Once you determine which business cycle the economy is currently in you can begin researching for a trade. It is better to have some sort of a routine in place that will be used before each trade. Here is a straightforward 5 step formula to help get you going.
Five Steps to Investing Online:
1. Locate a stock This is the most apparent and most thorny step in stock trading. With well over 10,000 stocks to trade a good rule of thumb to think about is time of the year. For example, as I write this, it is the beginning of spring. It would make sense to mull over stocks that usually go up, or fall if you are bearish, at this time of year.
2. Fundamental Analysis Lots of short term traders may disagree with the need to do any fundamental analysis, but knowing the chart patterns from the past and the news regarding the stock is important. An example would be earnings season. If you are planning on playing a stock to the upside that has missed its earnings target the last 3 quarters, caution could be in order.
3. Technical Analysis This is the part where indicators come in. Stochastics, the MACD, volume, moving averages, RSI, CCI, support levels, resistance levels and all the rest. The batch of indicators you choose, whether lagging or leading, may depend on where you get your education.
Keep it simple when first starting out, using a bunch of indicators in the beginning is a ticket to the land of big losses. Get very comfortable using one or two indicators initially. Gain knowledge of their intricacies and you’ll be certain to make better trades.
4. Chart your picks Once you have placed a few stock trades you should be managing them properly. If the trade is intended to be a short term trade monitor it closely for your exit signal. If it’s a swing trade, watch for the indicators that inform you the trend is shifting. If it’s a long term trade keep in mind to set weekly or monthly checkups on the stock.
Use this time to keep abreast of the news, clarify your price targets, set stop losses, and scan other stocks that you possibly will want to own as well.
5. The larger picture As the saying goes, all ships rise and fall with the tide. Knowing which sectors are heating up piles the chips in your favor. For example, if you are long (expecting price to go up) on an oil stock and most of the oil sector is rising then more likely than not you are on the right side of the trade. Keep an eye on ETFs that track a sector’s performance.
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