Recent content by Jean Folger

What Is an Index Fund? An index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that holds all (or a representative sample) of the securities in a specific index, with the goal of matching the performance of that benchmark as closely as possible. The S&P 500 is perhaps the most...

Most people who are interested in learning how to become profitable traders need only spend a few minutes online before reading such phrases as "plan your trade; trade your plan" and "keep your losses to a minimum." For new traders, these tidbits of information can seem more like a distraction...

Today's investors and active traders have access to a growing number of trading instruments, from tried-and-true blue chip stocks and industrials, to the fast-paced futures and foreign exchange (or forex) markets. Deciding which of these markets to trade can be complicated, and many factors need...

Indicators, such as moving averages and Bollinger Bands, are mathematically-based technical analysis tools that traders and investors use to analyze the past and predict future price trends and patterns. Where fundamentalists may track economic reports and annual reports, technical traders rely...

The global forex market boasts over $4 trillion in average daily trading volume, making it the largest financial market in the world. Forex's popularity entices traders of all levels, from greenhorns just learning about the financial markets to well-seasoned professionals. Because it is so easy...

Just like good boy scouts, traders need to be prepared for the unexpected. It is virtually inevitable that part of a trader's workstation will melt down at some point, and this can lead to a financial loss. Platforms can experience problems, including surprises in strategy automation, for which...

Fundamental and Technical Analysis Pairs traders employ either fundamental or technical analysis, or a combination of the two, to make decisions regarding which instruments to pair, and when to get in and out of trades. Many pairs traders apply technical analysis techniques and then confirm the...

Introduction Pairs trading is a market-neutral trading strategy that matches a long position with a short position in a pair of highly correlated instruments such as two stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), currencies, commodities or options. Pairs traders wait for weakness in the correlation...