Contrarian traders base their trading strategies on the underlying principle that the market tends to overreact at both extreme highs and lows. Contrarian traders see these extremes as opportunities to profit from sharp reversals that can occur when the market corrects from a recent overreaction. However, contrarian trading strategies are more complex than simply betting […]
The wash sale rule is an IRS taxation regulation governing the use of investment losses in capital gains tax. The wash sale rule prohibits the investor from claiming any sale of a security as a loss if a similar security is purchased within 30 days of the sale. The wash sale rule also applies to […]
What is a Bull Trap? A bull trap is a trading term that describes a false signal to bulls that the price is going higher, but really is just a fake move before going lower. The increase has to be just enough to lure the bulls in, only for the stock to sink again, […]
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 […]
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 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, […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
