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P/E

This is an abbreviation of a stock’s price-to-earnings ratio. The price-to-earnings ratio is a stock’s share price divided by earnings per share for the company’s most recent four quarters. A projected P/E divides the share price by estimated earnings per share for the coming four quarters.

Technical Analysis

The study and use of price and volume charts and other technical indicators to make trading decisions. Technical analysis attempts to use past stock price and volume information to predict future price movements. Fundamentally, technical analysis shows in graphic form investor sentiment, both greed and fear. Understanding that concept is key to understanding technical analysis and being able to use it effectively to trade securities. With proper technical analysis, you can be ready for certain moves, and when your analysis is confirmed by the actual start of the move, trading positions can be taken. Technical analysis can be used for short-term trading or long-term position buying. We use if for both, and the two are closely related.

To Buy and To Sell

These are phrases used in placing orders to either buy or sell securities. If you are placing an order to purchase ten contracts of Dell October $40 calls at a limit of 4 5/8 for the day, you would tell your broker you were placing a day order for 10 contracts of Dell October $40 strike calls to buy at a limit of 4 5/8. This gives your broker all the information he or she needs to place the order.

Thin Market

A market that occurs when there are comparatively few bids to buy or offers to sell, or both. The phrase may apply to a single security or to the entire stock market. In a thin market, price fluctuations between transactions are usually larger than when the market is liquid. A thin market in a particular stock may reflect lack of interest in that issue, or a limited supply of the stock.

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A charting term meaning the stock price is going down from here.