A trading range occurs when a stock or average moves up and down between a consistent high and low for an extended period of time (days, to weeks, to months). The bottom of the range becomes fairly solid support as the top becomes fairly solid resistance the more times either holds. We play stocks within the trading ranges if they are loose enough to give us some room to maneuver, e.g., a 5 point range or more. A tight trading range is one that is significantly narrower than a particular stock?s usual trading fluctuations. A tight trading range on low volume is usually a very good indicator that a move up is coming.
Archives
Stock Symbol Extension
The character or characters that may follow the stock symbol to uniquely identify a listed security. It can be a single alphabetic character, two alphabetic characters, or a combination of two plus one characters with a maximum of eight characters for the stock symbol, extension and separator dots in between. For example, BMO.PR.U. Currently, they include: A-B – class of shares B – debentureE – equity dividendH – NEX marketIR – installment receiptsNO, NS, NT – notesP – Capital Pool CompanyPR – preferredR – subscription receiptsRT – rightsS – special U.S. termsU, V – U.S. fundsUN – units W – when issued WT – warrants
Trend Lines
These are lines, both up and down, that are formed by a stock?s price movement. In the simplest sense, trend lines are drawn between a stocks successive lows to find support, and successive highs to find resistance. The more times a stock?s price touches a trendline and holds, the better an indicator it is. Trend lines can be long term and short term, and, as noted, can be used to determine support and resistance. We often use trendlines to help determine when we should enter of exit trades. When we are in positions and following the trend, we do not like to see the stock break its trend for greater than one day. If a stock does that, it has changed its character, and the trendline is most likely no longer in force.
Insiders
With respect to a corporation or other entity, these are the people who have access to inside information about a company or entity that is material to the stock price. For corporations, they are typically the directors and senior officers of a corporation. A person or entity that owns greater than ten percent (10%) someone of the voting shares of a corporation is also considered an insider.
Principal Trade
A trade when a Participating Organization is either buying from, or selling to its client.
Trading Session
The period during which the Exchange is open for trading.
Stop Order
An order placed which is not at the current market price. It becomes a market order once the security touches the specified price. Buy stop orders are placed above the present market price. Sell stop orders are placed below the present market price (also known as a stop loss). If a stock gaps past the stop order, it becomes a market order and is filled at the next trading price.
Trending Market
Price moves in a single direction and it usually closes on an extreme for the day.
Option Type
A call or put contract.
Hypothecation
Pledging of assets as collateral.