day, this gives ETF traders a tremendous advantage and opportunity. Changes happen in fifteen second increments on the stock index. This means that a great deal of activity can happen during the day. This activity can provide a trader with opportunities to increase the gains and sell when it is most advantageous for them to do so.

ETFs are regulated. For individuals who want to trade in currency, the big difference between ETFs and Forex is the fact that Forex is unregulated. In addition, Forex trades 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ETFs are traded in the regular trading day, five days a week. ETFs are tracked on the indexes such as the S&P 500 or MSCI EAFE. The baskets each have their own symbol as are other stocks. The value of ETFs are weighted averages of the combined total stocks and bonds for a sector.

ETF traders are able to use all of the same orders as with other stocks. A trader can use a limit order, bracketed buy order, stop-loss order, etc. A great benefit of ETFs is the ability to short sell at any time. Stocks may not be sold short is the price of the stock is below it's last price. ETF traders can take advantage of a drop with a short sell when the trade is warranted without worrying about the last price of the stock.

Some people who are just learning about ETF trading have had an option for ETF included in their retirement portfolio. Many large companies are finding that long term ETF trading provide a steady growth at a low risk to the portfolio of the investor. Some of these companies are buying creation units to allow for more diversification within their programs.

Learning about ETF before one begins ETF trading will be very advantageous. An individual will find that the structure, methods and strategies for trading will be much easier to navigate with a solid foundation of knowledge regarding ETF. Talking with an individual who knows ETF, ETF trading, and the various types, methods, and strategies of ETF will help a person to move through their learning curve more quickly and begin successful trading.

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