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[O306]Options Trading For Beginners
by Stephen Bigalow Bigalow, Ste
No matter what you do in life there is always a first day. Walking as a baby, driving a car or starting a new job all fall into this category. This is true of beginner’s options trading in the stock market as well. Even if you have experience trading stocks you might not know the difference between a call and a put; don’t get worried because this isn’t going to lead to a pop quiz. What is going to happen is that we will look at options trading for beginners and give you some of the basics to get you started. If you have never been exposed to options trading, welcome to your first day!

What Are Stock Options?

Let’s start our beginner’s options trading discussion with the topic of what options aren’t. Stock options are not ownership in anything; unlike stocks, the holder of an option doesn’t possess part ownership in a company; this is simply an agreement between two investors that one party agrees to deliver something to another party within a specific time period and for a specific price. This eliminates the ownership part of the agreement as well as the idea that you must possess a particular stock in order to implement a position. Interested in selling short an option? In the stock market you have to borrow the stock to do it; in options trading beginners only need to understand that there is no ownership and no problem making the transaction.

What Are the Advantages of Stock Options?

Options have a number of nice advantages that the options trading beginner should understand. Among these benefits are:
•Leverage – Options also have the advantage of leverage; your option is purchased with a multiplier of 100 so your fortunes are affected by 100 shares of stock and not only one.
•Limited Risk – This is not true of all options investing, but overall options trading has limited risk. When buying options, your risk is limited to the price of the premium, or the amount you paid for the option. For example, if you buy straddle (the name for a particular option) and the price of the stock is wrong for your position, you can, in essence, allow the option to expire. This offers a great start in options trading for beginners since they can purchase options without the fear of staggering losses.
•No Risk Paper Trading – Thanks to the power of the Internet, paper trading has become a valuable asset for the options trading beginner. You simply register to use the software and follow the directions of the site. You will be able to implement positions and see the effects of your decisions on your “account". Lose your money? No problem, it was only virtual money but a real experience beginner’s options trading.

What Do You Need To Do To Get Started?

Getting started is never really difficult. Remember, it is your first day. However, there are several things you need to do as a beginner in options trading:
1.Start Learning – There is no substitute for education. Read books about options trading, talk with others that trade options and search the Internet for information about options trading. Once you start investing your own money, you will be glad to understand options trading.
2.Create a Stock Trading Plan – This is just as important as your education. You need to outline your goals and objectives as well as your strategies in an unemotional manner. This way, when emotion tries to creep into your decision making process, you will have already decided your course of action.
3.Select a Broker – This is a personal, but important part of the process. You can implement your own trades but you need someone to actually place the orders. Some full-service brokers offer more services and most Internet brokers offer lower commissions. Even though you’re a beginner in options trading, define what you want from your broker and find someone who meets your needs.
4.Use Japanese Candlesticks – This powerful charting system will help not only the beginner in options trading but is valuable to the “expert" as well. Candlesticks will help you to find the trends in the market that most others miss.

Conclusion

Is that enough information for your beginner’s options trading lesson? Remember that this is your first day but everything you do will build off of it.


As I mentioned before, the past 5 months have been very frustrating for most traders as we are stuck in this sideways price action. I also noted that August to December is generally the stronger months for gold. Although gold has been under selling pressure during the last 4 weeks I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. It's usually the darkest before dawn, but there are some hurtles for gold to over come before we are in the clear which I explain below.

1 – The Gold Mining Stocks Index

An 10 year chart with a cup and handle pattern complete with a breakout. Gold mining stocks have continued to collapse below their support level. This does not mean gold is going to follow but it is a red flag which needs to be noted for future long entry points. Gold mining stocks in general are seen as volatile and high risk types of investments so I understand why investors are unloading their positions to lock in profits. Gold mining stocks are pushed below long term support level.

2 – Gold Stocks Index

An 8yr chart of the price action of gold stocks and you can see that they are currently testing long term support levels. If this monthly bar closes below this trend line then long term investors should be sitting in cash until we have a new opportunity to enter long or short. The HUI generally makes the move before the price of gold so I follow the HUI in all time frames. The HUI is testing long term support.

3 – Performance Chart (Gold Stocks vs Price of Gold)

The past 2 years, from 2006 to present gold stocks have slowly been underperforming the price of gold. This is generally not a good thing to see if we want higher prices for gold. But the good news is that gold stocks appear to be reaching levels at which new rallies have started. Gold stocks under performing the price of gold but near support.

4 – Daily HUI Chart

I follow the HUI like a hawk as it fine tunes my entry and exit point for trading GLD, DGP and DZZ funds. Last month the HUI made a lower high and a lower low which is a red flag. While I don't predict prices I am thinking these lower prices for gold stocks are just panic sellers over extending a sell off. I would really like to see an August rally kick into place. The HUI makes a lower high and lower low on the daily chart.

5 – GLD Gold ETF Trading Signals For Beginners

While gold stocks have been selling down, gold has so far been able to hold some ground. As you can see in the chart below the last three months gold has made higher highs, and higher lows. Currently gold is testing Major Support at the 200 EMA. Gold ETF GLD at long term support still holding its ground.

Conclusion:

My analysis of gold above explains that gold stocks and indexes are oversold and are at major support levels. Thus an August rally is not out of the picture and we could have some favorable setups in the near future. I would prefer higher prices, but in the end movement is movement and we can profit in either direction evenly.

GLD gold etf trading for me is the most accurate trading vehicle I have come across. I have been using my proven trading model which avoids the price gaps and keeps risk under 3% for each trade. GLD makes it simple to profit from the markets using a proven trading model for trading long and short term gold setups in all market conditions (bull, bear, and sideways).

My focus for short term trading is simple. Wait for a breakout which satisfies my trading model, enter the trade and then exit 50% of position on the first sign of weakness. Exit second half on a trend line break. etf trading for beginners is low risk I provide GLD ETF signals which generate 2-5% profit within 2-10 days unless prices continue to run then we lock in a much larger profit. I generally have 10-20 trades per year with gold.

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Both Stephen Bigalow Bigalow & Chris Vermeulen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Stephen Bigalow Bigalow has sinced written about articles on various topics from Investments, Futures Trading and Investments. http://www.candlestickforum.com/PPF/Parameters/1_21_/candlestick.aspA site dedicated to stock market investing using Japanese Candlesticks. Stephen Bigalow Bigalow's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Chris Vermeulen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mobile Phone Reviews, Investments and Jewelry. Chris Vermeulen is Founder of the popular trading site TheGoldAndOilGuy. There he shares his highly successful, low-risk trading method. For 6 years Chris has been a leader in teaching others to skillfully trade in gold, oil, and silver in both bull and b. Chris Vermeulen's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.
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