Table of contents What is a Bear Trap Example of a Bear Trap How to Avoid a Bear Trap Updated 10/25/2023 What is a Bear Trap? Bear traps most often occur in strongly trending stocks. A bearish catalyst, usually supported by bearish short-term price action, suggests that a trend reversal is imminent, prompting bears to […]
Day Trading Terminology
Strangle (Options) Definition: Day Trading Terminology
A strangle is an options trading strategy that uses a put and call on the same underlying security with the same expiration date to bet on a substantial price move in either direction. Strangles are most often used in situations where the trader expects a substantial price move, but is unsure of the direction. Strangles […]
Mark To Market Definition: Day Trading Terminology
Mark to market refers to an investment measure or accounting tool used to record an asset’s value to reflect the market value of the security rather than its book value. The tool is commonly used on futures accounts and helps to ensure that all margin requirements have been completed. When it comes to mutual funds, […]
Thin Market Definition: Day Trading Terminology
A thin market refers to a market characterized by a minimal number of buyers and sellers plus high price volatility. Also referred to as a narrow market, it is also characterized by high bid-ask spreads and low trading volume. This type of market does experience lots of drastic swings thus making it difficult for traders […]
Cash Settled Options Definition: Day Trading Terminology
Cash settled options refer to options that carry the cash settlement feature. As a result, they deliver profits in form of cash and not as a physical asset. The reason why investors choose cash settled options is because they eliminate the high cost of transporting the physical asset and takes the place of indices that […]
European Option Definition: Day Trading Terminology
A European option is an options contract that can only be exercised on the expiry or expiration date. European options are contrasted with American options that can be traded at any time on or before their expiry or maturity date. European Options in Trading Despite the name, the use of European options in trading is […]
American Option Definition: Day Trading Terminology
An American option is an options contract that can be exercised on or before the expiry or maturity date. American options are contrasted with European options that can only be exercised on their expiry or maturity date. American Options in Trading Despite the name, the use of American options in trading is not a matter […]
Calendar Spread Definition: Day Trading Terminology
Calendar spread is an options strategy that allows traders and investors to enter long and short positions simultaneously for the same underlying and strike price but different expiration dates. Option traders can utilize calendar spreads as a way to get into a long position at a cheaper price by selling the other leg and bringing […]
Day Trader Definition: Day Trading Terminology
A day trader is a trader whose time horizon for trades is intraday, often for as little as a few seconds, but generally anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Day traders attempt to capitalize on significant intraday price movements and volatility by executing multiple quick trades that capture some part of the overall […]
Volatility Crush Definition: Day Trading Terminology
Volatility crush is a term used in options trading to describe the swift reduction in implied volatility of an option after the underlying stock’s earnings are announced or some other major news event. A volatility crush occurs because the implied volatility of options will rise before an earnings announcement when the future price path of […]