Trading basics

Start here if markets are new to you: what trading is, the three basic order types, what you can trade, long vs short, profit and loss, stops, reading a candle, and a full TradingView walkthrough.

Module 1 of 26, in the stage "Start here". 13 lessons.

Lessons

1. What is trading?Tell trading apart from investing, and read a price quote. 12 min.
2. Market, limit and stop orders, in plain EnglishKnow what the three basic orders do, when each one fills, and the mistake beginners make with each. 12 min.
3. What you can trade, and howCompare the main things you can trade, and match a trading style to how long you hold. 14 min.
4. Long and shortSee how you can make money when a price rises or when it falls, and why the two carry different risk. 12 min.
5. Profit and loss (P&L)Work out profit and loss in dollars and percent, and see where fees quietly eat into it. 16 min.
6. Stop losses and take profitsPlace a stop based on how much you are willing to lose, understand slippage, and compare risk with reward. 16 min.
7. Reading candlesName the parts of a candle and read a few common shapes without trusting them too much. 14 min.
8. Using TradingView, a full walkthroughSet up a free TradingView account, open the same chart Tickfloor reads, mark a trade plan on it, and practise with fake money before any real money. 20 min.
9. Reading a price screenRead last price, change, volume, day range, 52-week range and market cap on a quote screen without guessing what each one means. 12 min.
10. Your first $500 share order, start to finishFollow one small ASX buy from tapping buy to the shares being registered, and see what each step costs. 14 min.
11. Percentages, basis points, and why +10% then −10% is not zeroConvert between dollars, percent and basis points, and see why a run of returns multiplies rather than adds. 12 min.
12. Indexes, bull markets and bear marketsExplain what an index like the S&P/ASX 200 measures, and why one big company can move it. 14 min.
13. Liquidity: why some things cost more to tradeMeasure liquidity as the spread in percent and the depth on the book before trading anything small, new or after hours. 16 min.

Concepts covered

• Market order
• Limit order
• Trading costs
• Stop loss
• Take profit
• Risk-reward ratio
• Position sizing
• Candlestick patterns
• Volume
• Liquidity
• Bid-ask spread

Keep going

• Next module: Why prices move, and why beating the market is hard
• All 26 modules and 157 lessons
• Open the first lesson in the course

General information only. It doesn't consider your objectives, finances or needs. Tickfloor holds no financial services licence and never places trades.