Sometimes, too much information can be a bad thing. In the computer age, when traders have access to an almost endless deluge of data, figures, studies, research, and historical reports online, it’s easy to suffer from the modern disease known as analysis paralysis. If you ever felt you couldn’t move forward with a simple securities transaction because you were drowning in stats and technical information, then you already know what info overload feels like. Is there a cure? Fortunately, there are several techniques for getting through a bout of this modern ailment, and the treatments are easy to implement.
Step one is to make a detailed plan that specifically lists the sources from which you intend to collect data. After that, do enough research to understand which of the most popular technical indicators works best for your style of operation. Some practitioners choose to trade CFDs (contracts for difference) for their simplicity and ability to help users avoid becoming overwhelmed by the decision-making process. The following suggestions are intended as a starting point for anyone who wants to make buying and selling decisions with a clear mind.
Make a Trading Plan
Planning prevents so many problems that it is the central piece of the puzzle for building an effective trading strategy. First, you’ll need to decide whether you are aiming for long-term or short-term financial goals. That’s because time horizons play a critical role in the kinds of information traders rely upon. Second, choose a general asset class, like equities, forex, or commodities. Finally, make an honest assessment of how much capital you have available. Based on all those factors, it will be much easier to choose the best broker for your needs. With those key decisions behind you, it’s easier to limit areas of research, focus on one asset class, and work with targeted educational materials in the broker’s learning library.
Choose a Few Favorite Indicators
Some traders go indicator crazy by attempting to work with dozens of technical indicators at once. Few ever have good results from this kind of overkill approach. Instead, consider using just two or three indicators at most when analyzing investment opportunities. This commonsense limitation offers the chance for traders to gain more clarity about price action, trends, and other predictive behaviors of the security they’re buying.
Consider CFDs
CFDs or contracts for difference, carry the unique advantage of letting people take part in the markets without owning any of the underlying assets. For instance, when Investor A buys a long CFD on the stock of ABC Corporation, there’s no share ownership involved. Instead, Investor A is simply making a prediction that the share price will rise and can benefit if it does. A CFD is a contract, not ownership of an asset. The other principal advantage of CFDs is the chance for traders to go long or short with equal ease. There are no restrictions or margin requirements for taking a short position, as there are when buying and selling equity shares. Combining the use of CFDs with specialization in one or two securities can help anyone avoid the problems associated with having too much information.