Trading For Dummies [Paperback]

Michael Griffis (Author), Lita Epstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 2009

Making informed trading decisions regardless of the market's condition

Savvy traders can make money in both up and down markets. Trading For Dummies, Second Edition is for investors at all levels who are looking for a clear guide to successfully trading stocks in any type of market. It is also for investors who have experience trading and who are looking for new, proven methods to enhance the profitability of their investments. This no-nonsense guide presents a proven system for analyzing stocks, trends, and indicators and setting a buy-and-sell range beforehand to decrease risk in any type of market. It stresses the practice of position trading, conducting technical analysis on a company and its performance, and research methods that enable the trader to strategically select both an entry and exit point before a stock is even purchased. This updated guide features updated stock charts, position trading tips and techniques, and fresh ways to analyze trends and indicators.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Now updated — your guide to trading success regardless of the market!

Want to make smarter trading decisions? This strategy-packed, no-nonsense guide presents a proven system for analyzing stocks, trends, and indicators and setting a buy-and-sell range beforehand to decrease your risk in both up and down markets. You'll discover the benefits of position trading, conduct technical analysis, and research your entry and exit points before you even purchase your stock.

• Build your trading toolbox — know the markets and exchanges, find a broker, set up your brokerage account, and determine your computer/Internet needs

• Explore position trading — discover the benefit of executing trades in and out of positions and holding positions for various lengths of time, depending on trends

• Find value in fundamental analysis — observe market behavior, understand economic indicators, find critical information in financial statements, and make the most of analysts

• Take on technical analysis — build and read charts, identify trends, recognize bull and bear patterns, and differentiate between stocks that are range bound and ones that are trending

• Develop strategies for buying and selling — know your risks, gather key info through analysis to build your optimum trading strategy, and develop your own powerful trading system

• Jump into the deep end — from swing and day trading to derivatives and foreign currency, get the basics of these riskier forms of trading

Open the book and find:

• The ins and outs of trading stocks

• Fresh ways to analyze trends and indicators

• Updated stock charts and Web sites

• Position trading tips and techniques

• Step-by-step instructions for building and reading charts

• Key money management techniques

• Warnings about frauds and scams

• Top ten trading survival techniques

• Huge trading mistakes to avoid at all costs

About the Author

Michael Griffis, MBA, is an active stock broker. He writes extensively about investing and marketing, benefiting clients in the banking, and brokerage industries.

Lita Epstein, MBA, has written more than 25 books to help readers understand the complex worlds of money and finance, including Bookkeeping For Dummies and Reading Financial Reports For Dummies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (June 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470438401
• ISBN-13: 978-0470438404
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > E-commerce > Online Trading

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction to Position Trading, August 25, 2005

By 

PhysicsTrader (South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trading for Dummies (Paperback)

Let me first state -- this is not a book for day traders! Although there are chapters on both swing and day trading, the authors concentrate on position trading. Hence, they include several chapters on fundamental analysis and focus on slower signalling indicators. Now, that's out of the way...

The book is well-written, with the not-too-serious yet informative style that hallmarks a good "Dummies" book. The organisation is top notch, and the authors re-iterate tactics they have previously covered when doing so provides a good learning example. There is a limited amount of technical analysis, with the primary focus on patterns (breakout and continuation) and simple indicators--moving averages, MACD, relative strength, e.g.

As with most "Dummies" books, you are not by any means an expert on the topic when you finish. However, I believe the reader, having paid close attention, will have a good grasp of the concepts he or she will need to trade, and that this book provides a good introduction and foundation for further research in the field.

I give the book 5 stars for well accomplishing the authors' stated purpose, but caution that, if you are looking for a book on short-term trading, you could be disappointed. That having been said, I think it makes a fine base for further reading into such trading. Your mileage may vary.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction, April 13, 2006

By 

Ron Gonzalez (Boston) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Trading for Dummies (Paperback)

IMHO The reason the "for dummies" brand has been successfull aside from the catchy name, is the actual content and material of the books themselves.

This book has been a great read for some one like myself that already had an idea of what investing entails, but that does not preclude total beginners with no idea from gaining an immense amount of great information from this book.

It is written in plain language and is a great place for a beginner to start his journey.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent foundation for the beginning trader, January 4, 2007

By 

Oz Man "just the facts" (Brownsville, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trading for Dummies (Paperback)

Trading for Dummies is an excellent book for anyone interested in starting to trade stocks. This book really kept me wanting to read on and on because every section was filled with plenty of information. The way the chapters are arranged were very good in that you don't have to be going back and forth to understand the whole concept. One thing I noticed was that this book is for someone who wants to be a position trader as opposed to a day trader, which is good because that is what I want to do. For someone who knows absolutely nothing about how the stock market works, this book is an excellent read. Overall I give it the full five stars.